TOOLS - ONLINE EXERCISES / FIRST DRAFTS
It has been a very busy week for me, however I want to finish it by doing my best and expressing my pleasure and positivism about my knowledge about teaching tools to provide my students with a wide range of possibilities to develop their skills by means of on line courses, exercises, tests, surveys among others .
I want to refer to ANVILL which I see it is very productive and useful to enhance the speaking skill by the templates for lessons' designs where we can place audio and video files to open the speaking tasks. There is also access for speech applications like discussions in blogs and forums. It is definitely a nice tool for our teaching and learning process.
I do not have to omit the part where we have the possibility to make our own online exercises. I am really happy to have access to this kind of opportunities that technology provides since it helps us change the concept of teaching into a modern and active one. I did not know that we have the possibility to create our own online exercises with the feature that we can adapt and apply them according to our students' necessities and topics.
This week I also wrote my first draft report about my technology change in classroom and it was productive since I made a summary about the activities we were and are making to promote and motivate students to reading by themselves without being graded. This is the first time I use technology this way to enhance students' skills and promote their interest to reading. I have tried other exercises but using technology is being better that before. I hope to finish it successfully.
Finally, I hope the suggestions provided to my partner help her to be successful in her project. Additionally, I need to express my big desire of achievement for my colleagues in their final projects!.
Best,
Mory-Ecuador
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
WEEK 7 REFLEXION
Learner autonomy - One-computer classroom
This week has been very productive. I have learned how to Promote learners' independence. The document provided helped me a lot to increase my knowledge about the activities I can do with students to develop the capacity of critical thinking and a making decision ability to learn by themselves.
I am sure that the appropriate strategies I apply with students will benefit them to create a positive attitude towards their own learning. I want to refer to self-esteem importance in order to be able to learn independently. This is the concept that students must manage to take charge of their own learning and confidence to accomplish activities with the responsibility of doing things because they feel they want to. Power Point presentations, journals, picture dictionaries, personal diaries are some of the useful strategies to foster independent learning. I am really motivated since the provided information is really useful all the time.
I also want to refer to one-computer classroom activities that are really interesting to apply with our learners because they let us take advantage of the material that we count on in our place works. For example I found it very useful to work on group projects since they are ideal to involve every students into work which has to be participative and responsible and covers the principle of self-access learning.
On the other hand, I want to say that my project is going well because my students after a long discussion about the kind of texts they wanted to read decided to work on traditional stories. I gave them the chance to read them and bring their comments to the class to start a round-table discussion to share what they found interesting, motivating and gives positive morals of the stories.
In addition, I also want to refer to the lesson plan for a one-computer class because I think it is useful to have a clear idea about preparing a class with one computer. This is not a real problem if we are positive and use technology to help our teaching process and encourage our student's learning.
I feel happy because I have two partners to work on our drafts and final reports. I hope we help each other and provide suggestions and positive feedback to improve our projects.
This has been a hard week of work but it is really worth.
Mory-Ecuador
This week has been very productive. I have learned how to Promote learners' independence. The document provided helped me a lot to increase my knowledge about the activities I can do with students to develop the capacity of critical thinking and a making decision ability to learn by themselves.
I am sure that the appropriate strategies I apply with students will benefit them to create a positive attitude towards their own learning. I want to refer to self-esteem importance in order to be able to learn independently. This is the concept that students must manage to take charge of their own learning and confidence to accomplish activities with the responsibility of doing things because they feel they want to. Power Point presentations, journals, picture dictionaries, personal diaries are some of the useful strategies to foster independent learning. I am really motivated since the provided information is really useful all the time.
I also want to refer to one-computer classroom activities that are really interesting to apply with our learners because they let us take advantage of the material that we count on in our place works. For example I found it very useful to work on group projects since they are ideal to involve every students into work which has to be participative and responsible and covers the principle of self-access learning.
On the other hand, I want to say that my project is going well because my students after a long discussion about the kind of texts they wanted to read decided to work on traditional stories. I gave them the chance to read them and bring their comments to the class to start a round-table discussion to share what they found interesting, motivating and gives positive morals of the stories.
In addition, I also want to refer to the lesson plan for a one-computer class because I think it is useful to have a clear idea about preparing a class with one computer. This is not a real problem if we are positive and use technology to help our teaching process and encourage our student's learning.
I feel happy because I have two partners to work on our drafts and final reports. I hope we help each other and provide suggestions and positive feedback to improve our projects.
This has been a hard week of work but it is really worth.
Mory-Ecuador
Sunday, May 15, 2011
WEEK 6 TECHNOLOGY IN LARGE CLASSES-POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS
I am very happy to write my experiences about this week which have been very useful. I know teaching by technology supports the learning process. Students can keep having contact and interaction with knowledge in and outside the classroom. By means of technology we can make even our shy learners who are reluctant to ask questions participate actively in the process.
Large classes can be effectively managed by a series of strategies where students can feel more comfortable.
Group or pair activities can result by giving students the chance to reflect on some questions and then discuss them with a partner.
Another useful strategy to manage large or small classes are the power point presentations. This kind of activity can help students to be interested in what they are learning or reinforcing from the beginning to the end of the lesson. They can benefit from the concrete learning experiences that graphic presentations offer.
I also like the interactive story strategy which I consider very creative and participative. Students can actively produce ideas about what could happened, will happen or express reasons about a story. This activity lets students to analyze a situation, identify specific aspects and give solutions.
I want to tell that I am working to help my students to improve language skills such as: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, collocations, etc. I want them to enhance them by reading since it is essential to improve communication. My principal aim is to create and present opportunities to motivate reading without the necessity that the teacher gives assignments to make students read. I want my students be independent readers.
First, I had an extensive talk to my students to increase my student's motivation, curiosity and self confidence. We identified the principal aspects that influence them to read. We not only talked about it, we organized a dramatization and a discussion about it.
Then, I made students choose the type of texts they wanted to read according to their level and interests the next day they brought ideas like traditional stories, magazines, newspapers, cartoons, books from movies.
Now they are working on to decide the type of texts they would like the best and they have to give their comments to sustain their choices as well as more ideas to implement something new based on their readings.
I am positive that this project goes well but I still need your comments. They will be welcome.
Mory-Ecuador.
Large classes can be effectively managed by a series of strategies where students can feel more comfortable.
Group or pair activities can result by giving students the chance to reflect on some questions and then discuss them with a partner.
Another useful strategy to manage large or small classes are the power point presentations. This kind of activity can help students to be interested in what they are learning or reinforcing from the beginning to the end of the lesson. They can benefit from the concrete learning experiences that graphic presentations offer.
I also like the interactive story strategy which I consider very creative and participative. Students can actively produce ideas about what could happened, will happen or express reasons about a story. This activity lets students to analyze a situation, identify specific aspects and give solutions.
I want to tell that I am working to help my students to improve language skills such as: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, collocations, etc. I want them to enhance them by reading since it is essential to improve communication. My principal aim is to create and present opportunities to motivate reading without the necessity that the teacher gives assignments to make students read. I want my students be independent readers.
First, I had an extensive talk to my students to increase my student's motivation, curiosity and self confidence. We identified the principal aspects that influence them to read. We not only talked about it, we organized a dramatization and a discussion about it.
Then, I made students choose the type of texts they wanted to read according to their level and interests the next day they brought ideas like traditional stories, magazines, newspapers, cartoons, books from movies.
Now they are working on to decide the type of texts they would like the best and they have to give their comments to sustain their choices as well as more ideas to implement something new based on their readings.
I am positive that this project goes well but I still need your comments. They will be welcome.
Mory-Ecuador.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
WEEK 5 - RUBRICS, PBL, WEB QUESTS AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGE
Rubrics, PBL, Web Quests and Technology change!!
It has been a very positive week for me to enjoy learning. There are some topics which I did not know too much and now I have clear references of them.
I think alternative assessment corresponds to a close possibility to a real world experience since it is based on performance. In this kind of evaluation we are facilitators and the most important factor is the process of working on something real that is for communication, we just monitor their job. I consider so wonderful that it gives the chance to help to set the criteria to be included for successful communicative tasks made by themselves and peers. The process helps students understand how they will benefit from alternative assessment and they can use it effectively.
Rubrics which is an effective tool helps us a lot since students are involved in the assessment process, it definitely promotes to be clear on how student's work will be evaluated and what we expect them to do.
When I start using rubrics with my students I am sure they will take more responsibility of their own learning and as I mentioned in one of my other tasks we have to change the concept of assessment and turn student's minds in a positive definition when they hear assessment.
I also want to refer in a really meaningful way to the Project based Leaning approach. It is definitely a positive contribution to our work with learners. While reading Less Teaching and More Learning" by Susan Gaer document it was growing up my expectations about students performance. If I implement this approach in my classes they will be particularly different from a traditional one not only for the characteristic of being a student-centered approach but also for constructing meaning through relevant learning activities.
Let me tell you that web quest is new for me but I consider really productive, it increases student motivation. It lets students to demonstrate their abilities through tasks which can be used alone or in groups. Some of those activities can be related to reading, searching, collecting information, establishing differences and similarities, etc.
finally I want to express my big desire of looking for and finding a solution for the issue I face in my classes, I am really sure that technology and this course will give me a very nice result to help my learners.
As well as the other weeks, it has been really productive to work this week.
Mory
It has been a very positive week for me to enjoy learning. There are some topics which I did not know too much and now I have clear references of them.
I think alternative assessment corresponds to a close possibility to a real world experience since it is based on performance. In this kind of evaluation we are facilitators and the most important factor is the process of working on something real that is for communication, we just monitor their job. I consider so wonderful that it gives the chance to help to set the criteria to be included for successful communicative tasks made by themselves and peers. The process helps students understand how they will benefit from alternative assessment and they can use it effectively.
Rubrics which is an effective tool helps us a lot since students are involved in the assessment process, it definitely promotes to be clear on how student's work will be evaluated and what we expect them to do.
When I start using rubrics with my students I am sure they will take more responsibility of their own learning and as I mentioned in one of my other tasks we have to change the concept of assessment and turn student's minds in a positive definition when they hear assessment.
I also want to refer in a really meaningful way to the Project based Leaning approach. It is definitely a positive contribution to our work with learners. While reading Less Teaching and More Learning" by Susan Gaer document it was growing up my expectations about students performance. If I implement this approach in my classes they will be particularly different from a traditional one not only for the characteristic of being a student-centered approach but also for constructing meaning through relevant learning activities.
Let me tell you that web quest is new for me but I consider really productive, it increases student motivation. It lets students to demonstrate their abilities through tasks which can be used alone or in groups. Some of those activities can be related to reading, searching, collecting information, establishing differences and similarities, etc.
finally I want to express my big desire of looking for and finding a solution for the issue I face in my classes, I am really sure that technology and this course will give me a very nice result to help my learners.
As well as the other weeks, it has been really productive to work this week.
Mory
Sunday, May 1, 2011
WEEK 4 - PRODUCTIVE AND RECEPTIVE SKILLS AND LESSON PLANS
READING, WRITING, VOCABULARY SKILLS AND LESSON PLANS
"A little learning is a dangerous thing."
-Alexander Pope
This has been a very productive week. I have learned a lot with the use of the internet in writing and reading activities, this is a very good aid as a teaching medium, there is a great variety of authentic material and suggestions to apply in the classroom they work as a real learning.
I like the ideas for teaching writing and the different techniques proposed which are based on: Web sites, e-mail and web publishing. They are according to the age and student's interest. The first element is practical because it is used to get information they need, the second element is nice for students to share and interact each other and third one is the production where learners can display everything they learn. In the second element students for example can write "A letter to a friend" , they will find it authentic and purposeful to establish a discussion and interact with a real person. In an "argumentative essay" they can write their ideas and express arguments for and against a specific topic. There are another suggestions which are valid to write like: a description of a person, a biography, notices and advertisements, etc. All of them are good to practice on-line writing. They provide students with choice, variety, authenticity, and recency to give them a real purpose for writing.
There are also reading activities and tips to help students to choose an e-book depending on their interest and reading levels. The procedures to understand, analyze or evaluate a book are clear so we can get students involved in the process of selecting books. They give us clear ideas to promote them to organize summaries or lead students in a higher thinking.
The lesson plan model includes many components and can be used for a technology class. I think this is complete and does not left anything out. There are some elements in this lesson plan which are new and different from my usual lesson plans, these are: state curriculum standards, student's present level of performance and skills and instructional procedures. I have included these three elements in my lessons but I have not detailed them as I did now.
I described two of the issues I face in my classes which are student-oriented and I really hope to solve them with technology to get my students actively involved in the English Language Learning.
Mory-Ecuador
"A little learning is a dangerous thing."
-Alexander Pope
This has been a very productive week. I have learned a lot with the use of the internet in writing and reading activities, this is a very good aid as a teaching medium, there is a great variety of authentic material and suggestions to apply in the classroom they work as a real learning.
I like the ideas for teaching writing and the different techniques proposed which are based on: Web sites, e-mail and web publishing. They are according to the age and student's interest. The first element is practical because it is used to get information they need, the second element is nice for students to share and interact each other and third one is the production where learners can display everything they learn. In the second element students for example can write "A letter to a friend" , they will find it authentic and purposeful to establish a discussion and interact with a real person. In an "argumentative essay" they can write their ideas and express arguments for and against a specific topic. There are another suggestions which are valid to write like: a description of a person, a biography, notices and advertisements, etc. All of them are good to practice on-line writing. They provide students with choice, variety, authenticity, and recency to give them a real purpose for writing.
There are also reading activities and tips to help students to choose an e-book depending on their interest and reading levels. The procedures to understand, analyze or evaluate a book are clear so we can get students involved in the process of selecting books. They give us clear ideas to promote them to organize summaries or lead students in a higher thinking.
The lesson plan model includes many components and can be used for a technology class. I think this is complete and does not left anything out. There are some elements in this lesson plan which are new and different from my usual lesson plans, these are: state curriculum standards, student's present level of performance and skills and instructional procedures. I have included these three elements in my lessons but I have not detailed them as I did now.
I described two of the issues I face in my classes which are student-oriented and I really hope to solve them with technology to get my students actively involved in the English Language Learning.
Mory-Ecuador
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