The Instigator…
One of our responsibilities as teachers is to
continuously be learning how to adapt to the ever changing and increasing
demands of our modern society. In addition, students seem to be advancing
faster than ever when it comes to technology, and it is often all we can do as
educators just to keep in stride with them. For this reason, I was very much
looking forward the annual BCATML (BC Association of Teachers of Modern
Languages) Celebrating Languages
conference which took place in Burnaby, B.C. this year. This conference
principally focuses its efforts on introducing teachers to innovative and
cutting-edge technologies and programs that promote student learning in second
languages. Some of the highlights from this year’s conference included: Adding some umph to your language class;
Multimodal language learning and technology; Get them talking: Connecting technology and oral interactions among
many others. I personally attended workshops focusing on how to incorporate
technology into the FSL classroom, how to make music videos and language raps,
and how to use iPad apps as fun and integrative tools for teachers. As you can
probably tell, the big theme at this year’s conference was ….. TECHNOLOGY!!!!!
A little about
me…
I have never considered myself to be particularly
“tech savvy”; however, as the years have gone by, I’ve watched myself fall
further and further behind the times. I did not get to experience the internet
until I was well into my teens, I did not get my first cell phone until I was
18, I refused to join Facebook until finally I couldn’t handle being the only
one who didn’t know what was going on in a conversation (because some
earth-shaking post had forever rocked the foundations of all my fb friends).
When I found out that some in my social circle had starting “tweeting” one
another I thought it was slang for some unmentionable act which is far too
inappropriate to mention here. Needless
to say, I needed help, and I needed it quick. If I’m going to be able to relate
to my future students and recognize what’s become important to them, I’d better
jump on this band wagon – so I bought an iPad, which I still don’t fully
understand how to use.
The inquiry…
So when the brochure for the BCATML conference fell
into my hands, signing up was a no-brainer. It was time that I educated myself
on this constantly evolving world of technology; it’s time that I explored and
increased my own digital literacy – and you know what? It wasn’t so bad. In
fact, it was pretty fun. So what I am offering here folks is a little taste of
my journey from digital dummy to digital wizard. The following is a series of
posts detailing what I consider to be the most useful and strategic ways to
incorporate social media in the classroom. Now, I would like to take this
moment in order to stress that I am far from an expert; however, that being
said, I think that I can offer some valuable information from the perspective
of a novice – and there are a lot of us out there! For instance, during the
conference I had to get a 14 year old student to fix the internet connection on
my iPad! It had something to do with a proxy-thingy? So I invite you all to
grab your tablets or your smart phones and join me on my digital whirl wind!
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