Here are some thoughts from our class about potential challenges and proposed solutions for integrating instructional technologies in different schooling settings in Armenia.
I think the first and fundamental challenge will be the internet connection. But if the connection is OK, we need to make sure all students in our classes can afford to have one of the technological devices which can support the tools we want them to use for learning purposes. However one possible solution could be using their mobile phones which is more likely for them to have and take with them than computers, especially when they are outside. This way we can have them listen to the materials and then reflect either in written or oral (recorded) forms.
In my opinion irrespective all technical issues including the absence of computers and internet the teacher should stimulate students with the idea of connecting learning with technology. Even if students do not have computers once given clear instructions on how to listen to podcasts or to write a blog post they would find a way to implement the new information in real life. As we all know there are many internet clubs where teenagers pay money and play different video games, so if interested they can spend their time and learn how to combine their personal interests with all kinds of technological instructions and link to their academic learning.
As for me the potential challenges which can arise while applying new technologies in different schooling settings in Armenia are the lack of particular devices such as computers and even mobile phones.Besides this students lack of certain knowledge about new technologies used in educational settings and in other ones in general. However, the second challenge can be overcome due to the clear instuctions from the teachers. But in this case the teachers should also be more or less experienced and be aware of the new methods and technologies used in the classroom and sometime outside of it. At first special courses should be organized to train teachers then if needed for students as well. As for technical problems like the shortage of computers and other devices and internet connection I can't came p with the solution because it's all has to do with financial situation of each particular family and also the Ministery of Education should care about that all the schools be technically equipped.
Our schools' first and foremost concern must be to inntegrate into their teaching system professionals who have fresh ideas and good command of teaching equivalent to 21 century and apply new technologies during classes. I know that many children have a reach to computers, no matter in their schools, clubs, at home, etc. So, they are able to switching to modern world and get up to date education. Our greatest issue must be the quality of education, as many gradutes continue their higher education abroad and prefer other foreign Institutions from what we offer. The reason is not the lack of computers or an access to Internet, the thing is the absence of good teaching materials, technilogies and good specialists that predominate. Our Ministry of Education has much to do to fill these gaps and provide minimum standards to our children supplying what our schools need for further development.
I have read all the previous comments and i can say that some of the challenges which I would like to mention are already mentioned. And that is why I would just name them. One of them is the lack of professionals in this case teachers who are experts in the field. Another challenge is the lack of technology even at schools. Those were the challenges that were already mentioned. Other challenges that I think haven't been mentioned yet are lack of information, motivation and creativity. These ones I will try to explain. First of all in our schools and in our country children don't gain much useful information. I myself didn't know a lot of things about useful websites, useful sources,etc before entering to AUA. And especially schoolchildren don't gain good instructions what to do, where to go in the internet and thus they spend several hours sitting in front of the computer and doing nothing valuable.
I don't want to repeat the same things that my friends have already mentioned,thus the only thing that I'd like to say is the following quote: "While wishing and hoping makes you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into reality." Nan S. Russell So, only we are responsible for making our education better and once the wishes are turned into goals, it's more likely that they will come true!Though there are a lot of challenges in integrating technology in our schools,there is nothing impossible in this life.
I think there is a bunch of challenges ranging from technical to human-related problems. By technical problems I mean internet connection at schools, lack or sometimes even absence of computers and other hardware. As to human-related challenges, the main problem is that we do not have specialists or experts in this field, i.e, teachers or instructors who will teach students how to use various websites and software in classrooms and during their learning process in general. Neither the teachers nor the students have fair knowledge and command of technologies, they have no idea how useful they can be for learning purposes.They use technologies just for fun and pleasure. Students spend hours in front of the computer chatting on Facebook and playing simple games. They do not have even a clue of what they can explore on the web if they dig it deeper.In this case they will find a lot of useful websites and other sources which will improve their cognitive skills and creativity, and will enhance their development both as a learner and as a person, a member of the society.
Surely, schools in Armenia are not so technically developed and one of the main challenges is the lack of technological equipments in schools. I think that this problem is not one that may be easily solved because not every school may afford to provide computers to classes and neither all the parents may buy laptops for their children. So, I think that the integration of technologies in the instruction should be done step by step. It would be easier for every school to have at least one computer lab and integrate a lab – class once a week in the syllabus of English course, for these classes the teacher may organize technology –based lesson plans involving blog writing, podcasting and other interesting and creative activities that may be realized with the help of computers. In this way students little by little would become used to working with computers and using it for learning purposes. Here, surely, the teacher’s role is crucial. And the lack of professionalism in technologies among teachers is not justified for me, because this is a profession that needs to be developed during whole life, and teachers should have been aware of it before choosing this profession.
After two years of study in AUA I can’t imagine the education without technology. I know that some of our Universities in Armenia already have wireless internet connection which allows students to have free internet whenever they need. It is already a very big progress in the process of education. All that students need are instructions introduced by teachers and motivation. I think that after some years the technology will be integrated in the education.
I seems like everything is "said and done". I agree with nearly all the comments of my friends. I absolutely agree with those who claim that whenever deciding on implementing computer games, we must make sure that the students actually HAVE access to computers. In Armenian reality it is quite possible that not all students can afford having computers at home. Hopefully, things are getting to the better gradually and Armenian younger generation is getting closer to this globalized world.
To tell the truth, I myself am not keen on computer games; sometimes I think they are simply waste of time and energy and I really doubt that I will use computer games in my classes. There can be some exceptions occasionally but not often. This is my subjective viewpoint on computer games. IF these games are highly educational, purposeful and safe, I may go for them.
If there was a like button I would like all above mentioned comments. I like that all of us are concerned about this issue. We are 17 and that's not a small number we can do something for our schools and introduce the role of technology in education esp. in language teaching to the teachers and other stakeholders. I am sure this would work...Let's do something!
I read the comments of my peers, and all of them mention the importance of technology in schools. I can't disagree with them as now, studying in AUA, I feel how much more knowledge I would have acquired if the same methods of teaching had been implied in my secondary school. But first of all we need to think about improvement of teacher eduaction. If outside AUA teachers are being educated in the traditional way, there will be no progress in school. So my concern is that before integrating anything new, first teachers' knowledge should be improved in order to handle the innovations. Students have always done self-study and they will always do it but learning new things with teachers and in the classroom is much better experience.
I think the first and fundamental challenge will be the internet connection. But if the connection is OK, we need to make sure all students in our classes can afford to have one of the technological devices which can support the tools we want them to use for learning purposes. However one possible solution could be using their mobile phones which is more likely for them to have and take with them than computers, especially when they are outside. This way we can have them listen to the materials and then reflect either in written or oral (recorded) forms.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion irrespective all technical issues including the absence of computers and internet the teacher should stimulate students with the idea of connecting learning with technology. Even if students do not have computers once given clear instructions on how to listen to podcasts or to write a blog post they would find a way to implement the new information in real life. As we all know there are many internet clubs where teenagers pay money and play different video games, so if interested they can spend their time and learn how to combine their personal interests with all kinds of technological instructions and link to their academic learning.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs for me the potential challenges which can arise while applying new technologies in different schooling settings in Armenia are the lack of particular devices such as computers and even mobile phones.Besides this students lack of certain knowledge about new technologies used in educational settings and in other ones in general. However, the second challenge can be overcome due to the clear instuctions from the teachers. But in this case the teachers should also be more or less experienced and be aware of the new methods and technologies used in the classroom and sometime outside of it. At first special courses should be organized to train teachers then if needed for students as well. As for technical problems like the shortage of computers and other devices and internet connection I can't came p with the solution because it's all has to do with financial situation of each particular family and also the Ministery of Education should care about that all the schools be technically equipped.
ReplyDeleteOur schools' first and foremost concern must be to inntegrate into their teaching system professionals who have fresh ideas and good command of teaching equivalent to 21 century and apply new technologies during classes. I know that many children have a reach to computers, no matter in their schools, clubs, at home, etc. So, they are able to switching to modern world and get up to date education. Our greatest issue must be the quality of education, as many gradutes continue their higher education abroad and prefer other foreign Institutions from what we offer. The reason is not the lack of computers or an access to Internet, the thing is the absence of good teaching materials, technilogies and good specialists that predominate. Our Ministry of Education has much to do to fill these gaps and provide minimum standards to our children supplying what our schools need for further development.
ReplyDeleteI have read all the previous comments and i can say that some of the challenges which I would like to mention are already mentioned. And that is why I would just name them. One of them is the lack of professionals in this case teachers who are experts in the field. Another challenge is the lack of technology even at schools. Those were the challenges that were already mentioned. Other challenges that I think haven't been mentioned yet are lack of information, motivation and creativity. These ones I will try to explain. First of all in our schools and in our country children don't gain much useful information. I myself didn't know a lot of things about useful websites, useful sources,etc before entering to AUA. And especially schoolchildren don't gain good instructions what to do, where to go in the internet and thus they spend several hours sitting in front of the computer and doing nothing valuable.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to repeat the same things that my friends have already mentioned,thus the only thing that I'd like to say is the following quote: "While wishing and hoping makes you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into reality." Nan S. Russell
ReplyDeleteSo, only we are responsible for making our education better and once the wishes are turned into goals, it's more likely that they will come true!Though there are a lot of challenges in integrating technology in our schools,there is nothing impossible in this life.
I think there is a bunch of challenges ranging from technical to human-related problems.
ReplyDeleteBy technical problems I mean internet connection at schools, lack or sometimes even absence of computers and other hardware. As to human-related challenges, the main problem is that we do not have specialists or experts in this field, i.e, teachers or instructors who will teach students how to use various websites and software in classrooms and during their learning process in general. Neither the teachers nor the students have fair knowledge and command of technologies, they have no idea how useful they can be for learning purposes.They use technologies just for fun and pleasure. Students spend hours in front of the computer chatting on Facebook and playing simple games. They do not have even a clue of what they can explore on the web if they dig it deeper.In this case they will find a lot of useful websites and other sources which will improve their cognitive skills and creativity, and will enhance their development both as a learner and as a person, a member of the society.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSurely, schools in Armenia are not so technically developed and one of the main challenges is the lack of technological equipments in schools. I think that this problem is not one that may be easily solved because not every school may afford to provide computers to classes and neither all the parents may buy laptops for their children. So, I think that the integration of technologies in the instruction should be done step by step. It would be easier for every school to have at least one computer lab and integrate a lab – class once a week in the syllabus of English course, for these classes the teacher may organize technology –based lesson plans involving blog writing, podcasting and other interesting and creative activities that may be realized with the help of computers. In this way students little by little would become used to working with computers and using it for learning purposes. Here, surely, the teacher’s role is crucial. And the lack of professionalism in technologies among teachers is not justified for me, because this is a profession that needs to be developed during whole life, and teachers should have been aware of it before choosing this profession.
ReplyDeleteAfter two years of study in AUA I can’t imagine the education without technology. I know that some of our Universities in Armenia already have wireless internet connection which allows students to have free internet whenever they need. It is already a very big progress in the process of education. All that students need are instructions introduced by teachers and motivation. I think that after some years the technology will be integrated in the education.
ReplyDeleteI seems like everything is "said and done". I agree with nearly all the comments of my friends. I absolutely agree with those who claim that whenever deciding on implementing computer games, we must make sure that the students actually HAVE access to computers. In Armenian reality it is quite possible that not all students can afford having computers at home. Hopefully, things are getting to the better gradually and Armenian younger generation is getting closer to this globalized world.
ReplyDeleteTo tell the truth, I myself am not keen on computer games; sometimes I think they are simply waste of time and energy and I really doubt that I will use computer games in my classes. There can be some exceptions occasionally but not often. This is my subjective viewpoint on computer games.
IF these games are highly educational, purposeful and safe, I may go for them.
If there was a like button I would like all above mentioned comments. I like that all of us are concerned about this issue. We are 17 and that's not a small number we can do something for our schools and introduce the role of technology in education esp. in language teaching to the teachers and other stakeholders. I am sure this would work...Let's do something!
ReplyDeleteI read the comments of my peers, and all of them mention the importance of technology in schools. I can't disagree with them as now, studying in AUA, I feel how much more knowledge I would have acquired if the same methods of teaching had been implied in my secondary school. But first of all we need to think about improvement of teacher eduaction. If outside AUA teachers are being educated in the traditional way, there will be no progress in school. So my concern is that before integrating anything new, first teachers' knowledge should be improved in order to handle the innovations. Students have always done self-study and they will always do it but learning new things with teachers and in the classroom is much better experience.
ReplyDeleteI was the first to sign in.
ReplyDelete