We instructors use and encourage the use of technology in the classroom. Or, do we?
One of the first things I do when I come into my classroom each day is log in to the computer station located at the front of the room. I use the computer for innumerable aspects of my teaching. For example, I use it for everything from showing documents (class handouts, student work, models, etc) via the projector or document camera to demonstrating how students can use a web 2.0 tool when we go to the lab to providing visualizations (pictures, maps, video clips, etc) of the topic(s) at hand to listening to lectures (either online, from a CD, or from the ELL software connected with the textbook) to making a note on engrade.com of attendance or even looking things up.
On my syllabus, I have clearly stated that the use of cell phones, laptops, iPads, etc is restricted, not banned, and may be used depending on the task at hand. However, I have am ambivalent about my own "rule." The title of the article "Digital Distraction or Helpful Classroom Tool?" articulates that ambivalence quite clearly.
On the one hand, I am fairly certain that the ELLs in my upper-intermediate classes would be distracted by the free use of electronic devices, especially because (I fear) they would spend quite a bit of time translating and possibly even more time just chatting with friends in their native languages, which would likely lead to the proverbial "checking out."
On the other hand, I can agree wholeheartedly with the author, Anthony Iton, when he explains that "if an instructor acts as a learning facilitator who empowers students to learn by showing them how to apply the wealth of information accessible through the web then classroom technology can be an integral part of the teaching process."
Do you feel this ambivalence? How is the multilingual language skills classroom different from a monolingual content classroom? What middle-ground can be found?
Do you feel this ambivalence? How is the multilingual language skills classroom different from a monolingual content classroom? What middle-ground can be found?
