These lessons will introduce and give an overview of the communications technologies available for use by preservice FL teachers. Included will be explanations of such options as: electronic mail, gopher, telnet, ftp, World Wide Web (WWW), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), CUSeeMe, Moos, and so forth.
Once a basic understanding of communications technologies is achieved, hands-on practice will reinforce comprehension and build confidence in using the technologies. These lessons will be taught in a computer laboratory setting or will require computer use on the students' own time outside of class.
Understanding the communications technologies and knowing how to use them is not sufficient. Preservice FL teachers must also be able to integrate technology into their curriculum in a meaningful and beneficial way. In this lesson, students examine the goals of their FL curriculum and determine how best to integrate the resources available to them via the technologies examined by Objectives 1 and 2.
Students will develop and present lessons that evince the use of communications technologies to enhance FL instruction and learning. By involving the students directly in the production of their own materials, they will cement their understanding of the communications technologies studied.
Objective #1: preservice FL teachers will demonstrate an extensive knowledge of the scope and variety of communications technologies available to them
Objective #2: preservice FL teachers will demonstrate a basic understanding of these technologies and will be able to use them
Objective #3: preservice FL teachers will be able to articulate the pedagogical functions of communications technologies in the FL classroom, thus justifying their use
Objective #4: preservice FL teachers will create sample lesson plans that integrate FL communications technologies in their curricula; they will then present these lessons in a real or simulated classroom setting