The role of technology is very important in the classroom. It allows students to use fun and interesting methods to learn more about the material from class. Most students highly enjoy using technology in their free time, so it makes sense to get through to them with technology. Students can learn new computer and internet programs easily, because they are so accustomed to using them.
In many ways, technology allows students to learn the information or use their knowledge to co-collaborate, revise their own work and view the work of other students. While reviewing the work of others, students can see many of the mistakes that they have made in their own work and furthermore, learn from this to make corrections. Technology also allows students to use all four parts of learning a target language: writing, listening, reading and speaking. Voicethreads, for instance allow students to record their own presentations and listen to other students' presentations so that they can further their speaking and listening skills. There are a multitude of ways that students can improve their reading and writing skills using technology. Using blogs, for example, allows students to solely use the target language for reading other students' work and writing their own essays or long term assignments.
I believe that technology is something that every classroom needs to utilize. It is a part of everyone's lives and is becoming a bigger part of life every single day. It is important also, to remain current with your teaching so that students can connect with the teacher and the material. Using out-dated textbooks or activities can cause students to be bored or tired with the topic. When students are using new and exciting programs on the computer, they become more and more interested in what they are learning.
In my article for this week, which was about the usage of Wikis, it discussed many important ideas about the use of technology. Wikis allow students to read and correct the work of other students as well as revise their own work throughout the semester. It is a great tool for students to have because they can gain understanding of the language through real writing and reading from their peers.
In my article for this week, which was about the usage of Wikis, it discussed many important ideas about the use of technology. Wikis allow students to read and correct the work of other students as well as revise their own work throughout the semester. It is a great tool for students to have because they can gain understanding of the language through real writing and reading from their peers.
I agree that technology has to be incorporated in the classroom to a certain extent. It is true that students are using technology more and more today and that to get them interested in the material and really understand it technology is essential. I also like the idea of students being able to interact with eachother and the teacher online. Students may be shy to correct classmates in person, but a Wiki page might make it easier for studetns to provide feedback. I just think it is important to make sure that teachers are not using technology just to use it. It always has to be effective and serve a specific purpose. The use of technology should have measurable goals and outcomes.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that technology can be used to supplement the class topics outside of the classroom (your example of watching a movie before class). I agree that blogs are a great way for students to notice errors made by others. It is much easier for critique someone else rather than yourself, so it gives students opportunities to do this and then afterwards reflect on their own work and be like oh hey, I make that same mistake too!
ReplyDeleteI think that using technology in the classroom will be unavoidable in the future -- which is a good thing because it makes everything so much for efficient (but frustrating...I just tried to publish this comment 3 times and it disappeared....). Using technology also makes everything more interesting...which in turn will keep the students' attention if they can see their work online and easily collaborate with their peers. I like Melanie's comment above mine -- it's a great way for students to critique other's work and also use it as a source of information, kind of how I read our class' blog responses before I write my own!
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