How to Use Technology in the Classroom

Do we really need to use technology-based tools in our language classrooms? Absolutely! It's because students of this age are digital natives while we, teachers and parents, are digital immigrants. That's why we have to know how to deal with those digital natives who are being raised acquiring technology as they acquire a language. However, technology-based tools change over time or become obsolete. What we use now may be replaced by a new tool next year. Who still remembers Icq? Why did "AOL" lose its fame? Do you still remember the Hotmail messenger! It was number 1, years ago but now no one even remembers it. The bottom line here is that although tech tools change or disappear, pedagogical goals and principles hardly change. That's why we need to choose the tools that fit the context and serve our goals and principles. We also need to adapt to changing technology to fulfill our pedagogical needs. With that being said, let me raise a question that may be in your minds right now. What technology-based tools do you use for increasing your students' engagement, collaboration, interaction & multiple literacies in your classroom? Tools are abundant, but the ever-increasing number of tools and free multimedia software can be confusing and even daunting for teachers. Choosing an appropriate technology-based tool to use in and out of the classroom should not be random. Every tool that the teacher uses should serve a specific and clear goal. Let me name some of the tools that I basically rely on in my classes. These tools can be used by k-16 teachers to engage their students in and out of the classroom. They can also use these tools to integrate culture into the classroom. Some other tools will serve how to increase students' multiple literacies to support their intercultural competence. It is worth mentioning that all these tools and strategies address the 21st-century skills and ACTFL's standards.

Autorentext

Mohamed A. Ansary is currently a lecturer of Arabic at the University of Arizona and an ACTFL-Certified OPI tester. He has been participating in programs for teaching Arabic in Egypt and abroad since 2007. In 2009 and 2010, Ansary worked at the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In 2008 and 2009 he worked for Concordia Language Villages with high school students. From 2012-2014, he was an adjunct lecturer in the Summer SWSEEL Program in Indiana University. He also worked as an instructor for the one-year study abroad programs in Egypt for the following universities: Utah University, Montana University, London University, Leeds University, Salford University and Westminster University. He worked as a visiting lecturer of translation and English linguistics at the University of Alexandria, Faculty of Education, English Department in 2010.His area of interest in the k-16 workshops is: application of 21st century skills to the Arabic language classroom, assessment of functional abilities of Arabic language learners, using technology into the classroom, teaching culture as a fifth skill and how to integrate it into the classroom. His research interests include social media, instructional technology in the AFL classroom to increase the students' collaboration, digital literacy and intercultural competence. He is a globally connected educator. He is a passionate lifelong learner and educator. He is a global citizen. He always digs deep to enlighten his students, colleagues and himself. He synthesizes technology tools and integrate global content into his classroom instruction. He believes that culture is the fifth skill. His official website www.mohamedansary.com has been visited by instructors and learners of Arabic from 106 countries so far. Mohamed Ansary was one of the top three finalists for the Five Star Faculty Award of the academic year of 2018.

★ MENAS: https://menas.arizona.edu/user/mohamed-ansary