Abstract
Technology plays an important role in every aspect of life. It is seen that the type of technology used in language teaching is quite diverse. Thanks to the diversity and accessibility of technological tools, teachers' opportunities have increased. Teachers need some web tools to create more effective lesson designs and course materials on the internet. Many of these web tools are Web 2.0 tools that are at the service of teachers free of charge, though limited. LearningApps is one of the Web 2.0 tools. It is a website available at learningapps.com that offers teachers materials such as worksheets and interactive applications and the opportunity to share them directly with students. The aims of this chapter are to introduce the LearningApps tool to foreign language teachers and to create activities using this tool on a sample lesson plan and to contribute to the teachers in this regard.
TopIntroduction
Nowadays, data access is easy and fast with the help of various electronic tools. Technology as a tool helps teachers and students save time, and it is crucial for teachers to integrate technology into their teaching expertise. Consequently, modern education immensely requires information technology. In traditional education, tools like electronic courses, electronic libraries, training tools and technology for transferring knowledge are overlearned. The former teaching techniques are changing, and most importantly, the requirements of nowadays students are changing too (Jansone & Sakadiņeca, 2016). Teachers must also keep up with this change and improve students’ skills by incorporating technology into the learning process. The use of web 2.0 tools, for example, for integrating technology and the learning process makes teaching quite easier. This study examines the use of the LearningApps web 2.0 tool in teaching English as a foreign or second language. This tool will help teachers to prepare content and improve students’ language skills.
In this chapter, firstly, education and technology as well teacher and technology relationships are examined; secondly, content development is discussed; thirdly web 2.0 tool and language skills are specified, and finally, the LearningApps tool and activities developed within a lesson plan are discussed.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Foreign Language Teaching: The process of teaching a second language other than one's native language.
CALL: Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is the support of language learning or teaching with the help of computers.
Web 2.0: The concept of Web 2.0 includes a set of new applications and services that allow creating a participatory environment and structure. Web 2.0 contains tools that enable to implement many applications.
ICT: It is all the technology used in the collection, processing, digital storage, transfer through networks and making available to users.
Technology: All of the tools and related information developed by man in order to control and change his environment.
Education: Enabling people, directly or indirectly, to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to take their place in society, to develop their personalities, inside or outside the school.
LearningApps: It is an application made to support education and training processes with interactive elements. Existing items can be given new content or new items can be created online by users, and items can be reshaped if necessary.
Language Skills: These are the skills that encompass the four basic language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).