Reading Prompt # 4

EGBERT Ch. 4. Communication & Collaboration
RICHARDSON Ch. 5. RSS: The New Killer App for Educators
Why is communication and collaboration so important in the language learning classroom? What ideas did you gain from the Egbert chapter about how computers and technology can be used to facilitate greater communication and collaboration for students? Give any personal examples you have had using these or other ideas

Collaboration and communication are key fundaments for the students because it allow them to express themselves and interact among other language learners. That is very important in and outside the classroom because it will facilitate their learning while practicing and listening conversations. It will be more enhancing if we, as teachers could integrate technology to extend that language communication with collaboration with other students by increasing their social integration. While supporting those social interactions, teachers must be sure that is effective and always consider the physical classroom while using computers.
Ebgert chapter also mentioned activities using technology (using software or Internet) that support communication and collaboration. While reading example #5 (posting reading reflections online) like we do in class, I think that is an awesome way of electronic communication. I like it a lot! :) cant wait to implement this great educational- electronic tool to my future classroom. Webquest is another way to support communication and encourage collaboration among students.
In one of my Instructional Technology classes, we have one face to face class and the following an online discussion class using the chat on Webct; until the semester is over. This is my second semester using this type of communication, it is easy for everybody to participate, is convenient because you can do it from your home, with many other benefits. For me, as a English Learner is great because it gives me the opportunity to notice informal language used by native English speakers (slang and abbreviations), and also it helps me to improve my literacy skills.