What Do You Say?

     Think about this: Does the technology really make your life simpler and easier?

     This question keeps popping out of my mind after reading  the article---Simple (Blog: TeachPaperless).  I found this article interesting, and I ponder a while after reading it.

     We cannot deny that the technology does make our life more convenient and effective in some ways.  Nevertheless, it also brings some troubles such as being hacked, attacked by virus, receiving endless spam, and so on.  The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up.

     The general students, who are usually too young to judge what is right or wrong, are the generation of technology.  Most of them are able to use the high-tech devices, for example, the cell phones and computers, without being taught.  Thus, they cannot live without them after they grow up.  Exposing to overloaded information on the Internet may cause some problems to teenagers, who lack the ability to make proper judgment.  It is normal that they take whatever they saw on the Internet serious, even the piece of information is false and wrong.  In this way, the technology seems to become an obstacle.

     Besides, it has become a trend that we are using technology as assist in teaching nowadays.  It helps us most of the time; however, it brings some disadvantages as well. 

     It is true that the technology does us a great help, but it has some drawback.  In my humble opinion, I believe that the factor that the technology makes our life simple or complex is decided by how we make use of it.

Catch Up

It is hard to imagine living without the technology nowadays.

Think about how many hours do you spend on blogging, texting, facebooking, TV-watching, and so on, a day?  

1 hour?

3 hours?

6 hours?

12 hours?

You will be surprised by the answer if you count with scrutiny.

     I am kind of shocked after watching the video Pay Attention.  Even if I have already known that students have heavy reliance on technology in this modern society, the research results still leave a deep impression on my mind. 

     Since we cannot prevent the technology from developing and students from using it, we, the teachers, have to figure out specific teaching methods, which combine with technology, and use it to help students in learning.  The text messaging (SMS) assignment illustrated in the video is a good example.

     Besides, it is well said in the video Educational Change Challenge: Teacher needs to exist in the space students exist.  The space most students exist now is digital and virtual space; thus, the teachers have to follow their pace and get to know what they are doing.  Once the teachers exist in the same space with their students, they can then weave the technology and homework together to help the students to lead an effective learning process.

Technology can be either a harmful or helpful tool in teaching and learning, depends on how you use it!

Don't Be Afraid, Teachers!

    

     After reading the Chapter 1 of Brave New Digital Classroom by Robert J. Blake, I was surprised by one of the myths, Technology Will Replace Teachers, about technology and SLA (Second Language Acquisition).

     Some teachers are afraid of being replaced by high-tech tools such as the use of the Internet.  They fear the school or institution might downsize the number of employees if it starts using technology in teaching considerably. 

     In my humble opinion, I do not regard the use of technology in teaching pose a threat to teachers.  On the contrary, it can be a great help.  As it has also written in this book, there are three main technological platforms to assist SLA: the web, CD-ROM, and net-work based communication.  Each platform provides different methods to help students to lead an effective and successful language learning process.  The technology has adopted widely in teaching nowadays. 

     Although the computer is considered as smart as human beings, they can never replace the human.  To me, one of the most important aspects in teaching and learning is the teacher-student interaction.  It is true that computer programs are able to respond to some certain questions and make people feel there is “interaction” between it and themselves.  However, the so recognized interaction is all about mouse clicking and keyboard typing.  If the program is not well-constructed, which is impossible for the complicated formation of language, culture, and history, it cannot answer some specific language questions.  Since we are mortals, who possess the ability of thinking and feeling, we are able to “interact” with others, and to deal with elaborate questions, which intervene with “humanities” issues.  Thus, the teacher will never be substituted.

      “Everyone seems to forget to answer the questions of who will teach those distance learning courses, write the curriculum, and train students to work with in this format.” This sentence best described the simplest reason that why the teachers do not have to be afraid of being replaced.  Even if it is true, the teachers cannot be satisfied with the current situation for it is more globalized and technology-using widespread in this modern society and teaching circumstance.  “The technology will not replace teachers in the future, but rather teachers who use technology will probably replace teachers who do not” (Clifford 1987, 13). 

Play Smart on The Internet

1) Never provide personal information to someone you don’t know.

→ Be careful! Since there are hackers and malice virus system on the Internet, it is not even safe to provide your personal data to someone you are familiar with. Not to say to someone you don’t know.

2) Always doubt the truth of things posted on the Internet.

     → Look before you leap. When receiving a mail which tells you that you win a great amount of money, it could be a scam.

3) Do not open the mail if you don’t know who the sender is.

→ Be wise! If you open this kind of mail, your computer may be attacked by virus and secret data could be stolen.

4) Use a difficult-to-guess password.

→ Be cautious! Never use a simple password like your birthday, phone number, etc., which are easy to guess.

5) Be responsible for what you post on the Internet.

→ Be thoughtful! Even if the Internet is a virtual world, the police can still find and arrest you if you try to threaten someone out of fun or spread virus.




Watch the clip on Youtube, and you all realize how important it is to play smart on the Internet!

         


 Here is a recommened article, "Use the InternetProperly and Safely. "


http://www.brighthub.com/internet/security-privacy/articles/8815.aspx

Three Ways to Help Sutdents Through This Blog

1) Chat Room
    Students have various personalities.  Some are outgoing; some are shy.  For those who are shy, it is teacher’s responsibility to encourage them to talk more.  However, some students just cannot feel comfortable speaking in public.  In this case, the technology tool can do a great help.  My idea is to create a “chat room” within my blog.  I will first form students into many groups.  Next, I will post different topics out of students’ interests in my blog.  Then, the students have to reply to the assigned topics.  It is actually a kind of group discussion.  The students’ have to “chat” with their classmates in L2 for 30 minutes at least once a week.  Chatting with classmates on the Internet makes students who are shy more relax and willing to talk.  Even though students seem to be merely “chatting”, they are “learning” at the same time.  They can not only practice using second language but also gain different points of view from peers.

(Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.)

2) Language Background
    Language is a comprehensive concept, so L2 learner cannot focus on “language” aspect only.  They have to work on such as history and culture parts to gain further knowledge of a language.  Take me, an English learner, for example.  I have found out that the logical thinking way is totally different between English and Chinese speakers.  We can easily detect that from articles written by American and Chinese.  I can post articles written by different language speakers toward the same topic to show my students how the writing framework and views of point vary.  Then, they can observe and learn.  Besides, to post some interesting stories about English culture to arise students’ interests.

(Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its culture.)

3) Supplement
    Most L2 learners are eager to learn more, but they do not have the circumstances after language class.  In this case, the Internet can be a great assistant.  There is a lot of useful information on the Internet.  Students can easily find a website and learn things like grammar, pronunciation, and so on.  L2 teacher can construct a website, and upload beneficial data, such as daily life vocabularies, for extra-curriculum cupplement.  Thus, L2 students can learn not only serious lecture but also casual stuff which they can apply in daily life.

(Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.)