The role of WeQuests in learning a foreign/second language

                   WebQuest defined as an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. (Dodge, 1995). Through reading a lot of sources about WebQuest and the important role that WebQuest provides students with, such as Critical thinking, Student-oriented activities, Knowledge based on enquiry-oriented language use, Cooperative and collaborative learning, and Project-based Learning.

    

      WebQuests  support a variety of instructional and cognitive practices such as critical thinking and problem solving through authentic assessment, cooperative learning, scaffolding and technology integration. Critical thinking involve   comparing, classifying, inducing, analyzing errors , constructing support , abstraction  and analyzing perspectives which all of that provided by a  WebQuest  . Critical thinking skills are utilized in a WebQuest to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and draw inferences from the information obtained from Internet resources. WebQuest help students to discover new information which will allow them to become independent thinkers.

      Webquests tend to be student-oriented and collaborative, with students engaged in constructivist activities resulting in shared learning experiences and new knowledge based on enquiry-oriented language use and Web research skills. Cooperative learning is another essential aspect of WebQuests since WebQuests encourage students to take ownership of their learning and use a collaborative process of discovery to facilitate the learning that is taking place. 

       Cooperative and collaborative learning also comes into play when students use webquests in various classes. These are often a group activity and putting students in groups teaches them to work well with others and to put together all their thoughts to create different  ideas. Another big part of cooperative and collaborative learning is teaching students to ask questions. Not just to a teacher though, ask them to their peers. Webquests tend to be student-oriented and collaborative, with students engaged in constructivist activities resulting in shared learning experiences and new knowledge based on enquiry-oriented language use and Web research skills.

        In order to complete the main task of a WebQuest, students will use information from various sources to form their own opinions and share them with their group members to create a final project, which is usually in the form of an oral presentation or written materials such as brochure or newsletter, or even the creation of a website. WebQuests allow learners to receive input in the form of aural and written information, such as reading information on web pages or participating in group discussion in the target language. 

      At the end, WebQuest are now used around the world to offer challenging projects in a web-based environment. WebQuests can be found in every discipline. I wish that all teachers be able to use it with their students.

Wordle for EDU401

(Reflection on the three weeks)

Honestly, this course is very informative and interesting. I learned many things that I never heard about it before such as, Wikis and Delicious. Moreover, during the three weeks ago you are really tried to impart a sense of importance of the subject  to all of us (really I like this).Also, I like your effort that helped us to know all my classmates on a personal level and made our learning enjoyable. Also, after I started taken this course, I had noticed the important of using technology as educational tools.

 My only complaint is that, we couldn't apply what we learn during lecture hours which wouldn't help us to be familiar with our tasks (hopefully we start from next week).

“How would I use blogs, wikis and delicious with my EFL students?”

I think using technology of websites ‘’Social Network’’ such as Blogs, Wikis and Delicious in teaching ESL students will be very effective and useful as technological device in teaching. First of all, the teacher should explain to the students what are blogs, wikis and delicious and what are the correct way to use it in the field of education or in learning process.

Blogger, I can use blogger post to test students skills in writing, grammar, dictation and their comprehension by posting a reading paragraph (weekly) and ask them to write their opinion and discuss it with their classmates. Also, I can upload homework and assignments. Also, I can ask the students to correct for each other and write some comments. Using blogger through the learning process is helping to make it more interesting and more useful.

Wiki, I can use this Social Network in posting different types of questions and ideas that the students can have the chance to respond it and sharing their thoughts. Also, I can upload videos and links that related to different skills and make sure that all students can apply it in correct way. Also, I think this tool is very beneficial for group work. I would ask the students to divided themselves into groups and ask them to work in different task that related to the skill that we are working on. In this way I will be sure that I give the students chances to add, edit, delete, or save their changes as a group work. Also, I can give them some exercise and they can use their wiki account to write their answer.

Delicious, I can use this Social Network to bookmarking articles, image, websites and video that are related to the topic that we covered during the class hours and ask the students to write their opinion and their comments about it .Also; I can add links for useful educational websites to develop learners abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

"Application of Bax Normilasation in Saudi Arabia: The how!"

Stephan Bax argues that, "Our aim should be to attain a state of `normalisation' in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated"

- Paraphrasing of Bax's article:

CALL was divided into three phases which are "behaviouristic", "communicative" and "integrative". Despite that, Steven changed the term "phases" into "approaches". He said that they were not in three different histrical times so they should not be called "phases". After that, he started to change the whole names of the three approaches. First, he changed the "behaviouristic approach" into the" restricted approach" because he believed that this term is more accurate. Second, he called the "communicative CALL" as the "open CALL" because it is open to all the dimensions. Third, he made the "integrative CALL" becomes the "integrated CALL" and the reason is he thinks that it represents a goal to which we should be working.Then Steven say that , we did not reach "normalisation" yet. He said that we will reach that point when technology becomes a part of our daily life .
He also listed stages of normalization:  

   ·         Early Adopters. A few teachers and schools adopt the technology out

curiosity.

  ·         Ignorance/scepticism. However, most people are sceptical, or ignorant of its

existence.

    ·         Try once. People try it out but reject it because of early problems. They can’t

see its value—it doesn’t appear to add anything of ‘relative advantage’

(Rogers, 1995).

      ·         Try again. Someone tells them it really works. They try again. They see it does

in fact have relative advantage. 24 S. Bax / System 31 (2003) 13–28

 ·         Fear/awe. More people start to use it, but still there is (a) fear, alternating

with (b) exaggerated expectations.

       ·         Normalizing. Gradually it is seen as something normal.

       ·          Normalization.   

         How to apply these changes on our Saudi context ? 

      I think we as a Saudi community we can apply that ’’ Normalization’’  in our context .Computers are available in each and every place around us .We use it a lot  in many parts of our life but unfortunately  we didn’t  use  it  as  a  part of  our education since years ago . I believe we are able to  include technology in our education since we have all the factors and materials to make such a technological  educational  environment .

      

      Before six  years ago learning were based on teacher’s   traditional way of controlling . Nowadays , schools  started  to  use  computer or  Tecnological devices in teaching .  Even so  , we still  did not reach the normalization which Steven Bax mentioned . To do so , we need many  process , teacher should avoid using the regular ways of teaching during her /his class and try to use PowerPoint . Even the students should have the chance to present their works by using applications and giving them some speace to express themselves and their thougths through some social Network . At the end I can say, it is not easy  to change , but if we work together as one community involve teachers and students , we will reach it Ansha Allaha . ^_^  

I

    

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