PURELY DISCUSSION VS. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

In this digital day and age, the ways of teaching writing among English as a Second Language (ESL) learners have greatly changed over time. In acquiring knowledge about writing, ESL learners can learn differently based on the methods used by the teacher in teaching the aforementioned matter. 

While some like to use the products of technology in learning how to write effectively, there are also those who prefer to have it through paper and pen. In teaching writing, which between the two would serve best for the ESL learners?

Paris (2014) has mentioned that lecturing or discussion is a teaching method that involves, primarily, an oral presentation given by an instructor to a body of students. As long as there is an authoritative figure (in any given context) at the front of a room, delivering a speech to a crowd of listeners is a form of discussion and lecture.

On the contrary, technology integration is the use of technology resources - computers, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, social media platforms and networks, software applications, the Internet, etc. - in daily classroom practices, and in the management of a school. (Lucas, 2007)

Well, these methods truly differ from one another. There is a thick boundary between the two, but both share the same goal in teaching writing – that is to develop the writing skills of the ESL learners at its fullest potentials. Certainly, these methods have their own advantages when used and incorporated in the writing class effectively.

ADVANTAGES OF DISCUSSION

1. Because discussion is delivered by one authoritative figure – a teacher, professor, or instructor of some other kind – that person has full reign of the direction of the lesson and the tone of the classroom. 

2. Lectures are literally just long-winded explanations of information, deemed important by the lecturer.

3.The lecture method makes the learning process mostly effortless on the part of the students, who need only pay attention during the lecture and take notes where they see fit.

ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

1. The learners can make use of blogs and other computer-assisted programs in expressing their thoughts and opinion.

2. With the integration of technology in the teaching-learning process of the classroom, students can have fun while learning how to write effectively.

3. This method is anchored to the interests of the learners nowadays which would make them engage more into writing.

DIFFERENCES OF PURELY DISCUSSION AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

As for the differences of these two methods, discussion is sometimes plain and boring for the 21^st century learners since it is going to be the teacher’s sole job to instill in the students the basics and nature of writing. With regard to technology integration, it defocuses the learners as it offers different tools that engage the interests of the learners. It sometimes can lead to confusion because there are some teachers and learners who are still not into this method. They find it hard to use, utilize and maximize the use of technology in writing.

Indeed, these two methods, which differ in various aspects, aim to educate ESL learners in becoming effective writers of today. These may be used accordingly to achieve desirable results for the writing competence of the ESL learners.