“Normalization of Bax in the Saudi Kingdom”

Bax argues that, "Our aim should be to attain a state of normalization in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated"

      This article offers a critical examination of the history of CALL. It discusses the three categories of CALL which are Restricted, Open and Integrated CALL. It is suggested that we are currently using the Open CALL. Our aim should be to attain a state of normalization in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated. Stephen Bax in this article makes an attempt to answer three questions: where has Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) been, where is it now and where is it going? He takes a look at work of Warschauer and Healey (1998 and 2000). They identified three phases of CALL “Structural CALL, Communicative CALL and Integrative CALL”. Bax claims that there are some significant weaknesses in this categorization. As a consequence, Bax propose for a new analysis of the history of CALL which are Restricted CALL, Open CALL and Integrated CALL. Also he claims that this analysis can used as a guide to broad historical developments in CALL. Stephen Bax mentions that we are currently experiencing an Open CALL and the way to achieve the meaning of Open CALL is moving towards normalization. Normalization means a stage when technology is invisible, hardly even recognized as a technology. He also describes the stages of normalization.

     
      There is a great development in using technology in classroom in the Saudi Kingdom. Schools and universities in Saudi Arabia follow the traditional method as a way of teaching and learning .But nowadays many schools and universities improve their educational system. They used technology such as computers, projectors and Ipads in their classroom to facilitate teaching and learning. The Ministry of Education starts working at normalization of CALL in the Saudi Kingdom. In order to achieve normalization of CALL in Saudi Kingdom I think we need to prepare the classroom with computer technology such as a computer, a projector and so on, and change the teachers’ attitude about teaching, train teacher in using new technology in teaching and apply technology effectively for teaching. Also we need to change the students’ attitude about learning and how to use technology for learning inside or outside the classrooms