ABSTRACT

Today's students grew up with the computer. In fact, they know more about computers and use a wider range of computer applications than most of their teachers in high school, professors in college, or parents. While the average adult is most familiar with just three basic computer technologies—word processing, e-mail, and the Internet— the average student is at a dizzying technological level. He or she is not only using a personal computer as a writing aid and communication tool like adults but is also configuring laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices with an ever-expanding range of applications to form complete information and entertainment centers. Thus, a student who has not mastered the most basic of technologies is exceedingly rare. Though advanced technologies come as second nature to most students, and while adults may be comfortable using word processing, e-mail, and the Internet in their personal lives, studies find that teachers nevertheless are hesitant in utilizing technology per se in their teaching. 1 Such commonplace technologies are not used with any regularity in the Arabic classroom. 2