Discuss the advantages and challenges of the use of Modern Technology in the English subject.
With a quite formal headline I will introduce the intension and some of the content of this blog post. We have been asked to write a blog and therefore I intend to take use of some of the characteristics of the genre. This will represent my personal opinions and experiences. Unlike other academic papers I will take the liberty to feel, believe and even make conclusion that is not supported by authors on the curriculum. I know, I’m out on a limb, living life in the fast lane. But as the kids say: you only live once. The digital tools that we now have available in our classroom is such an enrichment to the way we teach that I should be able to make this post easy obtainable and engaging.
So let us start with the reason why I am not writing a proper discussion on the pros and cons of Modern Technology in the English subject. First of; what is modern technology? The oxforddictionaries.com gave me the following definition: “Relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.” The didactics book that is on the curriculum, “English teaching strategies”, gives me a throwback to my days at school. All I am missing is a beautiful narrative of the lovely sound of the 56k modem. If you don’t remember the sound you can push here. This also points to one of the challenges of Modern Technology, it is always changing. The modern is in the present, not in 2004 that was the year this book was written. So how could it be expected that teachers stay in the Modern? Should we concentrate on the teaching what we are familiar with? The pupils will often have more knowledge than the teachers by the age of thirteen. This is definitely one of the main challenges to the use of modern technology. I am always fascinated when I am showing a colleague something on the computer or IPad and she/he finds a note to write down what I am showing. If you are going to use modern technology as an aide when you are teaching you have to be familiar with it. You have to try it out yourself. The pupils have great knowledge in this area, but it is our assignment to guide them through their tasks. We need to stay up to date on Modern technology so we are able to be relevant for our pupils in their development.
It feels kind of strange to comment on the use of modern technology in the English Subject. It is natural to focus on oral skills, but when the pupils are able to make a film or make a recording it spikes the engagement in making oral presentations. If the use of IPad and computers is modern technology then it would be strange to exclude it from the English Subject. As singing a song is a nice way for the pupils to practice their pronunciation using a digital tool is also a way of helping the pupils in the learning processes.
The Teachers capability to use modern technology is a challenge in the use of modern technology. Another is the availability of everything. When you are using IPads and computers you are showing your pupils trust. They have the possibility to find everything. This atmosphere of trust is important to create in the classroom. I once had a pupil that typed in a google search for “naken sex”. My reaction when I checked the log was “oi, oi”. So even if it is an atmosphere of trust, you need to have the technical skills in order to make sure that the pupils do not violate this trust.
But in the end all of these concerns are minor, as long as the teacher is able to conduct their role as leader. And the processes that are being aided by technology have an educational focus. The use of Modern Technology opens up for so many possibilities that all teachers should embrace it. But the focus has to be on engaging the pupils not pacifying by watching a screen. Never forget to ask yourself, why. It is now four year since I had a classroom set of Ipads for the first time. I wonder what the next Modern will be. Will I be able to embrace it, or will I pout as the old man I am becoming???
A small digression in the end or maybe it is the essence of modern. The definition that I cited claims that the modern is in the presence. Last week I received an e- mail from the ICT responsible on our school. All the children have access to their personal gadget. With this in mind I will claim that the digital revolution of the classroom is no longer the Modern Technology. The modern, or the future, is in the didactics of the subject. How should we combine the ways of doing assignments with collaborative software and the classic views on learning? How do we keep the kids writing skills when writing is so easier on a digital platform? How should we arrange the classrooms when the focus is on problem solving and collaboration? The emerging of more and more digital solutions in the classrooms changes the focus to a more student- centered education. This will have to change our conception of the teacher – student relationship. And maybe that is the current Modern, the teacher as a facilitator of learning processes and no longer the main source of knowledge in the classroom.
Bildet er hentet fra: https://www.slideshare.net/npedro/redesigning-classrooms-for-the-future