Using Twitter to connect the world

      In this day and age, there are a host of technological tools applied in education area. These Internet tools undoubtly enhance teaching and learning efficiency. Twitter is one of these tools that plays an increasing significant role in education. First, Twitter has numerous functions that can be used in our teaching process. From the article 28 Creative Ways Teachers Are Using Twitters, we find that Twitter functions in a multitude of ways, including asking questions, following world events,taking notes and so on. With so many fantastic features, there is no doubt that Twitter will exert beneficial influence upon our teaching. 


From another article Twitter-Expanding our Classroom-Shrinking the World, we also can find the specific illustation of how does Twitter help in teaching process. In the article, the author shared his experience of getting benefits from Twitter. For example, Twitter helps his students have collaboration with students from another states. What's more, Twitter brings the world to his classroom, in which his students can follow the world events and discuss them with their classmates. Just as he has mentioned in the article, " Twitter provides opportunities for connection, communication and collaboration to help make the students’ learning experiences better. Twitter has made me a better teacher. Twitter has expanded our classroom and shrunk the world in exciting ways for my students." Technology is changing the world, so is the Twitter changing our lives.

A great group: Learning with computers

I found the group which is Learning with computers from yahoo very useful. All the language teachers can get together to learn how to start integrating computers into teaching. We can learn from each other by asking and answering questions. Users can ask any questions related to technological education area, and can get abundant resources shared by others. Through the discussion, we can build network with others.I like asking questions and getting opinions from different people. I think this group will be very helpful to my future teaching.

Two Great Videos

The video makes me to think what challenges we are facing as an educator? The world is shifting, the way we live is changing, as a result, the aim of education also should be reflected. Since technology place an increasing effects upon our lives, as a teacher in the future, we should be equipped with the knowledge of technological skills and make the best use of technological tools in our teaching. It's our obligation to spare no effort to enhance teaching efficiency as well as students' learning interest.  

Just as the question put forward at the end of the video, "Do I create a lifelong learner?", to answer the question, we have to be a lifelong learner first. Then, we create another one. 

This is an interesting video telling us how technology is shifting the world. Even though I know people's life is changing essentially under the impact of the development of science and technology, the figures in the video shock me also. After watching the video, I can't help thinking what  the world will be like in ten years? I cannot imagine!

Review of Brave New Digital World: Chapter one

At the beginning of book, the author presents some researches made by FSI, telling that four years of second language study at university are not sufficient to obtain functional proficiency. As a second language learner, I agree with the view that estimated by FSI. I have been studying English for more than 12 years. With such a long time learning experience, I still think that my English proficiency is not as good as it's supposed to. We had English classes several times each week, however, without target language speaking environment, it's still difficult for L2 language learners to improve his or her English level. And only a few students can get the opportunity to go abroad to have some internship program, which is the most expensive method of acquiring linguistic competence in another language. Based on this situation, the author notes that "Technology, then if used wisely, could play a major role in enhancing L2 learners' contact with the target language, especially in the absence of study abroad".Therefore, the principal focus of this book is to discuss how technology can best be employed in the foreign-language curriculum in order to enhance and enrich the learners' contact with the target language and thereby assist the SLA process. 

In this book, Blake claims "a second language is best learned and taught through interaction". And also, the author quotes Pica, Kanagy, and Falodun's statement, which is " Language learning is assisted through social interaction of learners and their interlocutors, particularly when they negotiate toward mutual comprehension of each other's message meaning". However, a question of whether technology can offer the L2 curriculum certain benefits within this theoretical framework, and if so, how does it go has been brought forward. To this question, some hold the opinion that computers are not human and cannot interact with anyone in the sense that two human beings can. However, Blake disagrees with the view and then he presents a research done by Reeves and Nass (1996,5) which reveals that computers can make a significant contribution to the SLA process because the students themselves feel that they are interacting with the computer in a real social manner.Then, the writer focuses on why certain technological tools should be integrated into the L2 curriculum and what potential contribution these tools stand to make to any given language program. One of the reason why technological tools is important provided by Blake is that technological tool like Internet not only can allow students to gain access to authentic L2 materials but also can gives all peoples a channel to express their voice, promote their self-image, and legitimize their goals. Therefore, technology become a good way to assist L2 learner to interact with others. 

Above is my review of Chapter one and all those ideas discussed impress me a lot. After reading the article, I am more favored of using technological tools in my future teaching. I believe it will enhance my teaching efficiency in the future.