Week 4: Technology Enhanced Lesson

What technology is appropriate to the class?

How to apply the technology to the class?

While I was making the technology enhanced lesson plan, I kept asking the above questions to myself. There are tremendous of technology and information all over these days. However, it is hard to find materials for students according to: student’s level, class environment, and target skill or integrated skill that teacher wants to teach. Technology could be an answer to find the appropriate materials; in contrast, it could be another burden to the teacher. Therefore, the teacher should take a resposiblity to carefully select the technology and resources from the 'sea of information'

Breaking News English (http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/) will become breakthrough for students and teachers in learning reading. To know this website is the greatest present I had this week! The Breaking News English offers various reading materials according to student’s level, and provides a number of activities that teachers could apply on their class. I strongly recommend the website:)

Week 3: How to teach Aural/oral skills?

 On this week, I read one of the articles about CALL for listening skills, and take a quick look at some of the lesson plans. The article is about how to teach listening skills by utilizing various technologies. The notable point of the article is that the authenticity of materials is critical for teaching and learning language.

“Authenticity” It IS a beautiful word! However, I always have a question if all authentic materials are appropriate for classes. Thanks to Robert and colleagues who left comments to think, I have a chance to consider it more:

To expose students on authentic English is definitely important for students in all levels. On this process, I believe the teacher takes the role to choose or distinguish which authentic materials are proper for specific level of students; This is why we keep exploring a great deal of websites for us and students. Also, sometimes the teacher needs to refine the materials according to academic purposes for learning particular functions of discourse. “Authenticity” is important, but the teacher has to provide comprehensible input which challenges students a little beyond their existing proficiency.

More and More websites and technologies I’m learning these days! I am happy to know all of them, but try o remind myself of H.Douglas Brown saying: Use technology to support the pedagogical goals of the class and curriculum. That is, don’t design instruction to fit the technology…Technology is a tool and we must remember that CALL includes the word assisted, implying that technology is not the main event in a classroom.

Thanks,

Hyeyeon

Welcome

I've never imagined that I could make a blog! Although utilizing high-technology is no big deal anymore in my generation, I'm quite poor at it compared to my other friends; and this is one of big reasons I decided to take this course. I hope I could be a better technology user for my future class and my students through the course. Therefore, creating my own blog is really amazing start for me! Thank you for giving me a chance to challenge myself with new adventure. 

Sincerely, 

Hyeyeon Ahn