Smmry of DDL

TASK BASED LEARNING Task-based language learning is an approach which was developed in the 1980s by the Indian language teaching specialist N.S. Prabhu. TBL is based on the idea that the acquisition of language and linguistic competence as well as language and language learning awareness can best be realised through tasks which encourage the learner not to focus explicitly on the structure and the rules of the new language. AIM OF DATA DRIVEN LEARNING The principal aim of all teaching activities must be the creation of a learning environment in which learners are asked to carry out authentic tasks. Providing the appropriate data, organized into suitable units of information and supported by relevant processes must be the foremost task of educational design of any kind of language learning and teaching resource in order to contribute to the success of any learning situation. The traditional transmission model of learning must be replaced by models which emphasise information processing and knowledge construction as acts of learning most suited to the acquisition of the kind of skills needed for the knowledge society. In addition to the undeniable need to achieve instructional goals, the development of cognitive and strategic abilities suitable for the knowledge society is defined as one of the principle aims of a learning process based on knowledge construction and discovery learning.

Wordle

Duolingo Web

Duolingo is a website which is free. It is used for learning a language. It seems fun and effective in terms of teaching a language. It includes translations from a language to another and it teaches you which word means what. For example, you are a native speaker of English who wants to learn Spanish,duolingo starts giving you a sentence from a Spanish website ans asking you to translate it. This process and the simplicity of the sentences are different according to your target language level. Also, I saw that people like this website and commented on it in a good way. For example;

Lastly, here is their website details:

I think it is a useful website for the learners of a new language since it is free and provides exercises online.

Ted-ed Technology Integration

I think that sometimes I may use the technology in my classes. As the technology is a part of our life, we have to update ourselves to be able to use it in our teaching. For example, I like doing homework online, and I like to have the opportunity of adding pictures, videos and any other visuals easily to my writing or homework when I do it online. It is convenient. I think, in the future, I may prepare online quizzes or I may want students to write their answers on their blogs. Of course, there will be better programs than blogger. So, I want to learn and use them because I can reach my students’ homework whenever I want; in addition, I can write comments or their peers can write comments. Therefore, I believe that it is a nice way of improving reading and writing. While using the technology, I may encounter some problems which is very natural. For example, when I want my students to use the internet in the school, the school may not have an internet access or wi-fi. Also, there will not be enough computers for all students. I may solve this problem only giving online homework so that students have a chance to access the internet outside of the school.

Chapter 2 Four Learning Theory Perspectives

Over the past half-century, there have been several learning theories. In today's world, some of them are still used but there is technology,and it affects the learning and teaching ways. One of the learning theories is behaviorism. According to behaviorism observable behaviour is important in learning. Also, reinforcement and rewards are really important at the time of learning. For example, when I was in high school, in Turkish literature course, my teacher gave me a plus as a reward because I said the author's name when I heard the name of his book. Behaviorists don't care what happens internally when people learn. Therefore, they can only explain simple learning tasks but not teaching higher skills. In contrast, cognitivism give importance to internal process at the time of learning. Piaget explores how people think, solve problems,and make decisions. Cognitivists create a mental model of short-term and long-term memory. In cognitivist theory, students become less dependent on techer when compared with behaviorism because students can use their own cognitive strategies in learning environment. Another theory is constructivism. In this theory, learning happens according to students' own experience, interpretation and understanding. Constructivists believe that when students use authentic materials or learn by doing, they learn effectively. For example, in Public Speaking course last year, I prepared slides and I gave presentations which were really helpful for me. I learned how to give a presentation by performing. Another perspective is social psychology. Social psychologists look at how the social organization of the classroom affects learning such as group working or individual study. I think that group working is more effective and fun way of learning. For example, in my Research course, working with a partner motivates me and I can continue to work without boring. Today, thanks to the technology, collaborative work become more easier because people can access each other via the internet. I use the internet in my courses both in high school and prep. school. We watched movies and videos in class. Sometimes, my teachers used powerpoint and projector. I think the materials related to the technology makes my learning effective. I remember those films and videos. However, I don't remember hard-copy or coursebook materials. To sum up, I can say that teachers should use eclectic theories because everybody has a different way of understanding.

Assure Model

Assure model is integration of technology and media to instruction. In my high school and prep. school, we only used video, projector and PowerPoint. I think these are not enough for assure model. More materials related to technology should be used in classrooms. In my school life, only Steve teacher use the internet effectively and teach us various websites which are really useful for teaching and learning. In assure model, the first step is ''analyze learners'' which is extremely important because knowing your students is the essential part of the instruction. Teachers should know their students' needs and capacity. Generally, my teachers did this step. The second step of the model is '' state objectives''. In my courses, my teachers gave us information about what we will learn after the lesson. Next step is ''Select Media and Materials''. This step is one of the most important steps. Selecting a material should be done carefully. Teachers should use various materials in their classes to attract the students' attention. Carefully selected media and materials make the lesson more memorable and fun for the students. In terms of selecting materials, my teachers were not good. Generally, they used course books and hard-copy. Some of them rarely used projector and the internet. I think that some teachers don't know how they integrate the technology to their lessons. Another step is ''utilize technology, media and materials''. This step includes selected materials, preparing the classroom environment, warming up the students, providing the learning experience. The next step is ''require learner participation''. My teachers did well on this area. They tried to get each of us actively involved in the lesson. The last step is ''evaluate and revise''. In this part, teachers look at whether their objectives are met or not. They assess their learners and materials used in class.

Smart phone and Cell phone Use

My Ideas about Digital Literacy (Ted Ed)

It is obvious that technology develops fast. In the near future, even after 5 years, there will be big changes in education thanks to the technology. Teachers need to update themselves and find new ways of instruction or using digital materials. Maybe, in the future, there will be no classrooms. Teachers and students may communicate via the internet. Actually, I do not want this type of changing because I find face-to-face education better in terms of asking questions while learning, speaking in front of others and student-teacher communication. However, I do not say that digital literacies are bad because we need them in today’s world. They make teachers’ lives easier. In my high school years, I remember that we only used a television for watching films, CD player, and overhead projector as digital literacies. However, in my teaching experiences, I will use smart boards, tablets, notebooks, different software programs related to education, and other digital literacies that we will see. Nevertheless, I am not sure about whether my school provide the necessary environment or not for me and my students. As a teacher, I think I will limit the use of mobile phones, tablets or notebooks because it is hard to control students, of course this is up to their age level. If they are adults, I will let them use their mobile phones in lessons.

Literacy Skills

To tell the truth, I was not well-prepared for the demands of my university when I started my university education. I have developed all literacies, general literacy, text literacy, computer literacy, distance learning literacy, cyber learning literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, during my university education. For example, I did not have any idea about cyber learning literacy and distance learning literacy. In the university, these concepts are introduced to us and now I have an opinion at least about what they are. Other literacies are more familiar to me because in high school my teachers gave importance to them. To illustrate, they showed a visual material and wanted the students to interpret it and say their ideas. Also, they used audio recordings, computer, texts in reading lessons etc. However, it was limited. I have developed my four language skills thanks to my university. By developing my skills, at the same time, I have learned literacies. Now, I am good at visual literacy because I like using visual materials both in my teaching and learning English; I am also good at general literacy since I can comprehend and decode information that I have and use it. As a prospective teacher, I think that teachers need to be familiar to all literacies but some of them (distance learning literacy, cyber learning literacy) may not be as important as others. I said this because I believe that students need some free time to make themselves happy. If I use cyber learning literacy, this means I can send quizzes, e-mails and important messages related to lessons anytime I want. So, students need to be online as much as possible to see my sending. I do not want to bother them with lessons and homework. I am a supporter of face-to- face education in classrooms.

Public Speaking Course

Public Speaking course is one of my courses that we have to use some technologic materials such as a computer, power point, videos, the internet. First of all, I need to search my topic on the internet because it has various sources. Then, I summarize information that I found and by using PowerPoint I prepare my presentation. Also, when I tell my topic to the class, I have to use different materials like a video. By doing this, I appeal to some literacies especially listening. Moreover, reading and writing literacies are also reinforced at the time of research and preparing PowerPoint. Beyond these classic literacies, research literacy, visual literacy, digital literacy etc.

Technology in the World

Especially developed countries :) Will it be change in the future?