This document discusses how to effectively implement digital assignments in a language classroom. It provides tips for teachers including: 1) Starting with the end goal in mind - defining what the final product will be, how it will be delivered, and what constitutes success or failure. 2) Breaking assignments into small, manageable chunks with milestones to keep students on track. Modeling how to use apps and providing outlines to "stepify" projects. 3) Understanding students' technology skills and access before assigning digital work. Most apps have cross-platform equivalents so one device per student may suffice. The document emphasizes planning for feedback/corrections, celebrating finished work, and reflecting on lessons to improve

1. Dynamic Digital
Assignments
James Matechuk

3. Connect School of
Languages -> 1:1 iPad
School

7. “Edtech” can fully realize
communicative teaching

8. Edtech actually takes
technology out of the
classroom

9. What We Did
• gave an iPad to every teacher
• built in iPads to our tuition
• developed our own digital curriculum
• got better Wifi!
• changed our approach to teaching English

10. How We Did it (after learning
the hard way)
• apps and programs enhance communicative
teaching at every stage
• most digital assignments were enhancements
and substitutions for currently existing
productions (SAMR)
• role plays were not the end of a lesson, they
were the beginning.

11. Best Apps (So Far)

12. What have we learned
(the hard way)?

13. 1. Start at the end
• what is the final result?
• do it yourself
• how will the assignment be
delivered?
• what is success? what is
failure?

14. 2. Break it down
• Segment! Segment! Segment!
(20-40min chunks)
• Make milestones each day
• Model the app itself, look for
hangups
• Monitor and motivate
• No surprises
• Outlining is very important.
‘Stepify’ the project

15. 3. Know your class
• what tech do you have to work
with?
• fight for it
• one iPad or laptop is enough
• most apps are cross-platform
or have equivalents
• digital ‘literacy’ levels. Where
are your students?

16. Digital Literacy
• Level 1: Typing instead of writing.
• Level 2: Copy, paste, search.
• Level 3: Record video, audio basic. Email.
• Level 4: Single Apps, iMovie, Keynote, Garageband etc.
Share with teacher.
• Level 5: Mashup apps. Share with class/school.
• Level 6: Professional Level productions. Share with
community at large.

17. 5. Correct and Redo
• Plan for corrections and
remakes
• Ss often become George
Lucas
• Monitor. Milestones!
• Don’t let Ss get away with
mistakes, language or digital
• AUDIO is often a huge
problem.

18. 6. Share and Celebrate!
• Plan for sharing
• Email, Dropbox (class or
individual), Showbie, iCloud,
Google Drive
• Workshop and reflect the
assignments on every level
(not just ‘grammar mistakes’)
• Reflect on your plan. Did Ss
make something amazing? If
not, go back and redo your
plan.

19. Your success is the
success of their projects.

20. Your turn . . .

21. Your turn . . .
• Groups
• Plan a digital assignment lesson
• Share your lesson