Social Networking Group: Learning with Computers

     There are many social networking groups available for teachers, but the one I checked out was called Learning with Computers.  This groups site is a place for foreign language teachers to post what they know about integrating computers into the classroom.  Teachers can then read each others' ideas about how to best use computers in teaching students a foreign language.  This seems like a great place for L2 teachers to post and take knowledge from each other about technology to make the classroom a better place for learning.

A Teacher is like a...

     A teacher is like a "Surrogate for knowledge", connection maker, database for learning, and social mediator.  Teachers can and should be all of the above according to Siemens.  In the article titled "Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.  International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning", Siemens discusses the idea of connectivism.  This is basically that using new technology, all ideas, principles, and knowledge are linked through networks.  Siemens says that "nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning".  The teacher must help students to make the connections, be it online on social networks or other learning websites, so that the students can learn more knowledge.  There is so much knowledge and information out there in this new digital era and it "needs to be connected with the right people" (teachers) "in the right order to be classified as learning".  Teachers need to therefore give students the access they need to all of these great sources of information to connect them to so much useful knowledge.

    

     Siemens continues to explain his theory of connectivism through a video titled "The Impact of Social Software on Learning".  In the video he says we must "learn from each other".  Teachers have to give information to students, the Internet can give information to students and teachers, and students can even give back information to teachers.  Also, Siemens says that we are social beings, we enjoy conversation, and this helps us to grow in our knowledge.  This means that by using social software we can have conversations about learning with other people ("forming networks with each other") and this can increase our knowledge base. 

 

     Overall, I think Siemens gives some great ideas in his article and the video about connectivism.  It makes a lot of sense that we can gain knowledge from one another.  Just because you are the teacher does not mean that you have to have all the information, but you can use the Internet and other sources to share with each other and provide more important knowledge to your students.

Ways to Memorize Vocabulary (according to Kristen Winkler)

     The site that I commented on was Kristenwinkler.com and the name of the post was "How to memorize vocabulary?"  The author gives five methods for learning, memorizing, and practicing vocabulary in foreign languages.  The five ways are: internet vocabulary drills, social learning websites, language programs by broadcast companies, video lessons, and by singing.
 

     I think there are some great ideas here!  For me the best way of learning vocabulary was doing flash cards (the old way though, paper cards and a pen).  I think actually writing the flashcards is just as useful as studying the cards, so this might be more effective than some of the websites.  I haven't had the chance to use social learning websites but I imagine it would be very interesting and effective.  I have used video lessons and songs in my classrooms and these are great ways to practice vocabulary.  Lastly, lanugage programs by broadcast companies I do not know much about but I would love to learn more about and use in the future! 

Here are some links to websites that could be usefule for memorizing vocabulary (taken from Kristen Winkler's blog):

• http://wordchamp.com/

• http://leo.org/
• http://livemocha.com/

• http://babbel.com/
• http://dw-world.de/
• http://bbc.com/learningenglish

• http://deutschhappen.com/

Use Technology to Teach

     I just had the chance to view a youtube video about paying attention to your students.  The video gives some statistics that may shock teachers.  The average college graduate has spent over 10,000 hours playing video games, 10,000 hours using a cell phone, and 20,000 hours watching television. 
     But what do teachers do in school? We do not allow cell phones, iPods, or other technological advances in our classrooms.  This is a mistake.  Instead of banning technology, we should let students use it to create in the classroom.  Technology can be used to write, research, and learn about many different topics. 
     I know it seems surprising and possibly detrimental but the use of cell phones in the classroom may be the future of teaching.  I have already heard of schools that use cell phones in some advanced classes as sort of clickers for students to buzz into their answers.  This saves the school money on buying clickers and gets the students interested in the class because they can use their cell phones (for an education reason, of course).  This has to be done with great effort though in order to prevent students from using their phones for texting or other uses.
     In my student teaching experiences, many students asked me if they could listen to their iPods while working and as much as I know this may have helped them I had to say no due to the school's policy on iPod use.  Personally, listening to music helps me relax and do my work, so why can't my students do the same thing?  There is no good answer to this.  If the students are working and learning then let them use their technology as a tool, not as a hinderance.

Summing up, technology such as the internet, phones, and iPods need to be used in the classroom instead of prohibited, as they can greatly help students learn while not being a distraction!

Will technology replace teachers??

NO! 

     The simple idea that a computer or the internet could take over for a what a teacher does on an every day basis is just absurd.  And what is worse?  That some teachers are actually not using technology, because they are scared it will contribute to the loss of their jobs.  Teachers must realize that someone has to "teach those distance learning courses, write the curriculum, and train students to work within this format" (Blake, 14). 

     The reason we are becoming foreign language teachers is to best equip our students with the tools necessary to learn a second language.  Clearly, using technology is a major asset to their success in learning a language.  There are an infinite number of technological resources that can help students learn a second language, such as "the web, CD-ROM/DVD, and CMC" (Blake, 14). 

     We, as foreign language teachers, need to take advantage of all these resources to best help our students.  Not for a second can we believe or even worry about our own jobs.  We are there for the students, not for ourselves.  Our jobs are safe and technology will enhance our classrooms!