The 5th Reflection of TLL

To teach thinking skill through technology is quite hard because it deals with student’s ability in using the target language and their thinking abilities. Sometimes, the students cannot achieve the target language and the thinking abilities in solving problems. Thus, by using technology can enhance their thinking skill. The language learners should be given chances to use high-level-thinking and inquiry-based learning. The inquiry-based learning is bound with the cognitive academic language learning approach (CALLA) in terms of language for supporting language and content learning (Chamot & O’Malley, 1994). Both inquiry-based learning and CALLA has aimed to make the students as a co-constructor of deepened content learning aided by the development of cognitive strategies.

            There are a lot of requirements to use the technology to support thinking. The teachers should give attention in students’ cognitive process because it must be involved in the learning activities. The teachers need to provide the technology tools to support a wide range of thinking and problem-solving opportunities. The teachers should use the tools within the learning approach based on the understanding of inquiry, problem-based learning, and language learning. In the other side, the students need to perform a whole, meaningful task, not sub skill. The tool could bring the burden to students because it scaffolds the elements of the task, so the students cannot finish it alone. The tools bring complex versions of the task for the students.

            Beside of that, the students need to have willingness to understand the engagement of technology in developing their thinking skill. There are three instruction models in designing inquiry-based learning activities. The first one is Bloom’s Taxonomy of the cognitive domain that provides further Web-based information for the example three domains of educational activities – Bloom’s Taxonomy. The second model is Hunter’s Model – Seven step lesson plan which also provide further Web-based information like Hunter Model lesson Plan. The last one is constructivism and social constructivism which provide Web-based information like constructivism and Technology. There is also Webquest which is designed to support thinking and problem solving on the web.

            I just hope by having those kinds of technologies can make us easier to teach thinking skill of the students. It is the advantageous for us as the next generation of educators.