| 62403 |
abstract |
Although new technologies are embedded in students’ lives today, there is often an
assumption that their use is transparent, inconsequential, or a distraction. This
book combines complex systems theory with sociocultural theory and the multimodal
theory of communication, providing an innovative theoretical framework to examine
how communication and meaning-making in the language classroom have developed over
time, how technology impacts on meaning-making, and what the implications are for
learners, teachers, institutions and policy makers. Recent studies provide evidence
for the disruptive effect of technology which has resulted in a phase shift that is
reshaping language education by creating new interaction patterns, allowing for multimodal
communication, and introducing real-world communication into the classroom. The book
proposes ways of responding to this shift before concluding that the new technologies
are radically transforming the way we learn. It is likely to appeal to a range of
readers, including students, academics, teachers and policy-makers. |