Distance Learning

The articles that I have read and the video that I have watched spoke about the role and the main benefits of distance learning. So, what is distance learning? Distance learning is a field of education that delivers teaching to students who are far from the teacher and are making use of various technologies, like Internet, DVDs, and CDs to fulfill their learning.

Nowadays distance education is being used across the world. From high school students to those who are involved in high education, corporate trainings and lifelong learning. It is well-known that Internet connects people all over the world. Today Internet supports education in the form of virtual classes. The virtual teachers mentioned that they established more personal relations to their students, identified their main strengths and weaknesses more quickly and got to know them better than in traditional classes. Besides, online courses are there to help those students who are busy and can take those courses anywhere and anytime if there is internet access. Moreover, virtual classes offer students the opportunity to take courses that are not available in their schools and to fit their own schedules.

Thus, educators point out that virtual classes are not for everyone and one has to be highly self-motivated to take some courses and learn on his/her own. The main disadvantage is the lack of   social interaction between t-s and s-s.  

Distance language learning courses have been developed over the past years. First of all it is crucial for learners to develop the ability to engage with aspects of the learning context without direct mediation from the teacher. Distance language learners must develop the habit of controlling their own learning and constantly writing tests to check their progress.

Finally, distance learning has totally changed our perceptions of how teaching and learning should be. Its main goal is to improve the course via technology and improve the quality of education. Moreover, distance learning provides learners with new opportunities and new perspectives. The learners become more self-directed and autonomous as compared to face-to face-learning as they face the role of a teacher and participate in learning experiences that match their individual learning needs.

Open Educational Resources

The discussion on Open Educational Resources that we had with our guest speaker was very informative and meaningful. Before the discussions we had to read an article and learn about OERs from different sources. As far as I could understand the mission of OERs is to provide all kind of learners with digital materials for teaching, learning, research, etc. Here are some examples of OER: quizzes, tests, syllabi, lectures, textbooks, different activities, variety of games, etc.

OER is widely used across the world. The main advantages are the following:

ü  It focuses on learner involvement

ü  It creates space for individual learning

ü  The students are to choose from various resources on their own

ü  It supports lifelong learning

ü  It saves time and effort

ü  It is flexible in selecting from a wide range of materials for teaching and learning

ü  It promotes critical thinking and problem solving

However, learners should be very careful in choosing materials and try not to violate copyright laws. Naturally, face-to face interaction equals to zero.

There is some OER development in Armenia. Our speaker mentioned that there were no major changes in that direction as many OERs faced challenges, like mentality, lack of quality and financial support, etc. Thus, I do hope that the success stories that she told us and the overall movement that was going on in that direction would bring the desired results.

Mobile-assisted Learning

Mobile technology has become one of the most frequently used communication device. According to Liz Kolb, the 21^st century generation learners are free-agent learners as they learn anywhere, anytime and at any pace. Therefore, many researchers and educators talk about the use of cell phones as social tools that support authentic and relevant communication and cooperation among learners.

One of the advantages of this technology is that all learners have them as they are cheap and very powerful in giving and receiving information. The articles that I have read and Liz Kolb who is an expert in mobile assisted learning emphasize the use of mobile phones in EFL classrooms and introduce different ways of applying these devices for EFL learning/teaching purposes. I found many advantages in using cell phones in learning. Here are some of them:

ü  Enhances students engagement

ü  Takes the learning from inside the classroom to outside

ü  Gives access to online textbooks, dictionaries, podcasts

ü  Enables students to go beyond the classroom material

ü  Students can interview people

ü  Take videos in class and outside of it

ü  Download interesting things related to the topic

ü  Listen to EFL activities, songs

ü  Share their findings with their peers

Moreover, mobile phones help students to become self-learners, be creative and avoid all types of restrictions that traditional learning sometimes puts in front of them. However, there is a thread that the cell phones may serve as ‘cheating and distracting tools’ if frequently used in the classroom. To avoid that the teachers need to be trained on how to use this technology so that the students can benefit from it and to demonstrate the real purpose of using them in and outside the classroom.

I am an optimist and I think that mobile-assisted learning can be implemented in Armenian classrooms as almost everyone has a phone and if given clear instructions the learners can use them in their learning. To be honest I have used my cell phone as a tool that allows students to listen to different songs or other listening activities. I have not tried anything else, but I think that it will work pretty well. 

Virtual Worlds

Virtual games are very popular nowadays. These games allow people to create new things, to express their opinions and become heroes of their dreams. I am sure that virtual games like second life can have a positive impact on language learning. In the language learning context virtual games help students to communicate with each other in the target language, develop critical thinking, increase motivation and become self-directed learners.

Second life is one of the most popular virtual world games that children enjoy playing. To be honest I have tried to play this game and noticed that it is a very interesting and motivating game. Though I am not a “gamer” but I think the good thing about this game is that it gives you freedom to create your own game and to be creative as much as your imagination allows you. Each player chooses his/her own avatar and interacts with objects in the virtual world by moving mouse. The player can do whatever he/she wants and can explore the environments, socialize with other avatars, travel throughout the world.  

Thus, the articles also mentioned the positive impact of virtual games on learning. According to one of the articles that I have read virtual worlds give chance for visualization, simulation and shared learning experiences. Besides, the learners are excited to do things they practically can’t do in real life and be whoever they want to be. Here the teacher is more facilitator that controller. The students are active learners and use the knowledge gained in the class right away. Therefore, educational institutions need to take virtual worlds seriously as they are the future of education.

Video Games

It was very interesting for me to learn about the benefits and real purpose of video games. All videos and articles that I have read say that video/computer games give more freedom to students to use the new materials in real life and not just learn for knowing or for getting high grades.  Video games allow students to produce their own games. Therefore, they become the designers of technology and they can make it better and better every time they create a new game.

For me one of the main advantages is the fact that the students can make mistakes and they are not demotivated by low grades or teacher’s negative feedback. On the contrary they try even harder to improve the game and to solve the problem in that particular game. Besides, these games are available for everyone. The students or kids just need guidance and they can become from novices into expert designers of video games.

The main goal of the new media is to teach things in new ways and that can apply to all areas from math to language teaching. One of the speakers mentioned that video games are there for solving problems and for getting assessed.  They give the language one needs just in time. In this context words are powerful tools.  

Moreover, video games stimulate both writing and reading. There are many fan fiction sites where one can write a story and get feedback right away. Also, students are put in the world where they have to solve problems together.

The good thing about video games is that the students try on the role of a doctor or a scientist and they feel the position of a hero. Once they care or are passionate about certain things, they do things better and are motivated by failure.

Hence, the parents and teachers should realize that there is other kind of literacy and that the new media is the future of our children.

Video Production in EFL classes

 We live in a century of “technology boom”. As future TEFL professionals we can make use of all technological tools in our teaching. We can make our language classes the most interesting and effective places for students. One of them is video production. It involves both fun and pedagogic instructions in authentic materials that reflect real life interaction. The good thing about it is that it stimulates students to develop their problem-solving, critical thinking skills. By implementing videotaped materials, teachers can create a wide range of language teaching activities. Here are some of them:

·         Interview: Students can interview each other in English on videotape

·         Role-play: Students prepare a dialogue or a conversation

·         Documentary: Students make a short movie about places of interest or their free time

I think video production can be a powerful tool in language teaching if the teachers are aware of its benefits and are trained enough to use this tool in their classrooms. They should be aware of the fact that students become more self-directed and creative learners.