The Role of Technology
There is without a doubt that technological software has transformed education in various ways. It modified the way we teach but as Bernard in Business Insider quotes: "The real purpose of education is for the brain to be empowered with information…[and] We're teaching students to learn to think, to learn to learn, and to critically assess a situation." From this perspective, the role of teachers remains vital. Technology is used to assist in teaching and its use can provide educators as to whether students are struggling. Technology doesn't replace good teaching. I've met many teachers without using technology because its suitable for the learners' needs. This is particularly true with older students that needed the writing practice and used to reading from the paper.
Pictures are worth a thousand words.
Certainly, technology has its benefits. I am currently teaching a beginners' ESL class and some students have no English language and I don't speak their native language. Hence, I used many pictures and started with building vocabulary. With technology, I can show pictures on the screen and clips of situations for role playing.
Some instructors may feel that connecting with students outside working hours may potentially turn hazardous. Yes. That is true. Usually dangers speak from the mouth but that’s only if you let it happen. Sometimes accidents happen. So all in all, you may not be comfortable with it and wouldn’t use it. It’s a personal choice so there’s nothing wrong with it. However, if you are ambitious and considering more options, social software may be a branding tool that you might not want to miss
Use of twitter, WeChat - I began using WeChat as a communication and sharing tool. I would send voice and text messages in English to students. I can post links to websites or class folder on Google Drive so students can have that extra practice.
In my Masters' course, my peers and I discussed the importance of collaboration and community building. Throughout the process of community building, we expand on character development - promoting ideas of responsibilities and acceptance. It also builds rapport so everyone is supportive of learning.
I have taught in various classes with different students and sometimes a student or two will have problems or overly-critical. Luckily for me, I have a majority of supportive students. They motivate the critical students to try and continue forward.
Recently, I am teaching a student at the beginners' level. From his wife, I understand he used to have a high status job. Hence, he sometimes feel depressed of his learning ability. With these students, I find they have less confidence, highly critical of themselves, and have a strong mentality. A lot of praises is necessary and time for them to digest the material. Unfortunately, the class size and mixed levels is not working well in the classroom. He needed time to write while others are very fast at completing their task, demanding another pace. Hence, I have separate lessons for low levels and the higher levels. I am thankful that there is technology to help students translate or help instructors show video clips. I can juggle between one group of students watching videos and helping the other group with their reading/writing activity.
One of the software I like is https://naturalreaders.com/ . Any texts that does not have any recording, I can paste the text to this website and download the recording. It saves a lot of time. I also recorded a conversation by pasting the speech of one person to the website while I act as the other speaker.