I had to read Warschauer & Meskill again because I had forgotten all of the new ideas they introduced in their article. There were so many things I liked about it, and to make this post short, I will list them and comment briefly:
- Technology is been used since the Grammar-Translation method. Awesome to consider the blackboard as a piece of technology, this teaches us that there are more things than computers and internet.
- Computer-Mediated Communication in a classroom has three main outcomes: first it makes possible a more equal participation; second it has students notice the input provided from others, and with this they incorporate such imput in their messages; and third it promotes the use or more complex aspects of language.
- The computer is a machine, not a method. Self explanatory.
- Seeing the way technology has melted into the daily life, it is necessary to teach elementary things such as how to write an e-mail.
- "INTELLIGENT use of new technologies usually involves 1/3 for hardware, 1/3 for software and 1/3 for staff SUPPORT and TRAINING.
- Integrating new technologies is definitely a trial-error process.
- Finally success in using technology in the language classroom does not rely on hardware or software but in "humanware", which is the capacity teachers have to implement effective educational activities.
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3 comments:
Diana,
Your blog looks great! I, too, will use pictures in my future posts.
I haven't read what you posted, but I will.
I especially liked your last comment. And certainly in this era, netiquette is very important, e.g. re e-mail writing. One of my pet peeves is when students address me as just "Smidt" when they begin their e-mail, not "Esther" or "Dr. Smidt," just "Smidt." That seems so rude to me!
Hey, nice points you extracted from our reading!!
I seem to have a problem with one of your extracts, though.
As Dr. Smidt said, your last point is invaluable. But I hope you [and the writers] are not under estimating the importance of hardware and software. Incapability of both will definitely lead in to chaos.
To me the teacher is one of the important elements in the class. My advice to you, and any teacher for that matter, is never to rely on one element of the classroom.
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