C) Modern information technologies in teaching foreign languages

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 657.

B) Blended learning in teaching foreign languages

A) Creating e- learning courses in teaching foreign languages

Does Blended Learning allow students to fully express their critical thinking skills? What are some of the pros and cons?

What are the differences between e-learning and blended learning?

Give a definition to the term blended learning

2. Compare your definition with the following one:

The term blended learning is generally applied to the practice of using both online and in-person learning experiences when teaching students. In a blended-learning course, for example, students might attend a class taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom setting, while also independently completing online components of the course outside of the classroom. In this case, in-class time may be either replaced or supplemented by online learning experiences, and students would learn about the same topics online as they do in class—i.e., the online and in-person learning experiences would parallel and complement one another.

5. Read the following text and choose the title from the following:

The term blended learning has become extremely fashionable nowadays, particularly in corporate and higher education settings. But what, in fact does blended learning mean? The term itself is quite difficult to define since it is used in diverse ways by different people. Overall the three most common meanings for blended learning are the following: 1. the integration of traditional learning with web- based on-line approaches; 2. the combination of media and tools (e.g. textbooks) employed in e- learning environments; and 3. the combination of a number of teaching and learning approaches irrespective of the technology used.

Blended learning is part of the ongoing convergence of two archetypal learning environments. On the one hand, there is the traditional face- to- face learning environment that has been around for centuries. On the other hand, there are distributed learning environments that have begun to grow and expand in exponential ways as new technologies have expanded the possibilities for distributed communication and interaction. Blended learning is perceived as an integration of face - to - face teaching and learning methods with on- line approaches. It is sometimes necessary for developing speaking communication skills.

E- Learning namely enormously contributes towards increasing effectiveness and efficiency of educational process. Face-to-face teaching students usually discuss the problems they come across when doing different types of tasks or writing assignments. This is particularly suitable for the university distance students and interuniversity study.

The above mentioned information demonstrates both educational and teachers' effort to improve a sustainable process towards the educational quality of teaching and learning by applying new technologies in education. While acknowledging some problems, these seem to be outweighed by the advantages, for example, an opportunity for distance learning, which undoubtedly increases the quality for education and goes beyond traditional ways of teaching and learning, and thus extends further possibilities for learning.

Graham C.R. states the main reasons why blended learning should be chosen:

1) Improved pedagogy; 2) Increased access/ flexibility; 3) Increased cost effectiveness.

Blended learning undoubtedly contributes to the development and support of more interactive strategies not only in face-to-teaching but also in distance education. In addition distance learning can then offer more information available for students, better and faster feedback and richer communication between a tutor and a student. Access to learning is one of the key factors influencing the growth of distributed learning environments. Students can access materials at anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, they can proceed at their own pace.

The increased cost effectiveness is particularly true for the corporate systems where people are permanently busy and hardly ever can afford to attend face- to- face full time classes. However, the blended learning enables them after finishing their work, family and other social commitments to start learning. As far as language teaching is concerned, modern information technologies do offer challenging ways of teaching and learning, such as easy access to study materials, the opportunity to proceed at an individual pace, and to choose the time and place of studying, and almost immediate feedback on writing with e- mail tutorial support. These benefits are, however, only a partial solution for learners who need to develop speaking skills. However, this problem can be solved to some extent by using telephone and video conferencing. Nevertheless, conventional face-to- face training is still necessary to provide the practice and feedback on performance that can really help to improve speaking skills. (Bulletin of the Transylvania University of Brasov Vol, 2(51) – 2009 series IV)