The Future of Education
Using CALL at Initial Teacher Education for Teaching Young Learners
Dönercan Dönük, Mersin University (Turkey)
Abstract
Related research and practices for teaching English to young learners have gained momentum in recent years with the age factor coming onto stage. Now young learner syllabi are designed in line with children’s needs and classroom practices have become multi faceted. Naturally, such strides in language teaching has also introduced the requirements for materials that go hand in hand with the interests of this group. Therefore, this paper aims to introduce a procedure model for initial teacher education programs that prepare teachers for young learner classrooms. The main characteristic of the model is that it heavily relies on Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), thus adopting computer literacy as a springboard for future classrooms.
Applied at the Mersin University Education Faculty at ITE (Initial Teacher Education) classes, the model suggests a multi-dimensional computer use for teaching purposes. In the first place, the trainer gives the teacher candidates a list of topics to cover in the classroom for the theory part on a MOODLE platform. Next, the issues identified and searched in advance are handled in the classroom on a weekly schedule. In the meantime, the trainer loads the information for the theory on the platform at a regular basis. The teacher candidates are responsible for presenting their courses after the theoretical part of the course is over. They are supposed to present a lesson, which requires computer literacy within the plan the trainer offers. The whole lesson they conduct is based on authentic audio- visual materials they create either with the help of web 2.0. tools such as ‘go animate’ or ‘story bird’, or the various tools they produce for teaching by using some features of the computer programs. After the microteaching lessons, they receive feedback from their peers on a MOODLE platform the trainer uses for the courses. Finally, they write their reflections on the platform, where they can see and share one another’s views.
References
Animated video tool. Available from: goanimate.com
Open source system. Available from: moodle.org
Storytelling tool. Available from: storybird.com
