Connectivism

Since human beings can no longer personally experience everything to learn what they need, they need to gain information from formed information. In George Siemens’ article, “Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age“ he used Karen Stephenson’ statement “Experience has long been considered the best teacher of knowledge. Since we cannot experience everything, other people’s experiences, and hence other people, become the surrogate for knowledge. ‘I store my knowledge in my friends’ is an axiom for collecting knowledge through collecting people (undated).” Therefore, focusing on connecting to formed information allows learners to learn more from the other people who have the knowledge of their field that they need or want to learn, especially in a digital era.            
However, today, knowledge is growing exponentially and quickly. Therefore, in terms of learning in the theory of connectivism, the needed skills is to draw information outside of our primary knowledge through connection with techonology as well as to recognize whether information is important or not.  That is why educators help learners how to access to more important information. In addition, George Siemens on the video clip “The Conflict of Learning Theories with Human Nature,“  he mentioned that "educators need to find a way to help learners to express their own ideas so that they are able to communicate with the other people." In digital era, as  a educator, it is important what to teach, but, at the same time, it is also important to teach how to learn from the other people through connection and use technology to assess to the people in the world.

Resources:

http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm
Siemens, G.  (2005, January).  Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.  International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Retrieved November 20, 2005

The Conflict of Learning Theories with Human Nature (4:13 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTgWt4Uzr54&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=2 Retrieved January 10, 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism

Tell A Story Using Google Maps

I got a very good idea for teaching storytelling using Google map from Graham Wegner's blog. He said that this is a great tool for creating narratives, histories, mathematical journeys etc. I really liked the idea of using Google map for his story of journey as an educator using Google map. Here’s the link to the story he created as the example of a storytelling.  I think, if students use this tool for making a storytelling, they can present their autobiography or a story of journey very effectively, especially, in a multicultural classroom. Also, I believe that this tool will be very good to get students interested in a classroom.

http://gwegner.edublogs.org/

click for my comment

Pay attention

       It seems what this video is trying to say is that today’s people can’t live without technology and use technology for almost human activity, especially in teaching. I could realize how much students who are digital learners spend time on using technology by looking at the statistics through this video. Also, it made me think about how much I need to use technology in my future classroom. After watching this video, I felt that I need to use technology to teach, reach, and  engage students more effectively.

SLA, Language Teaching, and Technology

Chapter 1 in his book, Blake pointed out that “the process of learning second language other than the mother tongue is an intensive and time-consuming activity” (Blake 2008, 1) by showing the Foreign Service Institute (FSI)’ s estimate. According to FSI, it takes from four to six years to reach functional proficiency in a second language. Most SLA theorists agree on that, in order to make the process of L2 faster and more effective, L2 learners need to contact with the target language more, and formal L2 teaching is often unsuccessful because learners did not received sufficient input in the target language in EFL context or even in ESL context. Therefore, Blake suggested that technology can offer not only efficiency, but also sufficient input in both ESL and EFL context.

Blake argued that learning language is best learned and taught through social interaction. For example, interaction of learners and their interlocutors, and mutual comprehension of each other’s message meaning assist language learning. Therefore, he suggested that online websites, applications and CDs and computer-mediated communications (CMC) via networking functionality and technology will be good tools to assist learning language.

I also agree with Blake’s argument that L2 learners need to contact with the target language as much as possible through social interaction of their peers and instructors with technology tools. When I compare my current English proficiency with that of past four years, it has been improved a lot. I could learn English from Facebook, text messaging, online website, and movies etc. As a person who is planning to teach English in Korea, I am willing to use technology in my future class so that my students can contact with English as much as possible. I believe that it will help students learn English effectively.   


Blake, Robert J.  & Dorothy M. Chun.  (2008)  Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning.  Washington, D.C. :Georgetown University Press

Three ways that teachers could use blogs in their teaching

TESOL Standard: English language learners communicate for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes within the school setting. 1. Teachers could provide extra reading practice for students.

Usually, the teacher is the only person who reads students writing. With weblog, students can learn from their peers’ writings which are well written. Also, they can help each other by positing their comments.

2. Teachers could encourage students participate in class and build relationship between students.

Sometimes students spend time on just studying with the same people without getting to know them well in a large class. A blog is another tool that can help bring students together. Students who are quiet in class can get opportunity to express themselves in a blog.

3. Teachers could provide a place to discuss their opinion out of class.

Students can write about their opinion in a blog. Having a discussion in a blog can promote discussion in class.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/blogging-elt

WEB SAFTY TIPS

-       Be careful in joining mailing lists, some may make your personal information public. Don't provide an address or phone number. The information for which you are signing up is sent to the e-mail address you provide, so they don't need your address or phone number

-       Be careful to give out your personal information, your real name, address, or phone number, or any personal information about your family or friends without their permission.

-       Be aware of offers for free items, get rich quick, or weight loss offers. They may be a scam.

-       Be aware of e-mail from people you don't know or e-mail you weren't expecting. It may contain a virus designed to damage your computer or send your account name and password back to the sender.

You can get more information here:

http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-tips/tips-for-kids.php

http://www.qcc.mass.edu/safety/Internet%20Safety%20Guidlines.htm

http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/internet_safety.html