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 . ^_^
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