Motivation for choosing the topic. Importance and topicality.

In the context in which today's school places great emphasis on the use of modern
teaching materials, strategies and possibilities of applicability of these in the online
environment, the theme proposed for study proves its topicality. Teachers from all over the
world use technology for presenting content via computer, for example personally designed
presentations, illustrations, animations and videos, they design and use interactive learning
materials, audio materials and games to make the topic interesting and engage students in the
process of learning.
Digital books seem to contain many of the materials mentioned above which in an ideal
environment, where all the necessary tools and equipment exist, can be of great help. Digital
textbooks can offer a familiar experience for both teachers and students. They also provide
unprecedented opportunities for teachers: they can create interactive assignments for their
students and even they can customize worksheets to suit their needs.
The English language teaching program proposes four general competences doubled by
specific competences and a series of associated contents that differ from one level to another
following the concentric principle: 1. Receiving oral messages; 2. Oral expression in
communication; 3. Receiving written messages; 4. Writing messages. These skills are
successfully trained during the use of traditional textbooks however they may become even
more effective and engaging when taught by introducing digital books.
While using digital material, the middle school students have to be subjected to
active and involved learning that will allow them to form a communicative culture based on
mutual knowledge and understanding of the other's world. But the success of language
learning is quantifiable not only by performance but also by motivation and attitudes. For a
teacher, it is very important for what reasons students learn and what teaching strategies and
material they use to motivate them or to develop their existing motivations. The teacher's role
is to overcome barriers, to identify the causes of lack of motivation, to counteract these
phenomena through stimulating cooperative learning strategies, and to offer modern,
interesting material that besides helping students it engages them in the acquisition of
language.
The current curriculum involves very good teaching scenarios, thus in the structure
of the lesson, the mandatory moments that must be present are: listening and understanding
the text. However teaching activities should include moments of listening, conversation,
reading, writing, metalinguistic and metacognitive reflections. Thus, in a learning activity,
each competence of communication must be activated. Activities should focus on vocabulary
exercises, listening, understanding, receiving and writing oral and written text. In other
words, the proposed didactic scenario must be a "capsule" of intellectual stimulation of
thinking and learning. To create a thought-provoking scenario teachers should introduce
impressive texts, videos, audio material and exercises. Digital books seem to provide all the
necessary material to cover the needs mentioned above.
Online teaching became another important theme today. It is essential to find ways
of effective methods and materials that allow both teachers and students to facilitate the
presentation and acquisition of language even in the online classroom. Capturing students’
attention in an online environment may be easier as they are professional users of the
computer and internet from a very early age. A great number of students may feel familiar
with the content presented and find it more entertaining to learn on the computer than in
traditional ways.
In teaching language concepts, I have always dealt with effective methods and
strategies as well as didactic materials that allow students to communicate properly in
English. At the same time I don’t believe that technology can promote learning only by its
presence. Learning requires the right attitude, focus, effort, and dedication on the part of the
student and requires the same commitment on the part of the teacher to make collaboration
effective and successful even in an age of such challenges.
In my research, I would like to focus on issues in the teaching process that may
prove effective when using digital books, whether online or in the classroom environment.
Hypothesis: If in the process of teaching and learning English we would work with digital
textbooks, used online or in the classroom, students could be better stimulated to use English
language to express their opinions, thoughts, and feelings, to interact with their peers or other
speakers of English and they would enjoy the benefits of knowing a foreign language.
 A) Theoretical part

1. Basic concepts about digital textbooks

1.1 Traditional textbooks versus digital textbooks

1.2 Structure of traditional and digital textbooks, similarities and differences

1.3 Methodological aspects of teaching English using traditional or digital textbooks

1.4 Advantages of using digital textbooks

2. Teaching and learning English using digital textbooks in the classroom

2.1 Basic tools for teaching and learning English using digital textbooks

2.2 Using digital textbooks in the classroom – methodological aspects

2.3 Teacher’s role in the classroom while using digital material

3. Teaching English using digital textbooks in online environment
3.1 Equipment needed for online teaching and learning
3.2 Methodology of online teaching
3.3 Participants’ experience and engagement
3.4 Behaviour in the E- classroom
3.5 Teacher’s role in online teaching

B) Practical part
4. Practical- applicative type of pedagogical research
4.1 Objectives of research
4.2 Hypothesis
4.3 Progress of research and interpreting data
5. Didactic approaches to teaching strategies using digital books in the classroom and online
6. Didactic scenarios
Conclusion
Bibliography
Annexes

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