Lesson Summary CALL session 3 Summarized by Majeda Hallak What problems do we encounter when trying to use technology? According to the literature the problems we encounter when using CALL are the following: 1)Hardware · Purchasing is expensive · Choosing the right computers · Where to keep them · To have somebody constantly looking after them, they tend break down or have problems. · Maintenance can be quite expensive 2) Software · It costs money · The quality is not always that great, and you have a very wide selection, which actually makes finding the right product much more difficult. · What kind of software to buy · Integrating the software into the curriculum is an issue. How do we make it a regular part of teaching? · How to use it efficiently · Software is not always user friendly for teachers nor for students. 3)Teachers Teachers' training is certainly an issue. Many teachers don't know how to use computers properly. Very often we discover there is a covert (hidden) opposition. On the part of teachers; they don't come out and say “I don't like computers” or “I refuse to use computers”. On the contrary, teachers say they would use computers but they find excuses. Also they don't want to make the effort because they are afraid of them. The overt opposition is relatively easy to deal with. Teachers are overworked, thus there is lack of motivation because integrating computer technology into the curriculum means extra work. 4) Pupils · Concerning personal issues there are many differences between pupils. · Financial problems. Some pupils don't have computers so teachers can't ask them to write emails. · There are differences in ability and weak students might feel frustrated. · Students have different learning styles. Some students really learn well with computers and some do not. Computer in Education Today There exist different types of use for computers: 1)'closed' software Where the computers ask questions and they expect a specific answer. They also give feedback like: "Yes you are right" or "No you are wrong" For example: the sentence " The doctor her patient." Students are expected to add the verb “examines” to reinforce the use of present simple. Closed software is used mainly for vocabulary and grammar review because there are closed questions and answers. Pedagogically speaking closed software is based on behaviorism and on structural approach to second language acquisition which bases language acquisition on the learning of structures and grammar; making vocabulary secondary. This approach was prevalent in the sixties and the early seventies. The advantages of closed software · It is suitable for drilling. It can make the drills, which tend to be boring, a little bit more interesting by using colors, music and pictures. · It gives feedback · It can be varied The disadvantages of using closed software · There's only one correct answer e.g. The past simple of “go” is “went”. · Students are limited in their answer. · They don't generate their own thoughts and abilities. · They are not creative. · The computers don't explain why this answer is right · They accept only one answer. · Students have no opportunity to elaborate and express an opinion. 2) Open software It gives the task, data, learning environment and doesn't expect specific answers. For example: CD ROMs with all sort of information on them. In CALL in language teaching we might use stimulation, problem solving activities and so on. Pupils are expected to construct their knowledge. Pedagogically speaking it is based on cognitive psychology and on the constructivist approach where students are expected to structure their own knowledge. The advantages of open software · it's very often an attractive use of multimedia · its flexibility. · The teacher sets the aim and assesses the product. The disadvantages of open software · It's simply a lot of work when teachers check and assess. 3) Data bases Here we don't do a task, as the data base is simply a source of information. For example: The Britannica, Encarta and so on. In CALL in language teaching this provides the opportunity for authentic task. The computer provides the data and the teacher assigns the authentic task like a corpus. The advantages of data bases · They provides the data · They are attractive because of the use of multimedia · They provide the pupils with rich and dependable data. · They are flexible and you can do whatever you like with them. The disadvantages of using data bases · The level may be too high for language learners · We don't always find what we need. · The data base we get might not be suitable for all pupils 4) Computer applications These provide a working environment like office and its tools like word, power point, excel. In CALL in language teaching they provide an opportunity for authentic tasks, just like a data base. The advantages of computer applications · You have maximum flexibility, you can do anything you like projects · They improve writing abilities and thinking abilities as well. The Disadvantages of compute applications · Not all pupils are skilled in all applications · There might be big differences between pupils’ approach or ability · There might be technical problems. 5) The Internet This is basically a way of accessing information quickly, easily and cheaply anywhere anytime. The advantages of the internet · Its diversity; you can go virtually anywhere and do anything · It is really "cool", as the kids like to say · It has positive connotations · Pupils like to work online The disadvantages of the internet · Students may misuse it · It is not always a reliable source of information · It is hard for a teacher to manage the class 6) Learning communities (computer mediated communication-CMC) It is what brings people together like emails, chat, forums, ICQ, face book, illuminated sessions, and video conferencing and so on. In CALL in language teaching this might provide an opportunity for authentic social interaction either in writing or in speaking. Pedagogically it is based on the communicative approach and on the humanistic approach to second language acquisition which emphasizes the relationships between people. The advantages of learning communities · It allows social interaction anytime anyplace The disadvantages of learning communities · You do not know the people you are talking to · There is the element of mystery Computer in TEFL (in the four skills) 1)Writing Using word processor in teaching EFL 2)Writing and Editing – using word processors Students write their assignments by hand and the teachers do most of the editing. Then teachers make their students rewrite them with their corrections incorporated. As a result students see it as a punishment and they do not take responsibility and they expect the teachers to take responsibility. When teachers use word processor, editing becomes natural and quicker. Research shows that when using word processor, the students editing skills improve. Also they become more creative and they do not worry about making mistakes. Research also shows that the students dare to try and write. 3)Presentation It is much nicer to present completed assignments to the pupils or to the teacher when the assignments are written neatly and correctly, using pictures and colors which make them more impressive. 4)Listening and Speaking Students can listen to YouTube Teachers can encourage their students to record themselves and hand it to their teachers. 5)Reading Teachers can teach reading skills through: · Sequencing · Separating texts and doing things with them. · Summary techniques · Reading online stories like http://www.starfall.com/ and http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories
Lesson Summary
Lesson Summary CALL session 3
Summarized by Majeda Hallak
What problems do we encounter when trying to use technology?
According to the literature the problems we encounter when using CALL are the following:
1)Hardware
· Purchasing is expensive
· Choosing the right computers
· Where to keep them
· To have somebody constantly looking after them, they tend break down or have problems.
· Maintenance can be quite expensive
2) Software
· It costs money
· The quality is not always that great, and you have a very wide selection, which actually makes finding the right product much more difficult.
· What kind of software to buy
· Integrating the software into the curriculum is an issue. How do we make it a regular part of teaching?
· How to use it efficiently
· Software is not always user friendly for teachers nor for students.
3) Teachers
Teachers' training is certainly an issue. Many teachers don't know how to use computers properly. Very often we discover there is a covert (hidden) opposition. On the part of teachers; they don't come out and say “I don't like computers” or “I refuse to use computers”. On the contrary, teachers say they would use computers but they find excuses. Also they don't want to make the effort because they are afraid of them.
The overt opposition is relatively easy to deal with. Teachers are overworked, thus there is lack of motivation because integrating computer technology into the curriculum means extra work.
4) Pupils
· Concerning personal issues there are many differences between pupils.
· Financial problems. Some pupils don't have computers so teachers can't ask them to write emails.
· There are differences in ability and weak students might feel frustrated.
· Students have different learning styles. Some students really learn well with computers and some do not.
Computer in Education Today
There exist different types of use for computers:
1)'closed' software
Where the computers ask questions and they expect a specific answer. They also give feedback like: "Yes you are right" or "No you are wrong"
For example: the sentence " The doctor her patient."
Students are expected to add the verb “examines” to reinforce the use of present simple.
Closed software is used mainly for vocabulary and grammar review because there are closed questions and answers.
Pedagogically speaking closed software is based on behaviorism and on structural approach to second language acquisition which bases language acquisition on the learning of structures and grammar; making vocabulary secondary. This approach was prevalent in the sixties and the early seventies.
The advantages of closed software
· It is suitable for drilling. It can make the drills, which tend to be boring, a little bit more interesting by using colors, music and pictures.
· It gives feedback
· It can be varied
The disadvantages of using closed software
· There's only one correct answer e.g. The past simple of “go” is “went”.
· Students are limited in their answer.
· They don't generate their own thoughts and abilities.
· They are not creative.
· The computers don't explain why this answer is right
· They accept only one answer.
· Students have no opportunity to elaborate and express an opinion.
2) Open software
It gives the task, data, learning environment and doesn't expect specific answers. For example: CD ROMs with all sort of information on them.
In CALL in language teaching we might use stimulation, problem solving activities and so on. Pupils are expected to construct their knowledge. Pedagogically speaking it is based on cognitive psychology and on the constructivist approach where students are expected to structure their own knowledge.
The advantages of open software
· it's very often an attractive use of multimedia
· its flexibility.
· The teacher sets the aim and assesses the product.
The disadvantages of open software
· It's simply a lot of work when teachers check and assess.
3) Data bases
Here we don't do a task, as the data base is simply a source of information. For example: The Britannica, Encarta and so on. In CALL in language teaching this provides the opportunity for authentic task. The computer provides the data and the teacher assigns the authentic task like a corpus.
The advantages of data bases
· They provides the data
· They are attractive because of the use of multimedia
· They provide the pupils with rich and dependable data.
· They are flexible and you can do whatever you like with them.
The disadvantages of using data bases
· The level may be too high for language learners
· We don't always find what we need.
· The data base we get might not be suitable for all pupils
4) Computer applications
These provide a working environment like office and its tools like word, power point, excel. In CALL in language teaching they provide an opportunity for authentic tasks, just like a data base.
The advantages of computer applications
· You have maximum flexibility, you can do anything you like projects
· They improve writing abilities and thinking abilities as well.
The Disadvantages of compute applications
· Not all pupils are skilled in all applications
· There might be big differences between pupils’ approach or ability
· There might be technical problems.
5) The Internet
This is basically a way of accessing information quickly, easily and cheaply anywhere anytime.
The advantages of the internet
· Its diversity; you can go virtually anywhere and do anything
· It is really "cool", as the kids like to say
· It has positive connotations
· Pupils like to work online
The disadvantages of the internet
· Students may misuse it
· It is not always a reliable source of information
· It is hard for a teacher to manage the class
6) Learning communities (computer mediated communication-CMC)
It is what brings people together like emails, chat, forums, ICQ, face book, illuminated sessions, and video conferencing and so on.
In CALL in language teaching this might provide an opportunity for authentic social interaction either in writing or in speaking.
Pedagogically it is based on the communicative approach and on the humanistic approach to second language acquisition which emphasizes the relationships between people.
The advantages of learning communities
· It allows social interaction anytime anyplace
The disadvantages of learning communities
· You do not know the people you are talking to
· There is the element of mystery
Computer in TEFL (in the four skills)
1) Writing
Using word processor in teaching EFL
2) Writing and Editing – using word processors
Students write their assignments by hand and the teachers do most of the editing. Then teachers make their students rewrite them with their corrections incorporated. As a result students see it as a punishment and they do not take responsibility and they expect the teachers to take responsibility.
When teachers use word processor, editing becomes natural and quicker.
Research shows that when using word processor, the students editing skills improve. Also they become more creative and they do not worry about making mistakes. Research also shows that the students dare to try and write.
3) Presentation
It is much nicer to present completed assignments to the pupils or to the teacher when the assignments are written neatly and correctly, using pictures and colors which make them more impressive.
4) Listening and Speaking
Students can listen to YouTube
Teachers can encourage their students to record themselves and hand it to their teachers.
5) Reading
Teachers can teach reading skills through:
· Sequencing
· Separating texts and doing things with them.
· Summary techniques
· Reading online stories like http://www.starfall.com/ and http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories