The article that I reviewed was a theory on using Google search engine that could be used in teaching. It also offers teachers ideas on how to use the application in teaching. The writer suggested a few techniques and tips that teachers could use to teach and also it could be a time saver especially when introducing the internet in language teaching.
The aim of the article is to utilize the search engine as it could help the teachers in many ways especially in language teaching. One of the examples given in the article is Google Custom Search (GCS) where the teacher could set up on any computer for easy access not just by the teacher himself but also by the students. GCS enables the person accessing the computer to search the most significant topics and avoiding unwanted sites (with spam, pornography, ads).
Other examples given by the site are Google Scholar, easy to use by the students to search for materials regarding the selected topic and sources from around the world, Google Doc, web based document processing that enables the user to create word documents, spreadsheets and presentation slides for virtual use, Google groups that enables online discussions and lastly Google Translate where the user could translate any language to the preferable language online.
The website also includes activities, ideas and techniques for teachers to teach either in traditional classroom or virtually. It could be used by students and could greatly help the teachers in time management and help the students to search for more materials to help them complete their tasks.
From the website, it is an eye opener to know that the common search engine could also be used for educational purposes. It is very interesting to know that Google manage to consider the needs of education and to help the growth of knowledge. I personally think by adapting the techniques shown on the site could greatly help the teachers to teach the language and at the same time gain positive response from the students.
In local context, learning English had long been a problem to many teachers. Adapting the techniques could help the teachers to gain the students interest. Many students especially in rural areas tend to see learning the language as a burden and often the find that it is very hard for them to cope. Google had open a new door in learning the language and at the same time learning the language could be fun for the students as they could gain new experiences in using the language firsthand. It is very important to let the student’s experience themselves the use of the language in the real world to make the lesson more meaningful.
I also think that by exposing the students to this new innovation could be an eye opener to the students. In previous, the students only know how to use I.M for social networking and not for educational purposes. They only see internet connection is only for entertainment. This assumption is based on personal experiences. In reality we could gain more than what we could imagine. Knowing to use the Google search engine to teach the language is something refreshing and the world is at your fingertips.
cpaivafranco [at] yahoo.com.br
UFRJ / Colégio Pedro II (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XVI, No. 2, February 2010
Site link: http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Franco-Google/
Ok, 6/10
ReplyDelete