Week 7: “I find it’s kind of like having some candy but not enough for everyone.” (Phyllis Stallworth, a four-grade teacher from Louisiana referring to teaching in a one-computer classroom)

This week we read and analyzed the proposed resources on teaching English in one-computer classrooms and learner’s autonomy and found partners for reviewing project plans.

 The lack of equipment is a problem indeed but I think using a computer (especially a laptop) connected to a projector can be very efficient.
I used this format successfully for listening and checking comprehension (subtitled video clips + fill-in-the gaps exercises + singing karaoke), grammar (Hot Potatoes exercises), reading (text based tasks), making Power Point presentations, etc.
A good thing is that it works not only for whole-class activities. Strategies like working in stations or offering after-classes access to students according to an established schedule can allow each learner use the computer.
The conclusion I drew about implementing technology in teaching in general and  in a one-computer classroom in particular is not to use computers just for showing something and not to loose the sight of our main goal that is meaningful communication and interaction.

“I never teach my students. I simply provide the situations in which they can learn.”

                                                                                    (Albert Einstein)

Another important issue was the benefits of and the obstacles in developing learner’s autonomy.           I found it very interesting the way Dimitrios Thanasoulas approaches basically this term in his article “What is Learner Autonomy and How Can It Be Fostered?” The influence of the tradition factor, the moderator role of the teacher, the curriculum and the importance of autonomous learning for future citizens were very relevant for me taking into account the context of my native country.
Here in Moldova we made reforms in our educational system to pass from the Soviet model that we call “informative” to a “formative” educational system and my impression about this change is that perhaps the people who call the school a “conservative institution” are right because I can see how deeply rooted in the traditional teaching are our practices.
Though this doesn’t make the importance of autonomous learning less convincing. I think that in the context of globalization and information revolution we need active citizens being able to search for information and process it independently to implement the daily “projects” of which consists our life.