English Language Teaching - Assignment

byAsha Dhedhi - 0 Comments

 Use of Google Drive for Collaborative Language Learning Process


Assignment


Name: Asha R. Dhedhi

Roll no: 02 (Two)

Semester: 03 (Part-2)

Year: 2020-2021

Paper No.: 12

Paper: English Language Teaching

Enrollment No:

2069108420200010

Email ID:

ashadhedhi1806@gmail.com

Submitted to: Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English (MKBU)



Abstract


"A new age demands 

a new paradigm."

(Walter Mckenzie)


The 21st century marked an era of Information and Technology where every information is at fingertips. Almost in every human aspect of Science, Technology and Information playing a vital role. Even in the field of Education Technological development started a new page. So, Within these changing dynamics, demands for novel innovative ideas in the Teaching-Learning process are also increased. Because of interactive and dynamic nature, ICT allows an opportunity to individual.With the usage of ICT students can learn any subject especially English with ease. In the context of the global exchange the role of ICT has become inevitable in the 21st century. The use of ICT has become essential in everyday classroom teaching and learning. It’s use gives a chance to teachers as well as students to increase the quality of education and meet the requirements set by the coeval knowledge society. ICT has become essential tools for educational change and reform. So, In this article the writer introduces how Google Drive as an ICT tool along with Google Document, Google Sheets and Jam Board can be used as Collaborative tools for English Language Learning. 


Keywords: ICT, Language Learning, Google Drive, Collaborative Learning

 

Note: This article is written with reference to an Online Lecture delivered by Dr. Dilip Barad on "Using Google Drive for Engaging Learners in Online Remote Teaching (Part-2) for the purpose of enhancing Online Remote Teaching, while here researcher tries to study how the same techniques and strategies can be used to engage learners for Language Learning. (Source Video-https://youtu.be/MFTzlocEb04





Introduction


There are different types of Online Teaching like…


  • Online Teaching
  • Online Remote Teaching
  • Emergency Online Remote Teaching

Online teaching is the process of educating others via the internet. Various methods can be used, such as one-on-one video calls, group video calls, and webinars(Thomas J Law). Teaching Online is not an easy method but once you are comfortable with Computers and the Internet it is easier to overcome challenges.

And the best thing about Online teaching is, it is accessible to a larger audience. So, Here Elliot Masie's statement seems to be true when we see it with reference to Online Teaching.


“We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning.”

(Elliot Masie)


Remote Learning occurs when the learner and instructor, or source of information, are separated by time and distance and therefore cannot meet in a traditional classroom setting. Information is typically transmitted via technology like email, discussion boards, video conference, audio bridge so that no physical presence in the classroom is required; otherwise, it would be Hybrid or Blended Learning.


Emergency Remote Teaching(ERT) is a temporary shift from a traditional learning environment into online teaching because of some emergency or crisis. For Example, Due to Covid 19 spread throughout the world schools and colleges are forced to shut down and continue their teaching through online mode can be seen as Emergency Online Teaching.


Nowadays most of the surveys are also centered around Online Teaching and dissatisfaction in not getting desired results. Some of the reasons behind Failure of Online Teaching are as follows…


  • Teachers and Students both do not have proper training to teach digitally and to learn in Online Mode.
  • Some people may undergo MOOC courses or any other training, So they know problems, they know how to cope up with obstacles and struggle and they are also well versed with Online Teaching. While many people are not still exposed to this kind of course.
  • Teachers and Students are more habituated to teach and learn with the traditional pattern of Face to Face learning, They may not find comfort in the Online Learning process.

Covid 19 and Sudden Rise of Emergency Online Remote Teaching


We all know that CoVid 19 virus has turned the world upside down,  which started from Wuhan, China and now almost every country is affected.


This is the first time happening here that because of Covid 19 crisis  it has become increasingly necessary for everybody to try out Online Mode, because schools and colleges are forced to shut down to maintain Social Distancing.


Even before COVID-19, there was already high growth and adoption in education technology, with global edtech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350 Billion by 2025. Whether it is language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software, there has been a significant surge in usage since COVID-19. (Cathy Li and Farah Lalani)



Physical Classroom Environment vs Home(Online) Environment


To carry out Online Education successfully is the biggest challenge for everyone. In Classroom Environment students are motivated to perform and give  their response to the teacher's question. While in Online Education it is not feasible to everyone to perform because of Home Environment.  Some students may get one alone corner to study while some are even facing getting a separate place to sit and work.


Despite that, There are also some advantages of Online Learning. The internet saves our time and energy. Through the internet we can learn English lessons without the need of travelling and without the need of leaving our home. With the internet students can learn English anywhere at any time and at any place and whenever they want. The internet offers instant feedback to the learners which enhances the learning experience of the students as well save their time and energy.


Is Online Learning Effective?


The major question which is ongoing in the debate is about whether online education is effective or not? Many have questioned this question and we find different answers from different countries, different people and different age groups because of Social and Economic dynamics.


We can make the argument that a Structured Environment is required to make  effective online learning. Students frequently get distracted in their home environment and the retention rate decreases. Another major problem to make Online Learning Effective is how to engage Learners? So, Here we are going to discuss how Google Drive can be effectively used to engage students.


Google Drive as Language Learning Tool



Google Document

Google Sheets

Jam Board


Google Drive features can be used to share material and store any material which can sustain them for a longer time period. Google Drive also can be used to make collaborative learning, where everyone can participate and everyone can perform and everyone has the opportunity to enhance their abilities.


Along with Google Drive there are also some similar kinds of platforms which come from MS Teams, Microsoft 365, Dropbox etc. These all software provide similar kinds of facilities which can be used for similar purposes. 


Collaboration allows students to students interaction and students to teacher interaction possible. As Dr. Dilip Barad rightly stated in his lecture that..


"Basic aspect of the nature of  collaboration is, it allows people remotely located to get involved at one platform, to get engaged at one platform and whatever activities are assigned by teachers, everybody working at the same place. So, It is like one virtual room."

(Dr. Dilip Barad)


Let's discuss which are the activities which were done during this Online Lecture delivered by Dr. Dilip Barad. 


Google Document for Collaborative Online Activities


First and Foremost thing which is required is to have one common account of Gmail through which all other Google apps get connected automatically. And prepare one Google Document…


Activity-1 Describe the picture and write imaginary dialogues between these two people.


Activity-2 Identify 'Parts of Speech' in  your writing in the above given activity like - Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition, Conjunction etc.


Activity-3 Make Simple sentences using below given words.


Activity-4 Story Writing


So, This is the document prepared by the teacher which different Activities help a student to involve online and these all activities help them to improve their language also.


Google Sheets for Collaborative Online Activities


With the Google Sheets two activities were carried out collaboratively….


Activity-1 Active and Passive Voice


  • Writing sentence
  • Make Active Sentence
  • Turn Active Sentence into Passive Sentence

Activity-2 Learn to write simple sentences


Jam Board for Collaborative Activities in Online Classes


Jam Board can be used as a replacement of Black Board in the physical classroom. There are many alternatives to online boards but we are using Google apps that's why Jam Board is our choice. Jam Board also allows students to edit just like Google Docs and Google Sheets. Many games which we can play on Jam Board are like…


  • Hangman
  • Noughts and Crosse
  • Tic Tac Toe
  • Spider Diagram and many more

To use Jam Board touch screen writing is a first requirement because there we need to write, draw or paint things. So, with Touch screen things become easier to do.


Outcome of these Activities


  • So, Above mentioned activities are done as part of search for new innovative ideas to engage students in the language learning process with the help of Google Drive. Here are some of the outcomes of the session.
  • Drive is very easy and user-friendly so everyone is able to contribute to these activities.
  • These all activities also help students to improve their grammar, especially while writing.
  • These activities also help students to structure their unstructured grammar with the help of some basic grammar lessons.
  • Individual's active participation is the noteworthy part of these activities.
  • Students are also learning very basic writing skills with the structural approach of learning.
  • Collaboration is the gist of these activities where every student comes on one platform and makes contributions according to their abilities.
  • Everyone has different unique ideas and abilities and here everyone comes on one stage, so every student also gets exposure to numbers of ideas from different people.


Limitations in Using Google Drive as an Collaborative Tool for Engaging Audience.


Along with some benefits, limitations are also connected deeply with every activity. So, Here are some of the limitations…


  • Every student may not have proper devices to work out things successfully.
  • Network connectivity is also a similar problem which creates some hurdles in successful completion of things.
  • One other problem which came is that Everyone is coming on a single platform that's why the load on the site increases and sometimes students fail to edit things properly who are working with law network connectivity.
  • Teacher and Student both should be well versed with technology otherwise there is no point of using these techniques and strategies.
  • Everyone also has experience of working on Google Document, Google Sheets or Jam Board individually, otherwise distortion of form may happen and then we are not able to correct the whole distorted form.

Conclusion


So, This is how Google Drive can be used to engage Learners from distant lands for Language Learning. So, with reference to this lecture which is delivered by Dr. Dilip Barad (sir) one can use these tools to engage their learning by applying it in their field with different unique activities to make Online Education successful and effective. 



"A word 'Innovation' means something new, which means new ideas to change things for better.”He claims that “if we look at all the language teaching methods which are used all over the world by different teachers at different levels, we cannot say that all of them are 100% successful. Therefore it is very important to keep looking and searching to find ways to make teaching and learning better.”

(From 'The Role of ICT in English Language  Teaching and Learning' by Jeremy Harmer)



References




Asha Dhedhi

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