Hi, I am Barbara, half of the Bethandbarbara double act but we haven't yet learned the art of writing together when physically apart. Beth is at home in Cheltenham recuperating from a knee operation and I am in Northamptonshire, blogging and wondering who I am 'talking to', if anyone at all. Not that I am averse to a bit of talking to myself but for the real joy of communication I do like to know who I am talking to, to gauge reaction, to have encouragement to go on or even to see a glazed look to shut me up. The Microsoft dog barking at my typos is just not the same as a live human being. But that is the way it is these days, - we must use technology to communicate, to teach, to discuss, to keep up with friends, and even for language teaching and teacher training, the twin loves of my professional life. So here are a few thoughts from this grumpy old teacher trainer.
Now I am not against computers, - in fact, one of my best friends is a computer, -well, I spend a lot of time with it, - but is this insistence on everything 'on-line' really the best way forward in teacher training?
I know, I know, -you can work in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, in your own time…but lets consider a few aspects of teacher training that might want to get the teachers out of the comfort of their own homes and at a pre-set time not of their choosing, -what are the benefits?
People need people.- real voices, real emotion, real smiles ,-the demented smileys jumping up and down are a poor substitute. And when did a computer last pat you on the back or console you with tea and biscuits when you failed? The printed word is stark, nuances of intonation are lost and spur-of-the moment comments hard to include, - indeed, they rely on the toing and froing of ideas at the speed of sound.
The value of doing a taught teacher training course, be it CELTA, Delta or in-service courses, is surely the learning from colleagues and sharing ideas and experiences. Talking is a highly effective way to learn and I am not convinced that on-line discussion is the same. When I have taken part in moodle teacher training discussions, it seemed to me, comments have lacked depth (and dare I say it, wit?).
Cambridge ESOL no longer holds assessor meetings for standardising CELTA and Delta, - it's all done on-line with a brief feedback to tell assessors they have 'passed'. I find it quite dispiriting, - I miss the contact with other professionals, I miss listening to other trainers' observations and experience, I miss the many good practice ideas I used to pick up. I know, the cost…. but is it relatively any more than it used to be?
Another concern is that lesson observation could move to videoed lessons rather than live observations, - video always seems to render lessons more boring, it can't capture the atmosphere, cameras can intimidate the learners and there is a danger that the trainees are jazzing up the lesson for the camera and reducing the learners to the role of wall-paper.
What about lesson feedback? How do you feel about lesson feedback via e-mail rather than a face-to-face discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of a lesson? Do you feel something is missing or are you relieved it's more impersonal and takes the sting out of any criticism? What about communicating with tutors and colleagues by e-mail? E-mails are undoubtedly quick, maybe too quick to judge by the appalling grammar and spelling often seen in them, -great for a bit of information but they always leave me feeling a bit cheated, especially when sent as a thank you or birthday greeting.
Finally, the 'virtual' staffroom. Of course, the websites run by the publishers are a huge benefit to teachers and trainees but in addition to and not instead of a real staffroom. Don't teachers benefit from the collegiate aspect of the staffroom, the buzz as teachers share successes in the break and the lesson ideas picked up at the photocopier? And how do you have an after work coffee/drink on line?
Well, that's my first blog finished, - it took much, much longer than speaking it would have done,-and worryingly there is now a permanent record of what I said, -but on the plus side, no-one interrupted, heckled, sent surreptitious text messages, nodded off… or maybe they did, how will I ever know? Do tell me what you think.
Till the next time, happy teaching.
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