FIRST, A FEW CONSIDERATIONS:
1. WHY DO I HAVE TO USE TABLETS?
Because my children are digital and use technology every day for both entertaining (games, social networks, downloading contents) and school purposes (researches).
2. WHY DO I THINK IT MAKES SENS IN MY SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM CONTEXT?
It makes sense as long as I can motivate my students in learning any content, and in prompting them in the actual, real, use of English in context (which means when needed), for real purposes (like chatting, writing to e-pals, understanding instructions/specifications of devices for example, understanding the use of apps).
3. WHY DO I WANT TO USE TABLETS?
Because I need to get as near as possible to my students' interests, to their digital skills, to explore the new ways of quick and fluid learning because I don't want to scream to catch their attention , because I want my job to be easier and more pleasant to me, because I want to share my passion for the language and culture with them through a common tool: the digital world.
4. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT IN GENERAL?
I think I would be to convey the passion I have through a device we all use today. Because tablets are the present, not the future. Besides, that is the tool they always want to use.
5. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR MY OWN SITUATION?
I would be able to give my lessons a boost. They would love to use it, I will be able to avoid screaming to catch their attention. and they would be more motivated in learning. They would be able to go on my website BRITCAFE', post on the blog, do the exercises on the links learn grammar from videos and listen to the pronounciation: I can use the FLIPPED CLASSROOM APPROACH.
6. WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER AT A SCHOOL LEVEL?
I have to consider the followings:
- the headteacher will surely suggest us to follow some training courses, because "you can't just do it
- we teachers will all need the parents' consent
- the headteacher will surely suggetst parents to follow a course about the issue of the pros and cons of their children using tablets at school
- the money to provide all students with a tablet each is a big issue in my schools, like in the majority of schools in Italy
- as a scchool, we can't just buy ANY tablet, but they must be THE tablets suited for school purposes, with parental controls.
7. WHAT DO I HAVE TO CONSIDER AT A CLASSROOM LEVEL?
I need to consider the following:
- There are quieter and reliable students but there are noisy students as well.
- There are students with difficulties or disabilities, there are students you can't easily trust.
At this level CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION is very important.
- I have to be carefully study at school the best way in which I have to propose any lesson at school and the problems that may spring.
- I need to know all the features of a possible use of TABLETS FOR SCHOOLS, which may vary from other tablets
- TIME AND SPACE I will have to reorganize and rethink my approach: students will work also in groups, or in pairs but in a classroom with other teaching strategies; students will study in a different way at their own pace, which should be the beauty of learning with a device and apps
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS POSED:
8. WHAT IS MY MAIN REASON FOR USING OR WANTING TO USE TABLETS IN MY CLASSROOM?
1. WHY DO I HAVE TO USE TABLETS?
Because my children are digital and use technology every day for both entertaining (games, social networks, downloading contents) and school purposes (researches).
2. WHY DO I THINK IT MAKES SENS IN MY SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM CONTEXT?
It makes sense as long as I can motivate my students in learning any content, and in prompting them in the actual, real, use of English in context (which means when needed), for real purposes (like chatting, writing to e-pals, understanding instructions/specifications of devices for example, understanding the use of apps).
3. WHY DO I WANT TO USE TABLETS?
Because I need to get as near as possible to my students' interests, to their digital skills, to explore the new ways of quick and fluid learning because I don't want to scream to catch their attention , because I want my job to be easier and more pleasant to me, because I want to share my passion for the language and culture with them through a common tool: the digital world.
4. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT IN GENERAL?
I think I would be to convey the passion I have through a device we all use today. Because tablets are the present, not the future. Besides, that is the tool they always want to use.
5. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR MY OWN SITUATION?
I would be able to give my lessons a boost. They would love to use it, I will be able to avoid screaming to catch their attention. and they would be more motivated in learning. They would be able to go on my website BRITCAFE', post on the blog, do the exercises on the links learn grammar from videos and listen to the pronounciation: I can use the FLIPPED CLASSROOM APPROACH.
6. WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER AT A SCHOOL LEVEL?
I have to consider the followings:
- the headteacher will surely suggest us to follow some training courses, because "you can't just do it
- we teachers will all need the parents' consent
- the headteacher will surely suggetst parents to follow a course about the issue of the pros and cons of their children using tablets at school
- the money to provide all students with a tablet each is a big issue in my schools, like in the majority of schools in Italy
- as a scchool, we can't just buy ANY tablet, but they must be THE tablets suited for school purposes, with parental controls.
7. WHAT DO I HAVE TO CONSIDER AT A CLASSROOM LEVEL?
I need to consider the following:
- There are quieter and reliable students but there are noisy students as well.
- There are students with difficulties or disabilities, there are students you can't easily trust.
At this level CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION is very important.
- I have to be carefully study at school the best way in which I have to propose any lesson at school and the problems that may spring.
- I need to know all the features of a possible use of TABLETS FOR SCHOOLS, which may vary from other tablets
- TIME AND SPACE I will have to reorganize and rethink my approach: students will work also in groups, or in pairs but in a classroom with other teaching strategies; students will study in a different way at their own pace, which should be the beauty of learning with a device and apps
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS POSED:
8. WHAT IS MY MAIN REASON FOR USING OR WANTING TO USE TABLETS IN MY CLASSROOM?
answer_1.docx |
9.WHAT WHOLE-SCHOOL CHALLENGES DO I HAVE TO FACE WHEN USING TABLETS?
answer_2.docx |
10. WHAT CLASSROOM CHALLENGES DO I HAVE TO FACE WHEN USING TABLETS?
answer_3.docx |
11. SHARING RESOURCES - FOR EFL TEACHERS
useful_resources_for_efl_teachers.docx |