Why Electronic Library!

The development  in technology has made students to lack interest in reading books in libraries. It is very important for educators to device ways that are in line with present day development in technology. What I am contemplating is how we can make school electronic libraries in school. This is will particularly good for students and teachers as well.

Moreover, learning in general will become faster and easier thus saving time that will be used for completing the syllabus and revision.

I have discussed with many teachers who have mentioned that their students are mostly interested in reading illustrated books with attractive diagrams and photos. As a result of students’ interest in pictures and illustrations a great improvement can be achieved if these types of books are selected and placed in school libraries.  Emerging from the point of view that learners vary in their learning perspectives so pictures and diagrams will be more effective in delivering information to students who can absorb in audio-visual at the same time.

In this regard, if schools should include an electronic library in their websites that can be accessed by students using their specific username and password education would have been made available without the restriction of place and time. In order to make this electronic library beneficial for both students and teachers the service must be diversified. For instance, sections in it should be reserved for teachers only and other sections reserved for students based on their academic needs.

For the purpose of encouragement and motivation, students can accumulate points and credits in relation to their positive usage of the library in visiting and reading. At the end of a specific period students with the most accumulated points will be honored with gifts and prizes. In this there might be competition and more interest on the part of the students to utilize this service for their own academic advancement.

In addition, for private schools who wish to attract more customers to their schools, a service like this will be an added boost for them, as parents would to send their kids to schools with more facilities.

In conclusion, it is known that that traditional method of reading in libraries is by using hard copies of books but reflecting on the interest that this present day generation has for anything digital, I am wondering if whether future generation will ever handle physical books; What do you think about it ?

Will smartphones make students smarter?

The technological advance that we are witnessing in the world today makes one wonders to what extent we can use this for the benefit of progress in the education field. This is because nowadays students use mobile phones mostly for fun and entertainment. This attachment to technology has become part of their lives in much so that it is almost unthinkable for them to live without these devices. It is in this regard that the author Carly Shuler, a researcher in the children’s media and toy industry and a fellow at the center says: “While these devices are undoubtedly a source of fun and entertainment, proponents of mobile learning believe they have significant potential to be a key ally in supporting learning experiences,” It should be the responsibility of teachers to find ways to utilize these devices for the improvement in students’ learning.

Furthermore, most Students are now using smartphones which are well equipped with diverse facilities. These can even access internet. Shawn Gross, the executive director of the project, said it is proving that smartphones, which in some communities; students already own them or have access to, can provide “many services that can be used as an educational appliance rather than as a distraction.”

Students almost take smartphones with them everywhere.” In our district, especially at high school, students have a cellphones with them at all times, just like a pencil—it’s an underused tool,” said Rosemary Miller, the technology-integration specialist for secondary schools in the Buhler, Kan., public schools. “We don’t have a computer for every kid, as some school districts do.”

“Smartphones don’t make students smarter, and they don’t make studying any more fun. What this research indicates, though, is that smartphones make studying more convenient and enable students to study any time and anywhere, making it significantly more likely that the studying will get done” .said Tony Bradley.

 

Using Social Networks for Language Teachers

 In 2007, the British Council conducted market research into how the Internet has affected the preferred learning styles of young people wanting to learn English around the world. The results of this research suggest that if teachers are to remain relevant and effective, then they need to use ‘learning technologies’ to help students reach the world outside the classroom.

The research done by the British Council showed that students who felt they were getting enough opportunities in their lives to socialise informally were also successful in their learning. You might wonder how a student finds time both to study and socialise as much as they want. Well, it’s important to understand that successful students combine studying and socialising, and that combining the two things helps them to be successful at both.

In consequence of advancement in technology, people nowadays are utilizing social networks for variety of purposes; such as exchanging photos, audio and video clips and other information. In this way, social networks  are mostly used for entertainment  and less beneficial purposes.

Even though I am not totally against using the social networks for these sort of entertainment stuff, but I am contemplating ways of using them in more useful ways. Especially for teachers whose responsibility in so far as education is concern is so great and important. For example, teachers can build a page of achievement files in Facebook. There they can post mind maps, worksheets, cross-words puzzles, flash cards audio and video clips as well as lesson plans and many more. There are a number of sites which have software to help them create these teaching aids such as mind maps.

In connection with students, they are mostly interested in games and entertainment and fun. They usually spend long time in these activities. Instead this unnecessary waste of time, they can dedicate some of their time for educational purposes such as exchanging ideas about current lessons and assist each other to solve learning problems they may encounter. Also for students of English they can write short stories and composition about their experiences and post on the Facebook page

and in so doing they may improve their writing skill.

Facilitating learning for adults

Learning a second language for adults might not usually be the same process as children acquire language naturally. It is generally observed that children acquire language unconsciously without thinking about grammatical rules and still like that with adults .

Adult learners for example, return to school here in Saudi Arabia for many reasons. Each has his own, but some of the most common relate to increasing their outcomes .

But there are many obstacles and challenges which we will try to focus on next paragraphs .So what are challenges adult learners face and how can we solve them.

First of all , Adults will learn only what they feel they need to learn . Because of that, Adults must feel the material they are learning is relevant, and that it will have an immediate effect.

Secondly ,adults try to avoid failure . Because of that Adults are much less open to the trial-and-error approach than children are. For that teachers should encourage them not be annoyed when they make any mistakes .Teachers should support them to try answering and correct mistakes if they were happened .

Thirdly , adults do not all learn the same way , so teachers should verify their teaching methods to fit their students’ needs .

Fourthly, adults need immediate feedback concerning their progress ,because of that we have to make frequent quizzes to give them feedback if they are on the right track or not .

Fifthly ,adults learn by comparing past experience with new experience, So we have to respect this point while we designing course book for them.

Any comments relating to this post will be received gratefully .