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Learning
Chapter 1
Blended Learning is a buzz-term in language teaching. However, it means
different things to different people. The first chapter therefore defines
and explores the term. It looks at the reasons why it is important for language
teachers to incorporate technology into their courses, and focuses on some
factors influencing the uptake of technology.
Chapter 2
The growth of the Internet has radically changed English language teaching.
Chapter two focuses on the Web, the part of the Internet where web sites
live. The chapter focuses on searching skills; discusses ways of using some
of the vast amount of authentic material available on the web as part of
a blended learning language course; and provides a range of practical teaching
ideas.
Chapter 3
Chapter three looks at ELT material. It considers the way the course-book
is supported by CD-ROMs and on-line material. There is a focus on the Macmillan
English campus, and some authoring tools which allow teachers to create
interactive online materials for their own learners.
Chapter 4
Do your students open the cellophane wrapper at the back of their English-English
learners' dictionary? If not, they lose out on all the learning opportunities
afforded by CD-ROM dictionaries. Chapter four looks at electronic dictionaries
on CD-ROM, as well as a range of dictionaries on the web, concordancers
and electronic translators.
Chapter 5
Word processors have changed forever the way students write in EAP (English
for Academic purposes), with tools like spell-checkers and the 'cut-and-paste'
feature. Chapter five looks at some commonly available Office software,
such as Word and PowerPoint.
Chapter 6
Chapter six focuses on interactive whiteboards. Increasing numbers of
teachers are lucky enough to incorporate this new technology into their
lessons in exciting ways. Interactive Whiteboards are also the subject of
the third Blended Learning bulletin.
Chapter 7
There is a growing interest in M-Learning - mobile learning. Chapter
seven looks at portable devices, such as Portable Digital Assistants, digital
audio recorders and camcorders.
Chapter 8
Computer mediated communication, or CMC, refers to situations as diverse
as communicating through the keyboard with pen-pals overseas, sending an
e-mail across the world, or making a telephone call across the Internet,
using a system such as Skype™. Chapter eight looks at CMC, and covers
the range of ways in which students and teachers can communicate through
the medium of the computer. It then describes the use of a Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE) in language teaching.
Chapter 9
Chapter nine looks at creating your own materials. We will look at the
way teachers communicate with their students using blogs; and how students
can build up a sense of community and collaboration using a class wiki.
Chapter 10
The book concludes with a brief look at the future. Given the speed
at which new technologies are developed, introduced and gain a myriad of
uses both intended and unexpected, the supporting web-site will keep you
abreast of these exciting changes, and how they influence and affect language
teaching.
Blended Learning has a bank of photocopiable material in the back. Remember that all the updates to Blended Learning are free and available as PDFs Macmillan English website.