Technologies that I will use in my future Teaching

                        Technologies that I will use in  my future Teaching 



Below I will number the technologies that I am thinking to use in my classroom with my students:

1. Blogging: It will be interesting to have my students write their opinions and reflect in their blogs aboth about my teaching and their leaarning.
2. Potcasting: My students will both listen to podcasts and create ones
3. Digital storytelling: This is a very interesting tool that I liked the most among all tha tools
4. Digital videos
5. Google for education

Thank you for such an interesting and great course!!!!!!!!!!

Google for Education and Cloud Computing

Google for Education and Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the type of storing the information in the clouds without installing any software in your computer i.e. in the network area. But how  we can be secure and sure that our information is not going to disappear from the cloud. Below looking at the image you can notice some advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing.

Here is the video from Ted Talks about cloud computing that will help you understand well its meaning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeOb0rKrt7A

The bright example of cloud computing is google. Teachers can use google for educational purposes and one of the most usable tools is google documents that allow teachers to make collaborative their classes having all their students working at the same time on the same document. That’s really amazing to have such a tool.  I also liked the Google Apps for lesson plans that allows one to choose and implement the lesson plans on different topics and subjects. Exploring more the google from the viewpoint of teachers I would suggest more google sites for English teachers that seemed to me interesting. They are the following:

1.   Google for Educators Discussion Group: This is a great online tool that allows teachers create their groups and create a discussion boards.

2.      Picasa: Site for searching, editing and sharing pictures online: It can easily be used for creating storytelling and other similar projects done by students.

      Below you can see different Google applications that are modern, easy, and free to use.

     

Academic Analytics

Academic Analytics 

Phil Long and George Siemens (pp 32) state that computers,

mobile devices(particularly smart phones ) and enterprise learning management systems (LMSs) include a huge amount of data. Also it is worth mentioning about such types of microblogs as Facebook and twitter that nowadays became the main sources of data. Through collecting and analyzing each tweets and posts, it becomes possible to collect the tones of valuable info about the person. The main and very obvious example of Academic Analytics that I have experienced working with is MOODLE (type of LMS). There are many useful opportunities given to the teachers to explore in the Moodle e.g. to view how many times the specific person has logged in his/her account, to check  when the specific assignment has been uploaded, as well as to compare the probability of  students’  right and wrong  answers of assignments.

So, Based on the literature reviewed, the following video http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_koller_what_we_re_learning_from_online_education.html   and discussion during the class at the university I have come up with several advantages and disadvantages of Academic analytics.

Advantages

• ·         Teachers can have total control of their students “academic actions online”. E.g. if the teacher sees that that particular student does not log in very often and does not upload the assignments on time etc. she can encourage the student to become active or may help that student if he/she is having a technical misunderstandings or hard time with the specific assignments.
• ·         When the teacher sees many students doing the same mistake on the specific assignment that will remind the teacher to go back and do some changes concerning that problem (either explaining the material once more or make changes in the assignment itself) in the specific activity.

Disadvantages

• ·         Following the students’ actions all the time will cause inconvenience for the students i.e. they may feel uncomfortable and lose the sense of individuality in case be followed by the teachers.
• ·         Sometimes there may be arise technical problems in the system  that may show wrong analysis

I think that the advantages and disadvantages that I mentioned above are only 10 percent of the observed part of Academic analytics, however it seems that both students and teachers mostly  benefit  from the analytical data provided by LMSs.

LMS vs. PLE

Learning Management Systems (LMS) vs. Personal Learning Environments (PLEs).

At first it was very difficult for me to feel the difference between LMS and PLEs.But then after discussing them in the classroom  everything became clear for me.According to Stephen Downes, the LMS is “centralized” system and PLE is “decentralized” i.e. during accessing  LMS the system itself is situated in the center and the people connected to the system are surrounded the system, whereas in case of PLE the person is in the center and can access different systems at the same time (e.g. Facebook, google, i book etc. ), the person can also access the LMS  that can provide videos, social networks, discussion boards, conferences etc. but it is limited within the members of LMS that have access to it. Here the solution to the problem of people who do not have access to the certain LMS can be provided with the same opportunities through using their Personal Learning Environment (PLE).

LMS like Moodle that is used in our university as an E-learning tool is very useful both for teachers and students. Below some advantages of Moodle are mentioned according to my observations and involvement in the system.

•   The assignments are graded by the system that eases the instructors’ work a lot.
•   The reminders of deadlines and calendar help students to complete the assignments on time.
•   In different forums made by the instructor Students can collaborate and discuss some topics, why not, including instructors as well.
• \  Via sending messages both instructors and students can collaborate.

As for disadvantages of Moodle I can only mention some system errors that were happening during my using. (e. g. not uploading the file or not recognizing the username or password).

The PLE like Facebook is widely used from teachers as a virtual platform for their students.

I think that it is a perfect platform that works well within students, where they can share ideas, discuss topics etc. (like TEFL2 students at AUA doJ), but I do not consider FB as a professional platform that can be used by the teachers because I think that students can easily get distracted with other information that FB can provide that can lead to ineffective learning process. I think that the PLE www.Edmodo.com   can be successfully used by the teachers as an online platform for them and their students. 

Distance Language Learning

Distance Language Learning

Modern technologies and advanced education systems allow people to learn without going to schools or universities. The only thing they need to have is computer, of course, along with the internet connection. What is Distant Education and specifically language learning?

According to White(1995 and 1997a) as cited in White(2004), in comparison with classroom learning the learners are provided with great self-management and environment –management freedom that in classroom  learning process belongs to the teacher. Besides, distance learning also provides flexible access to the learners in terms of time and place (Keegan 1990 and Shelley 2000) i.e. they are free to choose the time and place for learning, which in my opinion, may highly enhance their motivation towards learning the language. There is also the possibility of developing skills in self-direction and management of learning experiences (Hurd 2004, Weasenforth,  Meloni and Biesenbach-Lucas 2004). So, these are things that the distance learning provides and with which positively differs from classroom learning.

Here it seems that in distance learning there will be lack for collaborative work through the course period, but this issue also was taken into consideration by distance education developers and course designers. For example the one that I take part in provides collaboration through asking questions and helping each other in language learning. As soon as one learns some aspects he/she can help others with those aspects of language. Here is the ling to that course http://livemocha.com for those who are interested in language learning.

As in the classroom education in distance education as well, the presence of the leader of the classroom: “teacher” is very important. That is a very important issue to consider in this type of learning because there is no way to provide personal presence of her. How it is possible to integrate qualified teacher presence and control in this “virtual” classroom? First of all the role of the teacher here differs from one in a classroom. The distinction mainly refers to teacher’s role competencies, knowledge, attitudes, and skills.  Here the tutors are hired on part time temporary contracts and must have highly developed technological skills to provide useful and effective feedback using proper tools and materials. Here are the most essential roles of the teacher in a distant language learning system:

·         Content facilitator
·         Metacognition facilitator
·         Process facilitator
·         Advisor/counsellor
·         Assessor (formative and summative)
·         Technologist
·         Resource provider
·         Manager/administrator
·         Designer
·         Co-learner
·         Researcher

White C. et al (2004)

Also below you can see the most important qualifications of the teacher needed in Distant language learning panel:

•          Pedagogical expertise

•          Subject matter expertise

•          IT skills

•          One-to-one interactive support skills

•          Self-management

•          Group support and management

•          Professional skills and responsibilities

White C. et al (2004)

Here is the link for several distant learning courses that anyone can find something to learn about http://studylink.com/dl/index.html?gclid=CL6dv9K-7boCFcTLtAodeBEAOQ .

Mobile-assisted Language Learning(Mall)

Mobile-assisted Language Learning(Mall)

Modern technology is developing day by day. Almost every person in the world has a mobile phone.

Nowadays mobile phones are not only for talking any more. There are many things that people can do with it i.e. taking pictures, listening to music, watching movies, learn languages and not only.

 English language is considered international and required to know in many countries, so, people prefer to merge the “handy” with useful and make their life easier than before.

How mobile phones can help this to become true?

The first thing I suppose that have to come along with a mobile phone is internet access that we all need as air and water in our lives

In that case it will be possible to install different educational applications via internet access and have them in your mobile phone using them in the street, in a taxi, and actually everywhere you want. Smart mobile devices are very effective tools and help people out in many situations.

For example I have an electronic dictionary installed in my smart phone and it is very comfortable to look up the word I need on the spot and in every moment.

(Sharples et al., 2007, 225) as cited in Olga & Ake(2012)define mobile learning as  “process of coming to know through conversations across multiple contexts among people and personal interactive technologies”.

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There are many interactive ways to integrate MP in a TEFL classroom that can help to enhance learning skills. For instance,  messaging opinions, google searching simple definitions and info from the internet, making video and photo productions etc.

Though as a teacher I think that using mobile phones in an EFL classroom will have their negative effects a learning process too. For example it is very easy for students to be distracted by games and other entertaining non educational stuff from their mobiles during the class, especially when they are young learners, so I would advise not to use MALL with young learners and do it very carefully with elder ones.
Here is the link to the video of "Ted Talk" about Mobile Learning  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Pmnz7xuOs&list=PL7ECF0A924C502D18