Web 2.0's Weblog

NBLT and other abbreviations

khadgar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:15:36 +0000

What is the structural perspective of language learning:

“For much of this century (as well as preceding centuries) language teaching has emphasized the formal analysis of the system of structures that make up a given language.” (Kern & Warschauer 2000)

Role of the computer:

On a trial and error basis
For gap filling exercise
as vocab training drill exercise machine

What is cognitive perspective of language learning:

“Language learning had [...] come to be understood not as conditioned response but as an active process of generating and transforming knowledge.” (Kern & Warschauer 2000)

Role of the computer:

programs “providing opportunities for problem-solving and hypothesis-testing” (Kern & Warschauer 2000)
creating a simulating and stimulating environment
putting the student in the active role

What is sociocognitive perspective of language learning:

“There are rules of use without which the rules of grammar would be useless” (Hymes, 1971, p. 10)

“In sociocognitive approaches, reading and writing came to be viewed as processes embedded in particular sociocultural contexts”. (Kern & Warschauer 2000)

Role of the computer:

Offering options for learners to communicate with each other
Giving chances for ICC thanks to global networks
Making editing, rediting and commenting possible
offering real-world authentic material

Summary:

Considering these three approaches, given their time all have their benefits and flaws, I would start with the structural approach blending it over to the cognitive perspective until finally reaching the benefits to of socio cultual approach.

Concerning WIKIS

khadgar — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:30:24 +0000

Check this image here

what is your personal experience in collaborating with wikis?

I never collaborated with others on a wiki, I only used them as information base, e.g. wikipedia.org.

But during this seminar I started working with Wikis. (The Wiki mentioned above by the way.)

Problems

* Well, this is what I call “surveillance”, everyone knows everything about anyone else. Do you really need to know that I like to work on that wiki at 3 o’clock in the morning? What are the benefits of it knowing it?

The wiki we use isn’t that kind of intuitive, the structure where to find new pages and subtopics or even discussions seems to be somewhere different where I expect them to be, but as always maybe that’s just me.

* What happens when several people with different ideas work on the same topic? Will the step on their toes and constantly changing the content of their wiki because they disagree? Or will the create a black-hole like super Discussion thread that will paralyze and literally aggravate and suck in (that’s what black-holes do, right?) all the workforce of that peculiar wiki?

* What about responsibility? We all need to take care of that wiki we are working on. If nobody is taking care in answering the FAQ page but just continue to post questions there we won’t get far. Feeling responsible is a most important necessity otherwise the whole idea of the wiki is lost. Everyone needs to take geat care… Do you?

Benefits

* Well having a wiki is a nice thing indeed, would you agree? Finally all of us can work together on the same project, without needing to meet twice a week.

* We all can do as much as we like and with each step the wiki grows, its like a growing child with enormous quantities of parents

* Except for the “creator” of the wiki everyone has the same privileges and the same rigths, isn’t that communism or anarchy or democracy, well whatever… It works, somehow. Isn’t that great?

how would you use wikis for language teaching

I’m not sure about that, yet – give me some time to think about…

It will be easy to incoporate a wiki for a TBLL project because there is almost always a meaningful outcome and a good possibilty for the teacher to indirectly influence the work of his students.

It could be used to organize class or school events as a very collaborative project. Quite nice if you ask me, but bearing lots of risks…

I fear that some students will lack the responsibility to work in wikis. But there are other problems as well…

This blog is a blog for our seminar

khadgar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:07:26 +0000

The blog of the seminar which I am talking about is located here.

The wiki of the seminar which I am still talking about is located elsewhere.

Enjoy!

Hello world!

khadgar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:27:18 +0000

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!