ICT and learning modalities: meeting student needs

Because of its interactive and dynamic nature, ICT has the potential to meet the needs of individual students by providing opportunities to direct their learning and to pursue information, or complete tasks, in ways which meet their own interests and needs. (Computer based technologies in English KLA, 1997, p6)

In particular the integration of technology into the English classroom represents a paradigm shift to acknowledge the importance of the emerging technological learning style which is increasingly becoming the fourth learning modality for students of the click and go generation.
These technological learners:

• are mechanically oriented
• know how to use technological tools without formal instruction
• enjoy using a video camera
• obtain much of their information electronically
• like integrated learning activities
• would like to learn everything via a computer
• spend much of their time on the computer or playing video games
• know how to work with and use new software and hardware
• interact and communicate with others via e-mail and/ or the internet
• understand how to integrate various technologies ( Coil, 1999)
   

Using ICT enables English teachers to tap into this learning style and the dominant youth culture. Many modern ICT texts can also be used as a starting point for the exploration of traditional texts (Smithson, 2005). For example, an interactive site such as the virtual tour of the Globe Theatre site allows us to bring Shakespeare’s world to life.

Using ICT as a classroom tool has many other benefits because ICT :

• provides highly motivational activities for students …Initially computer-based activities can provide stimulus to undertake tasks that students may otherwise avoid
• links to other learning and to real-world situations and experiences that reflect gender & cultural diversity
• increases opportunities for student interaction and decision making…This interactive process has the potential to cater for individual learning styles
• makes complex tasks more manageable …in some cases these activities require the development of new skills
• makes repetitive tasks more interesting
• illustrates complex processes or concepts
• provides access to resources…increases the need for students to develop critical thinking and effective information processing skills
  (DET Computer Based Technologies in the English KLA, 1997, pps 6-7))

ICT also enables a representation of language as a symbolic system. Furthermore the use of well-designed ICT environments can help pupils grasp abstract concepts such as imagery, literary relations, and morphology. (Interactive Education, 2006).