Schedule: 2009-09-12 (12:45 - 13:30)
Parallel Session 3 (Room A-32)

Title: Exploring the Hype(r) of Languages Learning and Teaching
Authors: Penelope Coutas
Abstract: Recent election promises in Australia of an “Education Revolution” centre upon the provision of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for high school students. For many policy-makers, school leaders, teachers and parents alike, integrating ICTs in learning and teaching is a high priority. The use of technology is promoted as being motivational (it relates to learners real lives), collaborative, and essential for building students’ skills for living and working in a multiliterate and l(IT)erate society. There is great potential for enhancing the study of Languages with ICTs, as we know from many years of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), and new technologies certainly offer a lot of opportunities for authentic language learning and for making connections with first language speakers. But is this potential being realised? Just how, and why, are Languages teachers and learners using ICTs for learning languages in ICT-enhanced and supported government schools? What are their perceptions of the impact of ICTs, and what have they found to be effective?

This paper explores the above questions, reporting on the findings of a research study that set out to discover “what is really going on” for Languages in schools with (supposedly) good access to ICT resources from the point of view of teachers and learners. Utilizing hypermedia ethnography as methodology, this study employed a range of new technologies to conduct, analyse and (re)present case studies of Languages learning and teaching. The result? A rich online Ethnographic Hypermedia Environment (EHE) of learner and teacher experiences of CALL and other technology enhanced language learning in Western Australian schools. The EHE invites the reader-viewer to see for themselves “what is really going on” and make their own conclusions and comparisons to their own contexts. It will certainly be a valuable exercise to compare the Australian experience to that of Europe, and to discover if the new trends in CALL reported in other papers and presentations are reflected “down under.” Hence this paper represents the opportunity to engage in comparison and discussion of different experiences of Language learning and what it means in terms of new trends in CALL and TELL in schools, worldwide.
Keywords: Australia, trends, hypermedia ethnography, qualitative research, secondary schools, case study

Main topic: Research in new language learning environments

Biodata: Penelope is currently studying towards a Doctorate of Education at Murdoch University, Western Australia. Her research involves exploring the use of ICTs for learning and teaching Languages in technology-enhanced government schools. Penelope’s main teaching area is high school Indonesian, and she is keen to network and collaborate with colleagues world-wide.
Type of presentation Paper presentation

Paper category Research

Target educational sector Secondary education

Language of delivery English

EU-funded project No

Schedule:	2009-09-12 (12:45 - 13:30) Parallel Session 3 (Room A-32)
Title:	Exploring the Hype(r) of Languages Learning and Teaching
Authors:	Penelope Coutas
Abstract:	Recent election promises in Australia of an “Education Revolution” centre upon the provision of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for high school students. For many policy-makers, school leaders, teachers and parents alike, integrating ICTs in learning and teaching is a high priority. The use of technology is promoted as being motivational (it relates to learners real lives), collaborative, and essential for building students’ skills for living and working in a multiliterate and l(IT)erate society. There is great potential for enhancing the study of Languages with ICTs, as we know from many years of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), and new technologies certainly offer a lot of opportunities for authentic language learning and for making connections with first language speakers. But is this potential being realised? Just how, and why, are Languages teachers and learners using ICTs for learning languages in ICT-enhanced and supported government schools? What are their perceptions of the impact of ICTs, and what have they found to be effective? This paper explores the above questions, reporting on the findings of a research study that set out to discover “what is really going on” for Languages in schools with (supposedly) good access to ICT resources from the point of view of teachers and learners. Utilizing hypermedia ethnography as methodology, this study employed a range of new technologies to conduct, analyse and (re)present case studies of Languages learning and teaching. The result? A rich online Ethnographic Hypermedia Environment (EHE) of learner and teacher experiences of CALL and other technology enhanced language learning in Western Australian schools. The EHE invites the reader-viewer to see for themselves “what is really going on” and make their own conclusions and comparisons to their own contexts. It will certainly be a valuable exercise to compare the Australian experience to that of Europe, and to discover if the new trends in CALL reported in other papers and presentations are reflected “down under.” Hence this paper represents the opportunity to engage in comparison and discussion of different experiences of Language learning and what it means in terms of new trends in CALL and TELL in schools, worldwide.
Keywords:	Australia, trends, hypermedia ethnography, qualitative research, secondary schools, case study
Main topic:	Research in new language learning environments
Biodata:	Penelope is currently studying towards a Doctorate of Education at Murdoch University, Western Australia. Her research involves exploring the use of ICTs for learning and teaching Languages in technology-enhanced government schools. Penelope’s main teaching area is high school Indonesian, and she is keen to network and collaborate with colleagues world-wide.
Type of presentation	Paper presentation
Paper category	Research
Target educational sector	Secondary education
Language of delivery	English
EU-funded project	No