ICT in ELT: how did we get here and where are we going?

This article looks at how specific developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) have impacted on ELT over the past three decades. Of particular interest is the effect on classroom practice, and on the types of materials available for teaching and learning. We take as our starting point Mark Warschauer's and Stephen Bax's taxonomies of the various implementations of computer-assisted language learning (CALL), and what this meant for teachers in the language classroom. This takes us from the mid-1980s until the late 1990s (Part 1: CALL). In Part 2, we examine the shift caused by the rise of Web 2.0, and how this more fundamental change offers a wider range of tools and development opportunities for teachers and learners. Finally, in Part 3, we take a brief look at what the future of technologies might hold for ELT.