USING ICT TO INCREASE LEARNERS’ AND TEACHERS’ MOTIVATION

The degree of motivation of learners as well as teachers in an English Language classroom can vary depending on the degree of engagement. One way to increase engagement of both learners and teachers is to introduce ICT as a main tool used to conduct learning and teaching.

Because motivation plays a significant role in the process of learning a language, it becomes crucial to increase flexibility through resources that facilitate learning anytime and anywhere. Practical classroom experiences have shown that motivated learners and teachers are engaged and successful when accessing ICT. In this environment, both learning and teaching are active processes that take autonomy, challenging tasks, creativity, collaborative work, and critical thinking. Those features are constantly practiced in an e-learning environment.

From a learner’s perspective, a well structured e-learning context with clear goals, hands-on activities and flexible evaluation tools may ensure a motivating learning process. From a teacher’s perspective, an IT savvy teacher, a well-equipped classroom and an interesting set of course content may increase the level of motivation for learners.

Learners’ motivation increases when their learning environment provides all necessary conditions and factors for an ideal learning activity to happen. Young adult learners are keen to learn with ICT tools because they represent familiar tools that are used for entertainment and social network.
Motivated and engaged teachers translate the new learning style of young adult learners by using ICT tools to deliver their teaching. Social media such as Facebook and twitter, Google tools, blogs, virtual learning environment, mobile devices such as Smartphones and Ipads, have become common learning tools whose usage is no longer prohibited in the classroom.

The seminar presents ways to increase both learners and teachers motivation through the use of ICT. Practical examples will illustrate cases of successful use of ICT tools with young adult learners in the tertiary level.