Seminar Nasional : Mobile Assisted Language Learning (Mall): Benefits and Challenges
Narasumber : Dr. Dedi Sulaeman, M.Hum
Moderator : Syarifuddin, SS
Summary of Presentation
The speaker acknowledged that he had presented the identical topic (mobile-assisted language learning) five years ago in an international seminar. However, he got peripheral response, as the topic was not, at that time, primary concern. In fact, current education setting has grown fast and therefore needs to compete with the growth of modern technology.
It is undeniable to see the transformation of traditional learning system to modern system. Modernism, in this sense, should be defined as digitalized as well as computerized. As a consequence of it, blackboard and chalk have been replaced by whiteboard and board-marker. Whiteboard and board-marker, then, are started to be replaced by projector and laptop. Nowadays, those instruments will be soon overcome by apps.
Current generations tend to be really familiar with apps of ios and android-based system. Why don’t we, as teachers, use apps to accelerate the quality of language teaching? In English-class setting, there have been more than sufficient apps as source of materials. For example, there have been IELTS apps, TOEFL apps, linguistics apps, etc. The speaker actually has developed apps and digital books (digibooks) to build new teaching-learning atmosphere. The apps and digibooks can be accessed by students in their comfortable place and situation, therefore students’ assignment submission is done by apps. This can result paperless submission and effective feedback as the activity is run in students’ personal room, namely gadget.
The use of apps, in principle, has two-sided effect. Lecturer is no longer source of knowledge, lecturer is a facilitator. Then, students are reinforced to create their own responsibility in learning. Students will have needed to learn when they need. It is really personal interest. Students are treated as real mature age student. However, the use of apps will limit interpersonal interaction. Interpersonal interaction, on the other side, is really important to penetrate noble character to students’ mind.
To sum up, all parties related to class-setting in education need to be aware of current era. Traditional teaching practices have contributed greatly to education, but it is not fair to avoid technological development. We, as teachers, use the wisdom of traditional practices as foundation then the technology as complement to have sophisticated students in meaningful teaching setting.
Summary of Q & A Session
There were two questions, from a college student of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon and Unswagati Cirebon, about the effectiveness of apps and technical problems of the implementation. The speaker started the answer by saying that effectiveness of a method is really dependent on the quality of teacher, the availability of instruments, and etc. For that reason, upgrading teachers’ skill is relevant to answer the question. Teachers can lean on apps to help preparing materials, assessing students, and controlling student’s development. Theoretically, it is effective. What we need to do is making sure that theories meet practical application.
Regarding technical problems, the speaker proposed a continuous workshop and training on apps for language teaching. This can reduce technical problems, so the practice will have maximum flow. Students’ interest on gadget needs to be accommodated in positive way. Hence, it is the responsibility of teachers to direct students to use their gadget positively.