TITLE: Use of information and communication technologies in English language teaching AUTHOR: Bc. Martin Klán DEPARTMENT: Department of School & Social Education SUPERVISOR: PhDr. RNDr. Hana Voňková, PhD., PhD. ABSTRACT: Both foreign and Czech literature point out that information and communication technologies are becoming more and more integral part of education. This presented diploma thesis provides basic outline of information and communication technologies and possibilities of their use with respect to English language teaching. This thesis tries to outline effective use of ICT in English language teaching and focuses mainly on electronic communication, the Internet calling and features of blogging. The aim of the thesis is to find out pupils'attitudes towards English language teaching at Secondary Vocational School in Hořovice, their previous experience with electronic communication, their preferred and dispreferred activities during English language teaching and finally their opinion on using the Internet calling and e-mail by means of a questionnaire and data analysis. Possibility of using electronic communication and calling via the Internet in English language teaching is realized as a project.

O ensino e aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras em ambientes virtuais apresenta, como questão central de reflexão e pesquisa, os aspectos teórico-metodológicos que envolvem a concepção de cursos e, sobretudo, as mudanças no papel do professor e do aluno na sala virtual. Esta pesquisa, desenvolvida no contexto de um curso-piloto online de Introdução ao Francês como Língua Estrangeira, realizada em uma escola privada de idiomas localizada na cidade de São Bernardo do Campo, no estado de São Paulo, tem como objetivo principal discutir as questões que envolvem a concepção e a realização de um curso online de francês, predominantemente na plataforma síncrona Elluminate, sob o ponto de vista da análise papel do professor. Como princípio metodológico orientador, adotamos a pesquisa-ação, que apresenta como uma de suas características a participação do pesquisador. Para analisar e discutir os dados obtidos na pesquisa, utilizamos como referencial teórico noções ligadas à organização da Internet; ao ensinar e ao aprender virtual; a possíveis abordagens pedagógicas, dentre elas o estar junto virtual (Valente, 2003), que se aproxima da abordagem por tarefas proposta pelo Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas (QECRL) e concretizada pela realização de Feuilles de Route (Mangenot; Louveau, 2006); aos planos e sujeitos envolvidos na elaboração e realização de um curso online. / The foreign language teaching and learning on virtual environments present, as a central reflection and research question, the theoretical and methodological aspects that involve the course design and, mainly, the changes in the role of both teacher and student in the virtual class. This research, developed in the context of an online Introduction to French as a Foreign Language pilot course, implemented at a Sao Bernardo do Campo city language institute, in the state of Sao Paulo, aims at discussing the issues that involve the design and development of an online French course, mainly on the synchronous platform Elluminate, based on the analysis of the teacher\'s role. We had the research-action as the main methodological principle, which presents the researcher\'s participation as one of its characteristics. In order to analyze and discuss the research data, we used theoretical references related to Internet organization, to virtual teaching and learning, to possible methodological approaches - for example, the estar junto virtual (Valente, 2003), which is similar to the task-based approach proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and developed by the Feuilles de Route (Mangenot; Louveau, 2006) -, and to the plans and people involved in the course design and development.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T14:32:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Angelica Santos Ramacciotti.pdf: 594851 bytes, checksum: 3069094540933ef067f964d46e9c870e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study aims to investigate the dialogue in construction of knowledge at graduation and post-graduation programs at the distance education modality in Brazil. To achieve the proposed goal, a qualitative approach with a dialectical perspective has been chosen for doing a digital bibliographical research. Using a methodic process to search through scientific papers published in open access online journals, between 2005 and 2009, with a total of eight publications selected. The systematical organization of all this information was elaborated based on the theoretical referential of Paulo Freire, starting from the concepts: listening , critical thinking , tolerance , respect for the student knowledge , epistemological curiosity , collective construction of knowledge and emancipation . The analysis and interpretation of the results demonstrate that the scientific production on the dialogical practices based on Paulo Freire for on-line education is starting to consolidate in the national academic scene. The collaborative dimension, spawning from the multiplicity of interchanges from on-line education evidences pedagogical proposals guided on the dialogue for collective knowledge construction. This way, new paths are open towards emancipatory curricula / Este estudo busca investigar o diálogo na construção do conhecimento em programas de graduação e pós-graduação na modalidade a distância no Brasil. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto, optou-se por uma abordagem qualitativa com perspectiva dialética na realização de uma pesquisa bibliográfica digital. Mediante um processo de busca criterioso de artigos científicos publicados em periódicos online de acesso aberto entre 2005 e 2009, foram analisadas oito produções acadêmicas. A organização sistemática das informações foi elaborada com base no referencial teórico de Paulo Freire, a partir dos conceitos: saber escutar , criticidade , tolerância , respeito ao conhecimento do educando , curiosidade epistemológica , construção coletiva do conhecimento e emancipação . A interpretação e a análise dos resultados demonstram que a produção científica sobre as práticas dialógicas referenciadas em Paulo Freire na educação on-line vem se consolidando no cenário acadêmico nacional. Observa-se que a dimensão colaborativa, advinda da multiplicidade de intercâmbios na educação on-line, evidencia propostas pedagógicas pautadas no diálogo para a construção coletiva do conhecimento. Assim, são abertos novos caminhos em direção a currículos emancipatórios

Skills of inquiry are essential outcomes from a baccalaureate nursing education. Students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity can develop effective skills of inquiry. Nurse educators must place emphasis on teaching and learning strategies which engage student intellectual curiosity. However, the concept of intellectual curiosity is not well-studied across multiple contexts of teaching and learning environments within nursing education. In addition, there is little known about the experienced nurse educator and the meaning of student intellectual curiosity across multiple teaching and learning environments. With the increased emphasis on online teaching and learning in nursing education as a solution for expanding student access and capacity, the concept of intellectual curiosity within the context of online learning needs further exploration. Under the assumptions of philosopher Max van Manen (1990, 1997) and Martin Heidegger (1962), the purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of baccalaureate nursing student intellectual curiosity for the experienced nurse educator teaching within the online learning environment. The research question was: What does intellectual curiosity mean to experienced nurse educators teaching in the online environment? A total of eight participants from three different institutions of higher education in the southeastern United States were interviewed through a socratic approach. Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner’s Steps for Data Analysis (1989) are utilized for data analysis. Three constitutive patterns and seven relational themes emerged through the data analysis process. Ontological considerations of findings, implications for nursing education, and future research investigations are identified.

No description available.

The emphasis on education fluctuates with the economy. When education is encouraged, many individuals flock to colleges and universities to increase earning potential or achieve goals. Thanks to advancements in technology, distance education in the 21st century can be similar to face-to-face education. Students spend many hours sitting in front of a computer completing course work. Although still in infancy stages, online education has vastly improved. Perspectives like teaching adults (andragogy), transformative learning, and teacher immediacy all address teaching individuals from afar. In consultation with these three perspectives, several qualitative measures have been developed aid with online course design. This graduate project intends to assist faculty with setting up an online course using Andragogy, Transformative Learning Theory, and Teacher Immediacy as the backbone. In addition, the Quality Online Course Initiative, Quality Matters, and Quality Online Learning and Teaching tools are applied.

The current shortage of clinical sites for neurodiagnostic technology (NDT) students is limiting enrollments and subsequently limiting graduates from NDT schools in the U.S. A lack of knowledge or consensus concerning the use of educational technology in NDT clinical skills training prompted this investigation. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of educational technology in providing NDT clinical skill training. This qualitative Delphi study was guided by experiential learning theory and cognitive constructionist epistemology. Thirty expert panelists were recruited to rate the effectiveness of educational technology methods in addressing neurodiagnostic competencies for electroencephalography. Twenty-four completed round one, twenty-two completed round two and nineteen completed the third and final round. The competencies were derived by combining national competencies or practice analysis from the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom for neurodiagnostic technologists performing electroencephalography (EEG). Results of the three rounds of the Delphi study were processed using the mean value and interquartile deviation for evaluation of consensus. Consensus among the expert panelists supported the potential effectiveness of educational technology to address neurodiagnostic graduate competencies for technologists performing EEG. In conclusion, the expert panel consensus was NDT clinical skills for performing EEG can be addressed using educational technology, followed by a post-graduate clinical residency. Using educational technology and a post-graduate residency could increase school capacity. An increase in graduate numbers would help sustain the existing schools, better supply the profession, and increase public access to quality neurodiagnostic care.

Since the advent of distance learning, interaction has played a crucial role in learner satisfaction and more recently the quality of learning online. Even though the crucial nature of incorporating interactive learning environments is not lost on the education community, it has been at troubling odds with meeting the expectations of learners and establishing why some proposed “interactive” activities fail. Because technology has changed, offering varying levels of interaction between learner-learner, learner-instructor, and learner-content some argue that re-conceptualizing interactive can provide unique learning advantages. This literature review explores the most vital aspects of interactivity, the variables that determine its appropriateness and significant findings as they pertain to meeting the expectations of e-learning.

This design-based research study investigates the development of progressive discourse among participants (n=15, n=17, n=20) in three online graduate course contexts. Progressive discourse is a kind of discourse for inquiry in which participants share, question, and revise their ideas to deepen understanding and build knowledge. Although progressive discourse is central to knowledge building pedagogy, it is not known whether it is possible to detect its emergence in the patterns of participation in asynchronous conferencing environments or what kinds of instructional scaffolding are most effective to support its development. This study offers a unique perspective by characterizing episodes of discourse where participants honor the commitments for progressive discourse and by refining designs of peer and software-based scaffolding for progressive discourse. Results showed that measures such as note count, replies, and thread sizes can determine some qualities of online discourse but do not shed light on the development of progressive discourse. Thus an in-depth analysis of discourse for groups was developed to trace the interdependent individual contributions to the group discourse. Peer scaffolding that made norms for progressive discourse explicit was introduced to encourage participants to engage in sustained student-centered discourse for inquiry. Findings show that this intervention was most effective at the beginning of a course for newer online learners and newer graduate students, and least effective for students who were practicing K-12 teachers. A significant barrier to fostering progressive discourse is the tendency for teachers to reject these norms and revert to belief-mode thinking and devotional discourse typical of traditional schooling. Additionally, findings suggest that software-based scaffolding (as found in Knowledge Forum’s scaffold support feature) is a promising avenue for future design innovations to encourage progressive discourse. Although the results of this study are only suggestive, the findings do illustrate ways in which graduate students can uphold the commitments to move beyond expressions of socio- affective connection and opinion to discuss ideas in ways that lead to more useful explanations. The implications for these results for analyzing the quality of online discourse and the designs of instructional scaffolding in online learning environments are discussed.

This design-based research study investigates the development of progressive discourse among participants (n=15, n=17, n=20) in three online graduate course contexts. Progressive discourse is a kind of discourse for inquiry in which participants share, question, and revise their ideas to deepen understanding and build knowledge. Although progressive discourse is central to knowledge building pedagogy, it is not known whether it is possible to detect its emergence in the patterns of participation in asynchronous conferencing environments or what kinds of instructional scaffolding are most effective to support its development. This study offers a unique perspective by characterizing episodes of discourse where participants honor the commitments for progressive discourse and by refining designs of peer and software-based scaffolding for progressive discourse. Results showed that measures such as note count, replies, and thread sizes can determine some qualities of online discourse but do not shed light on the development of progressive discourse. Thus an in-depth analysis of discourse for groups was developed to trace the interdependent individual contributions to the group discourse. Peer scaffolding that made norms for progressive discourse explicit was introduced to encourage participants to engage in sustained student-centered discourse for inquiry. Findings show that this intervention was most effective at the beginning of a course for newer online learners and newer graduate students, and least effective for students who were practicing K-12 teachers. A significant barrier to fostering progressive discourse is the tendency for teachers to reject these norms and revert to belief-mode thinking and devotional discourse typical of traditional schooling. Additionally, findings suggest that software-based scaffolding (as found in Knowledge Forum’s scaffold support feature) is a promising avenue for future design innovations to encourage progressive discourse. Although the results of this study are only suggestive, the findings do illustrate ways in which graduate students can uphold the commitments to move beyond expressions of socio- affective connection and opinion to discuss ideas in ways that lead to more useful explanations. The implications for these results for analyzing the quality of online discourse and the designs of instructional scaffolding in online learning environments are discussed.