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Online Teaching and Learning: When Technology meets Language and Culture

Year 2014, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 4 - 25, 12.07.2014

Abstract

 

Technology and high accessibility to networking media in both private and professional contexts have made online teaching and learning a norm and reality for tertiary education across the world. Online teaching and learning do not only apply to distance education and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), but they also apply effectively to on-campus education as an integral component of blended teaching and learning. Current instructors and students communicate in a wide range of “contact” situations from face-to-face classroom interaction, seminar or tutorial activities, individual or group consultations, to various forms of online communication. In this paper, I shall focus on online teaching and learning of language and culture courses using commonly adopted management systems, e.g., Blackboard and Moodle in two educational contexts including Hong Kong and Melbourne. Research questions include 1) what do instructors and students actually do in online synchronous discussion forums? 2) what language and cultural issues are involved in the discussion forums? and 3) what are the pedagogical implications of using technology for teaching and learning language and culture? Empirical online discussion forums data from four courses are collected and analyzed. Research findings show that both explicit learning and implicit learning take place actively in the online discussion forums; and that various language and culture issues emerge and are competently dealt with in online learning environment. Towards the end of the paper, I shall also explore the pedagogical implications of using technology for teaching language and culture courses in the online learning forum (OLF) environment.

References

  • Arbaugh, J. B. (2004). Learning to learn online: A study of perceptual changes between multiple online course experiences. Internet and Higher Education, 7, 169-182.
  • Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), 87-105.
  • Hrastinski, S. (2009). A theory of online learning as online participation. Computers & Education, 52, 78-82.
  • Jenkins, J. (2012). English as a Lingua Franca from the classroom to the classroom. ELT Journal, 66(4), 486-494.
  • Kaufman, S. B., DeYoung, C. G., Gray, J. R., Jimenez, L., Brown, J., & Mackintosh, N. (2010). Implicit learning as an ability. Cognition, 116, 321-340.
  • Ke, F. (2010). Examining online teaching, cognitive, and social presence for adult students. Computers & Education, 55, 808-820.
  • Ke, F., & Xie, K. (2009). Toward deep learning for adult students in online courses. Internet and Higher Education, 12, 136-145.
  • Kerr, M. S., Rynearson, K., & Kerr, M. C. (2006). Student characteristics for online learning success. Internet and Higher Education, 9, 91-105.
  • Krish, P. (2008). Language learning in the virtual world: instructors' voices. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning, 4(4), 113-129.
  • Li, W., & Zhu, H. (2013). Translanguaging identities and ideologies: Creating transnational space through flexible multilingual practices amongst Chinese university students in the UK. Applied LInguistics, 34(5), 516-535.
  • Mauranen, A. (2012). Exploring ELF: Academic English shaped by non-native speakers. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Öztürk, K. (2012). Students' Perceptions of CALL at Dokuz Eylül University School of Foreign Languages. ELT Research Journal, 1(4), 216-229.
  • Senior, R. M. (2006). The experience of language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Sharifian, F. (2013). Globalisation and developing metacultural competence in learning English as an International Language. Multilingual Education, 3(7), 1-11.
  • Smith, G. G., & Kurthen, H. (2007). Front-stage and back-stage in hybrid E-learning face-to-face courses. International Journal on E-Learning, 6(3), 455-474. Reference.
Year 2014, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 4 - 25, 12.07.2014

Abstract

References

  • Arbaugh, J. B. (2004). Learning to learn online: A study of perceptual changes between multiple online course experiences. Internet and Higher Education, 7, 169-182.
  • Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), 87-105.
  • Hrastinski, S. (2009). A theory of online learning as online participation. Computers & Education, 52, 78-82.
  • Jenkins, J. (2012). English as a Lingua Franca from the classroom to the classroom. ELT Journal, 66(4), 486-494.
  • Kaufman, S. B., DeYoung, C. G., Gray, J. R., Jimenez, L., Brown, J., & Mackintosh, N. (2010). Implicit learning as an ability. Cognition, 116, 321-340.
  • Ke, F. (2010). Examining online teaching, cognitive, and social presence for adult students. Computers & Education, 55, 808-820.
  • Ke, F., & Xie, K. (2009). Toward deep learning for adult students in online courses. Internet and Higher Education, 12, 136-145.
  • Kerr, M. S., Rynearson, K., & Kerr, M. C. (2006). Student characteristics for online learning success. Internet and Higher Education, 9, 91-105.
  • Krish, P. (2008). Language learning in the virtual world: instructors' voices. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning, 4(4), 113-129.
  • Li, W., & Zhu, H. (2013). Translanguaging identities and ideologies: Creating transnational space through flexible multilingual practices amongst Chinese university students in the UK. Applied LInguistics, 34(5), 516-535.
  • Mauranen, A. (2012). Exploring ELF: Academic English shaped by non-native speakers. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Öztürk, K. (2012). Students' Perceptions of CALL at Dokuz Eylül University School of Foreign Languages. ELT Research Journal, 1(4), 216-229.
  • Senior, R. M. (2006). The experience of language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Sharifian, F. (2013). Globalisation and developing metacultural competence in learning English as an International Language. Multilingual Education, 3(7), 1-11.
  • Smith, G. G., & Kurthen, H. (2007). Front-stage and back-stage in hybrid E-learning face-to-face courses. International Journal on E-Learning, 6(3), 455-474. Reference.
There are 15 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section ELT Research Journal
Authors

Zhichang Xu This is me

Publication Date July 12, 2014
Submission Date July 12, 2014
Published in Issue Year 2014 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Xu, Z. (2014). Online Teaching and Learning: When Technology meets Language and Culture. ELT Research Journal, 3(1), 4-25.