SMA **, the school where I did teaching assistance has applied moving class system. To me, moving class is a big movement in Indonesian learning system. Unfortunately, this school hasn’t (really) moved, which means move from traditional learning method into ICT-based method, especially in language learning. Actually, the school has provided the facilities, such as LCD and projector in every classroom, but some teachers feel reluctant to use them, including my master teacher. She still uses a textbook only in almost meeting.
When I asked her, she said that she knows that her students tend to be more interested when she uses digital media but she has no enough time to make the presentation slides or another media. Besides, she doesn’t want wasting her time in teaching to operate the tools. To anticipate the technical problem, she prefers bring her own tools to use the school’s tools. For example, if she wants to give listening exercise to students, she will bring her own tape recorder from home. However it doesn’t mean that she rejects any implementation of new technology. She allows her students to use the built-in dictionary on their cell phone to translate some difficult words or to google any information. I think she is just a typical digital immigrant who sometimes afraid to try something new.
Although there are still many controversies about the effectiveness of using technology (especially computer-based technology) in language learning, we can conclude that students are more enthusiastic, engaged, and motivated when they study using computer or any digital media (Davies and Hewer, 2010). I noticed the difference when my master teacher taught her students using textbook only and when I taught them with some digital media. Some of them still had a chat when the teacher explained about something orally, but they paid all attention when I explained about procedure text using PowerPoint. They became more excited when I played a video from YouTube to give more example of it, though, in the middle the video had to be stopped due to a technical problem. This fact forced me to admit that she is true, sometimes there are unexpected things happened on those tools that disturb the learning process.
Technology is just a tool, and it cannot substitute the presence of teacher. It’s the teacher’s role to create a lesson that integrating ICT-based experience into the curriculum (McFarlane, as cited in Davies, 2010). I have tried to do that as I told above. I was glad to see the students presented their own procedure text using PowerPoint and another digital media enthusiastically.
Even though it was short, I know from their e-reflection that they enjoyed the session when technology was used. Well, to really move their way in learning language into ICT-based classroom is not easy, but at least they have started doing something new through moving class system.
2 comments:
dear Najib
ive read some of our friend's blog, they were talking the same issue. most of their teacher were reluctant to use the new technology. they were conservative. but, as an observer, i thought that actually they are nor conservative, but they just afraid. to turn into a "new" world, for some people, it's not an easy thing at all. they are accostumed to their old teaching method. So, as the next generation of teacher, we have to be the agent of change for the other teacher collegues later :)
Yes Grace,
as I wrote above, they just typical digital immigrants who are afraid to try something new. Maybe they have been comfortable with their teaching method, and feel it works for their students.
Anyhow, I really appreciate teachers who eager to try new technologies in their classrooms, though just a little bit.
Remember, Revolution just begins. Let's continue the struggle!!!
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