By Joon Lee
Asia Educational Services Consultant
27th Feb. 2021
WARM-UP 'low-tech' = refers to technology relative to its time period – books and pens v. tablets, phones and Zoom; could mean less task-based activities and simple face-to-face communicative methods; could mean revival of simple somewhat forgotten techniques and methods of teaching, which mean the setting up and implementing of the tech does not take centre stage and stunt the growth and flow of the lesson.
Advantages of low-tech = ease of use and reproduction
Disadvantages of high-tech = higher the tech the higher the chance it is not accessible to someone; uneven availability, prerequisite of tech knowledge; may weaken rather than strengthen lesson objectives.
Recommendations = T uses camera depth and space similar to original use of classroom – anchoring, gesturing, eye contact, closer for early tasks farther away for autonomous tasks; T uses flashcards into camera, Ss hold up signal cards (red – I don't understand, amber – please repeat, green – I understand) during lesson, T uses puppets (!), realia, drawings, 'magic ball' (ball = clasped hands, guess what's inside, description, colour and sound), jeoparty (think jeopardy game full screen easy to use); T uses recordings of repeated content such as flash cards, pronunciation drills.
On-line participation won't happen over night – T video calls some Ss independently before lesson.
Some good takeaways here.
