Subject: [IFETS-Discuss] educative role of technology?
michel.labour@univ-valenciennes.fr
Date: Tue 30 May 2000 - 23:11:55 MEST
From: michel.labour@univ-valenciennes.fr Subject: [IFETS-Discuss] educative role of technology? Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 14:11:55 -0700
List address to send message to everyone: ifets-discuss@topica.com
Details of current discussion: http://ifets.ieee.org/discussions/discuss.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi
Many thanks to Mario Barajas and Martin Owen for their thought provoking=20
presentation. There are some points I would like to raise:
1.
Could someone give examples how technology makes it more difficult (or not)=
=20
to be a =93democratic, tolerant and responsible citizen=94 as proposed in=
the=20
pre-discussion paper. Given that technology is not neutral, does it mean=20
that (certain aspects of) technology is/are in fact =93undemocratic=94=20
(top-down? disempowering?) ? If so which? More to the point can one draw up=
=20
a scale of =93undemocratic=94 aspects of technologies? Or is this a non=
question?
2.
How is catering for cultural diversity an answer to a system that is "of=20
low social, pedagogical and economic efficiency=94? In this context, how is=
=20
=93efficiency=94 defined? Is there not a risk of ghettoising people and=20
overstretching resources and thus creating an =93inefficient=94=
disempowering=20
system?
Or, is there a way to make one=92s cultural specificity a springboard (a=20
reference point) to explore other horizons. This would be by approach as in=
=20
doing so it can help people to better understand their own context by=20
better understanding others based on the educational precept of going from=
=20
the known to the less known (see point 4 below).
3
In your research, the authors mention that students feel that distributed=20
learning is =93richer than a traditional one=94. What is precisely meant by=
=20
=93distributed learning=94? In what way is it perceived (?) / measured (?)=
to=20
be richer than traditional (teacher-centred?) learning?
4
As to Cross-cultural issues, in my field of language learning, we are=20
experimenting mainly with email partnerships between learners from=20
different cultures. The aim is to improve language and communication skills=
=20
via cultural and personal exchanges in a learner-led approach.
The partners negotiate with each other on how they wish to communicate. We=
=20
recommend, that both partners write in their own language and in the=20
language of the other (i.e. their respective target language). They then=20
comment on what the other has written, including on some language errors=20
(peer learning/tutoring). They can also send a copy of their message to the=
=20
email tutor for additional comment and help. The tutor is also there to=20
monitor, encourage and guide learners=92 progress.
We have been doing this for the last two years, and the feedback is very=20
encouraging, especially in giving learners a sense of control,=20
accomplishment and choice.
Ps. So if anyone would like to put their French to use with adults learning=
=20
English at our French university, do contact me, - the more, the merrier.
Michel
*******************************************
Dr Michel LABOUR
Head of languages
CEPPES
Universit=E9 de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambr=E9sis
Rue du faubourg de Paris
F-59313 VALENCIENNES CEDEX 9
FRANCE
*******************************************
NEW TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Tel : +33 (0)3. 27.51.77.72 / 77.71
Fax : +33 (0)3. 27.51.77.85 / 77. 87
mailto:Michel.Labour@univ-valenciennes.fr
web : http://www.univ-valenciennes.fr/scfc/ceppes/CEPPES.htm
---------------------------------------------------------
Forum website: http://ifets.ieee.org/
Forum's contact person: kinshuk@massey.ac.nz
Info on Join/Leave List: http://ifets.ieee.org/maillist.html
Change your subscription options (digest, vacation hold etc.) at: http://www.topica.com/lists/ifets-discuss/prefs
---------------------------------------------------------
___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a24 : Tue 30 May 2000 - 23:12:21 MEST