Analysing the benefits of techno-tools
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Analysing the benefits of techno-tools


A series of questions, rather than answers, but an interesting short video nonetheless. Are there any real benefits to playing around in virtual worlds?







In the video, Dave White questions the use of mature philosophy students swimming with sharks and having seminars as spacemen or blue dragons in a fairy-tale castle. I'm not sure I can see the validity of this, but if the students were learning a language and taking the opportunity to practise by interacting in the virtual environment then I can see the potential, particularly if there is a lack of opportunity to interact in their personal non-digital context.

All in all, I suppose it's like evaluating any tool, whether digital or not. We should always ask ourselves: What are the 'affordances' of this tool? How can it help my learners and I? Is it the best way there is, or at least better than what I'm doing now? Or is it equally useful yet through it's difference could provide a motivational opportunity?

I think asking ourselves these questions is a helpful antidote to any polemical argument as to whether technological tools should be added to our teaching toolbox.




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