Distant
Education Technologies
1-
Webinars
A webinar is
a combination of the words web and seminar as Merriam-Webster dictionary
defined the term. It is a live presentation which depends on the interaction
between the speaker and the learners. This technology provides the viewer with a
real time feeling, and it gives them the advantage of asking questions and
getting clarifications and answers which enhances the quality of their
learning. I believe this technology is useful for acoustic learners who have
difficulty concentrating while reading. In my class, I can dedicate a couple of
hours a week for two or three webinars on subjects that learners find difficult
such as certain grammar points, and writing skills. Learners who were absent
during a face to face class can benefit from these webinars as well.
2-
Educational Television and Videos
As the term
suggests, this technology depends on using television as a tool for distant learning.
Educational television shows are either created for specific channels devoted
to certain subjects, or programs that are broadcasted through different
channels. An advantage of this technology is the presence of at least one
television in each household, and viewers (learners) can follow these programs
at home, and they might even record them and watch them later. For language
learning, I can suggest to learners certain programs or videos where speakers
are interacting with each other; the more learners watch the channels and
videos, the higher the chances of fast language acquisition especially when
class time is limited. It can also improve the skill of guessing vocabulary in
context which enhances reading skills.
References
For language learners, educational TV and videos are good for distance learning. The learners can mimic what they have watched and heard. Incidental learning can occur when they watch the TV. Of course they need to practice and apply what they have learned to make the language learning meaningful.
ReplyDeleteHi Ling,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Yes, mimic is exactly what learners are supposed to do. Actually, this is how I learn a language. Besides classes, watch TV and mimic the accent and intonation. Gradually I grasp the concept of the language, and become more confident in using it outside class.
Heba
Do you have your students watch short movies or cartoons? My students love cartoon movies because they are usually short and funny. There are many online Chinese cartoon movies. I show them to the students even during the break.
DeleteHi Ling,
DeleteI let them watch utube videos, or movies. But they asked for cartoons one time.
Heba