Reflections and Implications of Hi-Tech in a Zero-Computer Class

Today, as the development of mobile communication technology and people's demands for education are increasing constantly, mobile learning on the basis of mobile communication technology and mobile Internet technology emerges, as the times require. Mobile learning is the combination of E-learning and wireless technological, which brings brand-new experience of study whenever and wherever possible to learners. Mobile learning gradually comes true with the progress of mobile communication technology and other wireless access technologies and with the popularization of wireless and mobile devices progressively, which is becoming a kind of study way of people's. Mobile learning’s ambulant, efficiency, extensive, interaction, sharing of study, individualized etc, these study characteristic make the learners not confine to the computer again, they can study "at any time, everywhere, with anyone". Lesley also in her blog http://lovelovelesley.blogspot.com/ discussed the possibility of using “Mobile Assisted Language Learning” in China which I think feasible and practical.


In practice, college students in my working context are more interested in the WAP mobile learning, especially the QQ blogging mode. Students are strongly motivated when instructor comments their QQ blogs. Some students even commented my QQ blog when attending class. It’s quite inspiring for teachers to do something.

My approach regards WAP technology as supported, and English study as the research object, have developed the English study platform under the environment on the basis of WAP mobile learning.

Let’s see whether it works to construct a WAP mobile learning environment.



Take Nokia E-71 as example

Chose connectivity to connect the Mobile Internet (WAP)

Log in QQ blog (the most common and popular blog among students) powered by TENCENT (0700.HK)

 The Dashboard of QQ blog (Assuming you are Student A)

Ok, let’s try the functions of QQ blog.

Task 1

Adding friends

 *Click on Friend’s list
 *Type in her/his ID
* Search
*Add your friend student B in search result

 

Task 2

New post

*Click on New post on Dashboard
*Write the title and the content
*Add picture if needed
*Add QQ Emoticon if needed（quite popular）
*Submit

 

Task 3

Commenting

*Click on Updates of friends in Dashboard
*Click on the second post of student B
*Type in “I can’t agree with you” as comment,
*Submit

 Task 4


Viewing updates of own blog

*Click on Blog archive in dashboard
*View the visit times and comment times
*Click on the post “Reflection on the reading”
*View the comment by student B
*Reply to the comment

Task 5
Locating the visitor

*Click on friends’ list in dashboard
*Locating

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QQ blog Vs Blogger (tested)
 
Time to log in
QQ blog : 38 seconds
Blogger: 35 seconds
 
Time to a add a friend:
QQ blog: 28 seoncds
Blogger: 30 seconds
 
The disadvantages of QQ blog lie in its language option, video and audio functions, and the recognition of using cell phone in class. But I’m personally optimistic toward the rapid development of 3G and Andriod platform. That’s why Tencent (0070 HK) is worthy of 148.70 HK dollar and China Mobile (0941 HK) 75.70 HK dollar in HK stock market.
 


Teaching implications



Post the course materials in instructor’s blog

*Have students work in groups of 4 or 5 and connect to instructor’s blog by Wap

*Group members work together to figure out the concepts of these terms.

*Use Google in Wap.google.com if needed

*Then have students discuss the question “Are any of these forms of communication more important than the others?” Each group should choose one as the most important.

*Encourage different groups to share their views and evaluate others' views by using qq.

*Each group picks one to generalize group views in class

Home work: students reflect on the CMC and Emerging technologies they learnt by posting on their own blog.

Reflection on the mini-presentation

To reflect on the presentation, I have to mention a name that really impressed me in the process. She is a nice young ambitious and smart lady, a would-be professor who spoke last night with passion, unshaken firmness and inspirational insights that never cease to amaze me in the last 24 hours.


Lesley in her two and a half minute speech explained the different features of college education from that of primary or secondary; addressed the importance of taking initiative in self study and the use of online resources; formulated three constructive opinions, based on her past experiences, on the college English learning and teaching which I found unusually helpful.


In the first opinion, she proposed that college teachers should consider the use of blog or wiki in teaching for exchanging ideas and solving problems. This is personally what I am thinking of but doubtful of its feasibility in china. I do hope Lesley could come up with ideas of how to implement this when confronted by the reality that most our Chinese students do not have easy access to computers.


In her second opinion, she suggested that college teachers should combine textbook with online resources. That interested me a lot. What a great thing if textbook can be updated online like Windows. Students won't be bored by the outdated materials and learning English can be enjoyable. Would we use E-textbooks in portable devices connect with network for students to facilitate their learning in a comparatively low cost? That my main concern.

Hi-tech, high life

Hi, welcome to Dictionary’ blog. I’m Dictionary.

I have been a teacher for three years in a small college where I was normally loaded with courses like Advanced English, Extensive Reading, English Listening and College English. Technically, I like to teach English listening, and I couldn't love it more for a couple of reasons.

Reason number one, it is the only course that deals with technology and I’m a big fan of technology.

Reason number two, it is the technology that works on the model of “computer as tutor” and this tutor greatly saves the effort of the real tutor.

Reason number three, it is the computer tutor that help students to improve their listening and they love that tutor.

I now share this technology in LT to you in details:

Language Lab


Pic 1


Pic 1 shows the general environment. It literally holds more than 60 students.





Pic 2

The main network system(pic 2) consists of several parts:

A master control equipment which controls a DVD, cassette players and projectors
A staff computer with Intel celeron, 512M DDR, 120G, CD-ROM,17' CRT
A campus network server
A network switch
A constant voltage power supply
Students terminals





Pic 3

Pic 3 is the teacher's interface which serves as the main platform for teachers.I now divide the interface into two parts-the left and the right for further illustration.




Pic 4


On the left side, there are four modes as can be seen in Pic4.

Normally, the discussion mode and exam mode are rarely used in teaching.

Mostly I click on teaching mode to begin my lesson.Student numbers refers to the seats(e.g.A2,B3,C8) that students take and you can just click on certain number to connect to a certain student when you ask her to answer your questions. The icons of student numbers may vary as follows:


indicating power-off in Student terminals

indicating power-on in student terminals

indicating someone who would like to talk or answer questions.

indicating someone who is talking or answering question





Pic 5


After the click on the teaching mode, it turns to the right part of the interface to chose materials.You can open videos or audios from computer to begin the course.



Pic 6

Pic 6 is the student' interface. Not many options for students.They push the call button to answer questions or chose the self-study mode to DIY their listening materials.

Anyway, teaching English listening can be really enjoyable.