Question 1.
This is how American college students learn. Are you learning in a similar way?
Question 2.
What does it mean by “Networked Students”? Is it a good or a bad change, and why?
When I entered CCU, I found learning environment in a college totally different from senior high. In a senior high, students just had to sit at desks and listen to teachers’ lecture most of the time. But for a college student, receiving all the knowledge and information in a classroom is impossible. We have to log on e-course, download and upload class related material every day. Like American college students in the video, we use computers to check our e-mail, write on blogs, contact our instructors, turn in assignments, etc. Internet resources have become a part of our life. We have naturally been “Networked Students” and our instructors also have been “Networked Teachers” simultaneously.
In my opinion, I think that it has pros and cons at the same time. With Internet, students have broad space to discuss and share great quantity of information. However, this kind of share increases the probability of wrong resource. For example, when I chose courses in college at the first time, I logged on BBS for information only to find some fake news. In addition, connectivism course would make students addicted to Internet. Students do not only use computers to do assignments but also do something for fun such as chatting on msn. Even though network learning is inevitable in twenty first century, it still has some space to improve.
The most striking effect on me in entering CCU in-service program is the great dependence on the network. I used to be an English teacher giving lectures, arranging activities for studnets to participate in in class, never thinking of applying the Internet to my class until being a graduate student in CCU. Learning in inservice program, I have to force myself to discuss with my keypal about teaching principles through MSN, exchange information by e-mail. Wha's more, I am supposed to log on e-course frequently to download learning materials as well as to upload my assignments. Moreover, when writing a report, I don't have to go to the library to look for the data I need. Instead, google scholar usually satisfies most of my needs. In giving a presentation, power point is the required means to be employed. All these modern technology suddenly change my way to search information, process data and present knowledge I gain. During the process, I kind of feel fascinated with this trendy learning and teaching style and have started making most of it in my teaching. Indeed,I myself do get benefit from "Network Learning". Hope some day, my students can benefit from my "Network Teaching" as well.
回覆刪除This semester, we graduate students in CCU in-service program are required to build our own website and blog and make use of them in our teaching research in the course of instructional theory and design. As far as I am concerned, this course takes advanced skills and techniques of computer. As a novice in computer, it is really a torture to me. However, that’s what I entered this program for—to challenge my present teaching ways and to improve my English teaching ability. I tell myself I will surely go through it and manage to accomplish my research.
回覆刪除I have the same feeling with you that Internet influences our learning or teaching way completely. I remember some of my teachers have blamed for writing on a blackboard. They have to use chalk and write almost the same thing for many times. Their hands and voice often get hurt in such teaching style. However, with Internet resources and PowerPoint, teacher can avoid this kind of career harm. At the same time, students can learn easier without handwriting barrier. They can just download the file from e-course instead of spending time to take notes. As I mentioned above, there are still some drawbacks of Networked learning. For example, my history teacher in senior high told us that some students are not attentive in class since they think they can check ppt. (PowerPoint) after class. My opinion toward Networked learning is that we can use Internet and giving lecture simultaneously. Like video on YouTube, networked students discuss with classmates on blogs and their instructor gives them advice in class. I think this kind of cooperation is the real presence of Networked student.
回覆刪除Dear Tina,
回覆刪除I can't agree with your thoughts more. Everything has its good side and bad side.
In my experiences, integrating the good sides of different approaches seems to be the most practical way of teaching.
Best regards,
Faith
Dear Faith,
回覆刪除Thank you for your comments. I think that you are right. It’s no denying that bad side can be change into good ones. Maybe, the technology or people can solve these problems I mentioned above. After all, making good use or bad use of a thing depends on people themselves.
Sincerely,
Tina