In this presentation I present important factors to take into account in order to use technology in the classroom effectively and demonstrate different techniques and activities for incorporating technology into the syllabus. The presentation identifies the pitfalls to be avoided when using technology in the classroom, determines important factors for integrating technology into syllabus effectively and suggests ways in which technology can be applied to a specific class.

1. Avoiding
Everest Syndrome
A PRINCIPLED APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

2. Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
•Identify the pitfalls to be avoided when using technology in the
classroom.
•Determine important factors for integrating technology into syllabus
effectively
•Apply technology to a specific class

3. Technophobe or Technogeek?

4. Warm-up
In your groups, list:
1. Good sides of technology 2. Bad sides of technology

5. Benefits of Technology
authentic language instant information
real communication motivating, fun
caters for their interests and needs caters for their learning styles
students work at their own pace ready-made worksheets

7. George Mallory’s reason for wanting to
climb Mount Everest
“Because it’s there.”

8. Everest Syndrome
“Named after George Mallory’s reason for wanting to climb
Mount Everest, this refers to a situation where teachers can
be tempted to use a specific technology just ‘because it’s
there’. Care has to be taken, therefore, to make use of what
we have available only when it serves the language aims of
the lesson, and to avoid any use of ‘technology for
technology’s sake’.” (Stanley, 2013)

9. Normalisation
“Normalisation occurs in language education when technology is
used without teachers being consciously aware of its role as
technology. Few teachers consider dry wipe boards to be technology
for example, but the same cannot be said of the interactive
whiteboard and of electronic pens that go with it. (Stanley, 2013)”

10. Important Questions
Who are your students? What are their needs? What are the course goals? What are the learning
outcomes you wish to achieve?
What are the students’ attitudes to technology? What problems could technology solve? How could it
help?
What is the setting? Which technology is available to
your students in the classroom/at home?
Would the learning outcomes be achieved equally
well without technology? What are the benefits of
using technology?
Which tools could be used? Could they be adapted
and how?
Is there a Plan B?

11. In your groups, please discuss
•Why are these questions important?
•Why should you answer them before you start applying technology
in your classroom?
•How would you find out the answers to these questions?
•How would you modify your use of technology according to the
answers to these questions?

13. Applying Technology to a Specific Class
Background Suggested Tool
The class has studied and practised the language
of informal letters.
The class has studied and practised Present
Perfect Simple.
The class is preparing for the mid-term revision
test.
The class has been working on the topic of travel.
They have completed language, reading and
listening tasks.
The class has practised and studied the language
of describing objects.

14. Suggested Tools
Audioboom Who Wants to
Be a Millionnaire
Interactive PPT
A Letter to
Future Self
A Weekend in
London
(Webquest)
TED talk
Are You Human
How would you use these tools? How would they fit in with
the background lesson? What are the benefits of using them?

15. Applying Technology to a Specific Class
Background Suggested Tool
The class has studied and practised the language
of informal letters.
A Letter to Future Self
The class has studied and practised Present
Perfect Simple.
TED talk
Are You Human
The class is preparing for the mid-term revision
test.
Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire
Interactive PowerPoint
The class has been working on the topic of travel.
They have completed language, reading and
listening tasks.
A Weekend in London (Webquest)
The class has practised and studied the language
of describing objects.
Audioboom

16. Learning Outcomes
I hope you have managed to:
•Identify the pitfalls to be avoided when using technology in the
classroom.
•Determine important factors for integrating technology into syllabus
effectively
•Apply technology to a specific class

17. Our Low-Tech Padlet
Padlet is a virtual wall that allows people to express their thoughts on a common topic easily. It
works like an online sheet of paper where people can put any content (e.g. images, videos,
documents, text) anywhere on the page, together with anyone, from any device.

18. Bibliography
Arena, C. (2012) Classdigitools [licensed for non-commercial use only] / Week2.
Available at: http://classdigitools.pbworks.com/w/page/47831193/Week2
(Accessed: 12 April 2015).
Peachey, N. (2011) 36 Tools for Digitising your ELT Course Book. Scribd. Available
at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/53030128/36-Tools-for-Digitising-your-ELT-
Course-Book (Accessed: 12 April 2015).
Stanley, G. (2013) Language learning with technology: ideas for integrating
technology in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

19. List of Websites Mentioned
Audioboom (no date) Available at: https://audioboom.com (Accessed: 19 April 2015)
Bitstrips (no date) Available at: http://www.bitstrips.com/ (Accessed: 19 April 2015)
Frank, Z. (no date) Ze Frank: Are you human? | Talk Video. Available at:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ze_frank_are_you_human (Accessed: 19 April 2015)
Sly, M. and Patrikios, J. (no date) Write a letter to the future. Available at:
https://www.futureme.org/ (Accessed: 19 April 2015)
ZUNAL.COM (no date) Zunal WebQuest Maker. Available at: http://zunal.com/ (Accessed: 19
April 2015)