Week 4: March 28

Issues & Features of CALL I: Interactive II

Discussion Questions:

1. What is asynchronous CMC (ACMC)? Tell us the examples of using ACMC from the reading articles.

Asynchronous Computer-Mediated Communication (ACMC) includes communication via e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, and blogs that promote interactive learning where learners can discuss, reflect, solving problems, exchange ideas and information, etc with teachers as well as their peers. ACMC is an essential tool used for collaborative learning that enables learner autonomy, build teamwork, and promote critical thinking outside the classroom environment. ACMC is ‘time and space independent’, a virtual classroom space where learners can connect at their own convenience to fully benefit from various cognitive advantages-lively information exchanges, more in-depth processing and critical thinking, exposures to multiple perspectives of other students, and overall broadening of learners’ knowledge and deepen their understanding in student-centered learning environment. ACMC can also promote cross-cultural communication placing the language learners in contact with real audiences and providing them with authentic language experiences; learners can gain communication, sociolinguistic, and intercultural competency.
Teacher’s role as a facilitator is crucial in determining success and failure of learning via ACMC.

2. What is a blog? What is the difference between blog and discussion board? List the main functions and characteristics of a blog. Also discuss the examples of ESL blogs.

Blog is like an ‘online journal’ that entries containing one’s own words, ideas, and thoughts as well as those of others are updated and published and/or copied and pasted continuously by any individual. Blogs can be used for personal, educational, journalistic and commercial purposes. It does not require any programming experience or knowledge.
In the “Weblogs for Use in ESL Classrooms”, the author lists three main types of blogs; the tutor blog, the learner blog, and the class blog.

The tutor blog is run by the tutor for the learners-
l to provide alternative reading practice (different from the usual content from text books) to promote extended learning using the internet
l to encourage interactive communication (online verbal exchanges) between learners and the tutor-asking questions, giving riddles, challenging their views, etc.
l to provide class or syllabus information to better prepare the learners about homework assignments and discussion topics, and review or clarification follow up on classroom work.
l to promote learner autonomy by enabling the learners to use the English news sites, key-pal networks, and audio and video files, etc.

The learner blogs are run by individual learners or by small collaborative groups of learners. They are best suited for reading and writing classes- empowering the learners to use search engines and net surfing in English. Individual blogs can be used as journals for writing practice, develop a sense of ownership get practical experience of creating a hypertext document.

The class blogs can be used in conversation-based classes to be used as a free-form bulletin board for posting messages, images, thoughts, and links related to classroom discussion topics. For int. and adv. Learners, blogs can be useful for facilitating project based language learning-develop research and writing skills. It’s a virtual space for an international classroom language exchange- joining learners from different countries. Class blogs are much like a publishing group –individual learners can be given varying amounts of responsibility to publish materials arising from postings on the discussion list.

ESL blogs can be used to provide class notes (for reviews), online supplemental materials, and general feedback. Ss can submit assignments online.