Instructional Technology

Teaching and Learning Through Technology

Instructional Technology refers not only to the computers and projectors many use in their classrooms, but also any kind of technology that educators use in their research or teaching.
English Instructional Technology has changed a novice teachers’ thought that it gave some mode to teach in different way. In this case, the teacher can be used technology in process of teaching and learning. In learning of EIT, the novice teacher have gotten some knowledge, for example, how to use technology in classroom activity, some E-Tools, Qummin's quadrants, relationship instructional technology and instructional media, and also some knowledge about media and technology which can be used in teaching and learning process.


Moreover, not only study about technology, EIT also study about educational technology. Educational technology and e-learning can occur in or out of the classroom. It can be self-paced, asynchronous learning or may be instructor-led, synchronous learning. It is suited to distance learning and in conjunction with face-to-face teaching, which is termed blended learning. Educational technology is used by learners and educators in homes, schools (both K-12 and higher education), businesses, and other settings.

Therefore, EIT has given some the advantages and disadvantages for students and teachers in the classroom. The advantages of EIT, such as to cultivate students' interest in study, creates a context for language teaching, to improve teaching effect, to improve interaction between teacher and student, to promote students' communication capacity, etc. Meanwhile, the disadvantages of EIT, such as the restriction of students' thinking potential, loss speaking communication, major means replaced by the assisting one, etc. However, the usage of technology in classroom activity can give negative effect for students, for example, some students are lazy to write some materials that they learn or they enjoy to use the technology for play a game in learning activity, but it also can give positive effect to students, for example, some students who don’t know to use technology in their activity, especially in learning activity, they can to know how to use technology or how to use media from the technology, etc. The novice teacher can use E-tools as media for teaching. The E-tools which usually used by teachers are e-mail, discussion board, listservs, instant messaging, VoIP, etc.

In conclusion, as a novice teacher should be able to use technology as a media in process of teaching and learning well. There are many kinds of technology that can be used in teaching and learning process. The novice teacher can be used some material and media to teach through technology.

The Importance of Using Authentic Materials in TEFL.

The Importance of Using Authentic Materials in TEFL.

Authentic materials material used in the TEFL‏‎ classroom which was originally created for native speakers of English. The use of authentic materials in TEFL classroom is what many teachers involved in foreign language teaching have discussed.  It also allows the teacher to create the content of the lesson more specifically to your class needs and interests. Authentic materials, on the other hand, are real in the sense that they are not created for students as the target audience but for native speakers. Most of the teachers throughout the world agree that authentic texts or materials are beneficial to the language learning process, but what is less agreed is when authentic materials should be introduced and how they should be used in an EFL classroom. There are some advantages and disadvantages to use authentic materials in TEFL.
 

The main advantages of using authentic materials are (Philips and Shettlesworth 1978; Clarke 1989; Peacock 1997, cited in Richards, 2001):
1)    It has a positive effect on learner motivation.
One of the main points of the advantages of using authentic material is to give motivation to the students for study. They can consider which the authentic materials is easy or not, but authentic material is easy to find out, and to use for students’ native speakers to learn.
2)    It provides authentic cultural information.
The next points, it gives to students some information which relate with culture. It means that the material provides cultural information, but the information is authentic and appropriate with real life not manipulated or make false.
3)    It provides exposure to real language.
Then, the authentic materials uses real language to helps students understand the materials and they can feel enjoy to learn the subject what they are learning. Students also enjoy and interest to learn if the subject contains of real language. In this points, the authentic materials provides exposure to real language.
4)    It relates more closely to learners ' needs.
After that, learners’ needs are important for teacher to use authentic materials in their materials. The authentic materials appropriate with learners’ needs, it is closely to learners’ needs. Students have some need to learn, automatically they want to easy to understand the material that they are learning. So, authentic materials can give ease for student to learn.
5)    It supports a more creative approach to teaching.
Last, authentic materials is able to give chance for teachers to create some materials to teaching. It also can support the material of teacher that teacher have created to teach.
 

On the other hand, the obvious advantages of using authentic materials, of course, is that by using authentic materials teacher present students with actual everyday language, just as it appears in real life. There are a lot of authentic materials like reading, newspapers, literature, video, TV, surveys, guest speakers, cultural quizzes / tests, role plays / dramatizations, songs, anecdotes, travel brochures, menus, catalogues, real estate pamphlets, phone books, CDs, the Internet, illustrations and so on.
 

Martinez (2002) mentions that authentic materials may be too culturally biased and too many structures are mixed, causing lower levels have a hard time decoding the texts. Richards (2001, p. 253) points out that alongside with these disadvantages of authentic material :

1.    Authentic materials often contain difficult language,

2.    Unneeded vocabulary items, and

3.    Complex language structures, which causes a burden for the teacher in lower-level classes.

The advantages and disadvantage of authentic material comes from real-life context. Authentic materials usually use by the teacher to teach for non-native speakers’ students, for instance, the use of authentic texts in classrooms. The teacher can use text to teach their students. Their students’ here is nonnative speakers. The use of authentic texts in classrooms is important as it performs a lot of functions:

•    Widening and reinforcement of language knowledge;

•    Language material training;

•    Development of abilities in oral speech;

•    Development of abilities in written speech.

Working with texts, a teacher can use the following exercises:

1.    Pre-reading (aimed at title work, contents prediction, grammar and vocabulary work);

2.    While-reading (aimed at general perception, identification of interesting parts for a reader, meaningful parts selection);

3.    Post-reading (aimed at comprehension check, text interpretation, abilities to find specific information);

4.    Exercises aimed at the production of a personal utterance (aimed at the development of oral and written abilities) .

In conclusion, authentic materials is some materials comes from real life context and it uses by teacher to teach non-native speakers. Authentic materials enable learners to interact with the real language and content rather than the form. Learners feel that they are learning a target language as it is used outside the classroom. Considering this, it may not be wrong to say that at any level authentic materials should be used to complete the gap between the competency and performance of the language learners, which is a common problem among the nonnative speakers. This requires the language patterns being put into practice in real life situations. Used thoughtfully, authentic material provides a very good way to keep the class interest up, provide your students with language and usage very specifically tailored to their needs, and importantly, authentic material can bring a new level of interest to the class.

Biography of Lecturer

BIOGRAPHY OF NITA RIA, M.Pd

Nita Ria, born in Palembang, South Sumatra on 8^th October 1984. She is the last child in her family. She is from little happy family, her father is Jemingan and her mother is Saadah. She had already married with Salman Farisi, ST, they are blessed a son, his name is RasyidFarisi. She live in Jl. Mataram No 4041 Kertapati, Palembang.

After she finished her study in Elementary schoolin 1991-1997 and Junior High School in 1997- 2000. Next, she continued her study in Senior High School in 2000-2003. Then, she got S.Pd degree from English Majoring Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at University of PGRI Palembang in 2003-2007. After that, she also continued undergraduate program in 2009-2012 at University of PGRI Palembang.

Therefore, during she study in Elementary till Senior High School, she was a good student and she had some achievement. She got the first rank in grade 1, 2, and 3, when she was  in Elementary school, and also in Junior High School she got the third rank in grade 1 and 3. Then, when she was in Senior High School, she got the third and fourth rank in grade 1 and 2. She had also some experiences when she was be a lecturer, she ever joined training of JJA at Lampung, committee of seminar, and Junior High School’s workshop.

In addition, after she graduated from her collage, she taught in Junior High School and Senior High School (2008-2010), Elementary School(2009-2013), Academic of Computer of Bina Sriwijaya Palembang(2011-2012), and also she started teach in 2013-2014 at University of Bina Darma Palembang. Then, in 2011, she is one of regular lecturer in English Majoring Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at University of Tridinanti Palembang.

Using Cellphones in the Classroom

Using Cellphones in the Classroom

Using cellphones in the classroom is quite controversial, with many schools banning them and not allowing learners to use them for learning activities. The objectives in using cellphones in the classroom are to give motivation to students, enlarge their knowledge, share their idea, and stimulate students for learning. Sometimes, the use of cellphones often misused by students. they use it for play game, messaging, etc. Using cellphones in the classroom can appears some problem, but it can help the student learn in some surprising ways. In this case, the leaders and policy leader that seem interest to use cellphones in the classroom, it stimulates student to do same case. When the teaching and learning context, students using cellphones can to disturb their effectiveness learning. Even though, students interest to use cellphones, they can not to leave the textbook. Textbook is traditional’s guidance for student, but cellphones is modern’s guidance. Students need textbook to learn, sometimes cellphones also need by students to enlarge their knowledge. Now a days, cellphones is common to used by people, especially by students. There are some different problem cellphones instead of textbook :

1.      Cellphones is multimedia.

2.      Digital content is personalized.

3.      The learning environment is participative.

4.      It has a digitally mediated component to the learning environment can be surprisingly inclusive.

In addition, the use of cellphones there is also the use of computer, it can be connected with Wifi or another wireless. The student can to use it to help their learning, not only speaking up online. They can to share their idea, statement, etc. by using computer or maybe cellphones.

I think, there are some benefit of using cellphones in the classroom :

1.      It can to give motivation to students to develop their knowledge.

2.      It can to stimulate their interest for learning.

3.      It makes easy to help students to access some resources for their assignment.

In conclusion, we as a teacher, we should be able to handle the classroom, because the characteristics of students are different. In the classroom, the use of cellphones is common, sometimes the student using it for play games, messaging, surfacing, etc. It is very useless for them, yet they can to use it for access resources what they are learning in classroom activity, it can be enlarge their knowledge, and also they can share their idea by using cellphones through social network. The student also need to use textbook for learning, it is guidance for them to learn.

Resources : http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/03/cell-phones-in-classrooms.html

Plus and Minus of Integrating Technology into the English Classroom

Technology can be defined as any tool that can be used to help promote human learning, including – but not limited to – calculators, tablets (such as an iPad), Smart Boards, video cameras, digital cameras, MP3 players, Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs), and, of course, the computer. These are all innovations that have helped countless people during regular daily activities, but they can also have a profound impact on classroom learning.
Overall, integrating technology into the classroom helps prepare our students for the elaborate world they will face going forward, but there are also four specific advantages to using technology in the classroom:

1. It can keep students focused for longer periods of time. The use of computers to look up information/data is a tremendous time saver, especially when used to access a comprehensive resource like the Internet to conduct research. This time-saving aspect can keep students focused on a project much longer than they would with books and paper resources, and it helps them develop better learning through exploration and research.
2. It makes students more excited to learn. When technology is integrated into school lessons, learners are more likely to be interested in, focused on, and excited about the subjects they are studying. Subjects that might be monotonous for some – like math and science – can be much more engaging with virtual lessons, tutoring, and the streaming of educational videos. Check out our free lessons page! We just updated it with brand new content that we believe will be a tremendous benefit to you and your students.
3. It enables students to learn at their own pace. With the integration of technology, students are able to get direct, individualized instruction from the computer. This form of supplemental teaching allows them to engage with the information at times that are most convenient for them and helps them become more self-directed in the learning process. It also gives the teacher more time to accomplish classroom objectives, while freeing them up to help the students who might be struggling with certain lessons.
4. It prepares students for the future. By learning to use technology in the classroom, both teachers and students will develop skills essential for the 21st century. But more than that, students will learn the critical thinking and workplace skills they will need to be successful in their futures. Education is no longer just about learning and memorizing facts and figures; it’s about collaborating with others, solving complex problems, developing different forms of communication and leadership skills, and improving motivation and productivity.
5. It widens student's knowledge to gain an insightful understanding to western culture. 
6. It improves interaction between teacher and students.
7. it promotes students' communication capacity.

While many education experts tout the advantages of incorporating technology into the school curriculum and the classroom, technology can sometimes hinder learning and the educational process. Because schools occasionally purchase technology before their systems and educators are adequately equipped for and trained to use it effectively, technology sometimes goes unused or actually prevents student learning. Becoming aware of some of the disadvantages in utilizing technology in the classrooms can allow schools to better prepare for the widespread use of computers and devices by their student and teacher populations. 1. Lack of Support
While technology can be a great addition to the classroom, it also can be a source of frustration for both the teacher and the student. Unless the teacher is well trained in technology and can support the hardware in the classroom, a technology expert will be needed to troubleshoot problems. If schools cannot support the purchased technology, it essentially renders it useless in times of crisis or disrepair. Additionally, technology often needs frequent maintenance to keep it in good condition for use.
2. Inadequate Teaching Methodology
Technology does not have a place in classrooms where teachers have not been adequately trained in its implementation. While technology is fun and can add interest for students, it is not fully integrated until students are learning from technology and not just with technology. In other words, using a program to achieve a learning goal is a positive thing; however, transcending the passive use of technology and moving into active use is a skill that takes a lot of time and training.
Teaching theory behind technology education is called constructivism; teacher preparation programs or courses in educational technology teach the concepts of inquiry-based learning. In inquiry-based classrooms or lessons, students are encouraged to research topics under their own guidance and direction with teachers acting as facilitators. This type of thinking and teaching can take years to achieve, and it often requires great expense in terms of both money and time. To use technology most effectively, extensive professional development is required for the classroom teacher.
3. Time Lost
Because connection problems, downloading issues, policing software and other difficulties can cause road blocks when implementing a lesson in the technology based classroom, teachers sometimes shy away from using it simply because of lack of time. With all of the demands on students, the amount of time spent in the classroom is more and more valuable. To lose 10 minutes a day or class period because of connectivity issues is not feasible, and it's one important reason why technology integration often fails in schools.
4. Loss of Speaking Communication
5. The Restriction of Students' Thinking Potential
6. Abstract Thinking Replaced by Imaginable Thinking

http://www.nms.org/Blog/TabId/58/PostId/188/technology-in-the-classroom-the-benefits-of-blended-learning.aspx

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/tech/index.pl?read=136

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