Can microblogging be used for teaching ESL/EFL learners?

While in the midst of trying out my new Twitter and Plurk account, I can't seem to stop thinking about the different ways of utilizing microblogging in a ESL/EFL classroom. Since I am still new to this, I've decided to look for more information online.

While browsing around, I came across a very informational blog post by Mr. Nik Peachey. In his post, Mr. Peachey mentioned that he conducted a Twitter vs. Plurk competition. After 6 weeks of trying out the two microblogging tools, Mr. Peachey went on to crown Plurk as the winner between the two. He also provided a video clip to further explain the reason behind his decision. Additionally, Mr. Peachey suggested ways for ESL/EFL teachers to help their students by using Plurk. Some of the suggestions that I found useful were creating sentences for students to correct, sending out words and asking students for responds, sending images to students for description and also creating a collaborative story with students. I also like the fact that Mr. Peachey included suggestions for students to use Plurk as part of their learning process.

After reading Mr. Peachey's post, I have no doubt in my mind that using microblogging tool such as Plurk can definitely enhanced the language learning process for my ESL/EFL students. However, I think it's important to keep in mind some of the privacy/spam issues that Mr. Peachey's mentioned in his post when using microblogging tool. Nonetheless, I am glad to have read up on some interesting ways on using microblogging with my future ESL students.

Until next time...

How can we promote the use of technology in our classroom?

When talking about the use of technology in the classroom, some of the things that comes to my mind are things such as computers or the overhead projector and etc. Although some schools might have more advanced technology or softwares such as the smartboard or inspiration, I think most American public schools will have at least one or two computers in each classroom.

As I was reading through some of the new RSS feeds that I've recently subscribed, I came across a very interesting edublog http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/ by Doug Johnson. Mr. Johnson is the Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Public Schools as well as an adjunct faculty member at the Minnesota State University. He has also published several books and conducted workshops on education and technology in many places. If you are interested to learn more about him, please visit his bio at http://www.doug-johnson.com/bio

In his recent post, Mr. Johnson mentioned an article from the Teachers Magazine titled The Case for PEDs. The author, Jennifer McDaniel, talked about the use of PEDs (personal electronic devices) in her classroom during students' independent study time. The article is directly related to a post Mr. Johnson has written in his blog back in 2005. The post has a rather long name but you can read it at http://snipurl.com/3tnpg [doug-johnson_squarespace_com]. In this post, Mr. Johnson mentioned the issue of schools or educators banning the use of mp3s or ipods because of various reasons. Mr. Johnson made a case to argue that if schools were to ban things such as ipods and mp3s, then they should probably also consider banning things such as pencils.

Though I can't speak for all the educators out there, I for one can say that I was taught in the 'papers and pencils' era and so I am still pretty uncomfortable with the idea of utilizing fancy technology during instructional time. However, as I began to explore and learn more, I also started realizing the benefits that these technology can bring to my students. Furthermore, the main idea behind technology is to save time and improve efficient so having them in the classroom can definitely help teachers and students to have more valuable "teaching/learning moments."

Until next time...

How can we practice Connectivism through Social Networking?

After reading George Siemens' learning theory on Connectivism, I've realized that one of the best way to practice that theory is by doing what we all do best, social-networking. I've found some social-networking websites that might be useful to ESL/EFL teachers and learners.

http://www.englishbaby.com/
English Baby! is a fun and useful networking site for those who wish to learn or improve their English language proficiency. The website also provide English lessons through videos or on-line postings. Members can also create their own lessons right on the site and post it for others to view. Members can create profiles and find friends from different parts of the world to chat or practice the language with. Signing up for this site is free though you get to enjoy more benefits by becoming a Super Member! I didn't really check to see how well monitored this website is in terms of contents so I'll definitely suggest introducing this to students with proper guidance.

http://eslresources.ning.com/
ESL/EFL Resources is another networking website I came across while browsing using www.ning.com. Although the site indicates only 4 members so far, I was drawn in by the amount of information and resources available on the home page of this site. I immediately became a member so that I can have access to materials such as game activities and many ESL/EFL internet links provided by the author. In order to access this site, you'll need to sign up to become a member.

Hope you find these useful and feel free to let me know of any current/active ESL/EFL social networking websites that you have come across.

Until next time...

What is my take on George Siemens' learning theory on Connectivism?

After spending six years of elementary education in Malaysia, I've always believed that learners walked into a classroom as 'blank slates' with no experience or knowledge of their own. Because I was educated in a very traditional teacher-centered classroom environment, I really thought that was how education must/should be like no matter where I learn. Even as I was entering the teacher preparation program during my junior year in college, it was still very difficult for me to accept any other kind of educational philosophy or theory because that was the way I learned and I got through elementary, junior high, high school and college just fine.

That was me then.

In his article, Siemens stated that:
Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning

of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a

right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information

climate affecting the decision. (http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm)

Today, I believe that a learner is like someone who's about to purchase something from a vending machine. This may sound like a weird analogy but I can't think of a better way to describe the decision-making process than referring to an action that many of us are very familiar with (especially if you're a student at University at Buffalo!).

Just as Siemens mentioned, learners do not automatically process all the information that they're exposed to. We, as learners, have a tendency to pick and choose what we want to absorb and construct our meaning using the new information we chose. Perhaps I should provide a scenario to help clarify what I mean:

Imagine yourself in a foreign country where there are a limitless number of vending machines available no matter which way you turned (i.e. Japan). Now, imagine that all the stores in that country have been replaced by these vending machines and there are no one around (you are alone in an isolated country operated only by machines). This means that your only way of obtaining any type of necessities such as food, clothing, toothbrush etc. would be through you purchasing something from the machines. Sounds easy enough right? Sure, but there's only one problem. What if all the machines are programmed in a foreign language? Also, you would need to know how much to put into the machine since they only take exact change. The only available resource you have is your laptop and a manual which gives you all of the information on the different types of vending machines.

As a learner, I'll need to decide on the type of new information I want/need to learn in order to solve the dilemma that I am currently facing. The incoming information that I am receiving are 1) the foreign language on the machine and 2) the different type of currency that I'm holding. Certainly, I'll only want to know/learn information about the language and currency from the manual or the web. Although interesting, I wouldn't have time to learn about how or when the machines were made or why aren't there anyone living in this country and etc. At the moment, I'll be too concern with getting what I need than learning about the history of the country. After successfully purchasing what I need for the day, I felt extremely relieved and satisfied that I've learned some new words and how to use the correct change. The next day, I found out that the words I learned yesterday did not correspond with those from a different machine. Thus, in accordance with Siemens' learning theory,a new learning process will begin with me choosing what I need to learn since the answer I received yesterday has been altered by today's new information climate.

My notion of learning as well as teaching has definitely changed throughout the years. I strongly agree with Siemens that decision-making is indeed a learning process. This might not be related to Siemens' theory but I once heard of a traditional custom (http://snipurl.com/3p3wo [abcnews_go_com] ) where even a baby was required to make a decision on the his/her first birthday. It was said that by the time the infant is able to open up his/her eyes, the parents would present him/her with various things (pen, calculator etc.) which would ultimately determine the child's career path for the future. This goes to show that decision-making (learning process) have begun even before we're consciously aware of it.

So, let's continue to make learning process meaningful and don't forget to have some fun while doing so! :)

Until next time...