tina+-+proposal

 Consulting Report Proposal

Hypothetical Scenario
In Australia, as in most other English speaking countries, the learning of languages other than English does not hold the level of importance and is not valued in the way that such a skill is in other countries. As such, the teaching of foreign languages in most Australian secondary schools, particularly in the middle years is often met with apathy and a lack of motivation by students. Students fail, on the whole, to find it relevant or necessary. In a bid to begin addressing these issues and in the spirit of an Australian Curriculum for Languages, the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (AFMLTA) writes a report to support an application for funding for the development of Web 2.0 based learning modules. Web 2.0 tools may include social networks, blogs, wikis, pod casts and so on.

Areas of Exploration
The consulting report will explore student motivation and engagement and ways in which these can be fostered through the use of Web 2.0 technologies. Within this context it will address: · the role of learning communities and networks · authenticity and relatedness · situational interest and cognitive engagement

Possible Solutions
The report will propose the development of model learning modules which employ Web 2.0 tools. The premise will be that various Web 2.0 tools can be employed with in a learning design: · to develop positive local and global learning communities. This would provide authentic learning opportunities and build engagement by linking with learners’ life worlds, as well as those of their global peers. This would allow the growth of intercultural awareness and learning. · to provide opportunities for collaborative learning. · to develop a student centred and directed learning environment. · to encourage the development of meta cognition and cognitive engagement The learning modules would be available to all schools and teachers of languages and culture, as a starting point for developing locally appropriate curricula.