IGNOU: BEGS-185
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
BLOCK-3: UNIT-3
TOPIC: Use of Information Technology and
Web-based Resources
Prepared by: Udisha Sharma
YouTube Channel: Unravel Study
Notes Start Below:
Introduction
● Today’s learners are well-versed in digital tools. They enjoy using phones, tablets,
computers, and the internet.
● Teachers should take advantage of this by using web-based tools in their teaching.
There are two types of online communication:
1. Synchronous (real-time): Forums, chats, video calls, VoIP.
2. Asynchronous (delayed): Emails, recorded videos, blogs, websites.
● If the internet is unstable, use asynchronous tools. If reliable, use synchronous ones.
● This unit explores how teachers can make use of digital technologies to make learning
interactive and meaningful.
Tools and Services on the Internet
💻 What is the Internet?
● A global network that connects millions of computers.
● You can send/receive information 24×7.
● Computers from homes, schools, colleges, businesses – all are connected.
✅ What can you do with the Internet?
● Send emails and chat with people globally.
● Access databases and libraries for study or research.
● Join online courses (e.g., SWAYAM, NPTEL).
● Do research and gather info from reliable sources.
● Connect with like-minded people to exchange ideas.
● Stay updated with latest news, weather, sports.
● Download apps, tools, software for free or paid.
● Entertainment: Listen to music, watch movies, play games.
● Access digital libraries and multimedia learning tools.
🌍 World Wide Web (WWW)
● Millions of websites exist for almost every topic.
● When searching, use smart techniques:
○ Use "quotes" to search exact phrases.
○ Use + between keywords (e.g., travel + London).
○ Use .. for price ranges (e.g., Rs.5000..Rs.10000).
○ Use vs to compare (e.g., rice vs quinoa).
🔍 Search Engines
● Help you find relevant websites and information.
● Common ones:
○ Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, Web Crawler, Eureka.
● SweetSearch: Designed for students. Reliable and safe for academic use.
📚 Digital Libraries
● Online platforms that store digital books, journals, articles, etc.
● Can include scanned old documents and completely digital content.
📖 Encyclopedias (Examples):
● Provide detailed info on different subjects.
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
📘 Online Dictionaries
● Help with definitions, pronunciation, grammar, quizzes, word-of-the-day.
● You can customize your homepage, save favorite words, and learn vocabulary.
● Examples:
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
○ [Link]
🌐 Wikipedia
● A free online encyclopedia where anyone can contribute.
● Good for initial research and finding links to related topics.
● Encourages collaborative knowledge creation.
🔠 Concordancers
● Tools that show how words are used in real-life situations.
● Useful for language teachers to teach correct usage.
● Examples:
○ British National Corpus (BNC) – British English
○ COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) – American English
📧 Email
● Most commonly used Internet tool.
● Asynchronous: Write and send anytime.
● Useful in language learning:
○ Students can write essays, letters, or stories.
○ Teachers can give feedback via email.
○ Students can communicate with peers worldwide.
🛠️ Authoring Tools
🧑🏫 What are Authoring Tools?
● Programs to create digital lessons using text, pictures, videos, audio.
● Teachers don’t need programming skills.
● Can design quizzes, games, activities tailored to students.
🔧 Examples:
1. Wida Authoring Suite
● For creating multimedia language activities:
○ Gapmaster – Fill in the blanks.
○ Matchmaster – Match words or sentences.
○ Storyboard – Create stories using media.
○ Choicemaster – Multiple-choice with feedback.
○ Testmaster – Question-answer tests with flexibility.
○ Pinpoint – Match texts to titles.
○ Vocab – Create vocabulary games.
2. Hot Potatoes
● Free tools to make online exercises:
○ JMatch – Match items
○ JCross – Crosswords
○ JQuiz – MCQs
○ JMix – Jumbled sentences
○ JCloze – Gap-fill
○ JMash – Mixed tasks
● Gives instant feedback, hints, and tracks student responses.
📊 Research Tools
These help teachers create surveys, collect responses, and analyze data.
Useful for getting feedback from students or conducting academic research.
Examples:
● [Link]
● [Link]
● [Link]
Features:
● Design custom surveys with logos, colors, and links.
● Send surveys via email or embed on websites.
● Automatically collect and display results.
● Prevent duplicate responses.
● Save time with automated analysis.
Web 2.0 Tools
🕸️ What is Web 2.0?
● Refers to modern web applications that support sharing, interaction, and collaboration.
● Learners and teachers can both create and share content.
💬 Social Networking
Facebook
● Teachers can use student profiles for writing tasks.
● Use comments, posts, photos for creative language activities.
● Create class groups for discussions.
Twitter
● Share updates or tasks within 280 characters.
● Encourage short, meaningful writing.
● Ask students to summarize or give opinions in brief.
Twiducate
● Safe social networking for classrooms.
● Teachers can post homework, share ideas, and keep parents informed.
📞 Skype
● Real-time video and voice calls.
● Teachers can:
○ Connect classrooms worldwide.
○ Conduct interviews or guest sessions.
○ Use screen sharing for lessons.
🖼️ Glogster
● Create interactive posters with images, videos, and text.
● Great for creative projects, storytelling, or language lessons.
🎥 YouTube
● Host and share educational videos.
● Teachers can:
○ Make themed playlists
○ Use videos to improve listening and speaking
○ Assign students to make their own videos
📄 Wikis
● Collaborative websites where students and teachers can edit content.
● Great for group storytelling, project writing, or collaborative essays.
📸 Flickr
● Share and explore photos online.
● Teachers can use images for teaching vocabulary, geography, or culture.
📽️ SlideShare
● Upload and share PowerPoint or PDF presentations.
● Students can create and share their own slides as assignments.
📝 Blogs
● Teachers and students can write reflective posts.
● Pre/while/post teaching tasks can be given via blogs.
● Parents can be involved by viewing and commenting on blogs.
🎙️ Podcasts
● Audio/video lessons that can be downloaded and accessed anytime.
● Examples:
○ Animal sounds for kids
○ Interviews or audio stories for older students
○ Video-based explanations of lessons
📌 Conclusion
● Web tools are powerful and engaging but should support—not replace—teachers.
● Teachers should:
○ Be trained in using tools.
○ Prepare in advance.
○ Always have a backup plan in case of technical failure.
● Once designed, many activities and resources can be reused.
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Happy Learning!
