Technology has intimidated me for as long as I can remember; I have done the basic networking things such as Facebook, e-mailing and AIM but that is typically it. It used to be the case where I would just tell myself "you don't do anything more on the Internet-why worry about what you don't know" or "there's plenty of time to learn things...later." After reading the first three chapters in Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson, I realized just how much I have been missing out on not to mention how I would be effecting and limiting my future students'. Presently I do not have any teaching experience which may result in some ideas which may not necessarily be practical to implement in the classroom. However, being somewhat naive, I believe they are possible!
I am studying to be an ESL teacher and am quite close to obtaining certification. Throughout my studies differentiated instruction is constantly discussed and often noted as the preferred teaching method. Incorporating blogs into the classroom will not only help draw connections from the curriculum to the students but they would be able to progress at a comfortable rate. I understand that teaching students the details of blogging and the importance of being knowledgeable about a topic would be time consuming--I believe it would be worth it. These students are in a challenging and often times intimidating position both in and out of school; they should be provided with every opportunity possible to be successful. Familiarizing them with technology that their peers utilize daily is imperative. The effort dedicated to teaching these technological resources will be well worth it.
Receiving feedback on blogs from people outside the classroom reminds me of having a pen-pal when I was a child. I got to know my pen-pal by means of hand writing and mailing letters back and forth; I feel that this experience could be duplicated to a certain extent, via the blogosphere. The idea is to cooperate and collaborate with other ESL teachers in that their students would comment on my students' blogs and vice versa. Students would eventually become technologically savvy enough to create blogs independently which would lead to greater focus on writing form, clarity, audience, critical analysis of information, etc. I feel that this could provide ESL students who may feel isolated to create bonds and a community.
In the text scaffolding blogging was mentioned and a research project or something of that sort with a long duration was suggested for older students. In the ESL field I feel that a beginner would be intimidated by such a task regardless of age. I think a task of that magnitude would be best suited for students who are at the advanced level, but that doesn't mean that intermediate level students wouldn't be able to do something similar. From reading Richardson's text, I believe that blogging daily on a subject does cause students to become more knowledgeable due in part to the fact that the audience will hold them accountable--something students should learn at an early age. Such an activity elicits confidence due to acquiring knowledge and increases one's language capabilities.
Richardson has indicated that blogs are a type of website and that it "can include graphics, photos, video and audio files" (2010, p.19). The first four New York State ESL standards are met by taking advantage of this technology in the classroom and depending upon the activity the fifth cultural standard can be also. Students will listen, speak, read, and write in English for... is how the first four standards begin. All of these tasks can be accomplished using blogs with students! Students will demonstrate cross-cultural knowledge and understanding is standard 5. For some students, even using the Internet may be a cross-cultural activity that is new and will enable them to gain some understanding of American culture.
I don't want my lack of understanding to hold future students back, especially having just discovered what a wonderful and practical tool blogging can be.All in all, I feel that it is time to join the blogosphere!
Your are forming very good ideas about how to use the internet with your future students.
ReplyDeleteDr. Burgos
I really agreed when you said that “beginner would be intimidated by such a task regardless of age.” Because I only imagined my students who were 6th graders and accustomed to using computers at home, I did not think about an adult English learner, who had lived without a computer at all. I found it definitely important that we, as ESL/EFL teachers, care about students’ skills of using computers and their Internet environment in order to give all students equal opportunity to study a language using technology.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, I also believe students would eventually become technologically sufficient enough to make use of it as a useful learning tool. So, teachers should not have them keep away from technology but encourage them to use it for their future profit.
I completely agree with your statement regarding your personal knowledge of technology. I feel the same way, that I will have time to learn more. Unfortunately, more and more teacher candidates are not only familiar, but fluent with various modes of technology for the classroom. I think that is essential to force ourselves as 21st generation educators to learn the present-day possibilities that technology has to offer and begin utilizing them. My attempt at using a social networking site with my students did not turn out perfect, however, my effort made me more confident in trying something else in the future and also was way ahead of my colleagues. I love that this course is absolutely submersing ourselves within technological opportunities that we may have otherwise shied away from.
ReplyDeleteThe blog as a pen pal has so many possibilities. I mean not only can two people share what is going on in a blog but they can share links, videos, and pictures much easier than if they were doing it through the traditional letters. It gives students (and people) the opportunity to connect on a different and more immediate level. If I see something that I want to share with my "pen pal" I can do it more immediately with blogging.
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