6 novembre 2008 • No Comments
In his article, Brown pointed out that today people use technology to support relationships between individuals. “We are discovering new tools to support each others, which is the very essence of social learning.” (Brown, 2000). It is a theory also supported by the Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology.
I like to believe that technology does enhanced collaborative learning, people share their knowledge and their information via blogs, podcasts, videos, social networking. It is up to educators to value this tool and bring it into the classroom. We have to our disposition a gigantic classroom representing every culture, every language and every thinking. We can connect students with the world and teach them to use the best of what the Net can offer in order to improve as individuals. By using a collaborative learning networking, students learn to become more tolerant, patient and to keep an open mind on what is different.
Though, it is the way I translate it because for our digital natives, this way of thinking is natural, innate. As for people like me who are digital immigrants it is something that we need to keep in mind at all time. Because no matter how long, how often and how well I will use technologies, I won’t become a native. No matter for how long I have been living here and how well I know Australia, I will always be French, it is innate.
But I can keep an open mind, keep up to date with the technology and continue to learn this new language and learn about this new culture. Being disconnected from the new technologies it is being disconnected from the new generation of students. Technology is not a wall that seperate generation of people, it is a bridge between many generation of people.
Category: Regular Posting
6 novembre 2008 • No Comments
I just read the article “What is meaningful learning?” by Jonassen. Meaningful learning is a balance between cognition and metacognition. Students should learn how to learn and to be able to think about their learning. Thus, students should be engaged in meaningful tasks which allow them to work in interactive groups and master their own learning. For Jonassen technology can be used to enhance these ideas in different ways. As a prospective language teacher two points stand out for me: Technology support discourse among knowledge-building communities and help learners to articulate and represent what they know. (Jonassen, 2008 ). Learning a language is far more complex that learning a tool to communicate. In a traditional teaching it can be challenging to express the complexity behind the language such as the cultural differences and the different way of thinking.
If students are asked to construct a project, a blog or a digital video, they will have to seek information and to build their own research. Thus, they will encounter people on the Net that thinks, write, and speak differently. They also can find material that can change their mind on the language and the culture they are learning.
Technology is a support to both the LOTE teacher and the students, giving the opportunity to the students to go deeper into their knowledge and their learning process. In the way, tools like the Internet, blogs, and podcasts make the language learning experience more real. It is a step outside the classroom a first step to discover the world.
Category: Regular Posting Tagged: meaningful learning
2 novembre 2008 • No Comments
I just read a post by Annie, the future is getting closer! The video proposed in her post shows how technology is developing in such a fast path that it seems impossible to keep up with it. It also feels completely unrealistic.
This great new tool is like a large screen-touch computer, called surface computing.
Annie mentioned that it would be much fun to use it in the classroom. I agree with this statement, it would be really fun to use it. Students could make interactive portfolios and instead of having a traditional desk, students could have this computer-graphic-screen-touch-hands-on-desk.
Category: A voir ,Reactionary posting Tagged: surface computing
2 novembre 2008 • No Comments
I just read an interesting article by Sylvain Genevois(1) about Geoportal, which is the equivalence of a French Google Earth. It interested me to see that this tool as well as Google Earth and Nasa worldwind are used in the French classrooms to teach geography.
Their use is still limited to an iconic vision of the world. There is no real interaction. But this tool allow another perception of the world and gives the world another dimension.
As I mentioned in my last post I find Google Earth and Geoportal interesting tools to use in a LOTE classroom. When we teach the Italian language teachers also mentioned the ancient Rome. It can be interesting to show them how the Roman patrimony is still present; most of the Italian cities are constructed on ancient cities. With a vision from above students can easily see the cardo and Decumanus and have a better understanding of the importance of this patrimony.
Because teaching languages is not only about languages Google Earth and other Geoprotals facilitate the integration of cultural and geographical points. Paradoxically, these tools do make the experience of learning a new culture and a new languages more real.
The crossed geographical aspect of the city of Turin based onto the antic city of Augusta Taurinorum. Google Earth Image, 02/11/2008.
(1)Sylvain Genevois is a French geograph writing articles for the journal M@appemonde sustained by the National Centre of the Scientific Research (France).
Category: Regular Posting Tagged: Geoportal, Google earth
