Reflection Journal #1 for Technology and Language Learning Course

22 and 23 of September 2011 were my first week in attending Technology and Language Learning course. I was so excited because I am really interested in technology. In other hand, I am a candidate of English teacher so I thought it would be so fun.

My lecturer gives me a brief explanation about this course. It would focus on using various technology such as audio, video and computer technologies for teaching language, in this case is English. Well as we've known that technology has been used in education field for many years ago. As what I've experienced when I was in senior high school, the utilization of technology in teaching was not effective yet. The high school I went to had computers laboratory, language laboratory and projector but still we learnt without those kinds of thing. Teacher rarely used technology in teaching. Mostly they taught by speaking in front of the class and writing on the blackboard. That's why sometimes learning was so boring. I thought utilize the available technology would help enhancing the teaching and learning activities.

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The ineffective utilization of technology in my school was caused by the user's skill. Most of teachers and student didn't know how to operate it. Once we used projector, for example, in teaching and learning activity it usually spent a lot of time to make it work. That's why we rarely used it.

Now, I am in college learning about education. Here, I'll learn about utilizing technology for enhancing the effectiveness of teaching and learning activities. As we know, technology has taken important part of people's life. Even children have had their own mobile phone. As the new generation of teacher we should be able to combine technology and teaching method in order to make the effective teaching and learning process.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. It also works for technology in education field. We know that technology has been helping people in doing something in easier way. So why don't we use technology in education to make it not only easier but also more effective? 

About The Advantages

Technology can help us in providing the materials for teaching. Even internet provides students the authentic reading materials. Students can also get practices and experiential learning from it. Moreover, students are able to get real-world experience. Usually in classroom teacher could manipulate the situation while internet provides them the real-world experience.

About The Disadvantages

For some people technology is complicated thing. We should have skill to be able to operate it, especially computer. Teachers and students who are lack of computer-skill usually get some difficulties in operating it. Moreover, it costs a lot of money for the first time it is established.

After I attended this course I start thinking that technology and education should be integrated well in order to make effective teaching and learning process. I hope I can find the solution for that after I finish this course. J

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