This week we learned about technology integration models SAMR and TPAK (as well as Constructive Alignment.
Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition is what makes up SAMR and it was created in 2016. In terms of linking the redefinition stage back to second language learning, I thought about how social media has made listening to native speakers so much easier for students. But even more important, how it allows you to interact with the culture and explore jargon and colloquial language in a way that would have never been possible with the internet or purely just with Google. Especially with TikTok, students can engage with aspects of the language and culture that resonates with them (even if it’s watching something as mundane as make-up videos or memes in French) in real time and actually be motivated to listen and pick up on the language because they are exploring avenues that are interesting and relevant to them.
In this way, incorporating aspects of technology like this (maybe even doing units on French social media influencers/activists?) would engage students more than watching 30 year old videos of Le Café des Rêves (which is like a BBC produced “Boy Meets World” for French second language learners). Acknowledging this importance plays into the idea of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPAK) because it requires integration of these three areas.
In terms of Constructive Alignment, which is the idea of designing for learning or an outcome not just because something is cool, I found Redundancy Principle interesting because in language learning we tend to completely overload students in an effort to activate their oral and written comprehension. However, I can now see that this can stress students out by increasing their cognitive load especially in a language that is not their first language. Having students read text, listen to narration, interpret images, and try to comprehend the meaning is a lot to ask of a student learning a language and I plan on keeping this Principle in mind when I am lesson planning.
Here is a link for tips on Redundancy Principle:
https://elearningindustry.com/4-tips-apply-redundancy-principle-elearning
What did you think of the Redundancy Principle and how it impacts your subject areas?
