Room 20: EFL Thoughts

Two days ago I wrote about my doubts about many teachers’ true interest in technology. I said I’d do some informal investigation during the event I just attended at the Instituto Cultural Dominico-Americano in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

I gave my three technology talks and attended one given by Susan Gaer. I observed the teachers and asked some direct questions…and these are the results:

Unsurprisingly, all but two teachers had cellphones….and almost all had digital cameras or had access to them. Out of a group of 30, about 10 had i-pods. I didn’t find this unusual…some of the teachers were relatively young and a few around my age…(those of us who remembered teaching with cassette taperecorders).

In my plenary, I had around 200 attendees. I asked how many used google and most said they did. Around 60% used Wikipedia, but from their reactions I could tell many didn’t trust it. Around 50% had read a blog and, interestingly enough, 10 had their own blogs.

Now, from my research for the talk, I know the Dominican Republic is not really typical. According to Internet World Stats (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm), 23% of the world’s population uses the Internet, but 31.6% of the population of the Dominican Republic uses it. This was as surprising to the attendees as it was to me. Many had said (as some teachers always do in my tech talks) that no one could get online, that it was just too difficult..although they admitted there were cybercafes all over and they charged less than a dollar an hour (just like I’ve found in Mexico).

So…what’s my conclusion…I really can’t say. I’ll be giving “tech” talks in Colombia and Chile this summer and in Mexico in the fall, so I guess I just continue my informal investigation….

Any comments?

Beginning tomorrow, I’ll be attending and presenting at “ELTing in a Hi- tech World” at the Instituto Dominico Americano in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I’ll be well accompanied since Susan Gaer will also be presenting. I’ll be giving a plenary, an introduction to Web 2.0, and two talks on blended learning and listening comprehension.

I’m writing this from Santo Domingo…a very nice place. However, here come my doubts. More and more schools and organizations are planning events dealing with technology and teachers attending the events seem to come to the “techy” talks, but how many of these teachers will really use what they see? Not because they don’t want to, but rather because the speakers are assuming a much higher level of technical knowledge than the teachers have.

I hope I’m wrong, but I really don’t think most classroom teachers use technology much beyond the level of checking email and making calls on their cellphones. (Just to be clear, I usually give my technology talks in Mexico, but I have given them in other Latin American countries.)

I must admit, I have noted changes in the last few years. Around two years ago I was surprised when I asked a group of middle school teachers outside of the Federal District in Mexico if they had email addresses—they all did.

Recently I have asked attendees if their schools have Interactive White Boards (IWB)…very few do. When I ask if they use the Internet, most raise their hands and when I ask if they have read a blog, maybe 75% have. However, if I ask if they have a blog (even if they write in it as irregularly as I do), I only get one or two hands raised.

I plan to ask participants here in Santo Domingo how much they use different kinds of technology in their classes. I’ll report back on the results on Friday.