Speaking up about IT in the classroom

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday August 7, 2008

Letter from Tan Ken Jin

I REFER to “Action equals instant reaction” (Aug 4). My students find it easier to express ideas and questions over instant messaging platforms, such as MSN Messenger. As I have observed, this might be because students feel embarrassed asking questions in front of the class.

But why should a student feel embarrassed to speak out in class? The classroom should be a nurturing environment, a place where there is no “stupid” question, and one where a culture of curiosity should be encouraged.

While information technology allows a child to express his or her thoughts in private, it may not be able to teach a child to address their underlying fear of public speaking, or of committing a mistake. This could backfire when students move on to tertiary institutions where participation counts, as well as in the workplace and life in general, where speaking up is important.

IT should be used with the understanding that it can provide an avenue around a certain problem, but it may not directly provide an adequate solution.