What is Educational technology? The role of educational technologies in progressing oral

The importance of educational technologies in progressing oral speech of B1 level students.

Technology has introduced revolutionary changes in all areas of life, from interpersonal communication, economy, entertainment industry, even education. It seems that today, more than ever, students are faced with changes that not only fundamentally alter the way they learn, but their everyday life as well. It is simply impossible to ignore the tremendous impact that modern technologies have on new generations of students.
Children grow up with laptops, tablets, various gadgets and modern digital systems, so they have long been ready for the modernization of education. With that in mind, the importance of technology in education only becomes more obvious. Learning styles have changed over the years, gradually introducing new technologies with a potential to improve teaching.
Students’ readiness for technology in the classroom is excellent news, because the digital age brings new challenges, not only in education, but in all other areas of life as well. Therefore, it is important that students learn to harness all the potential of modern society while still at school.
Technology as a bridge connecting students and school
Educational technology in progressing oral speech refers to the implementation of advanced technologies, i.e. software and hardware that enable modern teaching methods. This way, students and educators have access to numerous digital and educational resources that facilitate mutual cooperation and make it easier for students to master the teaching material. This modern approach has brought changes at all levels of education, from elementary school to college.
Improving the learning experience is directly related to student needs and life habits. Given that they use social media and the Internet and play video games on a daily basis, children expect information to be presented in a similar way at school.
Lesson content should be pictorial and entertaining, it should captivate their attention and contain as little redundant information as possible, which is one of the major shortcomings of the traditional approach to education. Of course, school responsibilities are not the same as playing video games, but it is useful to know what things can draw and hold students’ attention and help them master the teaching material.
It is clear that teachers need to understand the needs of their students, how they communicate with each other, and things that can be used to draw their attention and make them interested in the teaching material. This way, children will want to apply their knowledge for educational purposes, instead of entering intergenerational conflict. Interestingly enough, teachers also benefit from the new technologies and teaching methods, because many segments of their job have been simplified.
Technology has permanently changed our approach to education
The importance of technology in education is visible at each level of education, however, junior grades of elementary school and high school are where modernization is most acutely felt, because in this period, children prepare for important challenges that await them at the next stage of education, which is why it is crucial that they approach learning in the right way. Many things are now easier, which allows children to focus on their personal development.
Videos
We begin with digital videos. The use of audio with video makes it more appealing and motivating to learners, specially to train in L2 listening comprehension skill. Digital videos do not provide benefits per se, but the activities of pre, while and post-listening that are designed with them. Videos are a powerful tool because they provide not only context, but also authenticity, motivation, interest and confidence, the sociolinguistic and pragmatic level of language, nonverbal features, such as gestures and body language, active involvement and participation, and real vocabulary acquisition.
Notes
1. Distance learning is a mode of study that allows the learner to study most of a course without having to attend at his institution. Learning is dissociated from time and /or distance.
2. E-Learning can take place on campus or in other context, and enhances the learning through the use of appropriate ICT.
3. Blended learning is a combination of e-learning with traditional face-to-face teaching and learning practices and interactions.
4. Mobile learning refers to e-learning through the use of mobile devices such as Smartphones or tablets. Mobile learning activities offer immediate context and surroundings.
5. Online learning environment relates to learning that takes place online and requires an internet connection.
Some of them are specifically scripted for English learners, while others consist of authentic materials which have been specially selected and can be used for educational purposes designing different types of activities. And some of them are also accompanied by language practice activities that learners can do while they listen and watch.
But we can improve both listening and speaking skills of students through the use of videos. They are excellent materials for post-discussion speaking activities. Students can work together to answer questions and discuss listening strategies. And they can also use the video camera and create their own videos, recording and
then watching to see how they can improve their performance. They can record role plays or presentations or even include subtitles which also have the potential for language learning, such as achieving a better comprehension of the oral input, or encouraging students to think about meaning and form.
Podcasts
They are also an invaluable tool to develop oral skills. Podcasts, also known as vlog, Vodcasts or Podchips if they use video, or audio blogs if only audio is used, are audio recordings on any topic that interests you, and that can also include music. You can download them to your computer or portable listening device such as an MP3 player and listen to or watch them whenever you want to. And learners also have the option of producing their own podcast using different platforms and tools.
Podcasts can be used for a number of different things, such as talk shows, music shows, interviews, storytelling, tutorials, directions, commentaries, sportscasts, etc. And ESL podcast sites have been developed for different purposes: vocabulary and grammar topics, idioms and slang, business English, world news and current events, limericks and jokes, songs, and poetry. And they are specially useful for practicing pronunciation, stress, rhythm and intonation, and accuracy; but also to study basic structures like phrasal verbs, past forms, modals, listening comprehension quizzes, and more.
You can subscribe to them with RSS, or Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary, which contents are published as a feed when new information is updated. In addition, students can listen to them as many times as they need to in order to understand the gist.
We can also find Text-to-Speech tools, as a different way of listening and improving pronunciation, although these programs are sometimes faulty in recognizing punctuation marks and they usually sound like a machine.
VoIP tools
But it is not until the fourth generation of online learning, also called Flexible Learning model, when VoIP (voice over IP) is introduced as a way of managing the delivery of information over the Internet. And it is now when we can talk about synchronous communication in the teaching and learning of languages. Using this protocol, we can talk about oral interaction in real-time, although limited by the quality of Service and the ITSP (Internet telephony service provider)
Open source technologies can increase real-time collaboration between learners, and among instructors, staff, and students, especially in courses that are fully asynchronous. Synchronous interaction such as social networking, discussion groups, live meetings or chats, live presentation tools, videoconferencing, voice conferences, voice blogs or journals, online tutor (synchronous real-time conversation), etc., offer the opportunity for full real-time collaboration and interaction, and also for participating in the exchange of knowledge and reflection.
With all these tools, applications and platforms, students may find out information by communicating with people elsewhere, using ICT as part of a creative process. New course delivery platforms are designed including the use of online tools such as blogs, wikis¹⁰, podcast, etc., and new applications are born to foster social interaction.
Virtual worlds
We cannot finish this analysis without talking about the ultimate advance in online tools that is known as virtual reality or virtual worlds, such as
Second Life¹¹ or Lively¹² Second live is a 3D world where everyone you see is a real person and every place you visit is
built by people just like you. These worlds offer infinite possibilities to improve and develop oral skills. Students can create and customize their own digital 3D persona, also known as avatar and interact with other students. There is always something to do, assemble buildings, design new fashion lines or launch clubs and businesses. Learning possibilities are endless to talk and meet people all over the world. Learners can chat, join or create groups, attend and organize events, talk it up on the forums, etc. All these possibilities bring communication to a whole new level. Not only teachers, but also students will have to learn this new learning tool and others that will probably be developed in a near future, as technologies are constantly and rapidly evolving.

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