Thing 4: Techno Lingo
July 7, 2009 by greghd
The word “blog” is not yet recognized by spellcheck on my computer. I find this unforgivable since computers and their software are updated so frequently these days. For heaven’s sake, programmers should at least include their own terminology even if they may overlook the lingo of other fields.
As a language teacher, I’m particularly interested in the ethnographic inquiry of blogging language centered around writing and reading. And not surprisingly, my students need more practice in these two areas of communication because these are key elements of academic. Technology opens up an interesting middle ground between speech and writing that is particularly valuable to my second language classes. It provides a place for language development in a shared space. It allows more connection between speech and writing. And the web links classroom discussion and dialogue from day to day.
Previously looked at blogs and websites within my field of ESOL teaching, but the blogs from our course list opened up new thoughts. Three I found most valuable were EduBlog Insights (Anne Davis) , Discourse About Discourse , and NeverEnding Search. What I liked about each of these was their attention to the use of language and how their thoughts paralleled my experience with students use of techno-tools.
In Anne Davis’ “A Rationale for Educational Blogging” her brevity and focus were particularly useful. She reminded me that when I ask students to write blog posts they should be brief. When we read online we’re looking for a quick fix. That’s OK. Leave the longer more in depth readings for books. Blogs should not replace books.
In Discourse about Discourse, Ben Wilkoff writes about the need to contextualize the use of web resources within an environment of interested learners. Several of his points rang true for me but especially his notes on collaboration. Both educators and learners “have a genuine need to be heard by others and, in one way or another, receive feedback for contributions.” The value of the public sphere of writing is that your classmates and the teacher can make comments that everyone can appreciate and learn from. Commenting, complimenting and critiquing are skills that need practice as well.
Lastly, Joyce Valenza Ph.D touches some key issues in my classroom in her blog called “Power Point Reform“. She writes about limiting language on PP slides so that the presenter can truly present and the slides can provide visual support of concepts, not words. I appreciate her insight because my students more often than not use PP slides as presentation notes. Instead, I tell my students that speaking is still the most important part of a presentation and the slides merely allow you to focus audience eyes away from you but their ears are still relying on your speech – slow, clear and directed at them.
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Hi Greg,
All 3 of the blogs you spoke of hold important elements and skills for today’s classrooms. Anne Davis’ blog post gives teachers a list of reasons how and why blogging can be used in the classroom, but I find the important message, relevant to all classrooms and materials used is:
“Teachers need to address writing for a public audience, how to cite and link and why, how to use the comment tool in pedagogical ways, how to read web materials more efficiently as well as explore other ways to consider pedagogical uses of blogs. Blogging requires us to teach students to critically engage media. Students need instruction on how to become efficient navigators in these digital spaces where they will be obtaining a majority of their information.”
Putting aside blogging for a moment, students need instruction in critically analyzing any of the resources they choose, particularly from the Web – who is the author of this information? what is their motive for publishing on the Web? to inform, to sell? can the information be verified in other sources?
And they also need instruction on “digital citizenship.” Students need to know that what they publish on the Web is a reflection of themselves and it does not go away. Rather than the Internet providing an “anonymous” platform, it provides a very public platform, and therefore students need to take care in posting/publishing only what they would want everyone – prospective employers, college admissions offices, you, their grandparents – to see.
How is your trip going? I was wondering if we would be hearing from you with the turmoil going on in China and Internet service being cut in some areas. Thanks for sending the pictures and sharing your trip! How is Jenny doing with her Chinese?
Take care,
Leslie