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Post by joseantoniook on Dec 8, 2009 12:20:08 GMT -5
"Some teachers are afraid of technology either because they have not been offered training or do not feel ready to shift their traditional educational paradigms to more collaborative and student-centered paradigms needed in e-learning" From Teaching and Learning Through Chat: A Taxonomy of Educational Chat for EFL/ESL by Dafne Gonzalez. www.iatefl.org.pl/call/j_review15.htmHow true is this in relation to your teaching context? Please give examples and expand.
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Post by joannar on Jan 20, 2010 3:20:55 GMT -5
This view describes the situation in Cyprus until recently. before I explain though I need to clarify that in Cyprus the system is centralized, public schools are controlled by the Ministry of Culture and education policy is common for all of them and so are all the resources, books and material used. Regarding technology use : Most of the older teachers who were not used to using computers and what is more, did not have a computer at home were against technology as they felt it would create problems rather than enhance learning. The result was that computers ended up being part of the furniture of their classroom, always turned off at the back of the room and sometimes even decorated with a vase or a flower pot on top.!!!!!! Yes, that is true. And this was the case for every subject of the curriculum not just for EFL teachers. This is radically changing though nowadays as 1. older people are retiring and most of them are no longer active teachers now 2. a number of training programs have been offered to teachers so most of them now have at least basic computer skills. 3. Younger teachers are so used to using computers in their everyday life that even older ones are influenced by them. So at least computer use in the classroom is being used to a certain extent. As for more 'advanced' or ' complicated' stuff like interactive whiteboards? these have been used on a pilot basis in some schools and people are still reluctant. next year, when there will be one in each classroom I feel that it will be like same story, part 2. People needing their time before feeling comfortable to use them. This is more or less the situation in my country. Joanna Rodiki Petrides
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Post by ajarnsteve on Jan 20, 2010 3:57:16 GMT -5
I teach in an ICT faculty so the students are even more in tune with technology than I am. SInce it is an international program, all courses are taught in English.
I do not use chat formally as part of a course as our English courses tend to be more ESP or EAP focused. However, there are still a large number of students in our program that are not comfortable in using English on an everyday informal basis. Thus, I do spend a lot more free time in 1 to 1 chats with my students in order to encourage them to use English in this manner. My theory is that it may not help improve their accuracy, but it would improve their fluency as they will learn to think more quickly in the target language, which, in turn, will help them on their exams in their other classes (all of which are in English) .
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Post by attilio on Jan 20, 2010 10:28:04 GMT -5
I’m an Italian EFL teacher. I have been working with learning technologies for some years now, but I agree on the fact that there are still too many teachers who are not interested in changing their way of teaching, although more and more courses are offered all over Italy and all over the world (even online). One of the most interesting courses I took part in was the one organized in Milan by IATEFL Learning Technologies SIG (in collaboration with the British Council) in 2007, where I also gave a talk. Even in Italy schools are centralized, and there is no career for teachers. That’s why many teachers go on with traditional methods. Another reason is that any change may be tiring (but I think also rewarding!), it takes time and this seems a burden for some teachers. Anyway, I believe that if curiosity is not part of being a teacher and technological changes are a threat instead of being a challenge, many feel confident only with the traditional educational paradigms they are used to. What Joanna writes above, is unfortunately true in many Italian schools, but luckily there are some good experiences in progress.
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Post by lolesova on Jan 20, 2010 15:15:50 GMT -5
Joanna, you are right saying that most of the older teachers who were not used to using computers and what is more, did not have a computer at home were against technology as they felt it would create problems rather than enhance learning. And attilio supported it by saying that if curiosity is not part of being a teacher and technological changes are a threat instead of being a challenge, many feel confident only with the traditional educational paradigms they are used to
Both of you described a situation in schools today when teachers do not use technologies. There are several reasons why - but one of the most popular view on using technology in classroom is that I heard from my colleagues and from you here - teachers do not see the necessity to use it, some of them consider it is in addition to traditional methods. They don't want to add challenges to struggle with. I heard it from teachers in the USA. When I came to study to Indiana in 2006, I was sure that American teachers use technology a lot. But it was not right. Reasons not to use are similar to the reasons my colleagues in Siberia have. It seems that it is an international paradigm.
ajarnsteve, I like your view on using English in every day life. And, of course, technology can help develop different skills in the target language. I've asked my students in Siberia if they use technology to chat with people in English. That's one of the most interesting applications to develop speaking and writing skills by using technology.
Larissa, co-moderator week 2
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Post by joseantoniook on Jan 20, 2010 15:23:33 GMT -5
Hello Joanna, I think the situation you describe is very similar in many places. I have also seen technology being misused or not used at all. I think training is key in helping teachers to integrate tech tools into their classrooms. It's good to know that the situation is changing in Cyprus. I have also seen some changes in my workplace in relation to the use of ICT. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Adolfo Arrieta on Jan 20, 2010 16:46:19 GMT -5
There are some key aspects to take into account from this article concerning the higher levels of interaction that can occur when using tools such as Yahoo messenger or tapped in. These tools become a great resource in an EFL setting to improve our students’ written and oral fluency. However, we should be strategic while using them because sometimes our students might get disappointed if we use them improperly.
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Post by staceL on Jan 21, 2010 4:51:40 GMT -5
hi every one ! unfortunately it does seem to be an international paradigm because here in trinidad it is the same where there are schools that have the technology and use it well and those that are reluctant to because of lack of training or time or confidence. in my own school while we have limited resources in terms of numbers of computers, many teachers prefer the traditional methods. i am sure that ym and tapped in can be used across the curriculum to engage students who learn better through conversational discourse, the key is that the teacher must be creative and have a structured lesson plan so that the learning objectives are clear to the student about the use of the chat tool. my own eyes have been opened to the potential of using ym to engage my students in debates and quizzes, so i will be trying it with my students next week as i have a small class
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Post by lolesova on Jan 21, 2010 9:15:31 GMT -5
Hi, staceL, Adolfo and Jose
It seems an international problem - not only for the countries with limited access to technology. Also, what I noticed is that teachers do not like to show their technology skills in front the students. Students are more advanced. What I usually do - I learn from students. What do you do if you don't know the answer concerning technology?
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Post by dincer demir on Jan 21, 2010 14:11:57 GMT -5
hi everybody I have used synchronous teaching and learning tools just a few times. but from my experiences say that it is really charming.
when I did my readings, I really liked the ideas. I would like to use them. especially"Transcripts can be a Study Tool" is a great study tool. <ý will keep that in my mind forever. In addition, inviting guests can make the process better.. thanks
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Post by lolesova on Jan 21, 2010 18:00:53 GMT -5
Hi Dincer,
Thanks for the posting. I do agree with you that guests can make the process better. But again we need to know all technical limitations of the tool we are going to use. For example, how many people can partcicipate and what platfrom you need. Also, Internet connection can have an impact. As I know that YM is good with slow connection (in Teresa's article about the tools). So, by using this note, I am going to try YM with my students in Siberia who have slow connection.
Dincer, do you have experience inviting guests to your students online? If so, could you share it here?
Larissa co-moderator week 2
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Post by Mounia on Jan 21, 2010 19:32:57 GMT -5
It's true! the fear of technology always happens at the first encounter with "the smart box", and later with internet. The main reason is the lack of knowledge, the how to use and what to do. But, with practice and as getting familiar with things gradually, one gains some confidence and curiosity pushes him/her to search more. But, I believe, this circle never ends up, it is continuous simply because new things are added, new features are composed and new inventions come into the surface each time. If one keeps away, he/she is loser because time goes on and things change around us. If you don't accept the change, you are going to be left behind. Man's need for knowledge and change is much more than his need for anything else in life because, it makes him feel powerful, self-dependent, more comfortable......;D! Mounia, Morocco. #evomlit
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Post by dimivalmi on Jan 22, 2010 6:02:52 GMT -5
No Fear of Failure
Everywhere educators are sometimes conservative. This idea has been discussed in several social networks I belong to. And nevertheless, I have always met teachers radiant with new ideas! This Webheads community is a real treasure of the whole world!
I live in very small town ( about 100, 000) which we usually refer to as a city - the capital city of our republic. The teaching community is rather active, but not the majority. I think there is always a quarter of enthusiatic members that explore any new ideas and introduce them into their classrooms.
I learnt how to use the Internet and the computer 8 years ago, just in January 2002. The computer class was overcrowded. There were about three teachers for one computer. I sat near a British teacher who was amused watching us. He put his hand on mine and repeated: "Mice don't fly.' (I was constantly lifting the mouse!) So, you see my computer illiteracy was absolutely awful. What helps is constant desire to learn.
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Post by Sue annan on Jan 22, 2010 14:26:48 GMT -5
I was interested in the report from Dafne and her colleague about the use of chat. It seems to be a good way to involve the task-based learning approach, while developing confidence in the use of technology in the classroom. In my school, we have a mix of teachers who are quite aware of the benefits of new, and additional, tools for teaching, and a lot of teachers who would run a mile at the thought. It is difficult for them to see that it is not just a case of using technology for technology's sake. I think the report goes some way towards dispelling some of their fears.
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Post by carlosbarrera1975 on Jan 22, 2010 16:01:23 GMT -5
Hi BaWers , It's difficult to have new technology at hand in our classes the moment they spring out into the world, but it's just like introducing audio and then video in traditional classes. We just have to be patient until it's an everyday thing. We don't have resources now, but tomorrow it'll be a must for every institution. Of course there'll be a fewer who won't get it. Today chat tools are necessary to get teaching/learning beyond the classroom. it's normal that traditionalist teachers want no change and fight it, but in the end new ideas will prevail. Chat is close to F2F speaking, I think that it's motivating, challenging and appealing because it's real and the language they use is real. Any time soon, we'll all be chatting and using more and more complex tools to teach. We must follow the piece of advice that Teresa and Daf and many other experts on the filed give and then start taking our own risks.
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