Going back to one of the websites we analysed as part of our first practical work (Discovery EDUCATION) I found some interesting information about Web 2.0 Tools. As part of the description of these kind of resources, they mentioned: user-friendliness, creating and sharing, editing, all these anytime anywhere because another characteristic is that the content to be generated is online. Taking this into account, and the fact that in this way it's much easier for the teacher to create a sense of community among his/her students, my opinion is that it would be great to use some of these Web 2.0 Tools in our classrooms.
However, we have to be aware that not all schools in our city have the resources one needs to work this way. BUT. As one of my students during my Teaching Practices told me (in a derogatory way) after my saying that I wouldn't ask them to work with computers or with the Internet because I knew that not all them have those at home, "There are places to go and pay to use PCs!"
Later on I realised that he was right, the second week they even made me part of their Facebook group and I could keep in touch during the week with all of them!
And that last thing I said is also important to consider. We, as teachers of English, might only meet our students once a week and having some other medium to do it several times after that is quite an opportunity, one we shouldn't disregard.
I was thinking particularly of edmodo. This website I was talking about at the beginning characterises it as a Community Tool because it enables 'teachers and students to communicate, collaborate and share work.' What we do for this subject! And now with the new version that is going to be released the possibilities offered are going to enhance our work even more.
References
http://web2012.discoveryeducation.com/web20tools.cfm
http://blog.edmodo.com/2012/09/04/introducing-the-latest-version-of-edmodo/
Hi Farah! I totally agree with you on the importance of keeping in touch with the students during the week as we generally would see them once a week. Anyway, as you pointed out, not everybody has a computer with connection at home and it's true that there are places to go and pay for using the computer. However, it's not that easy. I'm in charge of a group of kids in my church and I've created a group on facebook to keep in touch with them and post some news, but not everybody has a computer and as they're kids their parents don't allow them to go to cybercafés. It really works with teenagers and they love it. But with kids we should take more things into account. Perhaps, we should tell their parents in advice that we'll be working in that way so they'll allow them to go during the week just to check if we've uploaded sth.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you've been able to connect information you found when dealing with our 1st PW and actual experience with what we're doing now!
ReplyDeleteFacebook, Edmodo, or any online platform or social network, if used properly, can indeed provide a valuable 'place' where to meet learners frequently, and give them more opportunities for learning in a 'classroom without walls'!
You are right, Alejandra, with kids it wouldn't be appropriate to work this way in certain contexts. However, I was always thinking of secondary level students (the thing is I never mentioned it. :P )
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you, Letizia! I loved that of "learning in a 'classroom without walls.'" :)