Dear friends,
For ten weeks, we have been sharing a lot of ideas about teaching, we have been learning a lot mostly about using technology in our English teaching classes. Last week, I took the time to cite most of the good things we learned about. Perhaps I might have forgotten some. Perhaps those that seemed more difficult for me : Webquest, powerpoint presentations, loading files to the wiki, creation of web sites. But I did understand them and I realize that I should know them all, but only practice will help me master them. I have to. Remember I often say that I shouldn't leave anything proposed and discussed through this course behind. I must manage them all in my luggage, whatever small it might be. I have already agreed with the computer lab manager in Notre Dame of Haiti that he will help me with my weaknesses in computer operation while I will share my theoretical knowledge of English teaching through the web with him.
While packing, I cannot forget to say my gratitude to all of you, tutors, moderators, coursemates for all the insights you brought to my learning. We shared frustrations, hard work, joy to propose and find solutions. We are parting from the course but technology can keep us all together ready to exchange our worries and our hopes, mostly our good will to have things better in a loving world.
Is this my last blog ? No. We will get in touch. I must not forget to say that our frustrations were part of our learning. And even this morning, I got one that was a big blow to me . I woke up early to go to Nicenet. But usually I go there passing by http://umbc.uoregon.edu/eteacher/webskills. I don't know. It seems that it was removed from the web. Fortunately patience and thought overcome our difficulties. It is rewarding for me to find out my blogging space to write this into my blog to meet you all dear friends and to let you know that the course is stopping, but we are not parting. Frustration and rewards get along.Hope often joins them
A big hug to you all. Before I go, I would like to visit you all.
Roland
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Week 9
Dear friends,
Are we still packing ? Yes and no. We are living everyday this experience: the blending of oppsites. Life and death. Life rises from death. Recollection and oblivion. Interactivity and autonomy. Autonomy rises from interactivity and in such a point you cannot have one without at least thinking of the other. Our readings these last weeks insist on autonomy as the final goal of our teaching. Yes, it is. Autonomy, though it means a certain self-reliability, is a way to deal with others, using what they have already done. Autonomy is a mastering of the reality in order to pass our comprehension to others and getting ready to improve what we have received for more betterment. Great job as ours. We are always trying to make ourselves independent to make our students independent and trying to build in our independency a better interactive world . Contrasts! but it is life.
We haven't finished . We still have things not to forget. We must bring them home:tools for teachers, games, crosswords, test templates, lots of exercises to use in class eithr for relaxation, or for learning. Again work and relaxation blend. So our students can learn while playing and sometimes they like playing while studying, and in their playing they fix the lesson.
The great experience of week 8 and week 9 is the partners meeting while drafting our projects. My partner was excellent. She gave me a lot of advice to improve my draft. Marcia is wonderful. Now I am working on my final report, realizing it is not only time for packing, it is also time for accountability. Let's do it. We all know what we receive from the course. But what are we going to do with those filled-up baggage? Work interactively to make our students more autonomous for a better interactive world.
Roland
Are we still packing ? Yes and no. We are living everyday this experience: the blending of oppsites. Life and death. Life rises from death. Recollection and oblivion. Interactivity and autonomy. Autonomy rises from interactivity and in such a point you cannot have one without at least thinking of the other. Our readings these last weeks insist on autonomy as the final goal of our teaching. Yes, it is. Autonomy, though it means a certain self-reliability, is a way to deal with others, using what they have already done. Autonomy is a mastering of the reality in order to pass our comprehension to others and getting ready to improve what we have received for more betterment. Great job as ours. We are always trying to make ourselves independent to make our students independent and trying to build in our independency a better interactive world . Contrasts! but it is life.
We haven't finished . We still have things not to forget. We must bring them home:tools for teachers, games, crosswords, test templates, lots of exercises to use in class eithr for relaxation, or for learning. Again work and relaxation blend. So our students can learn while playing and sometimes they like playing while studying, and in their playing they fix the lesson.
The great experience of week 8 and week 9 is the partners meeting while drafting our projects. My partner was excellent. She gave me a lot of advice to improve my draft. Marcia is wonderful. Now I am working on my final report, realizing it is not only time for packing, it is also time for accountability. Let's do it. We all know what we receive from the course. But what are we going to do with those filled-up baggage? Work interactively to make our students more autonomous for a better interactive world.
Roland
Week 9, part 2
Dear friends,
Packing while accounting. This what I feel doing by the end of the one before the last week of the course. Should I list all the sites I went through and all the lessons I got from each one?
The first thing I would start my list with is a better knowledge of the computer. I usually used my computer to write texts, letter on Word, to search the news, to write my friends, and I also employed Excel to make my computing. I didn't know that it was such a big tool bag for teachers. It caused me lot of troubles when I didn't know how to use the tools it provides My instructors showed me how to handle them. Google knocked my head on the wall very often. Very often it refused my pass word. Fotunately it never took off my e-mail address. So far I did all my assignemnts and I always tried to have my works the shortest and the simplest posible fearing their loss through a wrong maneuver. By the end, I realized that more practice will give me the knowledge of the computer necessary to build the teaching skills through the Interactive Web.
What did I get from the bag? Many sites. They described what learning is, what learners are, what teachers should be and should do, and where the latter should go with or should take the former with the help of technology. All these instruments will help me think about my teaching in my search to meet my students' needs.
The last thing , but not the least is the companionship of the different characters on this stage.I cannot help thanking Deborah, Sandra, and the visitor intructors for their patience and their availabity. The dicussions on Nicenet, the comments on the blogs reinforced the ideas learned through the sites. Besides all of these, we really buid up a community of friendly English teachers, trying to build a real interactive world.
I am packing everything. Everything will be useful. I am ready to share everything with colleagues and with my students.
Packing while accounting. This what I feel doing by the end of the one before the last week of the course. Should I list all the sites I went through and all the lessons I got from each one?
The first thing I would start my list with is a better knowledge of the computer. I usually used my computer to write texts, letter on Word, to search the news, to write my friends, and I also employed Excel to make my computing. I didn't know that it was such a big tool bag for teachers. It caused me lot of troubles when I didn't know how to use the tools it provides My instructors showed me how to handle them. Google knocked my head on the wall very often. Very often it refused my pass word. Fotunately it never took off my e-mail address. So far I did all my assignemnts and I always tried to have my works the shortest and the simplest posible fearing their loss through a wrong maneuver. By the end, I realized that more practice will give me the knowledge of the computer necessary to build the teaching skills through the Interactive Web.
What did I get from the bag? Many sites. They described what learning is, what learners are, what teachers should be and should do, and where the latter should go with or should take the former with the help of technology. All these instruments will help me think about my teaching in my search to meet my students' needs.
The last thing , but not the least is the companionship of the different characters on this stage.I cannot help thanking Deborah, Sandra, and the visitor intructors for their patience and their availabity. The dicussions on Nicenet, the comments on the blogs reinforced the ideas learned through the sites. Besides all of these, we really buid up a community of friendly English teachers, trying to build a real interactive world.
I am packing everything. Everything will be useful. I am ready to share everything with colleagues and with my students.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Week 8
Dear friends,
The countdown has begun! Am I happy to finish with this course ? Yes and no ? Two words that do not go together, but sometimes they get together to reveal a reality. As far as I am concerned, I feel like quitting this place where there are a lot of demanding works, a lot of worries, and sometimes a lot of anxieties wondering where we're going. But while contemplating the knowledge I acquire from each difficult and absorbing task, the joy provided by the result coming out from the solutions even when they are not perfect, the warm and comforting companionship of my coursemates and monitors, I don't want to go. I still need this constant search of self awareness and understanding of my physical and human environment to help more people discover themselves and the world about them. This is why we are among our students, trying to find out the best ways to help them learn.
This week, we learned or we are learning how to accompany a large number of people at the same time. Technology comes to help and even takes account of schools where money is rare. Friendly transmission of skills is worth more than money. Good will,brought forth by the contacts and the knowledge we acquire through our constant education and especially in this program, creates situations where people feel good together and really want to live and share. This is our goal to have people live out of our services, our pains, our dificulties and our joy. That is the texture of our profession.
This week, I also went through the draft of the final project. Am I going to call it a report? It has been for me a project, a plan for the future. I have not taught all this term. I hope I will be teaching soon. I will use then the many technics and values you all friends imparted to me.
The countdown has begun, but we are not parting. We're still together. We have two more weeks to go. Let's enjoy them
Roland
The countdown has begun! Am I happy to finish with this course ? Yes and no ? Two words that do not go together, but sometimes they get together to reveal a reality. As far as I am concerned, I feel like quitting this place where there are a lot of demanding works, a lot of worries, and sometimes a lot of anxieties wondering where we're going. But while contemplating the knowledge I acquire from each difficult and absorbing task, the joy provided by the result coming out from the solutions even when they are not perfect, the warm and comforting companionship of my coursemates and monitors, I don't want to go. I still need this constant search of self awareness and understanding of my physical and human environment to help more people discover themselves and the world about them. This is why we are among our students, trying to find out the best ways to help them learn.
This week, we learned or we are learning how to accompany a large number of people at the same time. Technology comes to help and even takes account of schools where money is rare. Friendly transmission of skills is worth more than money. Good will,brought forth by the contacts and the knowledge we acquire through our constant education and especially in this program, creates situations where people feel good together and really want to live and share. This is our goal to have people live out of our services, our pains, our dificulties and our joy. That is the texture of our profession.
This week, I also went through the draft of the final project. Am I going to call it a report? It has been for me a project, a plan for the future. I have not taught all this term. I hope I will be teaching soon. I will use then the many technics and values you all friends imparted to me.
The countdown has begun, but we are not parting. We're still together. We have two more weeks to go. Let's enjoy them
Roland
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Week 7, par t2
Dear Blog, and fellow coursemates,
After I wrote my first part of week 7, I went through an interesting experience with PPT. That was my first encounter with this program. I didn't even know where I could find it. Talking to a friend he told me to just click All Programs. There I saw Powerpoint. I opened it. I did my job . I did it the simplest possible with the intention to practice it more in the future. I congratulate myself for the test. I hope the evaluators will accept it, and already I am expecting their remarks, and I am ready to repeat it.
My second experience after I wrote week 7, part I was when I came on Nicenet to choose a partner. I had some names in my mind. All these people were already selected. Now I am with Marcias. I hope we will do a great job together though I have not ever commented her posts, she hadn't commented mine either. The community we built here is strong and it will resist earthquake and tsunamis.
If we have any people from Chile, from Japan, or from the Pacific, I want them to know that I think of them in my prayers.
Roland
After I wrote my first part of week 7, I went through an interesting experience with PPT. That was my first encounter with this program. I didn't even know where I could find it. Talking to a friend he told me to just click All Programs. There I saw Powerpoint. I opened it. I did my job . I did it the simplest possible with the intention to practice it more in the future. I congratulate myself for the test. I hope the evaluators will accept it, and already I am expecting their remarks, and I am ready to repeat it.
My second experience after I wrote week 7, part I was when I came on Nicenet to choose a partner. I had some names in my mind. All these people were already selected. Now I am with Marcias. I hope we will do a great job together though I have not ever commented her posts, she hadn't commented mine either. The community we built here is strong and it will resist earthquake and tsunamis.
If we have any people from Chile, from Japan, or from the Pacific, I want them to know that I think of them in my prayers.
Roland
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Week 7
One more week is on the way out. I am not in a hurry to leave this place, but I worry not to leave anything and to carry home everything we are receiving for bettering our teaching and our comprehension of ourselves, of our students, and all people living around us even virtually. We don't forget what we had the last week. Certainly they are in your Delicious. I didn't visit mine very often, so when I tried to go there yesterday I forgot my username and I wasn't able to enter my Delicious I am sure I haven't lost anything.
I am still on the trail, picking the sweet fruit of the different universities of the United States: how to produce interactive lectures, how to use PP effectively. Those two topics don't go by themselves. They remind others we learned the past weeks: types of learners, divisions of the brains, all of these to tell us we should know our students to offer them the kind of instruction their personality requires. We also learn that we are the main actors in the show. We can have the best materials ,but effectiveness and efficiency depend on our personality and competence.
While looking back at the past, we cannot help thinking about the future. Tomorrow, I will have to think of the final project. What will it be? the 8th of March is a little far away. How is this presentation going to be ? Where am I going to find the materials to prepare it? Fortunately Iam in this class where I'll use the experience of my fellows and my mentors.
I am still on the trail, picking the sweet fruit of the different universities of the United States: how to produce interactive lectures, how to use PP effectively. Those two topics don't go by themselves. They remind others we learned the past weeks: types of learners, divisions of the brains, all of these to tell us we should know our students to offer them the kind of instruction their personality requires. We also learn that we are the main actors in the show. We can have the best materials ,but effectiveness and efficiency depend on our personality and competence.
While looking back at the past, we cannot help thinking about the future. Tomorrow, I will have to think of the final project. What will it be? the 8th of March is a little far away. How is this presentation going to be ? Where am I going to find the materials to prepare it? Fortunately Iam in this class where I'll use the experience of my fellows and my mentors.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Rubric Story
Dear Blog and fellow Bloggers,
Every week, after completing the assignments of the week on Sunday, I have always something to tell you at the last moment before the dealine. I cannot keep from telling you my "Rubric" story tonight.
I started reading and thinking about Creating a Rubric last Tuesday." http://rubistar.4teachers.org" didn't help after I had read it many times. So I went to "http://health.usf.edu/public health/Rubric. Tutorial/default/htm"I read the tutorial many times and I tried to write on the templates it provides. Nothing worked. Then I decided to have a home made template. I did it on Word. I tried to put it on the wiki. Impossible. So I mailed it to Deborah. I decided that I would try many times before I looked for her answer. Nothing worked. I could not add it to the wiki. Finally I went to my Inbox and I discovered that Deborah had already added it to the wiki. George had commented on it. Have the colleagues read it ? I don't know. If I had the e-mail address of all of you, I would have mailed "Roland Rubric.docx" to all of you. Send me your e-mail address,folks. It is another tool of communication we should not omit.
Every week, after completing the assignments of the week on Sunday, I have always something to tell you at the last moment before the dealine. I cannot keep from telling you my "Rubric" story tonight.
I started reading and thinking about Creating a Rubric last Tuesday." http://rubistar.4teachers.org" didn't help after I had read it many times. So I went to "http://health.usf.edu/public health/Rubric. Tutorial/default/htm"I read the tutorial many times and I tried to write on the templates it provides. Nothing worked. Then I decided to have a home made template. I did it on Word. I tried to put it on the wiki. Impossible. So I mailed it to Deborah. I decided that I would try many times before I looked for her answer. Nothing worked. I could not add it to the wiki. Finally I went to my Inbox and I discovered that Deborah had already added it to the wiki. George had commented on it. Have the colleagues read it ? I don't know. If I had the e-mail address of all of you, I would have mailed "Roland Rubric.docx" to all of you. Send me your e-mail address,folks. It is another tool of communication we should not omit.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Week 6: part 2
During all the course, we have been concerned mostly with our students in our classrooms. However, one of the objectives of the course is to have the participants "act as train-the-trainers models". So that's something I have in mind and it's why I am trying to master as much as I can everything taught in the course. It's not easy but I have to. How will I act this way?
First I know that I am not good at computers. The first thing I have to do is to practice computers more and ask questions."Learning starts with asking questions", a writer said. At the university, there is a lab attended by twenty students at a time. I will explain the methods I learn here to the lab teacher. We will discuss them and we will set up a program for my class of forty students: e-mail, sharing of sites for the different skills; listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and culture.
Since the 12 th of January, classes do not function normally. I have to see Mr. Raymour, the computer teacher, before I decide to use the computer-lab.
The course, a large experience to share with others, but I'd like to master all its elements.Practice will make me good, if not perfect.
First I know that I am not good at computers. The first thing I have to do is to practice computers more and ask questions."Learning starts with asking questions", a writer said. At the university, there is a lab attended by twenty students at a time. I will explain the methods I learn here to the lab teacher. We will discuss them and we will set up a program for my class of forty students: e-mail, sharing of sites for the different skills; listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and culture.
Since the 12 th of January, classes do not function normally. I have to see Mr. Raymour, the computer teacher, before I decide to use the computer-lab.
The course, a large experience to share with others, but I'd like to master all its elements.Practice will make me good, if not perfect.
Week 6
Days have been passing away, and we are still on the track. Are we fixing our luggage, ready to go back home? So far, we've been gathering so many things and we've been snubbed so many times. We are still on the track, picking up a lot of new notions for our profession and mostly knowing who we really are,renewing and understanding ourselves. We often believe we are great professors, mastering a lot of things; here, we realize that we still have a lot to learn and, to talk according to this week, we know what kind of learners we are. Because I am a reflective learner, the digital science is very difficult for me. I then understand why I get so many troubles with Webquest and Rubric. I understand the explanations and I can pass them to anybody, but I will take time to make them up.
Knowing the kind of learner I am, I know immediately the kind of teacher I should be. Slow and sometimes inept to manipulate things,I think that I should be patient with my students and with people around me, take time to prepare my classes and deal with people more skillful at computers than I. Also I learn a lot of good things about teaching and I realize my training cannot be over now. At the beginning of the week, I worked long hours to see if I can finish the Webquest. I've not heard of it yet. Today is Friday, late in the afternoon, My rubric is not over. I hope to have it ready before Sunday night.
I think it is the place to express my gratitude to the many colleagues: Nina, Aleyda, Barad, Mahamud, Zlatka and the monitoring staff Deborah and Sandra for their support and their advice.
Knowing the kind of learner I am, I know immediately the kind of teacher I should be. Slow and sometimes inept to manipulate things,I think that I should be patient with my students and with people around me, take time to prepare my classes and deal with people more skillful at computers than I. Also I learn a lot of good things about teaching and I realize my training cannot be over now. At the beginning of the week, I worked long hours to see if I can finish the Webquest. I've not heard of it yet. Today is Friday, late in the afternoon, My rubric is not over. I hope to have it ready before Sunday night.
I think it is the place to express my gratitude to the many colleagues: Nina, Aleyda, Barad, Mahamud, Zlatka and the monitoring staff Deborah and Sandra for their support and their advice.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Week 5: part 2
When I wrote my last blog, my week was not over yet. I still had a lot of experiences to go through. Many times during the last two days, my writings often slipped out of the browser for ever. I had to start writing again. Three times Google refused the password I had been using for a long time. Nicenet I had consideered as the friendliest of all did the same thing. Fortunately I kept writing the same password they finally accepted. What happened then? I don't know. Have you ever experienced such troubles? They were really hard on me.
Those were not the only difficulties of the week. I overcame these ones and I was able to face another one bigger this time. I am finishing the week without completely understanding Webquest. I like the notion and the philosophy, but I have not been able to create one yet. I am still reading and asking questions. I must get it anyway, perhaps not tonight.
Through these difficulties, I have learned a lot of things. I am getting more used to the computer, and this is critical when I have to use technology in my teaching.
I find PLB extraordinary, as much as it can be used to involve the students in their studies and in subjects related to their society. Webquest can also serve this purpose, but it is too much computer-centered while access to the computer is very limited.
I must tell the colleagues their postings on Nicenet help me a lot. Their comments support me a lot. Very often, I visit the links they submitted and I found many of them very obvious.
Those were not the only difficulties of the week. I overcame these ones and I was able to face another one bigger this time. I am finishing the week without completely understanding Webquest. I like the notion and the philosophy, but I have not been able to create one yet. I am still reading and asking questions. I must get it anyway, perhaps not tonight.
Through these difficulties, I have learned a lot of things. I am getting more used to the computer, and this is critical when I have to use technology in my teaching.
I find PLB extraordinary, as much as it can be used to involve the students in their studies and in subjects related to their society. Webquest can also serve this purpose, but it is too much computer-centered while access to the computer is very limited.
I must tell the colleagues their postings on Nicenet help me a lot. Their comments support me a lot. Very often, I visit the links they submitted and I found many of them very obvious.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Week 5
We are still on the track, enjoying the discussions with our colleagues, sharing new ideas, and recalling methods and notions we studied long time ago. I enjoy the company. Thanks to mentors and participants. What have I learned so far and how do I feel ?
Two weeks ago we were introduced to delicious. We created our own delicious page. Only now I realize the purpose of Delicious. My favorite and useful links and those proposed by my friends are on my computer. They are all together. Now working on Webquest or PBL I can choose some and assemble their thoughts and create a special web to discuss a new topic. Can I do it well right now? I don't think so, but I am happy to know how to make it and referring to Suzan Gaer,Zunal ,and Bernie Dodge, I will be able to make my own webquest and help students to make their own. So we will become more autonomous. I mean my students and myself. I am also glad that I have tools that can have people motivated and engaged in their learning.
This week, I feel that I am getting more used to the computer , but so far, I cannot turn the pages as I can do in a printed book. The wish I have now is to be able to register the links just with one click. Copying them on a notebook first and on the computer next, leads to errors. It is really frustrating when you cannot reach a link because of a spelling error.
Anyway, let's go. The methods are helpful and attracting, but the main block is student access to computers. Any way, let's go. The future will better our situations.
Two weeks ago we were introduced to delicious. We created our own delicious page. Only now I realize the purpose of Delicious. My favorite and useful links and those proposed by my friends are on my computer. They are all together. Now working on Webquest or PBL I can choose some and assemble their thoughts and create a special web to discuss a new topic. Can I do it well right now? I don't think so, but I am happy to know how to make it and referring to Suzan Gaer,Zunal ,and Bernie Dodge, I will be able to make my own webquest and help students to make their own. So we will become more autonomous. I mean my students and myself. I am also glad that I have tools that can have people motivated and engaged in their learning.
This week, I feel that I am getting more used to the computer , but so far, I cannot turn the pages as I can do in a printed book. The wish I have now is to be able to register the links just with one click. Copying them on a notebook first and on the computer next, leads to errors. It is really frustrating when you cannot reach a link because of a spelling error.
Anyway, let's go. The methods are helpful and attracting, but the main block is student access to computers. Any way, let's go. The future will better our situations.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Week 4, part 2
I have just written the last assignment of week 4. I felt that I should talk about my experience before I reached this stage. On Friday afternoon, I thought that all my papers had been done. Yesterday I opened my laptop and I plugged into Nicenet. Then I discovered six assignments instead of four. So I had two more to write. I did. Reading the thread of the discussions, I learned a lot of things. I discovered many useful websites. What happened then? I don't know. Anyway, I did my job. But I also realised that some of the tasks written on Conferencing in Nicenet were more than in the description of the assignments. As a lesson, I will remember to check both the conferencing page on Nicenet and the assignment description on the home page of ETeaching before planning my assignments.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Week 4
For a couple of days I have been going through the fourth week. It has been full of surprises. Technical notions I thought I mastered last week have gone off my mind. Fortunately the instructions of the facilitators and comments of my classmates I had printed and handwritten in my notebooks brought me back to the right track. This is not a plea against the web, but a recall that people don't learn overnight. Constant effort , determination, repetition, patience are keys to knowledge and success. This experience and the kindness of the group are things to remember and to pass on to our students.
In spite of the confusion on the computer, let's say, the lack of mastery of the computer, the instability of the electrical power and of the connections, I have learned a lot of things. Pedagogically, the ABCD paradigm and Bloom's taxonomy were reinforced in my mind. In addition to the pedagogical lessons and websites about listening ans speaking, I discovered a lot of websites about teaching and learning reading. They are saved in my Delicious, though sometimes, the latter doesn't accept my data, but I will go back to my delicious and with some pats on its back, it will keep the webs I think useful to teachers and to learners.
I also discovered the wealth of interactivity and exchanges. When my memory fails,it often does, the comments of my colleagues remind me of what I have forgotten. In my reflections, I cannot neglect the article of Jarek Krajka, "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction". It is a gold mine. Besides, I will recall the lesson plan models. With some adaptations, most of them will fit my needs and consequently those of my students.
I know that I still have to work on my technological knowledge, but I still rely on my paper and handwriting while trying to be better on the Internet. The web is a must for teachers in the digital era.
In spite of the confusion on the computer, let's say, the lack of mastery of the computer, the instability of the electrical power and of the connections, I have learned a lot of things. Pedagogically, the ABCD paradigm and Bloom's taxonomy were reinforced in my mind. In addition to the pedagogical lessons and websites about listening ans speaking, I discovered a lot of websites about teaching and learning reading. They are saved in my Delicious, though sometimes, the latter doesn't accept my data, but I will go back to my delicious and with some pats on its back, it will keep the webs I think useful to teachers and to learners.
I also discovered the wealth of interactivity and exchanges. When my memory fails,it often does, the comments of my colleagues remind me of what I have forgotten. In my reflections, I cannot neglect the article of Jarek Krajka, "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction". It is a gold mine. Besides, I will recall the lesson plan models. With some adaptations, most of them will fit my needs and consequently those of my students.
I know that I still have to work on my technological knowledge, but I still rely on my paper and handwriting while trying to be better on the Internet. The web is a must for teachers in the digital era.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Food for English Teachers' Thoughts
My last blog kept my attention on the sites I discovered. I also found out a lot of good ideas. Some thoughts from the readings also question me and feed my reflection I have been teaching English for quite a long time. I taught different generations. I knew , discussed and practiced different methods from grammar- translation in the sixties to communication in the nineties. In the meantime computers and the net were invented. Should I continue to teach? Yes, I have to.
First, the ancient ideas can be useful sometimes and the new generation must not ignore them. They have to retain the humanism, the patience, and the hard work of the former generations. I continue to teach to inspire my young colleagues with these values
Second, I have to keep teaching to accompany my young colleagues in their quest of a better job. How? I have to learn and understand what they want to do. Teaching now requires teachers to reflect on the readings of the week. Remember and think about:
" Technology allows us to reduce contact time between teacher and student, while maintaining quality of instruction and achieving comparable learning outcomes "
" Technology does not provide a roadmap for successful instructed language learning".
"Technology in a languagecourse requires consideration and planning."
" Technology should be a good part of the basic structure of an educational system"
First, the ancient ideas can be useful sometimes and the new generation must not ignore them. They have to retain the humanism, the patience, and the hard work of the former generations. I continue to teach to inspire my young colleagues with these values
Second, I have to keep teaching to accompany my young colleagues in their quest of a better job. How? I have to learn and understand what they want to do. Teaching now requires teachers to reflect on the readings of the week. Remember and think about:
" Technology allows us to reduce contact time between teacher and student, while maintaining quality of instruction and achieving comparable learning outcomes "
" Technology does not provide a roadmap for successful instructed language learning".
"Technology in a languagecourse requires consideration and planning."
" Technology should be a good part of the basic structure of an educational system"
Week 3
Another week is going away. What did I do? Though it was not quite easy with still some confusions on the web, I created,at last, my Delicious. Anytime I overcome a confusion, I discover something else on the web. Any discovery makes me happy. My adventure with delicious deserves relating.
At the beginning, I didn't understand why we should create this site . I just followed Deborah's model. I just made a kind of paraphrasing. I changed words just to do the exercise, but when I came to the third bookmarking, I realized the meaning of most of the elements of bookmarking. Am I am good at it? I am not completely sure, but I understand its purpose, its function and what my students and I can get from it. If I often use it, I will be able to talk about it and to recommend it to others. I discovered a lot. I consider Delicious as a library on my computer.
I also learned other things. I discovered a lot of resources for English teachers and learners. I wrote some in my Delicious and I sent them for some of my friends. Those I like most are :http//www.one stopenglish com and http://about.com.
They deal with all the aspects of English learning and teaching. I recommend them to all the bloggers on wiki.
At the beginning, I didn't understand why we should create this site . I just followed Deborah's model. I just made a kind of paraphrasing. I changed words just to do the exercise, but when I came to the third bookmarking, I realized the meaning of most of the elements of bookmarking. Am I am good at it? I am not completely sure, but I understand its purpose, its function and what my students and I can get from it. If I often use it, I will be able to talk about it and to recommend it to others. I discovered a lot. I consider Delicious as a library on my computer.
I also learned other things. I discovered a lot of resources for English teachers and learners. I wrote some in my Delicious and I sent them for some of my friends. Those I like most are :http//www.one stopenglish com and http://about.com.
They deal with all the aspects of English learning and teaching. I recommend them to all the bloggers on wiki.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Week 2 (part 2)
As I said yesterday, this week is better than last one. My problems are not solved yet. I am still losing passwords. Fortunately, Google is more friendly than last week. I retrieved the passwords easily but I still have problems with blogging. If I happened to post messages. I have not been able yet to visit the blogs of my colleagues. I am really sorry.
I learned a lot , mostly how to write clear objectives. I even posted one on Nicenet. I visited a lot of websites. I do keep two of them in my notes and I will study them further before I decide definitively which one to use in my class with my students. I still wonder how my students will get access to the computer. However, I want to master the elements I am learning on this program so I can be more comfortable in asking the administration of the school to provide the class with a few computers.
In spite of my weakness in computer and other problems I am trying to keep up
I learned a lot , mostly how to write clear objectives. I even posted one on Nicenet. I visited a lot of websites. I do keep two of them in my notes and I will study them further before I decide definitively which one to use in my class with my students. I still wonder how my students will get access to the computer. However, I want to master the elements I am learning on this program so I can be more comfortable in asking the administration of the school to provide the class with a few computers.
In spite of my weakness in computer and other problems I am trying to keep up
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Week 2 : What I did
This week was still stressing, but less than the one before. What I did ? I lost some passwords . I reset them with a lot of anxiety and nervosity. Finally I made up a list of sites with their corresponding passwords. I also found Google friendlier this week. I also keep my notebook near me. Are things getting easier for me? I don't think so, but I realized a lot of progress. Notes and literatures don't develop problems for me. I understand, but when we come to technology, it's something else. I am trying to overcome all my problems.
At the beginning of the week, I started to read the required passages. First , I got prepared to understand how to write a clear objective. The ABCD model redefines the purpose of the teaching: who is attending our classes, what behavior we are expecting from them at what level, in what condition and in what degree. The use of the following site: http:www. slideshareshare.net/asleytan/writing-specific-instrctionallearning-objectives-presentation can reinforce our understanding of the model.
Teaching and learning include a large range of skills. A clear class objective should indicate clearly which one you want to attain. The site
http://edtech.tennessee.edu/oe/edu~bobannon/classifications.htlm
http://edtech.tennessee.edu~bobannon/classifications.htlm. furnishes a list of verbs to use in the different levels of Bloom Taxonomy. It is appropriate for a teacher to consult this list while writing objectives.
The webs provided in this lesson can be very helpful. But teachers should know which search engines can help them better. In another post, I will explain what I learned about web searching.
At the beginning of the week, I started to read the required passages. First , I got prepared to understand how to write a clear objective. The ABCD model redefines the purpose of the teaching: who is attending our classes, what behavior we are expecting from them at what level, in what condition and in what degree. The use of the following site: http:www. slideshareshare.net/asleytan/writing-specific-instrctionallearning-objectives-presentation can reinforce our understanding of the model.
Teaching and learning include a large range of skills. A clear class objective should indicate clearly which one you want to attain. The site
http://edtech.tennessee.edu/oe/edu~bobannon/classifications.htlm
http://edtech.tennessee.edu~bobannon/classifications.htlm. furnishes a list of verbs to use in the different levels of Bloom Taxonomy. It is appropriate for a teacher to consult this list while writing objectives.
The webs provided in this lesson can be very helpful. But teachers should know which search engines can help them better. In another post, I will explain what I learned about web searching.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Week 1 Blog
I often saw the word ' blog ' on the internet, but I was never concerned with its meaning and capacity. Now I have learned teachers can use it as a reflective teaching instrument and it can be a be very effective tool with English learners. Create one is important, but it is not quite easy. The challenge it provides encourages me to continue. It is for me a real opening to the internet. I still have a lot of difficulties remember so many passwords. I wonder why a unique password can not fit all the sites we have to go through. Any way, this one is my second posting. I think things will get better when I get used to it.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
What a week!
This is outside the class, but it is part of myself, part of my studies . So I think that I must share it with my colleagues who comforted me during this terrible experience. I went through this week with a lot of anxiety, expecting and searching contacts with relatives in Port-au-Prince. I have not lost any of my closed relatives, but friends and supporters passed away. Also I could not concentrate on my work. It is late Sunday, but I don't think my assignments will me ready tonight. I am going to sleep and I will continue early tomorrow as we have a long national mourning vacation. I rely also on the understanding of the teachers who certainly feel what I am still going through. I seize this opportunity to renew my thanks to them for their thoughts last Wednesday.
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