Using Smart Devices in Teaching/Learning in KSA

The question of whether or not Saudi students need smart devices can be, in my opinion, answered very resolutely – no. Does anyone truly need “smart” devices to learn? Again, the answer is no. For centuries students and other learners have learned in a more traditional way, and this has worked well. These new technological devices may enhance learning, but are they needed? Absolutely not.

The gap between the uses of mobile technology at home and the uses at school are huge. Very rarely would students willingly use an application for learning on their own free time. Mobiles are mainly used for social media, and not in a way that is conductive to learning.

This being said, it is not to say that using mobile devices for learning is completely hopeless. In fact, there could in fact be a few potential benefits IF these devices are used correctly and most importantly, monitored. The fact that mobile devices are almost always with students is one benefit. If these students could use just a fraction of this time to open up, for example, an app that would help them with grammar, or one that could teach them new vocabulary, the results could be staggering.

However, I do not believe that educators in the most general sense are willing to allow this sort of fundamental change in the educational system. They are hesitant, and why wouldn’t they be? From an educator’s point of view, mobile devices are time wasters that distract students from their work. Until it is proven to be otherwise (and here the work mainly falls on the students) this
educational technological revolution will not ever have a change to happen.

Adapting this technology to an educational system would involve reaching out to students who are not already convinced that phones and other mobile devices are mainly used for entertainment purposes. From there you would be able to teach them to use these devices in a beneficial way. In order to take mobile learning to another level (or even a starting level) the educational system has to be taught in a different, more technology centered way to students, and teachers themselves will have to relearn how to teach.

Useful Applications for Learning English

IBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8

IBook is an application in the Apple app store for downloading and reading books. It includes numerous types of books, including, but not limited to classics and best sellers. When browsing your library in the app, you can tap a book to open it and then interact with it in many ways. You can read it, bookmark or add notes to your favorite passages.

It allows user (students) to download and read children’s picture books, designed art books, photo books, cook books, and more in the iBooks Store.

I believe it could be used with my Saudi students. For example, if we have a lesson about travelling I will ask students to read books about famous tourist spots, and ask them to gather information about the country and its history.  Another way to include this app in class would be to ask students about subjects or hobbies they’re interested in,  and encourage them to read books and then discuss it with the class.

Learn Languages: Rosetta Stone
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/totale-course-hd/id435588892?mt=8

Learn Languages is free application where you can learn to speak Spanish, French, Italian, English, German and 19 others languages more anytime, anywhere.

It allows students to discover new vocabulary and grammar. It improves students’ language skills by learning through conversation and activities. It is available in Apple app store.

I would use it with my students in useful ways that would improve their language. Whenever we finished a lesson, I would kindly ask them to do an activity using the application that would let them use and control the features of the language. I would ask the students to use the application outside the classroom to gain extra information and tell their friends the new things that they learned.

Evaluation

Educaplay is a website that enables teachers to create a wide variety of different educational and interactive activities. Activities teachers can create include, but are not limited to, listening and reading dialogues, jumbled words and others various games. These activities can then be linked or embedded in various areas around the web, such as the teacher’s blog.

We chose to evaluate this website because the members of our group decided it was a step above the rest. Unlike many educational websites that seem to only focus on content and not presentation, Educaplay has a pleasing layout and an excellent color scheme. In addition, all the graphics are smooth looking and related to what they represent. The layout is not only pleasing to look at, but also easy to navigate. All areas are clearly spelled out, and almost nothing seems to be out of place. Wording at the directional bar is a bit obtuse (directories for what? Groups of what?) but considering how well planned the rest of the site is, it is easy to overlook.

All of this is not to say that the content is lacking. Rather the opposite is true. There are a good number of games and educational activities. However, while there are a fair amount of activities listed, the information under each individual one is sparse. These activities could stand to be updated with a bit more information.

One reason that these activities might be lacking in information is because the site seems to be a bit outdated. The last informational blog post from the administrator was in 2014. While this date is not exceptionally past, it seems longer than needed, especially for the web.

Overall, the Educaplay achieves its goal of bringing educational and fun activities and games to teachers. The site could stand a bit of improvement, but it is still wholly usable and as such, a great asset.

Interactive Language Learning on the Web

     Interactive Language Learning can be great and easy way for both teachers and students in Saudi Arabia and anywhere. Which provide them comfort and entertainment in the context of education whereas teachers give students lessons in school and apply examples, explanation and activity on web-based. This web-based is a good tool of learning language in a way that students will be interactive in their educational skills by using technology. Of course this technique has positive point as a huge number of students so making an online quiz will help teachers a lot. In my opinion that Saudi teachers need to create their own web-based language activities for a number of reasons. First, it is an important and modern way of educations. Second, it will help shy students to participate and engage in learning environment. Third, a step that creates strong relationship between teachers and students. Finally, I think Interactive Language Learning on the web-based must be in Saudi education and definitely I will use it in the future with my students.

Wordle in EDU 401

“Effectiveness of using social networking sites in teaching and learning English language in the Saudi context”

      I agree of the effectiveness of social networking sites in learning and teaching English language. I know blogger since 3 weeks and it attract me so much because it shows me how much people share information and knowledge. It would be better if I introduce to it before. I think it is a useful and easy to get idea, information and knowledge. Students need a resource that full of experience and knowledge of all science from different point of view which is available in Blogger website. Another important thing is that, alongside giving benefit to student its show some interesting things related to entertainment which keeps an eye of student's fun. Blog offers students share everything with friends and others which make the learning process interesting and effective.

     On other hand, it is international which make the learning process in the biggest window of discussion and opposition. Example of that, some countries is specialist in sciences like Germany in Medicine so Saudi students are able to share that knowledge with German by Blogger. Social network connecting the world from north to south. So as we are Applied linguistics students and this science is specialist in the United States and United Kingdom. We take the benefit from Social network as blogger when I read others blog, blogging and answer comments. This work will make collaboration between students and other in the field of study in a positive way.

     I think learning English language could be like an activity like giving students a task about reading an article or watching a video and ask them to use it in the social network like blogger website. It is an effective way to learning English language or any kind of learning. I really like it and find interesting. It leads me to read my friends and others blogs which will give me more than I want.    

A Vision of Students Today

     The most important difference that make Saudi Arabia special in the filed of education is that, it is the first country in the world that support education and encourage it inside and outside for all ages. Saudi Arabia College and university offer monetary reward for student were as not many countries do. However, Saudi Scholarships is spreading to all of Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and North and South America.

     In contrast to American students they pay to be a college member and they also pay for textbook which is too expensive to students trying to build their life so American students need to work to get money.

      I think the dreams and goals of students wither if they are Saudis or American are to successful in their education to get good job.

     Saudis students looking for better future by getting a job or completing their higher education.