2 - Using Web 2.0 Tools w/ English Language Learners (ELL's)

Good evening!  Please accept my apologies for getting this week's post out a little late.  Because of this, you will only have one response question, not two.

Last Thursday, I asked you to read Chapter 1 of our textbook for next week.

This is an outline of the chapter based on what is most relevant for our class:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xgsGJr743Y83YP4RHMdYlNRnQ0jXBJGvqsGYeq2Ru-0/edit?usp=sharing

Please make sure you understand the concepts covered in the outline, and make sure you are familiar with the vocabulary as well.

This week's discussion will be related to Chapter 1.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:

The information in this textbook can be applied in any properly equipped EFL classroom worldwide, but it is written more for a US audience.  The first chapter introduces both benefits and challenges related to the implementation Web 2.0 technology in the English classroom.  Pick one of these benefits or challenges, and explain why OR why not it is relevant to English education in Chile.

Welcome!

This blog exists to provide information and discussion space for the Audiovisual Aids in English Teaching class.

Media, links, and information posted here will help you prepare for your next class.  It will also help you review the course material, for example, before the written test.

Homework assignments will also happen here.  You must (1) post a response to the questions posed in the post and (2) respond to at least one other student's response.  The responses should be real responses - not just one or two sentences saying nothing.  Tell us what really interests you about this week's post.  If you're not interested in the post, or if you don't like the material, you can say that too - but say why.

Do not post any personal information about yourself or anybody else on this blog.  We are all adults, but one must always be careful.  Even more importantly, we must conduct ourselves in preparation for teaching primary and secondary school classes using Web 2.0 tools.  This is a situation in which privacy and safety concerns are highly sensitive.  Getting accustomed to these concerns beforehand is crucial.

Syllabus:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwh5RYgTnifwZjBLM2E3TlZyNTg/view?usp=sharing

AV Aids Very Basics:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwh5RYgTnifwT2lVeWF1NGZtTlk/view?usp=sharing

1 - Web 2.0 in Education Around the World

(1) ENLACES - Centro de Educación y Tecnología

As Chilean educators, it will be important for you to know what resources are available in this country.  Please take a look around the Enlaces website:

http://www.enlaces.cl

Look through the videos on the homepage under "Estrategias de uso" and "Habilidades TIC para aprendizaje."

This class is has a broad focus, and we will not spend a lot of time covering education topics specific to Chile.  However, these topics cannot be left out, and programs such as Enlaces, as well as the Chilean national curriculum, will be present in our work.

(2) KHAN ACADEMY - One-World Schoolhouse

Let me say it right away - this is not directly related to AV tools.

It is, however, all about using Web 2.0 technology to revolutionize education.  Please watch this TED talk and pay particular attention to Khan's ideas about using technology to "humanize" education.  Technology is often thought of as dehumanizing, but Khan presents an interesting argument that it can be the opposite.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

(1) Enlaces:

What is Enlaces?  How might you use the resources it provides as an English teacher in Chile?  Do you think the available resources will be useful to you?  Give one example of a resource, explaining why or why not (why or why not it would help you).

(2) Khan Academy:

What do you think of Khan Academy (feel free to be honest)?  What does Salman Khan mean when he says that this technology can help to humanize education?