You can read the entire transcript on Storify here.

Our second ever #AusELT chat was held on September 27^th, 2012. The topic that was voted in was ‘Experiences with technology in the classroom’. With this chat being held hot on the heels of the 2012 English Australia Conference and with a number of ‘side show’ workshops still being run, we were expecting a few new faces on #AusELT and we were not disappointed. We were happy to see @cioccas, @JohnAtGELI, @Krisawal, @HawkerLeigh and @LucyBlakemore . @Shaunwilden from #ELTchat even graced us with his presence. The chat session was moderated by @Eslkazzyb. Thanks, Karen!

This summary will not attempt to give you all the answers on this topic. Instead it will attempt to capture some of the ideas and opinions expressed during the chat.

@Eslkazzyb kicked it off by asking for a definition of technology. Here are some of the points mentioned.

• Technology is any electronic device that enhances or improves the learning experience. @trylingual
• Rather too broad. How about ‘educational technology’ ? @forstersensei
• A def. of technology is a bit tricky isn’t it. PPl equate it to new stuff but been in the c/room for a while with tapes etc. @Shaunwilden
• Technology is a medium for conducting educational tasks. @forstersensei
• Anything that helps enhance learning @LucyBlakemore

The notion of fads in technology was mentioned by a few participants and it was posed as to whether Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) could be categorised as a fad. Many participants raised the concerns they had over these devices but there were other opinions too:

• IWBs like any technology come to life in the right hands, right context, right purpose @cioccas
• IWBs still relevant if used well @LucyBlakemore

Within the discussion of a definition of technology, some participants quickly raised the issue of the relationship between technology and pedagogy.

• Tech must support good pedagogy not vice-versa @forstersensei
• I think sound pedagogy should drive a lesson but tech can help or enhance it. @trylingual

@Eslkazzyb then asked for the participants to share their good experiences with technology in the classroom.

• Lots of good experiences with tech, except the past few days while I’ve been doing battle with a malfunctioning Lang Lab 🙂 @cioccas
• Good experiences with Ss interacting online – written & spoken discussion forums @cioccas
• Used a posterous.com blog in class today. Ss uploaded photos of posters and used 2 present. Good ideas from @TheConsultantsE @forstersensei
• Good experiences- Student blogs, video of speaking tasks, multimedia in classes,…etc. @trylingual
• Thinking more on this, my best lessons have been where students controlled the tech @JohnAtGELI
• Good experiences with Ss becoming more independent learners through tech @cioccas
• Good experiences- TED videos are more engaging than the coursebook. Sts love them and they are so rich w lang. @trylingual
• A Good exp with tech are when the students walk away with something that can continue to practise outside the classroom @JohnAtGELI
• I love seeing the creative spirit of sts come through tech tools. Every person can be creative through them. @trylingual
• Using iPads to analyse news websites and then prepare their own news broadcast @JohnAtGELI
• I’ve found students are willing to share experiences info via smartphones and it usually encourages communication @HawkerLeigh

With the good experiences being shared so freely, @Eslkazzyb asked for a hit list of ‘top tech tools’:

• various news apps like BBC Guardian or CNN, Dragon dictation to practice pron, and any video app @JohnAtGELI
• Can’t beat news websites/apps. Love all the Australian ABC stuff. @trylingual
• Top tech tools- the voice recorder on Sts mobile phones. Can be flexed so many ways. @trylingual

The chat session then turned into a discussion of issues that teachers often had with technology and how to overcome them.

• How to manage and encourage uptake amongst Ts. Any thoughts? @Eslkazzyb
• Do we need to provide self-access materials so Ts can work at their own pace? @ElkySmith
• Tool of the week/month- experiment and report back. @trylingual
• Tech Champions in the staffroom, tech mentors @Eslkazzyb
• Found with my teachers that there is a desire to learn but a fear of “breaking” something and panic when it doesn’t go to plan @JohnAtGELI
• Finding one-to-one just-in-time support & coaching works the best – but who has the time?! @cioccas
• No tech PD -> teach myself, tech probs->make friends w the tech support guys, no tech in curricula->put it their myself. @trylingual
• Many barriers: time, fear, motivation… Different approaches work for diff Ts (same as for any Ss really) @cioccas
• Peer-teaching, sharing and support work well. Isolating ‘tech-sperts’ can be less effective @LucyBlakemore
• I think we have to provide adequate scaffolding/bootstrapping for Ts @ElkySmith
• ‘Tech-sperts’ can end up being used to fix passwords and tech support rather than inspiration and ideas @LucyBlakemore
• a) never rely on tech b) always have a backup c) trial things first … d) skip it @forstersensei
• T led tech workshops are good. At T level and from a trusted/likable source @trylingual

It was agreed that it is best practice to always have a Plan B in case you face technological difficulties on the day. Here are a few suggestions:

• If the pedagogy behind the tech is sound, there should usually be a non-tech way to achieve the same aim @ElkySmith
• Plan B means knowing what the lesson aims were and having non-tech ways to reach them @LucyBlakemore
• Plan Bs- a ‘normal’ lesson, coursebook, worksheet, dogme, or…run! @trylingual
• Plan B also means having simple tasks to keep Ss occupied while you check the tech  😉 @LucyBlakemore
• Most tech issues are solved by restarting the device or jiggling cable. Anything else and it is best to go to a Plan B. @trylingual
• Or click refresh if you’re on a website – works 9/10 times 😉 @LucyBlakemore

With the end of the chat fast approaching @Eslkazzyb asked for suggestions for online resources that help teachers integrate technology into the classroom.

• http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ @JohnAtGELI @trylingual
• @TheConsultantsE ‘s Tool of the Month is an excellent place to start for Ts @ElkySmith
• There are lots of options, but @NikPeachey and @russell1955 blogs good places to start @LucyBlakemore
• @AnaCristinaPrts Digital Delights page on Scoop.it has some great ideas… @forstersensei
• http://blogs.ihes.com/tech-elt/ @JohnAtGELI
• https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8tSftPri7uvd3dhTllNUElpSzA @forstersensei
• @DaveDodgson just popped into my feed – his blog is worth a read too 🙂 @LucyBlakemore

We finished with some final comments from the participants.

• Many tech tools & apps enable you to bring together text, audio, video & interaction in one place @cioccas
• I want my ed-tech to augment what I am teaching, not just replace the textbook with a digital version @JohnAtGELI
• KEY : Teachers need training, and ideas.. Flows through everything. PD… or better connect them to your PLN… @forstersensei
• Final comment- Teach in a way that will help a future citizen of the world, not one of the past. @trylingual
• Don’t panic, don’t over-do it, come back to lesson aims and you can’t go wrong. Accept you will never know it all @LucyBlakemore
• Teachers will never be replaced by tech, but teachers who don’t use tech will be replaced by those who do – said Ray Clifford in 1983… @forstersensei

Thank you very much to all the participants. It was a very fast-paced chat that provided a lot of opportunities for us to follow up later.

We look forward to seeing you at the next #AusELT chat.

Michael Griffiths

@trylingual