Classroom Observation
Kholoud al-shamrani
Introduction:
In this
paper, I will describe the teachers and their ways in using technology in an observation I did in the Third secondary school and also in King Khalid University in Abha.
The purpose of this report is to reflect on the teachers' method of using
technology and the impact of technology on the students. I will reflect the
whole class environment. Throughout this paper, a variety of students’ and
teacher’s views will be discussed.
This report will be divided into two sections:
1-the school's observation.
2-the
university's observation.
1-The School's Observation:
·
The areas of observations:
Actually when I decide to go to the school
I focused on finding answers to these questions:
1- How
many times did the teacher often use the technology?
2-Whether these technology had facilitate
the learning process?
3-How did the school help the teacher and the
students regarding the use of technology?
4-Do the students interact with those
technology positively or not?
5-Whether there is any kind of improvement
in students' skills?
·
description
of the class:
I found an EFL classes that
supposed to use computer assisted language learning as its main medium of
instruction. The school that I attended is the Third secondary school in Abha. I went to the school on Sunday 2 /11/2014 with
two of my colleagues. This school is provided with technology by the Ministry
of Education ,each class includes a smart board and a projector. There are 5
English teachers. I met those teachers and interviewed each one of them about
the technology in the English classes.
·
The Interviews:
Actually I'm shocked by the
results. The first teacher named Fatima (with 12 years experience in teaching
the secondary level )said that :'' there are two generation ,the one who loves
technology and adapt it in their English classes and the other who hate it and
think of it as a waste of time''. She revealed that she didn't use it and even
the students are complaining from the teachers whom using it. She also said
that ,the control over the ''smart board ''is hard to do and even the material
represented by this board is not that much clear to see in regard to the
students. So, she benefit much more from the use of the traditional white
board. She said that those smart boards are broken in all classes and she
didn't use it at all. She repeated more than once that she didn't like the
technology neither did she enjoy using it. She revealed that the time also can
be considered as a problem in using the technology, that she only had 45
minutes for the lesson and for using the technology we need much more time. She
also said ''I don’t have the energy for learning about every new invention but
in the same time I know that our community is closed and conservative one and
if I bring a material from the YouTube for example , the students and their
parents and even the school's management will blame me if it includes a music,
the education still traditional and I know that there is a gap '' she meant
that the gap between her generation and the generation of the students whom can
be considered as a generation of technology.
I interviewed the other teacher named Bakheeta, I asked her the same
questions ,she said that the technology in the school need maintenance. She
even blame the new curriculum which is Mega Goal , she said it is a difficult
and a heavy one(full of materials) which is not giving her that much time to
use the technology. The book supposed to be attached with a CD but even more it
is not exist in the 5th level in this semester. She said ''the
technology is absolutely neglected''. She prefers the traditional way of
teaching .
The teacher Refa'ah said that she didn't
use the technology and she replied that she is too busy and I couldn’t
interview her and write her answers as I did with the others.
The another teacher named Alwah ,she said that she used the smart board
specially on listening classes and in presenting new vocabulary. She said that ''
I'm struggling with the computer's viruses. The computer need to be fixed by a
technician every week''. But when I asked her if I can attend any class that
she use the technology in it. She politely apologized that she had a revision
and the next classes would be for the mid-term exams. I took her number because
she is the only teacher who said that she believe in technology , but actually
she did not give me another chance to attend her classes.
In general , the technology was neglected and the computers are not
fixed in the classes.
So, I decide to take my report to the next
level , and I observe dr.Afeefe Banu's classes in King Khalid University.
I think it is an
EFL class that uses Computer Assisted Language Leaning as its main medium of
instruction. I already Attend and observe the class more than once but here I
will focus on a certain class and I will reflect the doctor's and the students'
reviews .
2- The University's Observation:
·
Description of the class:
The class in general is a small traditional one ,the students set in a
row. There is a projector which is connected to the computer and a loud speakers. There is also a smart board but actually it didn't
work . It may need a replacement. The class in general is connected with the
internet. Students can have an access to the internet by using their own
computer .
·
Method
The doctor used a USB and connect
it with the computer ,then she presented a power point presentation that includes
several slides(almost 30 slides) about the subject( Research Ethics). She
relied on the interaction between her and the students. She asked several
question through the movement from one slide to another to make sure that the
students understand each point and they actually interact and response with her
and even more I noticed when she discuss an example one students tell her that
''we got the point doctor clearly let's move to the other topic in the PPP''.
In this class that I had observed the doctor create an enjoyable
atmosphere , the subject was interesting and the use of the colourful PPP makes
the discussion and the process of the lecture much more effective.
The students enjoy seeing the material and actually like the fact that
the content of the lecture being display in front of them rather than searching
in their books. Then the doctor have send the PPP to the students through the Course
Messages in the Black Board. By this way ,students can revise the material and
go back to the lecture whenever they want.
During the observation I noticed that the students were active with the
doctor and they were motivated ,they seemed that they enjoyed the lecture.
·
The Interviews:
I interviewed
both the instructor dr.Afeefa and her students. Dr.Afeefa has 29 years
experience in teaching , she is one of the most active member in the
university. She use and activate the blackboard. The students get a quick and
effective responses from her every time that they need. here is her own speech about the computer and the use
of the computer assisted language learning in her classes , she said " I
use technology all the time , it definitely facilitated the learning .In my
other courses the students have actually improved their performance in the
subject because of the blackboard . The university ,the deanship of E learning has given me training in the use
of Blackboard tools. I have also done some online courses on my own to improve
the blended courses and got certifications from Maryland University (USA). The
students interact with the use of technology specially in the Discussion Board.
At the same time I have faced a lot of problems during my M.A class for getting
the projector ets.."
And I also interview the students , they highly
recommend the use of computer and prefer it much more than the traditional classes
that depends on the teacher only, but they greatly suffer from the arrangement in
the university. They had to change the place of the class most of the time.
Sometimes the computer in the class are not connected well or even don't work
at all. They have to go and find another class by their selves .
I asked them about their views about the class in
general and how the class has an impact on the development of their language
skills. Raihana said: ''I liked the way
points are summarized and presented in order. Iam a kind of person who likes
visual aids, and the things that I see stays more in my mind. Using technology
like power point presentations and also the use of blackboard ( course messages
and discussion board )have really improved my understanding of topics "
Zahra said:"well , I think technology facilitate
learning especially if it's used in the right way. I experienced with doctor
Afifa the power point presentations. They are not that much helpful . I prefer
the use of the blackboard , only on collaborative session we feel as students
that it was beneficial ."
Reem said:"the technology facilitates learning process. We enjoy the
research method class with dr. Afifa. The PPP was very clear although most of
the time we face difficulties with opening (operating ) the projector , but the
technician girls solve that problem for us"
Aisha and Ebtihaj also reflect the same things about
the importance of technology in general and also said that :"her classes
are informative .she is posting the PPP weekly. She used to post them even
before the class. So ,we can have a clear idea about it before even we start
the class" .
In general , there is no doubt that the technology is
important in learning and it actually do facilitate the learning process and
has a great positive impact on the students but we still have a problem with
it. Although the university or even the secondary school do have means of
technology but it needs maintenance. Teachers and doctor needs to be more aware
about its significance in learning.
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