Why is it important to use viewing materials in the teaching and learning process?

Jade Blue describes some of the benefits of using digital learning materials, and suggests different ways you can use digital materials to help facilitate your learners’ language intake.

Digital materials are especially beneficial for supporting learners’ comprehension, focusing their attention, improving their noticing skills, engaging them with the content, and helping them to become more independent learners – all of which increase the potential for successful intake.

What is intake?

Intake is language that is processed and internalised by the learner so that it can be used in different contexts. This language is provided in the form of input, which might come from teaching materials, the teacher, other learners and classmates, or the environment around the learner.

According to cognitive learning theory, simply providing input isn’t enough for it to become intake. It needs to be relevant and comprehensible, so learners can build on their existing knowledge. Additionally, learners need to consciously notice features of the input, and they need to revisit language and concepts frequently.

Here are 4 different ways in which digital learning materials support the process of language input becoming successful intake:

1 – Multimodal input

The human mind processes visual and verbal information along different channels. Information is reinforced more effectively when presented verbally and visually together. Digital materials use a variety of multimodal formats and interactive features combining sound, text and image.

When presenting new target language or concepts, support your learners’ comprehension by using multimodal input, such as music videos. These provide contextual clues such as gesture and intonation that aren’t available in written text. Many digital materials highlight new language features by underlining or using a different font to the rest of the text. Help improve your learners’ noticing skills and focus their attention by encouraging them to look for these language features and discuss why they’re highlighted.

2 – Repeated exposure

For intake to be successful, knowledge and skills need to be consolidated from the working memory to the long-term memory. For this to happen, learners need frequent and varied exposure to language input. Printed materials and coursebooks are space-limited, and so learners usually only have one opportunity to write their answers.

Digital materials, on the other hand allow learners to repeat the task and revisit language they’ve previously encountered. Encourage your learners to repeat tasks and to ‘save’ new language in a digital notebook so they can revisit it later. Digital materials also offer a varied choice of mode and content. Try to give your learners greater flexibility and choice in the type of material they use. You can do this by providing them with links to different digital resources.

3 – Fostering positive emotions

To maximise the potential for successful intake, learners need to be focused on and engaged with the content of what they’re learning. A major factor in learner engagement is enjoyment. Digital materials encourage learners to interact with content by dragging or moving items, and use gamification elements such as point-scoring. This helps create learner enjoyment by fostering positive emotions and triggering feelings of happiness.

To help them enjoy the experience of learning, encourage your learners to use digital materials that require them to interact and ‘play’ with the content. Where possible, give your learners opportunities to access learning materials that are relevant to their personal interests and context. Allow them to find and access authentic reading, listening, and viewing materials online to practise their receptive skills of reading and listening.

4 – Developing learner autonomy

In order for their language to develop, learners need to be actively involved in the learning process, and some degree of autonomy is essential to successful language development (Scharle & Szábo, 2000). A key part of developing learner autonomy involves learners being able to plan their own learning and make effective use of learning strategies.

The nature of digital materials means that learners are less reliant on teachers for input, practice and feedback, and so can become more independent learners. Help your learners employ effective strategies by providing them with links to dictionaries and other learning resources. You can also make sure they know where to find additional practice materials within their learning environment or online.

Top tips for making the most of digital materials to facilitate your learners’ intake

Digital learning materials can help learners to process and internalise language input so that it becomes intake – language they can apply and use in different contexts. To make the most of digital materials and help ensure effective learning:

• Encourage your learners to engage with multimodal input.
• Inspire them to enjoy the playful element that many digital materials offer.
• Provide choices on the digital content and activities they engage with.
• Give opportunities for them to access content that is relevant to them personally.

If you are interested in how technology can support teaching, read this article on activities that use TV as a medium for learning.