ICT: Its REALISTIC side

Interactive whiteboard: From $700 to 7.500; Visualisers: from £ 200 to 700. Most teachers crave innovative and hi-tech classrooms but taking a glance at the prices of the newest and most attractive technological gadgets leaves us gaping. But take heart! There is a lot we can do within ICT without wasting a single cent.

You know, I firmly believe in the importance of being eclectic and creative teachers. I mean, being able to incorporate as many different activities, ideas and procedures into our classrooms as we can. Of course with the aid of all these gadgets available now this task is much easier. But I feel that the really creative and good teacher is that who can make the most of her lessons without wasting money, who can maximize everyday opportunities and resources to make a memorable lesson. Of course we can’t pretend to go on just working with the coursebook, the board and the tape but we can make use of different tools that the Internet offers without spending money. Have you ever tried Web 2.0? Just in case you have not, Web 2.0 is a platform that promotes interactive information sharing and collaboration. There, you’ll find lots of tools such as podcasts, weblogs, social networks which are free to use. Take a look at it: http://www.go2web20.net/

I was surprised at the great number of free applications available there (though many of them are not restricted to the educational context). There is no doubt that it can take a lot of time and effort to start exploring them but it’s a challenge we need to mount. Challenges are just necessary, they are vital to help us grow and be a better professional every single day.

I think we all need to reflect about the kind of teachers we want to be. Dated? Or keeping pace with some of the many technological tools that are now available? My personal opinion is that the 21st century teacher needs to be a networked teacher, connected with the students in many different ways. How? Well, taking advantage of ICT- and I do not mean using expensive gadgets, just free online tools that can make learning more meaningful and motivating. But as I said in the other posting beware excesses!

ICT: Its UNREALISTIC side

The era of the teacher just aided by a coursebook and blackboard to deliver a lesson is coming to an end. All of us, trainee teachers, are little by little becoming more aware of that because of the importance that some teachers attach to technology as a means of enhancing learning and the booming availability of new resources on the Net. Hand in hand with my increasing awareness of the importance of technology, I started being chased by the acronym ICT almost without interruption. I’m sure you've experienced something similar. Haven't you?

The problem is that this term has been recurring over and over again without me knowing well what it refers to. And although later on I learnt that it means Information and communication technology, I’m not still sure what this umbrella term includes. That’s why here I make a personal synthesis of some of the things I’ve been reading about coupled with my own reflection.

Information and communication technologies refer to any product that deals with electronic information- that is to say, with storing, receiving, manipulating, retrieving and transferring information in an electronic way. This is a simple definition, isn’t it? But rather general, almost vague I would say.
Let’s go a bit deeper. I found an awful lot of tools mentioned as being part of this umbrella term ranging from any application on the Net to the newest hi-tech gadgets such as:

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Let’s concentrate on this aspect of ICT: High-tech gadgets. You know, although the importance of including technology in our lessons is being highlighted all the time, I find it’s by no means easy and within everyone’s reach. Of course I do not mean that we should not include it in our lessons since as we all know, we can no longer avoid the importance of technology in daily life and how appealing it is for the new generation of students. What I find it difficult is the viability of including a variety of these tools because of their cost. They are so much expensive! (Nobody can pretend all of us can afford them with the salary of a teacher!)
Besides, I think we have to be very careful with the inclusion of these technologies in classrooms. I feel we need to be very careful not to take this new trend to extremes. First, it goes without saying that an analysis of the context of the school and the possibilities of the learners need to be taken into account before introducing anything in our lessons. Then, we need to plan specific moments during the class in which to include these technologies. I feel that although students seem to enjoy and have a natural ability to handle technology, they can be overwhelmed by too many activities which depend on the internet for example. Technology abounds in flaws that sometimes make the use of it extremely difficult which the student himself cannot manage. Perhaps until technological gadgets and applications are more widespread and affordable, we need to restrict ourselves to the most basic ICT applications like the computer for example. But mind you, there are still so many schools in our country that do not even have a computer (something which is being commoner to most people) that makes the use of ICT just a dream or an utopia.

It looks perfect, doesn't it? But how many institutes and schools can afford this? A minority, of course. It seems to me that these classrooms are still far from our reality.

Idiomatic expressions 2

More about idiomatic expressions

In the first video I uploaded, the 'Teacher' presented 3 idiomatic expressions: as easy as pie, to be pie-eyed and to have a finger in many pies. This time, I'm uploading a new video which presents: to have green fingers, the grass is always greener on the other side and to be green with envy. Personally, I find these videos extremely useful. You know, It's generally difficult to remember new expressions but it's always easier if you can associate them with some mental representation. And these videos help me make that connection, favouring meaningful and lasting learning. I think I'll always remember these expressions- or at least I will for quite a long period of time.

What do you think of these videos? Do you find them useful? Do you apply any other techniques when it comes to learning vocabulary?

Idiomatic expressions 1

Learning idiomatic expressions

There is no other way to improve vocabulary than reading extensively or listening to any available material. But that is not always enough. I need to do something with the input I find interesting if I do not want the bulk of it fading away shortly afterwards. Searching on the net, I found a series of videos which teach some idiomatic expressions in a catchy way. A pity to miss them!

Here, I will be uploading some of the videos in this series. Please, devote some minutes to listen to them! I find them particularly useful and engaging, a good mix not easy to find.

Blog and weaknesses

Well, thinking about our hectic and tight schedules,I want to take advantage of this space working on things that really help me improve. I've already said that among some skills and aspects of language that I still need to sharpen, I know I need to widen some aspects of vocabulary. So,in pursuit of this end, I will start working on one section about idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases.