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Do we really need to use technology-based tools in our language classrooms? Absolutely! It's because students of this age are digital natives while we, teachers and parents, are digital immigrants. That's why we have to know how to deal with those digital natives who are being raised acquiring technology as they acquire a language. However, technology-based tools change over time or become obsolete.
What we use now may be replaced by a new tool next year. Who still remembers Icq? Why did "AOL" lose its fame? Do you still remember the Hotmail messenger! It was number 1, years ago but now no one even remembers it. The bottom line here is that although tech tools change or disappear, pedagogical goals and principles hardly change. That's why we need to choose the tools that fit the context and serve our goals and principles.
We also need to adapt to changing technology to fulfill our pedagogical needs. With that being said, let me raise a question that may be in your minds right now. What technology-based tools do you use for increasing your students' engagement, collaboration, interaction & multiple literacies in your classroom? Tools are abundant, but the ever-increasing number of tools and free multimedia software can be confusing and even daunting for teachers.
Choosing an appropriate technology-based tool to use in and out of the classroom should not be random. Every tool that the teacher uses should serve a specific and clear goal. Let me name some of the tools that I basically rely on in my classes. These tools can be used by k-16 teachers to engage their students in and out of the classroom. They can also use these tools to integrate culture into the classroom.
Some other tools will serve how to increase students' multiple literacies to support their intercultural competence. It is worth mentioning that all these tools and strategies address the 21st-century skills and ACTFL's standards.
