Technology & Learning

This is now in the third week. What I learnt from all the browsing, searching and reading online got me thinking. We are now in the 21th century. Teachers need to adapt to the learning skills of the 21st century. Letting kids explore for themselves and develop, teachers are just guides. Using the right tools to help us present information in an interesting and fun way.

One particular website that I like is http://www.esl-lab.com/. I could modify the materials here to suite the students level. What is great it is already sorted according to the levels. http://www.esl-lab.com/jobhunting/jobhuntingrd1.htm. This is one link that I could use for my future lesson about job hunting (Planning ahead hehe). It would be interesting to see them conduct a job interview with their friends in class as one of their oral presentation. Its great that there are activities for pre-listening, listening and post-listening for the students to do on their own and test themselves. Here students could learn and explore on their own. They could even listen at home when they have internet access. Practice makes perfect.

We need to keep up with them. Having the internet keeps ourselves updated with the latest news, searching for materials, downloading videos and doing research. But still we need to find the appropriate materials suitable for our students.

Here is one video I downloaded from Youtube used in one of my lesson about careers. This one was about the world's most dangerous jobs in the world. Then the students sits in groups and discuss which job would they choose to do. It was quite an heated and interesting discussion as the boys would do the jobs rather then the girls.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OqyQJ-Sj-rY

Videos can use be used as our set induction for the lesson to grab the students' attention. Who would not want to watch something interesting and fun right? Try describing how dangerous a particular job, for example a crab fisherman, to students who never seen one before. Showing pictures may not be enough. Some students need visual stimulus to help them understand.

This week I had to setup a Delicious account. I did not understand the use of such a website. But after crating one, ten I found out how useful it was. Having a Delicious account helps me keep track of websites I can use for my lessons. Letting me write personal comments about each websites helps me to distinguish which sites are suitable for particular materials. It is fun to learn something new everyday.

Now even though technology is easily accessed but sometimes or some places its not available or what is worse is there is no electricity! So I had to make do with what available things are around. There is no internet access in my school, so download videos or materials is the best option. Print out the materials or use LCD projectors in class in another way. Sometimes I revert to the traditional chalk and talk if all else does not work. We have to make use of what is available on hand. Always have an alternative or backup plan handy. What is most important is that students get to learn English in a fun and interesting way. You might be surprise an outdoor excursion can be very very interesting way of learning.