Las plataformas virtuales libres y el aprendizaje significativo del idioma inglés en los estudiantes de la Unidad Educativa Hispano América

Abstract

Virtual platforms set a pedagogical tool to support useful teaching and learning to share information. Higher educational institutions and secondary level education have implemented this tool after an analysis of results of the information gathered at the "Hispano America" high school. It shows that a virtual instructional environment is not applied in the knowledge acquisition process of the English subject, and very few teaching and learning strategies are used to provide significant knowledge of the English language. This study over a population of 464 second year students of that institution has determined to survey not only 210 students, but also the entire population of teachers who teach English. Regarding the survey it seems that there are some strategies to stimulate a meaningful learning that can be used in a virtual learning environment based on the principles of constructivism and aimed at a dynamic, participatory and interactive process xviii among students and teachers. We need both, the application of current teaching resources based on information technology and communication and the new methodologies of collaborative and participative work. Therefore, students would reinforce their knowledge and develop their skills through technological encouragement. The current research has been set to find an alternative to stimulate meaningful learning of the English language by using free virtual platforms and addressing the use of them to improve language learning.