I see the use of technology more as a topic for critical thinking, as opposed to the actual application in class. I agree that introducing students to the myriad of programs can promote autonomous, self directed learning but it has been my experience with ESL students that the less they actually engage in dialogue and discussion, the less effective they are in talking about what they are doing with technology. 
In terms of critical thinking, one could ask a few questions for discussion: 
Was life better before computer technology ( many would say no, but I believe we can offer the alternative of writing emails at 8 at night!)
Do we need technology? Why or why not? What effect does it have on relationship?
What is the best and worst of technology? 
 And there are are many more...
emma 

Emma Bourassa
English as a Second or Additional Language/ Teaching English as a Second Language Instructor
ESL Department
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road. P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5N3
(250) 371-5895
fax 371-5514
ebourassa at tru.ca


>>> 

From: 	Nicky Mohan <nmohan at workbase.org.nz>
To:	The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List <professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov>
Date: 	07/07/2008 8:55 pm
Subject: 	[ProfessionalDevelopment 2199] Re: from Steve, Critical Thinking and Learner Leadership



A valid point,Steve. We should not be slaves to technology and simply
introduce it in the classroom purely because it a nice to have as
opposed to a need. In this technological landscape one would find it had
to resist wanting the best that technology has to offer. However,
teaching and learning should not be driven by technology. It should be
the other way round whereby the teaching and learning needs to drive the
technology. I am not saying that we should abstain from the use of
technology. Technology has its place and it needs to be used to enhance
and facilitate the teaching and learning. The point I am making is that
teachers and tutors be ware of putting the cart before the horse.
Thinking Critically is the way forward to decide when to use technology
and when not to.


________________________________

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov 
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Taylor,
Jackie
Sent: Tuesday, 8 July 2008 2:19 p.m.
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2197] from Steve,Critical Thinking and
Learner Leadership



The following is posted on behalf of Steve Kaufmann. Please read on ~
Jackie Taylor

 

________________________________

From: Steve Kaufmann [mailto:steve at thelinguist.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 7:26 PM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: Re: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2193] Critical Thinking and
LearnerLeadership

 

I do not understand the advantages of increasing the use of technology
in the classroom. The classroom has the great advantage of getting
people together face to face. Learners and teachers have the opportunity
to talk in pairs, or groups or as one large group. Communication is
happening at many levels. Everything from a cafe setting, to a cocktail
party, to a business meeting can be simulated with real people. Why
introduce technology in the classroom?

To me the advantage of technology lies in the opportunity to help
learners do more learning away from the classroom.  MP3 players are but
one example. The computer is another. One can read on a computer and use
an online dictionary. New words can be kept in a learner's own database.
Lists of words and phrases can be automatically created and from these
flash cards can be generated. Statistics can be kept of the words and
phrases saved and learned. 

Teachers can record material for specific purposes, such as critical
thinking, for learners to listen to and read and then be prepared to put
into practice in class.

Teachers can correct essays online and record the corrected writing.
These can be part of a learners portfolio and can also be shared around.


The benefit of technology is to increase the ways that learners can stay
active away from the class so that they can enjoy more intensive
interaction in class.

Steve


-- 
Steve Kaufmann
www.lingq.com 
1-604-922-8514