Dear All
Last week was a fruitful week to me. I learned two important things.
First, I learned how to make the best comment on the blog. The rubrics for the comment provided me an idea to make a post more critical and engaging. This has made me feel that our own day-to-day experiences/stories have a great impact on the emergence of a new theory or knowledge. Related this idea is the importance of a respectful language – the language that respects others’ ideas. I learned that, as a member of a group which is working for the same purpose, we should respect others’ opinion. However, we should not only say someone said this or that but also contribute to the discussion putting our own ideas which invite opinions from others.
Second, I learned how to create a blog at www.blogger.com. This is the simplest tool to post ideas. For this you should click the URL and create a blog. Then give a title to your blog and fill in the field for URL (I have put ‘pphyak’) which you will be sharing with other friends. After this you only need to follow the instruction to finish the process. You can also upload your photos and create or edit your profile. When I saw my own blog created I was excited.
At the same time, the readings in the last week made me contemplate about the possibility of using such technological advancements in language teaching. Being a teacher I am excited to use a blog for my students. But when I reflect on my own context in Nepal, there is no electricity in majority of places and most of the students do not have even an e-mail. A serious issue is that not only the students but also the teachers have such an assumption that the use of technology is a matter of a specialist’s skill. They think that using technology is not the job of the teachers but of the technicians. Such an assumption is a challenge in my context. What other colleagues think about this?
With regards
Prem Phyak
Nepal
Hello, Prem!
ReplyDeleteI've read your post and asked myself, why is he so pessimistic? What country is Nepal? Are there really problems with electricity, so how do they live?
I've searched some information about your country, I read wikipedia site and some other sites for turists. Actually, I understood that Nepal is quite undeveloped country, but it is the brilliant place for turists. I love mountains, so I'll love you Motherland also.
And now about your question about using technology. If you are working at school, it means that it is an official institution with some equipment, stuff and administration. Maybe you live in the capital - Kathmandu, and have Internet at home. Anyway, in few years electricity and computers will come to your country, and you will be ready for this. Do you remember Deborah's favourite quote: "Computers will not replace teachers, but teachers who know how to use computers will eventually replace those who do not". I think it is the best answer for your question - who has to use technology - teacher or technicians. Today you are the agent of changes, you are already!!!
Hello, Prem!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, I don't consider you to be a pessimistic person, only a realistic one. I also know some examples like Nepal. In Ghana, for instance, their school is under a tree or any type of roof sheltering them from rain. This is the reality in some parts of the world, unfortunately.
I read a very interesting article not so long ago stating that only 1% of the world's population know how to use a computer. That's sad, but true.
Hello Ruslana
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I agree that Nepal is a wonderful country in terms of its natural beauty. You are also right to say that many tourists come to visit Nepal. Thanks for making a good observation about my country. I am also with you at the point that technology never replaces teachers. Technology is only a tool that can be used for making our teaching more effective. As Stanley (2005), highlighting the importance of blog, argues that the use of blogs encourages students to 'write for a real audience that, apart from the teacher, may include their peers, students from other classes, or even other countries, their parents, and potentially anyone with access to the Internet'. This suggests that technology has created an immense opportunity (e.g. blogging) for enhancing teaching-learning.
At the same time, the word 'access' does have a huge implication. This indicates that we cannot ignore some practical considerations like the lack of electricity or load-shedding, the lack of resources which bar people from accessing technology. Let me give an example, I suggest my students to make of use of technology. Some of them are doing. I would love to teach using power point always. But what makes me sick is that there is a 12-hour loadshedding in winter when I have to take the classes. Moreover, there is no WiFi access in the classroom. Such practical considerations of course may be the real problems for implementing a change or an innovations in our professional life.
I am not being pessimistic in fact. Pessimism is different from realism. As Nadinne said I am telling the reality of Nepal in general. Thank you Nadinne for sharing the facts of the users of internet. I am being cautious by looking at the both sides of a coin. Of course, we are the change agents. But all the changes may be not compatible to all contexts. Despite our interest we may not be able to change. It does not mean that I am against the use of technology, what I only mean to say is that implementing technology requires many things in considerations. All changes should be fit in the socio-cultural context.
Moreover, technology itself may not be useful for learning. The way we use it determines the degree of success in learning. If we do not handle technology properly it may also destroy the creativity of the students. I think it also makes students lazy since they find different materials in WWW with a single click. They may not work in their own. I think this may no bet helpful for learner autonomy.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
Cheers
Prem