Technology and dialogue in the primary classroom

Language is a teacher’s main pedagogical tool. ‘Classroom dialogue’ can be thought of as a specific use of language, that involves using talk as a cultural and psychological tool in a way that is productive for learning. In this chapter, the authors consider how technologies can be used to develop dialogue within classrooms in one setting and between classrooms in different locations. The chapter enables the reader to recognise how language is a teacher’s main pedagogical tool and that they can use technology effectively to support this in the primary classroom. The chapter also helps teachers to feel better prepared to realise the potential of a balanced use of technologies to initiate and sustain dialogue within and between classrooms, both local and international, and then to recognise the affordances of technologies on their own, or in combination, that can be used to encourage dialogue to support learning in the primary classroom.