Shares of thoughts on ICT

1. If you had the chance would you utilize ICT (CALL) in your teaching?
Yes, i'll seize the chance to try out different approach to my teaching provided that the facilities are there and students are inclined towards ICT. More and more students nowadays are showing interest towards ICT as there would always be rapid and constant advancement in the ICT world which seems to attract them. However, the biggest concern is that facilities are often lacking and it seems to be the main issue among teachers in schools when it comes to this question of using ICT (CALL) in teaching their students. Referring to my own experience during my Practicum in one of the schools in Klang, the techologies are there but often only 'for display'. For instance, every classroom has an LCD and teachers just need to bring a laptop into the classroom in order to use the LCD to project any lessons to their students. However, other issues may arise, such as the setting up of the equipments, competency in using the computer and the limitation of time in class. Honestly, up to the end of the practicum, i've never been to the computer lab (i dont even know whether there is any), and this situation is very bad. I think that teachers just wont bother to add more hassle to their daily teaching as most of them prefer to resort to the traditional teaching of whiteboard & marker pen.

2. How do you think it would help (or would not help) your students to learn English?
I've always believed in the power of motivation in learning. I think that ICT in classroom would be one of the ways to cultivate students' motivation, thus helping them to learn English. The main differences between traditional classroom teaching & implementing ICT would be the level of effectiveness in terms of visual & audio aids. ICT helps lessons to be more interactive & promote creativity among students. This would lead to better cognitive development among them and create a sense of fun learning in class. I was once a student in school and i have to admit that facing the teacher, white/blackboard, listening to endless instructions & teaching, doing piles of homework was NOT fun at all. By integrating ICT into classroom, students would at least divert from traditional teaching to another approach to learning. It is vital to inject changes in the classroom to avoid students from getting bored while retaining their attention towards the lesson.

3. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing CALL in the Malaysian schools?
Advantages: promote alternatives into classroom, thus helping education field to move forward and not remain stagnant especially in this era where globalisation in learning is very much talked about.
Disadvantages: changes in school's system/policy may need to be done. A lot of things would need to be revised so that CALL could be implemented effectively. Teachers may need to adjust to the changes and come out of their 'comfort zone'.

4. What are the barriers in implementing CALL in the Malaysian classroom?
Barriers as discussed in Q.1 would be financial constraint and constant funding to ensure optimum performance from all parties(teacher,technologies,school admin). That would be the physical aspect. As for the individual, mentality and attitude towards CALL is another barrier. So long as there is still negative attitude towards ICT, CALL would never benefit anyone because of the rejection and refusal to try out implementing CALL in the Malaysian classroom. Solution? Teachers, students, parents, schools and the community as a whole must not be afraid to change and just face the challenges that may come.

Please also include any other comments/thoughts/ideas on this topic

WWW LESSON PLAN

E-Holiday Brochure

LEVEL : Form 1

TIME : 35 minutes

AIMS : To gather information about places of interest in Malaysia; practice using adjectives to describe places.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

One computer per group of 2 – 3 students, with an Internet connection and a Web Browser.

Website: http://www.goborneo.com/discoverer/mulucaves.htm

PREPARATION:

1. Browse for sites related to Mulu caves.
2. Check selected site for any grammar error before lesson.

PROCEDURE:

1. Invite students to share about interesting places that they have visited in Malaysia. Write name of places on the board.
2. Ask students to describe briefly what they remember most about those places. Jot down descriptions on the board.
3. Instruct students to access the given website address (URL) and read through the brochure on Mulu.
4. Inform students that they need to read through the e-brochure and fill in the blanks on the worksheet given.
5. Students note any new words that are unfamiliar to them and try to figure out the meaning with the help from peers and teacher.
6. When students have completed the worksheet, they should be able to talk about Mulu National Park and provide factual information about the place.
7. If time permits, students try to locate other websites related to interesting places in Malaysia by choosing any places that they want to explore.
8. Tell students to prepare a mind map of their own related to the place of interest, using facts that they have obtained from the websites explored.
9. Students can paste the mind maps on the notice board.