Social media platforms like Facebook, Google + or Twitter, class blogs or discussion forums can also lead to meaningful collaboration and creative output. Students need very clear instructions and deadlines so as to ensure work is being done in a safe learning environment. They can be asked, for example, to post a photo they have taken( mountains, food, playing a sport), then ask at least two questions about the photos their classmates have posted and also answer the questions about their photo. Similarly, they can post descriptions, narratives, opinions( any type of stimulus given by the teacher) and comment on other classmates’ posts or change the ending of a story, for instance.
In the classroom different group activities can be designed using mobile applications like Wordwall or Kahoot, which allow students to collaborate and answer different questions or create their own tasks for their classmates to solve( which saves a lot of teacher-preparation time).
It goes without saying that using the internet and the digital tools it offers for educational purposes is still open to debate. Both supporters and detractors have valid arguments to sustain their opinions. What they seem to agree on, though, is the fact that if we do not allow technology to dominate, it can provide a very useful alternative to more traditional practices. For teachers or even students who might not find technology appropriate to their teaching or learning styles, starting small, trying one new thing at a time and being prepared to embrace change are just a few tips that could make their journey an enjoyable and rewarding one.
Bibliography: Bellow, Adam. Doing More with Less: Start Small and Collaborate. Edutopia. https:// www. edutopia. org / blog / more-with-less-start-small-collaborate-adam-bellow( last accessed 1 May 2017) Maley, Alan and Peachey, Nik, ed. Creativity in the English language classroom. London: British Council, 2015. Monaghan, Daniel and Woodward, Tessa.“ Bridging the technophobe-technophile gap.” ENGLISH TEACHING professional. Ed. Helena Gomm. Issue 103. Hove: Pavillion Publishing and Media Ltd., March 2016. Motteram, Gary. The benefits of new technology in language learning. British Council. https:// www. britishcouncil. org / voices-magazine / the-benefits-new-technology-languagelearning( last accessed 1 May 2017) Peachey, Nik. Thinking critically through digital media. PeacheyPublications. 2016.
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