Interactivity # 3 Technology Inventory for Languages

           Working with a group to make an online technology inventory took quite a good amount of time and planning. Creating a google spreadsheet is a great way to easily collaborate with other group members because we were able to stay updated with everyone's postings. The group that I worked with did a great job at keeping this a group project because everyone did their part. before going into this interactivity I thought that it was going to be difficult and that we might not work well as a group. I was proved wrong.
         After reading all the technologies that my group was able to come up with I was very surprised to see many interesting ones that I would have never thought of myself. Every technology listed in our spreadsheet is a great strategy to use to one day teach a language to a class. A few really good technologies that my group came up with are the use of language labs to use programs such as wimba or to do exercises such as recording your voice to improve fluency the language you are trying to learn.
          This technology inventory can serve a really good purpose in my Read 411 course because I am required to do a lesson plan to my class that has to do with my content area. This can be great practice for me when I have to teach lesson plans to my future classes. Using the ideas incorporated in the inventory can be very useful in getting comfortable using strategies that will one day serve a helpful purpose to me. I believe that it takes a good amount of practice to feel comfortable and confident teaching a lesson plan and this activity as well as activities we are doing in Read 411 and Curr 314 are giving me the practice I need.

Interactivity #2

                  During 1900-1990 there were a few different types of technology that were created that influenced education in my content area, but being an Italian major I believe that the foreign language labs that first started to be used in 1960 is the most influential. Today, language labs are still being used as a place where students go to practice the language they are studying, In a language lab teachers have the resources to teach a language in many creative ways and also have the flexibility of being able to teach students who are on different levels of education at the same time. Each student can be assigned to their own computer and given an activity to complete based on their level of knowledge of the language. Another positive aspect of a language lab is that a student is able to record themselves speaking the language and go back and listen to the recording. This helps a student figure out where their areas of improvement are and how they can improve.

                   After reading the article A Social History of Media and Technology in Schools and Chapter two in Rethinking Technology in Schools I have come to realize how great of a role computers have played throughout the years. Not only computers themselves, but the world wide web has played an important role both positive and negative. In one aspect it has a negative role because students are using it for pleasure rather than for learning. When it is time to use a computer for learning purposes the students may not understand the task and the expected outcome of the teacher for the activity may not be accomplished. In the article, Grace states that some teachers were using computers as a prize for doing their work. She said that she does not think "it is an appropriate message to send to our students—that if they complete the “boring” schoolwork then they can play “fun” video games" (Domine 48). This proves my point because she is stating that when a computer is put in front of a student, they just want to play games and have fun.

                However when it comes to my content area, the internet plays a very positive role in helping students learn. When learning a new language, it is not only the language that you are learning, but you are learning a whole new culture. It is hard to be able to fully understand a culture without being in that certain country. When I become an Italian teacher I can use the internet to my advantage to help the students almost "emerge" into that culture by looking at pictures and watching videos. It will give them an even better idea of what they are learning rather than to just lecture about a certain culture they can actually experience certain aspects of the culture. Also, Chapter two talked about many social networks that young people use daily. Social networks can become a key aspect of learning a new language because students are able to interact with people from all over the world. As a teacher I can use a strategy such as a virtual pen pal. This can allow students to have someone who speaks the language perfectly as a friend and this person can assist with their learning process.

           Computers allow students to learn a new language by being able to fully emerge into the culture