Are You Ready to Integrate Technology[1]

8/14/2019 Are You Ready to Integrate Technology[1]

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TEIS AR Newsletter Spring Issue 3

7 Are you ready to Integrate Technology?

Teaching has changed dramatically in the 21st century with the advent of Web 2.01 tools

like wikis, blogs and podcasts just to name a few. New technologies have changed the

landscape of information and knowledge. Learning in this scenario poses new questionsfor us teachers. Anyone with access to Internet has the ability to create videos, text and

audio that can be shared with a global audience. How can teachers be inspired to

gradually start incorporating Technology in their daily teaching? Internet has become a

big challenge for teachers and if used correctly is an empowering phenomenon.

But most teachers internally ask themselves why should I start using technology. My

only answer to this interrogation is that Technology is here to stay. Integrating

technology is not putting computers in the classroom without teacher training.

Technology should be used effectively and efficiently to allow students to learn how to

apply computer skills in meaningful ways. Consider the power you have as a teacher to

start sharing students work with a real audience that is considered to be any studentfrom the world. Below you can observe how teaching methods gradually started

changing.

Traditional Approach Digital AlternativeNote Taking Word processors and voice recording

Formal writing Word processing, emails, blogs, wikis, etc.

Formal Communications. e.g. Letters Email, Mobile phones, Blackberries,

Chats and Forums

Research from Newspapers, journals etc. Online newspapers, Search Engines (eg.Google, Yahoo etc.)

General research Search engines and directories, webquests

Watching videos Youtube, Multimedia Player, etc.

When I finished my Teacher training studies some years ago I would have never thought

that my students could learn from other students worldwide. Teachers were the only

holder of knowledge and the center of the classroom. Technology has broken down the

four walls of my classroom and has allowed my student to learn English in a real

context. There is no greater rewarding experience than to see students motivation grow

to levels one would have never thought. If we want to integrate technology we must be

aware of our digital natives students. Teachers must be opened to sharing,

connectedness and Networking.

The other question I heard many teachers asking me is how can they start integrating

Technology. Recently ARCALL (Argentine Computer Assisted Language Learning) has

been launched with the clear goal to help teacher integrate technology. We know that

1Web 2.0 is a living term describing changing trends in the use ofWorld Wide Web technology andweb

designthat aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web.

Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and its hostedservices, such as social-networking sites,video sharing sites, wikis,blogs, and folksonomies.

Source Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Webhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Webhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_siteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_siteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_sharinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_sharinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folksonomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Webhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_siteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_sharinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folksonomy


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there are many compelling reasons to start incorporating technology and that many

brilliant teachers are doing this. ARCALL is a group of innovative language

teaching professionals from Argentina which aims to:

increase the use of educational technology in EFL (English as a Foreign

Language) teaching, collaborate in the integration of ICT in Argentina in ways that are effective and

appropriate,

assist teachers in integrating ICT into their daily practices and as a means of

developing themselves professionally,

train teachers on using computers and the Internet in English language teaching,

develop a Research Area to further apply new ideas into the classroom.

I also suggest exploring other possibilities like teaching in a virtual world . Second Life

is one of the many virtual worlds where students arrive to a virtual island where they

have the chance to practice English in different places of this island for example nearthe ocean, at the theatre, at the disco or even in the supermarket. Everything is based on

a communicative approach where voice communication, chat and instant messages are

used. The teacher and the student create their own avatar. There is a huge variety of

clothes you can choose from. You can also be teletransported from once place to

another. Possibilities are endless and as a teacher your imagination is at full swing.

Classes are really visual and dynamic and students have the great benefit of being able

to practice 24 hours.

Another possibility is to create your own blog and share your experience with other

colleagues. As head of a blog, I should say that the journey on how to incorporate

technology in your classes is full of obstacles and rewards. If you are about to create

one, Id like to invite all teachers who have not already incorporated technology in their

classrooms, to give it a try. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Trad.Prof. Jennifer Verschoor

ARCALL ( Argentine Computer Assisted Language Learning) President

ReferencesWikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0Any bibliography? No, I created the chart

Biodata

Jennifer Verschoorgraduated from St.Andrews Scots School in Argentina. Holdsdegrees as Bachelor in Educational Management (UCA), English UniversityProfessor (UMSA) and English Public Translator (UMSA). Studied Business Englishat University of California Irvine. She is the Director of Teachnet a companyspecialized in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) inlanguage teaching. Founder member of ARCALL (Argentine Computer AssistedLanguage Learning). She is also a proud Webhead and has been granted ascholarship to attend WorldCall in Fukuoka, Japan. She is also an Intel Senior

Teacher Trainer. Her emphasis in training teachers to integrate technology into theclassroom started five years ago. Since then has given numerous workshops on

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0


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ICT in Argentina, Japan and Germany. Currently she is introducing NewTechnologies for the Teaching of English in several learning commercial andeducational organizations.

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Are You Ready to Integrate Technology[1]