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Based on the document "Ser Competente en Tecnología" by MEN

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Based on the document "Ser Competente en Tecnología" by MEN

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1. There is a common misconception about what technology means. It is commonly associated to devices and artifacts, which are just one part of what technology implies. First and foremost, technology has been developed to solve human phenomena by transforming it into beneficial conditions for the individuals and their communities.
2. Technology means the science and the art of knowing how to carry out a task. Therefore, it is mandatory to be taught within academia.
3. MEN' program "Alfabetización en Tecnología" aims to explore and reinforce students interests on technology keeping into consideration three factors: knowledge, way of thinking and way of doing. At the same time, these elements need to be articulated to create a digital and critical 21st century citizenship.
4. MEN' proposal grouped similar grades to present a road map to work with the students' technological literacy. However, some questions rise:
4.1.How are the schools supposed to know about the policy and to apply it in their currriculum?                  4.2. How does the MEN follow this process? How to make sure that schools are actually implementing the proposal?
4.3. How to provide to certain areas of the country with lower resources and accesibility problems the opportunity to educate learners as 21st century digital citizens?
4.4. How to make sure that teachers and professors are properly trained for this task?

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-Students should be trained to be competitive with 21st century technology.
-Students need to feel challenged in order to be engage with their learning process.
-Technology can help students to actively participate in a globalized education.
-Parents need to be included in different projects, so all the community can be part of the learning process.
- Technology provides enriching tools to help students learn by doing.
-Technology goes beyond being in front of a screen it implies interaction, opportunities, communities, networks, collaborative work, creation and innovation.
- Including technology to the classroom is a challenge at the beginning, because of the training phase, but then it significantly facilitates teachers work.
- It seems to be a threat for teachers, but it is not, it just modifies his role. The teacher guides the process instead of being the center of the process.
-Despite all its benefits, it is necessary to be aware of the pitfalls and limitations technology in the classroom represents.

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•Benefits

•Expanded world education

•Opportunities for enriching globalization

•Variables

•Computers are not very reliable

•Memory sticks might not be compatible

•Limited internet access

•Advice

•Test technology before class

•Have a plan B

•Make hard copy information

•Remember it is just a tool

•Teachers are irreplaceable

•Successes- Colombian Teachers

•Students are involved and interested

•Use of ppt and videos

•Can be used in all subjects

•Use of memory games- adding variety to the class

•Parents/Students project-performing tasks with the help fo parents

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First Video:

Students need the same opportunities.
Technology has changed the world and kids need to be prepared to deal with the new challenges.
Subjects need to be engaging. Time flies by because you have fun.
No matter what they do, they can use math and science.
Having technology available for everyone.
Learning using the techonology
Community learner center: Even parents have access to what the stuents do.

Second Video:
Students need technology becasue they deal with it everyday.
Students use technology to do videos, and work on activities.
Ability to visualize how people interact nowadays.
Make educations more confortable.
Next steps for their education to be prepared for different situations.
Technology can help productivity.

Podcast one:
Creating oportunities for language learning
There are many dangers too. technology can be tricky, you need the correct programs.
Need to be aware of the pitfalls and limitations.
Have a plan be.
Technology is a tool and you can decide why and where.
Technology cannot replace the role of a teacher.

Podcast two:
You can have different possibilities regarding content and that can be enriching
Technology can be stressful.
It is pointless to plan activities that cannot be implemented if technology does not work.

Podcast three:
Technology improves knowledge.
Connect ICT with the classroom to improve teaching practices.
Students are greatly involved.
Technology can add variety to the class.
Parents can also help the students to bond.

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Dear all I agree with you, I would also say that teachers do believe ICT in their classrooms will help them students to become more competitive in 21st century skills, as it help them not just to access knowledge but to think what to do with that knowledge, it is engaging for them as they become more autonomous.
Teachers also perceive that although it seems that technology replace them, it has become

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1. Technology provides students with opportunities for the XXI century skills, for being updated and competent. It also prepares them for jobs that currently do not exist.

Technology has to be engaging and applicable, it is important to help students to discover its relevancy in a globalized world.

Students should learn how the resources are used.

2. Educators have to be aware of how to use technology in their classrooms.
- Students have the possibilities to find information about several topics in a more concrete way.

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Technology prepares learners for the requirements of the world.

The use of technology has to be engaging and applicable to help learners develop problem-solving skills.

Technology is the means for learning.

ICT helps learners to develop 21st century skills.

Enhances after school learning.

Using technology has imitations and pitfalls.

Endless opportunities for learning.

Teachers improve their teaching practice.

Using technology is fun.

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Beliefs and policies (some dangerous ones).
Even though technology seems to have permeated most fields, including education, there are some remaining beliefs that may either harm or benefit the use of technology in education. 
along the same lines, I've found some interesting insights on the possible risks, as well as advantages of using technology in our lessons.
1. Though technology may drastically enhance our lessons, teachers must have a plan b to overcome any emerging tech problem. Lack of contingency plans may lead to creating detrimental perceptions about technology. 
2.  ICTs happen to be so necessary now that teachers must use them in the classroom.  According to some teachers' experiences, technology can enhance teaching practices by bringing over more catchy and enjoyable activities to classrooms. 
Be that as It may, it is important that teachers understand the supportive role that technology plays; namely, it should be conceived as an upgrade to their teaching rather than as a threat to it.   

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Beliefs and policies (some dangerous ones).
Even though technology seems to have permeated most fields, including education, there are some remaining beliefs that may either harm or benefit the use of technology in education. 
along the same lines, I've found some interesting insights on the possible risks, as well as advantages of using technology in our lessons.
1. Though technology may drastically enhance our lessons, teachers must have a plan b to overcome any emerging tech problem. Lack of contingency plans may lead to creating detrimental perceptions about technology. 
2.  ICTs happen to be so necessary now that teachers must use them in the classroom.  According to some teachers' experiences, technology can enhance teaching practices by bringing over more catchy and enjoyable activities to classrooms. 
Be that as It may, it is important that teachers understand the supportive role that technology plays; namely, it should be conceived as an upgrade to their teaching rather than as a threat to it.   

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Luis Bohorquez

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Hey girls, it´s a pleasure to read your comments! And also I would like to agree with you, especially on those remarks that highlight a). The importance of technology and its role nowadays, b). Teachers and students´ protagonism on the process of ICT´s inclusion in our practices and c). the importance of getting acquainted with ICT´s policy. Furthermore, I consider that other teachers´ beliefs regarding the use of ICT in education are:
1. Technology tools can or cannot replace teachers. 
2. The inclusion of ICT´s in the classrooms means time-consuming.
3. Teachers, as all human beings, are afraid of change. 

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Hey girls, it´s a pleasure to read your comments! And also I would like to agree with you, especially on those remarks that highlight a). The importance of technology and its role nowadays, b). Teachers and students´ protagonism on the process of ICT´s inclusion in our practices and c). the importance of getting acquainted with ICT´s policy. Furthermore, I consider that other teachers´ beliefs regarding the use of ICT in education are:
1. Technology tools can or cannot replace teachers. 
2. The inclusion of ICT´s in the classrooms means time-consuming.
3. Teachers, as all human beings, are afraid of change. 

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Connie GM

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I absolutely agree with the aspects highlighted by Geo in the previous post, therefore I would like to share other ideas that came up to my mind while getting acquainted with belifs and policies.
In the first place, ESL/EFL teachers must overcome the dichotomy   Opinion vs what is compulsory to be done in the Colombian English language classroom. In order to reach this extent, I consider that it is necessary to keep an open mind towards technology and KNOW that it is not an option that we have to facilitate Ss. learning processes but a policy in education and the reality of the modern world.
Nevertheless, from my experience, I have noticed that the “digital immigrant teachers” are the ones who struggle the most or are more hesitant to integrate ICTs in the L2 classroom, whereas for the “digital native teachers” it comes as a natural and intuitive approach to teaching. 
I think that there are some obstacles that prevent teachers from using ICTs in the classroom: lack of equipment, lack of internet connections, lack of training, on top of the lack of knowledge of the government policies. Yet, we can also find some challenges in this regard: 
-Setting limits/clear rules to students in the use of ICTs so that they are used wisely.
-Keeping students engaged in tasks with materials that are “hard fun” (Technology in schools, 2010).
-Using appropriate devices and material according to the students’ characteristics and needs.

Thank you for reading me,

Diana Patiño

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I absolutely agree with the aspects highlighted by Geo in the previous post, therefore I would like to share other ideas that came up to my mind while getting acquainted with belifs and policies.
In the first place, ESL/EFL teachers must overcome the dichotomy   Opinion vs what is compulsory to be done in the Colombian English language classroom. In order to reach this extent, I consider that it is necessary to keep an open mind towards technology and KNOW that it is not an option that we have to facilitate Ss. learning processes but a policy in education and the reality of the modern world.
Nevertheless, from my experience, I have noticed that the “digital immigrant teachers” are the ones who struggle the most or are more hesitant to integrate ICTs in the L2 classroom, whereas for the “digital native teachers” it comes as a natural and intuitive approach to teaching. 
I think that there are some obstacles that prevent teachers from using ICTs in the classroom: lack of equipment, lack of internet connections, lack of training, on top of the lack of knowledge of the government policies. Yet, we can also find some challenges in this regard: 
-Setting limits/clear rules to students in the use of ICTs so that they are used wisely.
-Keeping students engaged in tasks with materials that are “hard fun” (Technology in schools, 2010).
-Using appropriate devices and material according to the students’ characteristics and needs.

Thank you for reading me,

Diana Patiño

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Some general remarks I would like to highlight on the use of ICT in EFL are:
1. Beliefs are not necessarily facts, teachers have beliefs regarding the use of ICT but they can also be misconceptions.

2. Teachers need to understand that we are part of a digital age and that technology is nowadays a universal language, that is why teachers need to give technology a chance in the classroom.

3. teachers need to know the role of the use of technology according to the minister of education in Colombia.

4. The importance of improving the use of technology and guide students to be autonomous is the first step to prepare students for the future. students will face jobs that don't even exist yet.

5. Teachers need to be skilled teachers in the use of new technology in order to provide the right tools and guidance to learners.

6. The use of technology should be presented to students in an applicable way.

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I discovered the following ideas about teachers beliefs on the use of technology

1.     Students should be trained to be competitive with 21st century technology

2.     Students become confortable using them

3.     Engaging activities are those one that are  challenging and relevant for students, not only fun.

4.     It should be considered how what students learn is meaningful for them

5.     The objective is learning when using the technology and how to use the technology.

6.     Using technology to develop demonstrations of abstract concepts, using tech tools, labs and generating opportunities to learn and that aren’t dangerous for them.

Official documents. Series Guia 30  Orientaciones generales para la educación en tecnología.

Using technology is about having the knowledge to find and produce technological material. It also involves recognizing the differences between artifacts, processes, and systems. Besides, there are different uses of technology for technical purposes, technological and scientific. Some of the purposes of using technology are generating innovations, finding solitions for problems or needs, and learning. However, using technology involve ethical considerations such as the kind of information that is found, the effect of the technological creations and Access to products and information.

Programa Nacional de Nuevas tecnologías

Developing new competences requiere the use of new technology and materials such as software and computers to be able to access it. Teachers need to be trained and competitive to help learners use technology wisely. The national program monitors the use of technology through a record of the experiences with technology use or implementation. Part of the program consists on connecting Colombia with academic networks. The main objective of this initiative is to train teachers and promote their implementation of technology so that learners become benefited.

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we must be part of the change; therefore, we must include technology in our classes to help students learn through technology. In that way, students will see learning as something atractive and fun.
However, the real challenge is being up-to-date. We must understand that there is new information, and new ways of find it. So, we must use new resources and have a good relationship with technology, not just in the classroom, but in our daily life as well.

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through the implementation of ICTs in the classroom,students will develop critical thinking skills that take them further in the construction of their own knowledge,students will have an active role, motivation increases,promotes autonomy and self-directed work.

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Teachers in classroom need to know how to lead technology through the right path.The exposure and use of technology must have always a purpose and students must be aware of it.

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Teachers must be willing to explore and chose the tools that are relevant for learners according to their context.What might work for a specific group of students might not work for others. Teachers are strongly requested to find students real needs.

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It is not about the technology, it is about knowing how to use the technology, and make it available for everybody, not just a few.

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We need to prepare our students for the future, because in a globalized world they are going to complete with people from around the world, so they need to count on the ICT skills to do so

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I really like the idea of "hard fun", because it implies engaging student through problem solving experiences that help them develop their thinking skills.

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Through ICTs, Colombian Ministry of Education wants to achieve social inclusion not only in the field of education, but also in politics, economy and so on.
Yuliana Barrera

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Hello! I want to share some beliefs of different teachers that have been implementing ICTs within the language classroom.

Yuliana Barrera