I am sorry I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I really want to say all through my past years of teaching, I have been instinctively against the use of modern technology in my language classes. Please notify here I am focusing on language classes instead of other science classes. There is, in my view, too much difference between teaching arts (including language) and science subjects. Arts need more sensation, gut feeling, opinion sharing, insight and reflection. Science is, however, more rational and linear. Language for me is a best carrier for human feelings and thoughts. Therefore, the ultimate goal for a language class is to realize lively communication and enhancement of learner’s taste and manners. In this sense, chances for learners to talk and share, both between themselves and with the teacher are essential, no matter what contents they are engaged in. If technology is too much used, whether that’s PPT or video programs, normal class communication and cooperation might be disturbed.
Ideas mentioned above might sound radical, but really I have been puzzled from my past few years of teaching English in a computer lab, which we call “students’ autonomous learning center” with every student having access to internet in class. During the class, students all bear their head down and fix on the computer screen. It’s hard and almost impossible for the teacher to get them involved in a designed activity. They may even chat with friend on MSN. I don’t deny the fact that internet does have advantages, like rich resources and quick information, but I am sure whether its advantages weighs over the disadvantages, at least concerning some courses of language, like reading or writing.
Hopefully with this training at IECP and especially under the guidance of Nikki, I could figure out a way of puzzlement and find the best way to balance technology and soft things in teaching language.
I think it is great to be honest about your reservations regarding IT use in the FL classroom. Like you, I want language to be used for meaningful communication in a language classroom. I hope that this class will expose you to some IT activities that could be implemented or adapted to breathe more life into the "students’ autonomous learning center." In any case, I think that you are wise to remain focused on your goal of lively communication and to only incorporate technology when/if it can enhance this goal.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's best to think critically about what approaches and methods we use in the classroom so that we can do our best to reach our goals. Likewise, if we decide to change our thinking or try something new, that is great too.
ReplyDeleteThanks to both Nikki and Michelle for giving comments. Yes, it is definitely true. For lots of pedogocially instructions, langage teachers are told to help the learners to think critically. However, I always take as a first demand to get the teachers think critically. Otherwise, teachers as well as students will soon die out of dynamics and creativity.
ReplyDeleteTeachers and students will motivate each other in thinking critically. Teaching is also learning. You can never know what you will get from your students.
ReplyDeleteIn our students autonomous learning center, maybe we can try the new technology Nikki has taught us about chatting. Since sophermores are more and more ruluctant to move away from the computers in class, and their computer literacy is high enough,it is possible to assign them from time to time in groups of three or four and ask them to discuss around a certain topic using a chatting system, and search for more text-related information from Wiki resources. Then we can ask them to e-mail us the chatting history to see how much involved each student is in and how deep then can understand the topic. I'll try this way next cemester.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know how your experiment goes, Wang. Would you be willing to let me know about your expereince?
ReplyDeleteNiki, I'll try this next semester. I'll let you know how this expeperiment is going. Hopefully it can be helpful to both students and teachers.
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