Second, Skype and Skype in the classroom promote authentic learning. According to Lombardi (2007), authentic learning emphasizes “real-world, complex problems and their solutions, using role-playing exercises, problem-based activities, case studies, and participation in a virtual community of practice” (p.2). Thus, authentic learning happens as learners participate in real-world relevant tasks that require their judgment to distinguish information, patience to participate, ability to adapt themselves to unfamiliar contexts, and flexibility to work with people from different cultures. In this view, Skype and Skype in the classroom allow language teachers and learners to participate in a context of authentic learning.
l0zeng01 on 11 Jul 20In a fast changing world impacted by technological advances, language usage becomes "one of the factors being altered most drastically." And as language teachers, most of us feel language teaching has become inevitably bound to technology more and quickly. All this is talked about in "The Edtech Podcast" posted here. Listening through the lengthy audio discussion on how language learning is or can or should be equipped with technology one way or another, one can be happier to see "both sides of change: how we must adjust and what we can take advantage of."
