Motivation and online environments

I recently read an article by Payne and Ross (2005) that discusses how computer-mediated communication (CMC) has several advantages for language learning. A few (and I mean literally a few) of these online environments that allow for CMC include social network sites (Facebook, Twitter), Skype, SecondLife, and other collaborative environments such as Google docs, Google wave, wikis and even blogs. According to Payne and Ross (2005), the advantages that these environments hold is that:

• students often produce more language than in face-to-face settings


• students tend to use more complex language when chatting, including more accurate usage of past-tense morphological markers


• there is greater equity in participation among students in a classroom


• students exhibit improved attitudes towards foreign language learning as a result of chatting (p. 36)

While I was reading these advantages, I realized that these are the issues are those typically associated with learner motivation and engagement levels in a reading and writing class. As reading and writing instructors, we want to present our students with opportunities where they can actively engage with the reading texts and writing tasks. We want students to become critical thinkers that can effectively and accurately convey ideas and discover their voice. Online environments create a platform where this discovery process can be facilitated and monitored. One of the major challenges for a reading and writing instructor is to increase learner's motivation levels (well, this is especially true in an ESL setting). If presenting reading and writing tasks in these environments allow for increased motivation and engagement levels, then as educators, can we really afford not to be integrating these into our lessons?

Another CMC environment that I think has plenty of potential for all grade levels is Voicethread. Although Voicethread is not free, for K-12 educators (for a single educator), subscription is $10 a month or $60 a year. If you visit the website and see all that this CMC environment has to offer, I believe that you would agree that $60 could be paid with a smile. Not only can students comment on presentations, documents through posting written comments, but they can also leave voice or video comments too.

I hope that you all are having a good week.

Reference

Payne, J.S. & Ross, B.M. (2005). Synchronous CMC, working memory, and L2 oral proficiency development. Language Learning & Technology, 9(3), 35-54.