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TEIS AR Newsletter Spring Issue 3

7 Are you ready to Integrate Technology?

Teaching has changed dramatically in the 21st century with the advent of Web 2.01 tools
like wikis, blogs and podcasts just to name a few. New technologies have changed the
landscape of information and knowledge. Learning in this scenario poses new questions
for us teachers. Anyone with access to Internet has the ability to create videos, text and
audio that can be shared with a global audience. How can teachers be inspired to
gradually start incorporating Technology in their daily teaching? Internet has become a
big challenge for teachers and if used correctly is an empowering phenomenon.

But most teachers internally ask themselves why should I start using technology. My
only answer to this interrogation is that Technology is here to stay. Integrating
technology is not putting computers in the classroom without teacher training.
Technology should be used effectively and efficiently to allow students to learn how to
apply computer skills in meaningful ways. Consider the power you have as a teacher to
start sharing students work with a real audience that is considered to be any student
from the world. Below you can observe how teaching methods gradually started
changing.

Traditional Approach Digital Alternative


Note Taking Word processors and voice recording
Formal writing Word processing, emails, blogs, wikis, etc.
Formal Communications. e.g. Letters Email, Mobile phones, Blackberries,
Chats and Forums

Research from Newspapers, journals etc. Online newspapers, Search Engines (eg.
Google, Yahoo etc.)
General research Search engines and directories, webquests
Watching videos Youtube, Multimedia Player, etc.

When I finished my Teacher training studies some years ago I would have never thought
that my students could learn from other students worldwide. Teachers were the only
holder of knowledge and the center of the classroom. Technology has broken down the
four walls of my classroom and has allowed my student to learn English in a real
context. There is no greater rewarding experience than to see student´s motivation grow
to levels one would have never thought. If we want to integrate technology we must be
aware of our “digital natives” students. Teachers must be opened to sharing,
connectedness and Networking.

The other question I heard many teachers asking me is how can they start integrating
Technology. Recently ARCALL (Argentine Computer Assisted Language Learning) has
been launched with the clear goal to help teacher integrate technology. We know that
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Web 2.0 is a living term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web
design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web.
Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and its hosted
services, such as social-networking sites, video sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.
Source Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

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TEIS AR Newsletter Spring Issue 3

there are many compelling reasons to start incorporating technology and that many
brilliant teachers are doing this. ARCALL is a group of innovative language
teaching professionals from Argentina which aims to:

• increase the use of educational technology in EFL (English as a Foreign


Language) teaching,
• collaborate in the integration of ICT in Argentina in ways that are effective and
appropriate,
• assist teachers in integrating ICT into their daily practices and as a means of
developing themselves professionally,
• train teachers on using computers and the Internet in English language teaching,
• develop a Research Area to further apply new ideas into the classroom.

I also suggest exploring other possibilities like teaching in a virtual world. Second Life
is one of the many virtual worlds where students arrive to a virtual island where they
have the chance to practice English in different places of this island for example near
the ocean, at the theatre, at the disco or even in the supermarket. Everything is based on
a communicative approach where voice communication, chat and instant messages are
used. The teacher and the student create their own avatar. There is a huge variety of
clothes you can choose from. You can also be teletransported from once place to
another. Possibilities are endless and as a teacher your imagination is at full swing.
Classes are really visual and dynamic and students have the great benefit of being able
to practice 24 hours.
Another possibility is to create your own blog and share your experience with other
colleagues. As head of a blog, I should say that the journey on how to incorporate
technology in your classes is full of obstacles and rewards. If you are about to create
one, I’d like to invite all teachers who have not already incorporated technology in their
classrooms, to give it a try. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Trad.Prof. Jennifer Verschoor


ARCALL ( Argentine Computer Assisted Language Learning) President

References
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
Any bibliography? No, I created the chart

Biodata

Jennifer Verschoor graduated from St.Andrews Scot´s School in Argentina. Holds


degrees as Bachelor in Educational Management (UCA), English University
Professor (UMSA) and English Public Translator (UMSA). Studied Business English
at University of California Irvine. She is the Director of Teachnet a company
specialized in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in
language teaching. Founder member of ARCALL (Argentine Computer Assisted
Language Learning). She is also a proud Webhead and has been granted a
scholarship to attend WorldCall in Fukuoka, Japan. She is also an Intel Senior
Teacher Trainer. Her emphasis in training teachers to integrate technology into the
classroom started five years ago. Since then has given numerous workshops on

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TEIS AR Newsletter Spring Issue 3

ICT in Argentina, Japan and Germany. Currently she is introducing New


Technologies for the Teaching of English in several learning commercial and
educational organizations.

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