Foreign Language Teacher Preparation and Asynchronous CMC: Promoting Reflective Teaching

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Lord, G. & Lomicka, L. (2007). Foreign Language Teacher Preparation and Asynchronous CMC: Promoting Reflective Teaching. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 15(4), 513-532. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/21940.

Journal Information

Journal of Technology and Teacher Education
ISSN 1059-7069
Volume 15, Issue 4, October 2007
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)  Chesapeake, VA

More Information on JTATE

Authors

Gillian Lord, University of Florida, USA; Lara Lomicka, Unviersity of South Carolina, USA

Abstract

Reflection is a commonly accepted practice and considered advantageous in teacher education programs. Teachers are encouraged to think critically about their beliefs and teaching styles with the intended goal of fostering greater professional and personal development. Nonetheless, researchers have noted the challenges inherent in encouraging deeper reflection than a simple description of actions and consequently, teacher trainers must seek better techniques for promoting effective reflection. One such method is to consider reflection as a social (as well as individual) process, allowing students to share their reactions and provide feedback for each other based on common experiences. Computer-mediated communication technologies (e-mail and virtual discussion forums) facilitate a transformation from traditional journaling to journaling as a social phenomenon, which can then become a highly social endeavor and eminently feasible for students to accomplish within or beyond the classroom. This article reports on a collaborative cross-institutional project in which students formed communities of foreign language teachers-in-training to share, reflect, and learn, while at the same time becoming experts in technological tools. Results suggest that social reflection is beneficial in promoting increased and deeper reflection, and that technology use among teachers-in-training provides them with valuable tools for their future teaching endeavors.

Keywords

• Training
• Post Secondary Education
• Classrooms
• Collaboration
• Community
• Languages
• Preservice Teacher Education
• Professional Development
• Teaching Methods
• Computers
• Internet

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