by Karen Nichols<\/p>\n
Faculty Focus<\/a> just released the results of a poll of instructors which included asking them if they used technology in their classes this past year. 75% said they did. While discussing this percentage yesterday in a meeting, our Director was thinking that number was rather low. I mean, everyone uses technology these days, right?<\/p>\n Well, actually, there are some professors who don't wish to have technology invade and take over their face to face classes where they are bonding with their students. They prefer for their classroom discussions to be organic without the clutter of gadgets and digital distractions. I can't fault them for that.<\/p>\n In my own discipline of world languages, technology has greatly enhanced our ability to provide students with authentic experiences. We can take virtual tours of museums, skype with a partner class on another continent and perfect our skills using recordings and videos. But I can also remember experiencing a class on learning Bantu via the Peace Corps method of the 1960's<\/a>. Just a few students and instructor and only the target language and gestures. It was intense but 25 years later, I still remember a few words and that experience helps me to empathize with how our students may feel when they approach second language learning.<\/p>\n So technology or no technology? That's a decision best left up to the instructor and the material. I do believe one should keep abreast of what's available in order to make an informed decision that will ultimately provide the best experience for the students.<\/p>\n