10.5. Information and communication technologies
Contemporary digital, i.e. computer-operated information and communication
technologies offer an unlimited chance for self-directed learning. Thus the
principles of learner autonomy have to be followed when creating a fruitful
learning environment based on ICT.
One can use software targeted at language teaching and learning; resources
such as databases, dictionaries and encyclopaedia; tools for productive use like
word processing and data processing programmes. (Legenhausen, 1996)
The most frequently occurring forms of ICT-based language learning activities
use multimedia, electronic dictionaries and web-pages. Various international
projects inspire students communicate to each other by sending e-mail messages.
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As soon as students are able to express their thoughts on a one-to-one basis by email,
there is a realistic chance for encouraging them to enter on-line discussion
forums, such as chat-rooms.
Topical chat-rooms that is MOOs offer a lot of perspectives for language
educators where a theme can be initiated for discussion among language learners.
As soon as a story can be outlined and a problem can be spotted, a simulation can
be initiated, that is students carry on with the story in order to negotiate the
solution. This chat-room-specific application leads us to the world of virtual
reality. This form of application is called VRML and it offers the visualisation of
fictive participants and venues.
Various multimedia programmes offer chance for self-correction and selfevaluation.
They can be sources for diagnostic or attainment tests. With the help of
built-in microphones and web cameras on the computer, some multimedia
integrate the practising of pronunciation and elementary units for interaction in a
comparative way that resembles language lab applications to some extent.
Internet-based digital technology offers the chance for on-line audiocommunication
and video-interaction with the help of Skype, ICQ, MSN and
other kinds of applications. The majority of the previously named software mainly
offers the chance for communication between two parties.
Should teachers want to involve more learner-communities in real-time
communication, video-conferencing can be the mode of creating real situations
for language learning. The exploitation of the benefits of Internet-based on-line
communication adds new values to education, as the limits of the classrooms are
extended and other student-communities can be invited. Thus the term of ‘virtual
classroom’ has also appeared in the profession. ‘Virtual classrooms’ do not only
provide new information gained from set sources and peers in other classes,
schools, towns, countries and even continents, but create a firm basis for creative
types of learning such as project work.
As project work has developed, new technologies give us the opportunity to
involve our students in designing and producing multimedia and/or web pages.
Activities of this kind offer language learning opportunity while creating the
programmes that often act as source of learning for other people. This latter can be
the case in numerous European projects for school-to-school co-operation.