Layout, Furniture and Equipment
At Luis Angel Arango
and Ofelia Uribe schools we can find different technological tools as
computers, laptops, headphones, tape recorders, video beams, speakers and TVs,
but most of them are outdated taking into account the modern and outstanding
e-tools we currently have for educational contexts. In spite of having a space
for the LRC, chairs, tables, desks and bookcases are old fashioned and
uncomfortable for students because of the constant misuse. Besides that, the
space is not big enough for many people; around twenty students can visit the
LRC at once.
Bearing in mind this
previous description, it would be relevant to have a larger space divided into
three sections, one for individual learning, another one for team working and
the third one with working centers with access to cutting edge technology. For
these sections, it is necessary to have comfortable desks and chairs, so that
learners can devote enough time for learning and improving the second language.
If it is possible to have modern technological tools, it would be fruitful for
learners, for instance laptops facing their special needs considering that at
Luis Angel Arango school blind students can have the opportunity to use the
LRC, too.
On the other hand, at
SENA the current LRC is an open and big space for many learners, but the space
is not appropriate considering that there are not special sections for
different activities. Additionally, despite having cutting edge technology,
many students and teachers do not know how to use them. In that case, it would
be vital to reorganize each one of the sections according to the learners
interests and skills, additionally to offer different courses to learners in
order to be technology proficient.
At colegio Ofelia Uribe
de Acosta, this is the actual situation and the necessary changes:
Having in mind the
characteristics of learners in each one of the institutions, it is necessary to
consider the available resources to implement in the LRC. For example, at Luis
Angel Arango and Ofelia Uribe de Acosta IED, there can be laptops and
headphones. Whilst at SENA, it is possible to have not only hardware but
specialized software for students to use.
Considering the
materials, it is necessary to have printed materials as textbooks, workbooks
and literature that students can borrow with the teachers’ permission,
additionally the digital materials that they can use even at home. Bearing in
mind that all the learners have different Language Levels, it is important to
organize the materials using the levels proposed in the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages, so that it is easier for teachers and
learners to use the material.
As the LRC is going to
be managed by Language teachers, it is relevant to create a plan for adding
materials at least once a year; it might be developed materials by teachers or
textbooks from a specialized publishing house.
At colegio Ofelia Uribe
de Acosta IED, the most important challenges teachers must face are related to
technological issues. First, we need a good sound system, second, we need to
improve the current internet connection for using the 40 computers. Also, we
need redP udpates the current computers and install the new softwares. But
maybe the most important aspect is giving teachers some tutorials and guidance
in order to use the LRC properly, and their elements with a clear pedagogical
purpose.
Similar situation
happens at Luis Angel Arango School, taking into account that the RedP policies
work the same way in all the public schools. For instance, there are 40
available computers for students, but the connectivity problems do not allow
teachers to implement projects related to Language teaching.
On the other hand, we
have Industry and Trade Center with some similar inconvenient, there are not
enough computers for all the students, what make difficult the use these
meaningful tools for the target language class. When optimizing the LRC it is
vital to get new equipments in order to give learners opportunities to use
technologies for learning English.
