A Report (Official) : Use of Technology in English B Classes

A Report (official)
Task
Your Principal would like to know how technology is being used in each of the subjects taught in the IB
Diploma. You have been asked to write a report on English B classes. Write the report, describing how
technology is used, in which classes, and explaining the opinions of students and teachers.
Response
Use of technology in English B classes.
The instructions for this report were to investigate how much technology was used in class, and for
what purposes; and also to interview some students to find out what they think about the use of
technology in studying English B. The teachers were also interviewed, in order to find out their
thinking about using technology, or not.
The use of technology
There are six English B groups for Diploma HL and SL: three in the first year and three in the second 5
year. These groups are taught by three English B teachers, and each takes one group in each year.
The three teachers have different approaches to using technology – simply put, one uses
technology all the time, another sometimes, and another very rarely.
* ‘all the time’ – In these classes, all students have their laptops on throughout the lesson, in
order to (i) receive materials from the teacher; (ii) carry out online research; and (iii) write 10
and submit tasks set by the teacher. It is most usual for students to work on their own, or in
small groups – there is little time for whole-group discussions. However, the teacher also
uses laptop to project material for the whole group to see, or to show videos.
* ‘sometimes’ – In these classes, students are told whether they should turn on their laptops
at the beginning of the lesson, and this depends on the work that is to be done. Much of the 15
work in class involves direct conversations between the students and the teacher, but this
is often supported by ‘head-down’ time (as they call it), either researching on the internet
or writing e.g. preparing speeches to be given to the rest of the group.
* ‘very rarely’ - In these classes, students normally only use laptops outside the classroom.
Work in class mainly involves “oral practice”, as the teacher calls it, which means that the 20
teacher talks about various subjects, the students listen and take hand-written notes, and
then there is discussion in small groups.
Opinions about technology
Four students were interviewed in each group, and each teacher was interviewed separately.
The interviews with the students showed that, in fact, they were each fairly happy with the
approach to technology in their classes. Those in the ‘all the time’ groups said that they liked the 25
© David Ripley, InThinking

http://www.thinkib.net/englishb
way that using technology provided them with a lot of interesting material, and allowed them to
work at their own pace, in their own way. Those in the ‘sometimes’ groups liked the changes
between the real life discussions, and the more quiet ‘head-down’ research. Those in the ‘very
rarely’ groups liked the way that the teacher talked to them very personally about interesting
things, asking them their opinions – and one person said that it was good to practise handwriting 30
because “the final exams are like that”.
In their interviews, each teacher said that they were happy with the approach they used. The one
who uses technology the most said that she really enjoyed exploring with the students all the
interesting techniques you could use. The teacher who uses technology the least said that he
felt that the language is best learned through face-to-face real conversation, not through a 35
keyboard. Finally, the one who uses technology ‘sometimes’ said that she didn’t have strong
opinions for or against, but just used technology when she thought that it helped the students
to do a particular task, such as research.
Conclusion
Overall, it seems that technology is used in English B in different ways, and that students
appreciate such different approaches. The question must be whether one or other approach 40
is actually better in teaching English – but finding out about that was not part of this report.
(619 words)
© David Ripley, InThinking

http://www.thinkib.net/englishb

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A Report (official)

Use of technology in English B classes.

© David Ripley, InThinking

© David Ripley, InThinking

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