Combining endless web exploration with deep educational theory, I first learned about the scaffolded pedagogical design of webquests in 2005. Later, TESOL EVO 2006 sessions helped me discover the power of the Web 2.0 through blogs and wikis. I now coordinate a team of seven teachers designing and delivering computerlab sessions. In these four years we’ve designed sessions for more than twelve levels of children, teen and adult courses. I’ve also carried out a variety of online blog exchanges and projects with both my lab students and my regular classes.

Although at present the sessions are delivered only by the computer lab team, I’ve always felt that all teachers should be able to design activities for their own classes, so in 2007 I organized the first computer lab workshop and we’ve held training sessions every summer since then. Little by little, we see new colleagues overcoming their initial resistance and after three years most of the staff have attended the workshops and are at least familiar with and have started using some web resources with their classes at the lab.

We still have a long way to go until technology becomes fully integrated into language classes, but we can be sure we are going through the paradigm shift and it feels great to be a part of it!

Eternal thanks to my computer lab mates, the real pioneers! (in order of appearance!) Elida Fittipaldi, Leda Siburu, Patricia Stanley, Jesica Bassani (the e-learning diva!), Verónica Miranda and Natalia Furlán.

First published on ARCALL Blog March 10, 2009

Almost three years after I started integrating technology at my workplace and into my teaching practice, I feel the need of having my own virtual spot to put together the wide array of projects I’ve developed with my students and colleagues as well as the enriching experiences that have contributed to my professional development.

Back in 2004, when I plunged into the adventure of setting up ARICANA’s Computer Lab with a group of colleagues, I was full of questions and uncertainties, but somehow, I simply knew there was a new dimension to be discovered.