MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS FOR A WEEK: A COLLABORATIVE & BLENDED APPROACH TO DEVELOPING LANGUAGE SKILLS

Designing a technologically rich language learning experience that adds value involves a number of considerations: Among other things, a technologically rich learning experience should make possible activities not easily done outside the digital realm, allow for a focus on both the products and processes for learning, encourage discussion and consultation, and add value to meaning-focused work (Towndrow and Vallance, 2004, p105 & 109).

In a two-week camp to enhance English language skills, student teachers in Singapore work in a collaborative, blended learning setting to create an interactive web package, built around a core multimedia documentary report.

The paper will describe how a programme was designed to motivate students to create real-world knowledge while providing ample feedback on language in use. The project design encourages the enhancement of English language skills in speaking, writing, and grammar, and at the same time provides opportunities to learn skills that students can transfer to their own teaching contexts.

Although the paper describes a programme designed for the Singapore context, the need to develop language and IT skills is not restricted to this environment. Such a programme can be effective in other situations where students need to improve their language skills and develop IT literacy skills.

Reference
Towndrow, P., & Vallance, M. (2004). Using IT in the language classroom (3rd Ed.). Singapore: Pearson Education.