English courses / websites

MIT open course ware : http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/anthropology/21a-231j-gender-sexuality-and-society-spring-2006/
This course seeks to examine how people experience gender - what it means to be a man or a woman - and sexuality in a variety of historical and cultural contexts.

UTAH state university : http://ocw.usu.edu/instructional-technology-learning-sciences/blogs-wikis-new-media-for-learning/index.html
This course is designed to help you understand and effectively use a variety of "web 2.0" technologies including blogs, RSS, wikis, social bookmarking tools, photo sharing tools, mapping tools, audio and video podcasts, and screencasts.

The Open University : http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/y177.htm
This course has much to offer. It introduces concepts and debates within the social sciences, covering topics like families; culture; global markets; migrant labour; community; and social movements. You’ll learn through the use of case studies and activities, and no previous knowledge of the subject is needed.

An open mind...

With the globalization and technology, we notice how the exchange of information is something essential in our society. Nowadays, you can stay in home and learn something using internet with a technology gadget (computer, notebook, cell phone, iPad, etc.). You don’t need the help of someone in order to learn about something. This is a great aspect related to the use of internet in the last century. For this reason, there are many universities and institutes that provide classes through websites or virtual platforms in where students don’t need the help, guidance and support of a teacher. Nevertheless, I think that people need to learn things with the assistance of someone.

In my opinion, even though in our society exists technological resources that help people to learn and communicate through long distances, it is important that people learn face to face. In other words, they should learn through interaction with others in a classroom or a place where they share with people and teachers. I know that people have all the information that they want to find in the internet. However, I believe that the relationships, experiences and emotional factors that people share (face to face) in a classroom play an essential impact on students’ learning. That’s why, teachers are important and they shouldn’t be replaced by the technology. In my opinion, the technology and internet are tools that help teachers’ work but these elements shouldn’t replace teachers.

I’m aware that internet and the websites in which people can study and learn are very useful and effectives for the students that are motivated for learning. Nevertheless, they lost a great opportunity of learning of a teacher and their classmates. This last point is so important because it is connected with interaction and cooperative learning. These aspects are essential in students’ learning and teachers cannot forget that.

To sum up, the article shows us the importance of sharing knowledge inside and outside the classroom. We share knowledge outside the classroom with the internet. That’s why it is important to use the internet in an appropriate way in order to focus its use on education. With the educational websites (Universities, schools, organizations, etc.) the education is everywhere and everybody can have access. In this point, teachers are so important because they need to know how to use this information in their classroom in order to create new ways of teaching. With the technology, learning is everywhere and teachers need to include technology in their classes because it is a powerful opportunity for new teaching strategies and new opportunity for learning.