Social Media in Language Teaching and Learning

In the current era of globalization, where information and communication technologies by all its sophisticated has become an integral part of all aspects of human life is no exception session education. As we understand that information and communication technology includes two aspects, namely the information technology and communication technology. Information Technology is a technology used for data processing, including processing, obtain, compile, store, manipulate data in various ways to produce quality information, namely information that is relevant, accurate and timely, which is used for personal, business, and government and is a strategic information for decision-making, while communications technology are all matters relating to the use of tools to process and transfer data from one device to another allow the rapid exchange of information without hampered by the limits of space and time. Unlike earlier times are still utilizing the natural object around which is what it is. But now, the human race to integrate ICT in all aspects of life to build and cultivate knowledge-based society in order to compete in the global era. One is the use of the Internet as a medium of learning.

In addition, use of the Internet as a medium of learning the background by the limitations of conventional sources of information issue (Libraries) cannot meet the expectations of students to obtain proper information and useful as reference material in the classroom. The existence of the Internet is one of the ultimate solutions to this problem. Internet eliminates time and space boundaries that allow a student to communicate with experts in other places.

The Internet is a global network between computers to communicate from one location to other parts of the world (such as schools, universities, research institutions, museums, banks, businesses, individuals, radio or TV station). Internet serves as an aspect of communication, information providers and facilities for promotion. Internet, word that is familiar in the ears of everyone, especially the youth who always hung out through social networking sites.

My comment about this, I certainly agree that Internet in its function as a provider of information is very helpful in the learning process. Just by typing the principal subject matter in Search Eguine (search engines) like Google.com will display the tens to hundreds of literature on the subject matter. Students just need to click the link reading it will immediately appear readings or more information. So no exaggeration that many Internet users argued, "With the internet, the world seemed to be in the hands".

            There are so many applications supports in teaching and learning as follow:

1.      Edublogs

An edublogs is a blog created for educational purposes. Edublogs archive and support student and teacher learning by facilitating reflection, questioning by self and others, collaboration and by providing contexts for engaging in higher-order thinking. 

2.      Edmodo

Edmodo is an educational technology company offering communication, collboration and coaching tools to K-13 schools and teachers. The Edmodo network enables teachers to share content, distribute quizzes, assignments, and manage communication with student, colleagues, and parents.

3.      Moodle

Moodle (short for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a software platform of electronic learning (e-learning), which is free and open source, also known as the System Management Course / Lecture (Course Management Courses), Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning environment (VLE).

4.      Google Form

Google Form called “Google Formulir” or form is a useful tool to help you plan an event, send surveys, giving students or others quizzes, or collecting information in an easy efficient way.

5.      Animoto

Blended Learning

Blended learning is a term increasingly used to describe the way e-learning is being combined with traditional classroom methods and independent study to create a new, hybrid teaching methodology.

A learning model in three parts

Blended learning has three primary components:

• In-person classroom activities facilitated by a trained educator.
• Online learning materials, often including pre-recorded lectures given by that same instructor.
• Structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills developed during the classroom experience.

Blended learning redefining teaching roles

In some situations, the move to blended learning has inspired educators to redefine traditional roles. The word “facilitator” has emerged as an alternative to “teacher,” bringing it a slightly different focus. In this thing, the role of teacher as “facilitator” is a teacher gives students to play the role activity in learning process. This case based on experiment and practice using some things, for example, students can play role-play, dramatization, strip story, group work, pair work and so on.

Facilitators focus on four key areas:                 

a.     Development of online and offline course content

b. Facilitation of communication with and among students, including the pedagogy of communicating content online without the contextual clues students would get in person.

c.    Guiding the learning experience of individual students, and customizing material wherever possible to strengthen the learning experience

d.   Assessment and grading, not unlike the expectations for teachers within the traditional framework.

The definition of blended learning is formal education program. In this case, a student learns:

a.       At least in part through online learning with some element of student control

b.      At least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home

c.       And the modalities along each student’s learning

Therefore, there are four majorities of blended-learning programs, namely Rotation, Flex, A La Carte and Enriched Virtual. The rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual Classroom.

1.      Rotation Model

2.      Flex Model

3.      La Carte Model

4.      Enriched Virtual