IoT Podcast Episode 183: Amazon’s news bonanza explained

                                                      

                       

                     Transformative properties of computer games: advantages vs. disadvantages

Modern technologies and computers are changing the world; no one doubts their potentially transformative properties and their growing impact in most aspects of human endeavour. The strong evidence of their direct impact on the goals of schooling and children has been subject to considerable debate. Moreover, the games which different children play may not be similar because of their personalities. Everybody plays his or her own game according to his or her interest. Thus, it is a too complicated task to answer the big question of technology’s impact on children: the advantages and disadvantages of computer games for children. Furthermore, according to psychological research computer games play a crucial role in the development of emotion, attitude, social behaviour and intellectual functioning of children (Singer, D. G. & Singer, J. L. 2001). However, according to another research (Jansma & Linz, 2002), computer games contain violent and aggressive content. Thus, computer games have both advantages and disadvantages, and it is the task of the teacher to talk to children about both the advantages and disadvantages of computer games, as the modern world provides us with a variety of choices.

Moreover, computer gaming has become a parcel and part of children's lives. Played at home or a friend's place or in cyber cafes, computer gaming has grown in popularity as a form of entertainment. Moreover, computer games have great importance for education and quality of life in this century if they are used in useful ways. In other words, teachers can use educational computer games in their classes, which will have a motivative effect on the overall learning process, motivation and memory.  For instance, teachers can teach a language to children easily with computer games. Moreover, if the children have the opportunity to learn a language with the help of computer games, they will not get bored and will stay entertained. Furthermore, computer games can make memory stronger than before. Namely, by playing computer games, children repeat the same actions and follow the same paths while playing the same games over and over. Moreover, as they challenge themselves by playing, their memory and talents improve and as a result, children develop their memory step by step.

Thus, bearing in mind the advantages mentioned above, playing video games seem to hold some prominent drawbacks to children’s health. To start with, Research and experimental studies have shown common symptoms among children who spend long hours behind the screen playing video games; the effects are mainly associated with their visual function; including changes in visual acuity and eye strain. This sedentary activity also leads to a rise in obesity rates and postural disorders. Not regulating play time can also be the main cause of extension in near point distance, and this will be accompanied with subjective fatigue.

Child’s psychology seems to be thoroughly influenced by such games. Other than the fact that they may end up giving their console or computer the foremost priority, it is believed that children are expected to show more violent behaviour the more they are indulged in the game they are devoting their time to (especially action games); a reported example is a noticeable decrease in teenagers’ empathy towards war victims. Players are killing people in games, stealing cars, and breaking into buildings; confusing this virtual world with reality may lead children to get immune to the idea of committing a crime.

Hence, the concept of computer games is controversial. Moreover, the line between the advantages and disadvantages is easily blurred and crossed. Thus, it will be prudent to find moderation in all things, while learning the science behind the computer games. Furthermore, acquiring this information can change the course of a child’s life; by making informed and mindful decisions.

  

'Google Doc' as a powerful language learning tool

With the rise of modern technologies, educational requirements have been changed as well. In other words, technologies fundamentally changed the way students used to write, and online peer collaboration has become a desired component in many language learning classrooms. Moreover, among the various media used in promoting online peer collaboration, 'google doc' started to receive increasing attention, and writing with the help of 'google doc' has become a common activity in many universities. Thus, I think that  'google doc' is a powerful tool for engaging students (advanced level) in virtual teamwork and authentic language learning. Moreover, it is an opportunity to work with a team beyond school boundaries and burn less energy on a task than if one is working alone on that same task. Namely, is a share of the workload, appreciation of different opinions, and constant communication. Furthermore, it is a way to provide students with a collaborative writing space.  In other words, collaborative writing opens the door to brainstorming, group problem solving, critical evaluation and group consensus.

Moreover, since 'google doc' is considered an important tool for facilitating learning collaboration, it is essential to ensure that effective collaboration is taking place. In my opinion, first of all, it is essential to explain to students the purpose of the assignment. Namely, by telling the students that 'google doc' will give them a valuable and unique learning experience,  the teacher gives the students  the opportunity to understand  not only the answer to the question 'what', but also the answer to the question  'how', in this case daily practice of language learning by using 'google doc'.

 Thus, I think that by explaining to the students why they do, what they do, will help them to have a positive attitude toward the project. In other words, their opinion of the use of the 'google docs' will affect positively on the project and the working process as well.

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  Benefits of Podcasting

The proliferation of high-resolution retina displays, mobile devices with larger screens and powerful processing is dramatically altering and reshaping the higher education landscape.  Moreover,  the use of these mobile devices widens user receptiveness and acceptance of audio and video learning content, including podcasting.

Podcasting (both video and audio) is enlarging the traditional face-to-face classroom, by providing unprecedented opportunities for anytime/anywhere self-paced learning.  Podcasting is considered to be as a supplemental tool and/or a revision tool capable of improving students’ academic experience. Moreover, podcasting developed by learners fosters self-reflection and improves both students’ performance and their idea development and creation. Furthermore, learner-generated podcasting has a high potential to enrich pedagogical practices by engaging students in knowledge creation and integration and by moving them beyond the passive consumption mode that has been associated with listening to the podcast.

Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that experimenting with podcasting tools and technologies is pedagogically fruitful for both learners and teachers. From a pedagogical perspective, podcasting can provide the instructor with the opportunity to reconfigure his/her pedagogical practices. Namely, by using podcasting, they will devote face-to-face classroom time to discussion and other innovative activities, as podcasting provides opportunities to extend communication and interactive opportunities beyond the immediacy of the traditional lecture experience. However, while giving EFL learners a podcasting assignment, it is also essential to take into account the learners'  level of proficiency, age, learning objectives, as well as purpose and expectations for listening activities. Moreover,  by taking into account all these nuances, the instructors can offer their students well-designed and thoughtfully planned podcasting activities, which will help them to hone the skills necessary for success in the second language teaching and learning environment. Thus, based on this, podcasting activity will vary for each course, depending on the learners' age, level and learning objectives. Hence, it will be beneficial to the students, if the instructors rethink their teaching practices by establishing podcasting as a useful and viable tool for improving the learning experience.

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The Effects of Media and Digital Games on Children

It is already decades that the social science research reveals the strong influence of media and digital games on the behaviour of children.  Moreover,  psychological research reveals that digital games and media play a crucial role in the development of attitude, emotion, social behaviour and intellectual functioning of children (APA Task Force On Television and Society, 1992; Funk, J. B., et al. 2002; Singer, D. G. & Singer, J. L. 2005; Singer, D. G. & Singer, J. L. 2001).

 However, the research on interactive video games reveals that the most popular video games contain violent and  aggressive content ( Dill, K. E., Gentile, D. A., Richter, W. A., & Dill, J.C., in press; Mulac, A., Jansma, L. L., & Linz, D. G., 2002; Walsh, D., Gentile, D. A,VanOverbeke, M., & Chasco, E., 2002).

 In other words, there is a correlation between playing violent video games and the aggressive behaviour of children. Thus, it is the task of the parents to make clear distinctions between different types of video games and different kinds of media, as the modern world provides us with a variety of choices.

 In other words, it is not about making our media free of violence. Moreover, it is about being aware of all the possible nuances and effects that this or that video game or type of media can have on children and try to choose the one that is appropriate for the children age, needs and level of proficiency.

Moreover, to the extent that it is possible, parents need to be mindful of what their children see and what games they play. Namely, parents should be able to create a “media diet” for their children to protect them from the harmful effects that media or video games can have on them. Furthermore, the same source: the media provides both positive and negative information. Thus, the success is guaranteed if parents teach their children how to make conscious choices. 

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Over the number of years, the phenomenon of blog writing and the subsequent emergence of the blogosphere have presented web users with yet another means of communicating in the online environment. (Fellner & Apple, 2006). Namely, blogs have presented learners with an alternative means of self-expression in the online medium, as blogs are considered to be as a form of online diary writing. In other words, blogs give the learners the opportunity to create their own contemplative space, which facilitates more consideration and reflection on their actions.

Regarding Armenian EFL learners, I think that it will be beneficial for the Armenian EFL learners to express and publish their ideas not only with their classmates but also with a broader audience (rural vs urban context). Moreover, it will be a way for them to practice different aspects of language and at the same time read different opinions about the same theme. Furthermore, peers who live in the city may have an entirely different way of thinking or world understanding and having the chance to read different opinions about the same topic will give them the opportunity to develop their critical thinking, as blogs are typically perceived to be beneficial in helping to promote critical thinking skills.  (Murry & Hourigan, 2008). Hence, it is the task of the teachers provide the Ss with appropriate input and at the same time, create an appropriate context for the students to produce their output.

However, blogging tasks have not only their positive effects on learners but also negative ones. For instance, Armenian EFL learners (8-10 years old, public school) who may not yet have acquired the appropriate linguistic skills to write, may find writing blogs, as a too difficult task. Thus, they may start writing in their native language. Hence, in this case, the responsibility lies with the teacher to choose the procedure which is most appropriate for his/her students. According to Nunan (2015), it is essential for a teacher to create such a way of teaching that will be in harmony with his/her students learning styles and abilities. However, sometimes it is too complicated for the teachers to create tasks that will match the needs of the learners.

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