Haylee

This course and final project allowed me to reflect deeply on my own experiences using CALL from the point of view of myself as a learner and as a current French Immersion educator. As I consider my own use of multimedia as an elementary student, I recognize that it was quite limited. I remember going to the computer lab on an infrequent basis, yet this was a highlight for students -- an exciting opportunity for students to learn about technology use for learning. The majority of activities in my school were kill and drill exercises. There was limited collaboration between students and among teachers and learners. High school was a very similar experience, with a lot of paper and pencil tasks.
My current context includes teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the Spring of 2020, this meant teaching online through a virtual classroom. I currently use a lot of technology in my own teaching practice. This includes AirTame TV, daily slides presentations, integration of apps for student learning, and many other tools. My students also use ChromeBooks and iPads on a regular basis to learn and demonstrate their understanding. As a French Immersion teacher, using technology has been extremely helpful to motivate and engage students. Some applications that I have found particularly useful include Sock Puppets, Scratch Jr, and Word Reference. Another tool I have used is Edsby, in particular, the Learning Story feature. This allows me to connect virtually with parents by sharing video or photo evidence of their child’s learning.
The future of CALL is obviously unpredictable, yet, I believe that based on what I have seen from the shift in teaching throughout the pandemic, and what I have learned throughout this course is that there will always be a place and a need for technology in education. This could appear as a hybrid or flipped classroom model or perhaps a way of the future that we have not yet experienced. I also see the potential for flexibility in the delivery of lessons. For example, if students will be away for extended periods of time, teachers are now more flexible in being able to post assignments or activities via Google Classroom or other online learning platforms.
            In my Assemblage assignment, I created a Powtoon video to express my own understanding and growth in using CALL as a student and as a teacher. As someone who is fairly proficient in the use and integration of technology, it is always my goal to investigate new technology tools. This was my first time creating a Powtoon. In my video, I reflect on the boundaries of CALL and the importance of interconnectivity. Some of my key points of reflection include how teachers may stay up to date with the current trends and with the rapidly changing technology. I make reference to different scholars in the field, including Hubbard who states the need for teachers to renew their skills and expand on their knowledge on a frequent basis (2009). I also discuss how teachers can push these boundaries by using technology and continuing to grow in their own professional development. In regards to interconnectivity, I mention how the integration of technology allows teachers to connect their classroom to the world on a global scale. I also discuss how teachers can connect with other educators to share ideas and resources. As a lifelong learner, I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in the area of technology and to develop my own skill-set in integrating technology in my teaching practice.  

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