Teaching
Resources
Content
1.
Introduction.
Teaching resources are…
2.
Types
of resources.
3.
General
advantages and disadvantages of e-technologies.
4.
Tips
for teachers.
5.
Distance
learning.
6.
Student’s
fingertips.
7.
Conclusion.
8.
References.
Slide
3
It is frequently said that modern world is full of
resources for learning. Anything that teachers use to assist in teaching is
resource. Teaching resources in
general are a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed to
enhance the quality of teaching and therefore facilitate learning. Teaching and
learning resources provide materials for teachers' professional development and
for students in the classroom.
Slide
4
They may be physical
(board, book, poster, video projector, chart, ...) or conceptual and methodological. When we refer to web
teaching resources we are talking about the different kinds of materials and
tools that we can find on the WWW, with the same purpose of improving the
quality and efficiency of learning in activities which make use of those
resources. Therefore, a first distinction can be made between materials, which
provide contents, and tools, which let us process those contents, create our
own materials or interact and collaborate with other people in learning
environments. The type of web resources to be used will depend on the kind of
activity to be developed.
As we know, when we search for contents in the Net, we
can find not only text documents, but images, videos, audio files,
presentations, conceptual maps or documents with a diverse kind of
interactivity and graphic or multimedia combinations. Whatever their form of
presentation, in my view, there are three general types of web materials for
educative use:
Teaching
materials.
They are usually created with a curricular didactic
aim and may include different kinds of documents and activities: practice
exercises (grammar, vocabulary, skills), tutorials, simulations, games, etc.
Authentic
materials.
Their communicative or social function is authentic;
they haven't been modified or adapted for teaching purposes. They can be used
as a resource in discovery based learning activities and web tasks for language
learning.
Reference
materials.
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, concordances
online.
Web tools
used as a teaching and learning resource can be classified according to its
function:
Navigation
|
Content syndication
|
Search
|
Communication
|
Office online tools
|
Learning management systems
|
Social Bookmarking
|
Social networking
|
Multimedia edition
|
Didactic materials authoring
|
Slide 5
Teaching
and learning materials accessible via the Internet are
printed
materials - worksheets
that are intended to be downloaded and used in a physical form in class or for
self-study. These would normally be materials created on a word processor and
available in formats such as .doc, .rtf, and .pdf
online
resources - any type of
teaching / learning material that is accessed and used online. Examples include
quizzes that you do on a website including variants such as online matching and
ordering activities; reading, audio and video material and pictures that can be
viewed on the computer or projected onto a screen in class
book
cross references -
references to specific pages and units in ELT course, resource and reference
books.
Slide
6
Resources should correspond three main criteria: be
updated, be authentic and have most communicative value. According to British
Council, criteria of evaluation materials from the Internet are validity,
pre-learning volume, heterogeneity, challenge and interest. (a video “Choosing
and using resources with ESOL learners”
by Dot Powell, manager of the British Council) http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/choosing-using-resources-esol-learners
Slide
7
Resource collection provides the best support of the
learning process. It is addressed especially to teachers and students. There
are needs of ordinary teacher/pupil who seek to improve himself. Digital
resources help not only learn the minimum of educational level but also
motivate for independent learning to study the subject deeply. Purpose of
resources is to broaden the level of a teacher/student, develop the ability to
find information, analyze and implement in practice, to respond quickly to
innovative experience, to design, to experiment, to distribute, etc.
Slide
8
Internet as a language learning source is not only an
immense network of contents with multimedia facilities, but also a
communication technology that promotes interaction with other people and the
media, providing the conditions for a more socio-constructive, cooperative and
student centered kind of learning, which takes into account the learners needs
and fosters her or his autonomy
It is important to incorporate modern technology in
classrooms as a way of preparing students for the outside tech demanding jobs
& tasks. Now every job will require some skills of technology, so it is
important to bring this technology in the classroom than what we think and to
also incorporate it into the all educational curriculum.
Slide
9
Using
the Internet in professional activity
Organizing work to study the pedagogical teaching
experience;
Exchanging of experience by means of on-line
communication (Internet tele-conferences, forums, chats, emails, etc.);
Information support of the expert who is working under
his research work;
Promotion / presentation of experience (the web-pages
of educational sites and some web-sites);
Studying
theoretical material and practical experience;
Training pedagogical staff to;
Multimedia learning support.
With the increased use of technology in our daily
lives, it has forced students to demand for their right to use technology in
the classroom. Many schools and teachers have been reluctant towards
integrating the use of technology in their education circular. Out of school,
students interact with various technological tools like tablets, computers,
smart phones which can be used to simplify the way they learn. Their is a great
tension on which technology should be used in schools, students have their
needs , but also parents and teachers are debating on this particular subjects.
For the teachers, it will demand for technical
training, so that they get to know how to use technology in the classroom. Some
of these educational technologies like computers or smart whiteboards are easy
to learn, but the trouble is mastering how to use them for more than just one
function to meet both the teacher’s needs and student’s needs.
As the world develops, new opportunities are coming up
and for our students to get a chance to compete in tomorrow’s demanding job
market, they will need to know how to use technology in various ways, and this
has forced them to demand for the use of technology in schools so that they get
prepared for tomorrow challenge.
Technology can simplify the way students learn both in
the classroom and out side the classroom. It makes education mobile and
flexible, so in this case, students can have a chance to study from wherever
they want. Technology makes education more personal, because students will have
the ability to make research and read on their own at anytime of the day. So
lets see how students are using technology for their personal use, and how can
schools take advantage of their technical know how.
They use Tablets to read news and watch
videos: Tablets are flexible and easy to use, since they have the
capability of accessing internet from anywhere, it is very easy for students to
find information they need on instant. So, how can schools and teachers take
advantage of this? In my opinion, I think teachers can also jump on the same
technology and offer their students course work and other academic information
via these tablets. For example, a teacher can create a classroom blog, where
they post notes and assignments for students; they can even suggest e-books to
download to aid the student’s research on a specific subject. On the same
classroom blog, a teacher can integrate video and image illustrations on
specific subjects, this can help students learn easily.
They
use smart mobile phones listen to audio books: All smart phones can access internet and they have a
big storage hardware which can store downloaded audio books. Many students are
downloading these audio books for their personal use. You can simply listen to
an audio book as you’re exercising or doing some other activity. Audio books
simplify the way we learn, for example, a student can download a novel and
listen to the author as they attend to other activities. So, how can schools
and teachers take advantage of this technology? In my opinion, i think teachers
can create audio notes which students can download and listen to at any time.
This can simplify the way student’s access academic information and it also
improves the way they learn. The private
business community has invested money in mobile educational applications which
can be downloaded on mobile phones, most of these mobile Apps , can allow
students to access digital libraries.
They
use internet to connect with friends: Students spend most of their time connecting and
sharing their personal lives via the internet. Social networks like
Facebook.com enable students to discover their old friends and also connect
with new friends. So, how can we use the social network technology in our
education system? In my opinion, schools or teachers can use educational social
networks like ”Piazza.com” to interact with their students. On Piazza ,
teachers can manage course works , monitor students’ performance , assign
course work to students and students can use the same platform to ask questions
and get answers on instant. Platforms like Facebook can connect teachers with
their students in a social manner.
In conclusion, students are not waiting for teachers
or their schools to integrate technology in their classrooms, most of these
students are taking online courses which can prepare them for tomorrow’s
technological competitive world.
Slide
10
TYPES
OF TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE CLASSROOM
1.
Use of computers in the classroom.
Computers have evolved and they have changed the way
the look and the way they function. Nowadays we have both desktop computers and
portable computers commonly known as notebooks or laptops. New technologies
have also emerged and birthed some new computer related gadgets like the iPad
or Galaxy tablet. These computers can be used by teachers to assign work to
students and study groups in a classroom. Also teachers can use visual related
subjects which help students to learn easily. Modern computers come with
installed applications which can help students study well. For example,
students can use internet explorer to search the internet, they can use word
processing application to write notes. Teachers can also help their students to
learn complicated applications on these computers as a way of making it easier
for students to learn and also make the teacher’s job easier.
2.
Creating class websites and blogs.
It is very easy to create a website or blog using
WordPress or any other content management software. Teachers can create class
blogs were they post assignments. If the school has no website sever to host
these class blogs, the teacher can use free website hosting services like
wordpress.com or blogger.com. Via these platforms, the teacher will create a
blog under a sub domain of that host. For example, matchclass.wordpress.com, so
students will find all academic assignments via that blog. It is very easy to
manage and post data to a blog, because they have simple HTML editors.
3.
Use of digital microphones in the classroom.
Big classrooms
are characterized by endless noise, so teachers can resort to these wireless
digital microphones. The microphone will transmit the voice to the loud
speakers and every student will hear their teacher clearly. This helps the
teacher not to strain their voice while trying to explain points to their
students. These digital microphones are not too expensive so even a small
income generating school can manage to buy a wireless microphone for every
classroom. Also students can use the
same microphone when asking questions to their teachers in class, or when they
are explaining a subject to their fellow students during a classroom debate.
4.
Use of mobile devices.
Teachers and students can use smart-phones for
academic purposes in the classroom. Mobile learning is becoming so popular. It
is similar to e-learning or long distance education. Though its based on mobile
phones. M-Learning is convenient because it is accessible from anywhere. Mobile phones are very light yet they can
also have the same application a simple PC can have, a student can access
academic information like assignments via an educational mobile application
(APP). Teachers can tell their students
to use mobile apps like ‘‘PIAZZA‘‘ to access course materials and also to post
questions about specific subjects, all this can be done in the classroom or
outside the classroom.
5.
Use of smart interactive Whiteboards.
Modern smart
white boards have a touch screen functionality, so the teacher can illustrate
points using a pen or their finger. Using a projector, teachers can display
visual images on these white boards which improves the learning process.
Students will learn more easily with visual images. Also students can use a
white board to draw, write or manipulate images. Smart whiteboards come in various sizes, the
wide ones are better, because they can show a lager image and can also be used
by two students at a time. Most of them are electronically powered , so they
can be switched on with a button, and they can also save teachers work for
latter use.
6.
Use of online media.
Teachers and
students can both use online streaming Medias to learn in the classroom. With
the aid of a projector, computer, internet and a white board, a teacher
displays a real-time example using sites like Youtube.com. This website has
videos which can be used for academic reference. Let’s take a simple example on
how an English class can use technology. Teachers can show grammar activities
and its impacts. YouTube videos will cope with this task. This type of
illustration will attract the student’s attention and they will learn easily.
7.
Use of online study tools.
Online study
tools like ”Dynamic Periodic Table”
(ptable.com) which can be used by Chemistry students in keeping elements apart
, ”Foldit” (fold.it) this tool can help biology students easily understand
basics about proteins. ”Mathway” (Mathway.com) this helps math students solve
math challenges, students can simply select a subject and hit solve, the
equation will be solved by the tool. All these academic tools can improve the
way students learn.
Slide
11
Why
Is It Important To Use Technology In The Classroom
Students interact with technology, so integrating technologies
into classrooms will simply make it very easy for them to learn. Teachers have
to learn how to use latest new educational technology so that they also
simplify the way they do their Job. Technology provides educators with the effective
ways to teach and reach different types of students. Technology can also bond
the relationship between teachers and their students. Because teachers will
have to interact and guide students on how to use this technology, and it will
also bring teachers closer to students, since these students can use technology
platforms to ask questions and get instant answers from their teachers.
Using
the Internet in professional activity
Organizing work to study the pedagogical teaching
experience;
Exchanging of
experience by means of on-line communication (Internet tele-conferences,
forums, chats, emails, etc.);
Information
support of the expert who is working under his research work;
Promotion /
presentation of experience (the web-pages of educational sites and some
web-sites);
Studying
theoretical material and practical experience;
Training
pedagogical staff to;
Multimedia learning support.
Why
is it important to use technology in the classroom?
Easy
access to educational materials.
Teachers can use new technology tools like Pizza to
easily answer student’s questions, manage course materials and track student
participation. Also students can access Pizza on their computers or portable
gadgets to access course work assigned to them by their teachers. This saves
time on both sides.
New
Technology Motivates Students.
The use of computers and other new technological
gadgets in class makes students like what they learn. These students are
familiar with these gadgets, because they use them in their daily life for
entertainment, so integrating them in the classroom will make learning fan. As
opposed to getting instructions from a teacher directly, students will prefer
getting these instructions via the computer, a teacher can be emotional which
can irritate the student and stop them from learning, yet a computer is just a
gadget, the student will be in control and they will take information on the
computer more seriously.
Increases
Students Participation.
New
technologies for education like portable laptops and internet allow students to
learn and participate while out of the classroom. Sometime learning from one
place can be boring, so technology makes it flexible. A student can simply
access course material or get involved in a peer discussion using an IPad or a
Galaxy Tablet.
Improves
Students Writing skills.
Computer applications like word processors make it
easy to write and edit notes, these applications also have inbuilt dictionaries
which will help in improving a student’s vocabulary. Also students can decide
to publish their works on blogs were other students can access them. This is
more interesting compared to taking notes in the book with a pen.
Subjects
are made easier to learn.
It is very easy to learn new subjects using a computer
and internet. Many computer applications have been created to make learning of
new subjects easier. Students can easily solve math equations through online
match games and puzzles. Students can easily learn new languages using free
online language translators
Encourages
personalized learning plans.
In this case, students are encouraged to use various multimedia technological
tools to demonstrate themselves in the classroom. In this process, students get
more involved in the process and they learn better.
Slide
12.
Challenges
of new technology for education:
Technology is a little bit complex, so, some schools
and teachers find it difficult to integrate technology in their existing curricula.
In most cases these schools take technology as an additional subject but they
do not integrate it in already existing subjects. For schools to enjoy the
benefits of technology they have to agree and change their curricula, they need
to find ways to integrate it with technology, so that in every subject taught,
students and teachers find great use of technology. Refusing to learn
technological tools and how to use them in the classroom, will leave many
schools backward and this can also effect on the grades of students in those
schools. Some challenges are:
Digital
Divide.
New technology is quite expensive to implement. You
can imagine how much it can cost to have 30 computers in a classroom of 30
students. Some schools can not afford that luxury. Public schools use less
technology in the classroom compared to private schools. Then when it comes to
developing countries, some areas have no power and internet, so it becomes very
difficult to use educational technology. This creates a big gap between the
digital have and have not’s’.
Need
for Training Teacher.
To integrate new educational technology in classrooms,
teachers will have to be trained on how it works. To some extent this is a
difficult task, because we are used to teachers teaching students not them
getting taught. Most of them have less time to learn new technologies. As for
the students, they will find it difficult to learn these technologies without a
guide from their teachers.
Lack
of Professional development.
To a great extent, the lack of professional
development and support has acted as a barrier to the effective use of
technology in education. In many schools, teachers feel unprepared to learn and
integrate technology in their classrooms. Yet for students, they have the
knowledge of using this technology for educational purposes. There is a lack of
training programs to teach these teachers on ways they can use technology to
simplify their job and also make it easier for their students to learn better.
When it comes to remote schools or low level classes, teacher will act as a
link between students and technology, because these students are not well
informed on how to use technological tools like computers in the classroom. So
if teachers have no training skills on using technology for educational
purpose, then students will also miss out on these skills. This is a common
practice in public schools, because private schools are business entities which
are operated on competitive advantage, so they emphasize the use of technology
in the class and their teachers are well trained and well equipped with
technological tools for education.
But what is stopping teachers in public schools from
using technology in classrooms and education in general. Basing on my personal
research, it is the lack of technological tools in schools, lack of
technological training and support and inadequate professional development.
Resistance
to change.
Another barrier of using technology in education is
‘’Resistance to change’’. Some teachers have refused to change from the old way
of doing things, and please, do not quote me wrongly, because this is a
personal choice which might even cost you your job. And if you’re a teacher
reading this article, it means you even know how to use technology, but you
have intentionally refused to change the old tactics. Using technology in the
classroom can be so demanding during the first phase of introduction because
students will always need your help, and this scares many teachers, but in the
long run, each student will know what to do, and your work will be simplified.
Also teachers and schools give so many excuses for not using technology in
their education circular, these excesses include, not having enough computers,
not getting enough technical training, then other teachers argue that the
process of learning technology and how to integrate it in education take too
much time, then there others, who feel that technology might replace them, so
instead of losing their jobs and old methodology of teaching, they refuse to
use technology in education.
Lack
of Innovation.
The lack of innovations has also acted as a barrier To
the Effective Use of Technology in Education. Using technological tools
requires a certain degree of creativity. Some people learn easily without any
help from a technical personal, while others will take a while to master how to
use specific technological tools and integrate that experience towards solving
a problem. The most challenging thing about technology is that, you do not stop
at learning how it works and how to use it. But you must also find ways of
integrating it in most of the things you
do on a daily basis. So if you learn how to type and save data, you must also
find ways on how that skill can help you in other aspects. Technological tools
are designed to do more than just one task. Now that our level of learning,
understanding and integrating is different, some teachers will shy away from
the use of technology for educational purposes.
Access.
The lack of effective access to technological tools
has also acted as a great barrier towards the effective use of technology in
education. Many schools and teachers have no accesses to technological tools
like smart whiteboards and projectors which can be used in visual illustrations
in the classroom. Some schools do not have enough computers and they even lack
access to internet which can be of a great use in academic research and remote
learning.
Slide
13
What
is Distance Learning?
Have you ever tried teaching someone who is far from
you? Do you think it is possible to organize an effective Language course
outside classroom settings?
With the development of modern technologies the views
towards teaching and learning have changed a lot. You may agree that though the
effectiveness of distance courses may be lower. But it is becoming more and
more popular all over the world. Many top universities are suggesting distance
courses on different subjects. Thus, what may be the outcome of a distance
language learning course?
The main two types or varieties of distance learning
are: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous distance
learning occurs when the instructor and the learner are in different places,
but they have the class on the same time. Asynchronous distance learning occurs
when the learner and the teacher are far from each other, and they do not have
a scheduled class at a certain time. For this kind of courses it is possible to
use wall-commenting, wiki, etc.
So distance
learning is a way of learning without being in regular face-to-face contact
with a teacher in the classroom. In the UK
• More
than 270,000 undergraduate students are taking their first degrees via distance
learning, together with some 108,000 postgraduate students.
• In
recent years the advent of the internet and widespread use of the computer has
led to a huge growth in distantly delivered tuition and study.
Slide
14
At undergraduate level distance learning usually means
students engaging with learning materials at home or work.
• These
materials are produced by the university, college or learning provider and are
either sent directly to the student or more usually today accessed via the
internet.
• Tutorial
support is provided via a virtual learning environment, telephone, email or
other electronic means.
• There
may be occasional face-to-face meetings with tutors.
As for teachers, distance learning offers them the
chance to gain vital qualifications and experience for their career from the
comfort of their own home.
Home study is becoming more and more popular as it
allows those who cannot attend a traditional classroom environment to learn new
skills whenever and wherever they wish. Exams need to be taken for your
distance learning experience.
According to the UK
Slide
15
Traits
in common.
1.
Natural Learning Content
Reading a generic textbook and answering
fill-in-the-blank questions isn’t a natural way to learn, and good online
classes stay away from such formulaic materials. Instead, they try to engage
students with content that is a natural fit for learning about the topic.
Here’s a smart test for determining if content is worthwhile: would a
self-directed learner interested in finding out more about the topic want to
use that book / website / video if he or she knew about it? Would the content
be something an expert in the subject would recommend to an interested stranger
at a dinner party if asked? If so, it’s probably the kind of content good
online classes always include.
2.
Student-Friendly Pacing
Good online classes know how to pace the assignments
so that students are neither bored nor overloaded on any given week. These
courses are specifically designed so that plenty of time is allotted for
working on major projects and that minor assignments keep students engaged in
the meantime.
3.
Sense of Community
The best online classes are created with community in
mind. Students are welcomed into the course and feel free to interact with the
instructor and their peers in a friendly atmosphere. There are several ways
that community can be created in online classes. Some include off-topic
discussion boards where students talk about everything from last week’s
football game to their favorite recipes.
4.
Smart Use of Multimedia
No one wants to scroll through hundreds of pages of
text documents – that’s simply not how we’re used to experiencing the web. Good
online courses enhance learning by including videos, interactive activities,
podcasts, and other multimedia elements. To make multimedia use successful,
these elements must always have a solid purpose and must be done in a
professional way (watching a home video of a professor adlibbing dryly about a
topic is certainly worse than just reading the content as a very long text
document).
5.
Self-Directed Assignments
As much as possible, good online classes provide the
opportunity for students to make up their own minds and take responsibility for
their own learning. Some of the best courses allow students to create their own
projects or focus on an element of the topic that they particularly enjoy.
These courses try to avoid being overly scripted and instead give adult
learners to construct meaning on their own.
6.
Ease of Navigation
What makes sense to the original course creator often
doesn’t make sense to students that are trying to navigate through an online
course. Good courses are usually reviewed by several outside parties to ensure
that students can easily find what they need and work through the course
without unnecessary confusion.
7.
Additional Roads of Exploration
Sometimes, overloading a course with too many “extras”
can be confusing to students. But, it’s still helpful to give students ways to
learn more outside of the prescribed curriculum if they choose to do so. Good
online courses provide supplemental ways for students to keep learning, but differentiate
that from the core content so that students aren’t overwhelmed.
8.
Appeals to All Learning Styles
Not everyone learns the same way. Good course make
sure to appeal to visual, kinesthetic, and other learning styles by providing a
variety of multimedia content and carefully designed assignments that help
students learn in the way that works best for them.
9.
Technology That Works
It’s sometimes tempting to overload a course with
flashy tech elements or have students sign up for dozens of outside services.
But, good online classes avoid this temptation. Instead, good courses include
carefully-selected technologies that are reliable and fully supported. This
helps students avoid the panic that comes from encountering a required program
that just won’t run or a video that just won’t load.
10.
The Element of Surprise
Finally, good online classes usually tend to have
something extra that gives them that additional "oomph." It’s clear
that designers of the best courses think outside the box. They avoid giving the
students the same bland experiences week after week and surprise them with real
opportunities to develop their thinking and grow as a learner. There’s no
formulaic way to do this – it’s the effort of designers thinking about what
works and carefully crafting content that makes learning meaningful.
Slide
17
Whether you are a teacher or a student you’ll find
available resources and opportunities to be involved into distant learning.
Slide
SMRT
Distant learning by Canadian college.
Smrt consists of five different levels. Each level is located on its own site,
separate from the other levels. The Smrt
curriculum begins at the 110 level and is followed by 115, 120, 125, and 130.
Inside every level there are 12 units. Inside each section of a unit, you will
be presented with a list of different activities. Inside each activity page, you may come
across embedded videos or sound files.
Slide
19-20
English
at your students' fingertips
What advice do you give your students when they ask
how they can improve their English? One thing that teachers often advise is
that students need to immerse themselves in the language: listen to lots of
English, frequently revise vocabulary, study the language and understand how
the grammar affects meaning.
There is a lot the teacher can help with but for
students to really get ahead, time spent in the classroom is not enough; they
need lots of practice outside class too.
It is very important for a teacher to consider what
students are doing outside class and provide guidance on improving their
English. This goes beyond setting homework and should include highlighting
tools and resources that students can use to develop their English skills every
day.
In many situations around the world students at
secondary level and above have access to smart phones which offer a wide
variety of apps through the app stores that can help. One good place is
developed by the British Council with our world-renowned content written by
teachers and mobile learning experts.
That’s why, we are going to look at the LearnEnglish
mobile apps available from the British Council.
You may already be aware of the apps, but you might
not have downloaded them yourselves or shown them to your students and
explained how they can benefit their English.
The British Council offers a number of apps that
together provide a holistic range of tools that can really help improve your
students’ English. There are apps which provide listening practice, learning
tools which can be used to study vocabulary and grammar and also some games for
an entertaining approach to learning.
Slide
22
Gone are the days when the teacher stood in the front
of the classroom and lectured while students simply took notes. Today the
classroom is an interactive world where the teacher as well as the student is
engaged with technology. Because today's young people are hooked up and plugged
in all of the time, whether it is with text messaging, iPods, social networking
websites and more, it is important that teachers find a way to engage them on a
technology level. Technology in the classroom is doing just that--keeping
students stimulated by using the latest and greatest inventions in computers
and digital media.
Slide
24
References
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/online-video-elt
http://oipopp.ed-sp.net
http://englishtips.org/
http://www.eun.org/teaching/support
http://smrtenglish.com/smrt/
http://supersimplelearning.com
http://www.teachit.co.uk/resources
http://americanenglish.state.gov/
http://www.useoftechnology.com
http://www.canada-english.com
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