Well I am not sad, I repeat, I am satisfied. I have fought I have done it!!! If I had the opportunity to go back in time and they invited me to do this course... I would do it again. It was worth all the stress. And I am happy I have been able to keep going until the end, once or twice I thought I'd better give up, but whenever that thought came to my mind I thought of my students, when they want to quit and I insist I try to keep them on the boat.
Robert, you did it once or twice too, you grabbed me and helped me go on rowing, and I thank you for that, now I am stronger...
Nice having share this course with all of you my virtual class mates
A big human hug
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Week 9! a better outside
learning styles... strategies... autonomy.... a technology change.... I am new teacher after this course.
yes, I knew about most of the areas we were asked to read for this course, but what happened to me is that I actually experimented being a student again, I was challenged and I had to fight to complete my assignments...
I have a feeling of satisfaction, I believe I have done it and I am different because I remembered that after you have learned the theory practice practice practice is all it takes. So I will go over evertything I have learned here and read what I didn't with more time now and I will make a change in my teaching, with no doubt...
yes, I knew about most of the areas we were asked to read for this course, but what happened to me is that I actually experimented being a student again, I was challenged and I had to fight to complete my assignments...
I have a feeling of satisfaction, I believe I have done it and I am different because I remembered that after you have learned the theory practice practice practice is all it takes. So I will go over evertything I have learned here and read what I didn't with more time now and I will make a change in my teaching, with no doubt...
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Week 8 Teacher resources online
We are on the second half of this course and I need to share this: this course has changed me. I feel a legal digital citizen now. (Not native yet) But I feel much more confident working with several windows at the same time. It reminds me a little of when I learned how to drive. Gear, windscreen wipers, lights, driving wheel, they were too many things at the same time, I felt much the same when I started this course.
Now I have to focus my energy on the project. Motivating students to do assignments more enthusiastically through the web. I must say I have not been able to see all what my classmates have created (this is part of what I have had to change, I used to read everything, now we have to select as there is too much information at hand simultaneously) However, while reading the discussion thread on the creation of a website or exercise, I found Hassan is doing something similar. I am still shaping mine so I will see if Hassan helps me inspire. I believe in synergy.
Now I have to focus my energy on the project. Motivating students to do assignments more enthusiastically through the web. I must say I have not been able to see all what my classmates have created (this is part of what I have had to change, I used to read everything, now we have to select as there is too much information at hand simultaneously) However, while reading the discussion thread on the creation of a website or exercise, I found Hassan is doing something similar. I am still shaping mine so I will see if Hassan helps me inspire. I believe in synergy.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Week 7 Students autonomy, Is teaching possible?
I liked what I read in Thanasoulas' article in http://iteslj.org/Articles/Thanasoulas-Autonomy.html
Especially when dealing with constructivism, the writer says that we can not teach anything, only learning is possible. I think that's quite close to what it really is. Everything is affected by context, history, emotions, so our role is that of facilitators and learners at the same time.
Once we accept that, anxiety decreases and we accept that the objective is the jouney, the process, the way... the goal is just an excuse to move... the moving is the goal. With or without technology.
My own daughter has repeated her 10th grade four times, and I have found it hard to accept it as walking. So I am not just talking for the sake of it. I mean what I say.
Especially when dealing with constructivism, the writer says that we can not teach anything, only learning is possible. I think that's quite close to what it really is. Everything is affected by context, history, emotions, so our role is that of facilitators and learners at the same time.
Once we accept that, anxiety decreases and we accept that the objective is the jouney, the process, the way... the goal is just an excuse to move... the moving is the goal. With or without technology.
My own daughter has repeated her 10th grade four times, and I have found it hard to accept it as walking. So I am not just talking for the sake of it. I mean what I say.
Monday, 15 November 2010
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Week 6: Motivating students to do homework more willlingly
"Students don't go over the assigned readings", "They come to class without having done research on the topic", "They don`t want to think"..
What do I do to change that? How do I engage students into doing what I "have-to-teach-them-because-it-is-in-the-syllabus?", do I create opportunities for them to use what they "have to" learn?
I think I want to start by creating blogs like this for each student and ask them to make a weekly comment in theirs and someone else's blog, as we do. This is because students should get into the habit of logging in to do an assignment. In that way I would move from facebook, which I am using for the habit formation, to blogger.
What do I do to change that? How do I engage students into doing what I "have-to-teach-them-because-it-is-in-the-syllabus?", do I create opportunities for them to use what they "have to" learn?
I think I want to start by creating blogs like this for each student and ask them to make a weekly comment in theirs and someone else's blog, as we do. This is because students should get into the habit of logging in to do an assignment. In that way I would move from facebook, which I am using for the habit formation, to blogger.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Week 5: PBL, Webquests, tasks tasks tasks...
That's why I attach my strawberries, which are not mine, I help them grow, they are part of the Earth as I am, as you are...
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Week 4: reading writing and technology enhanced lesson planning
Here I am, on Hallowe'en Sunday, believe it or not kids in Uruguay, go trick or treating and at some state schools there will be celebrations as well..
This week's readings on reading and writing were fairly interesting, what I found most useful were the websites for students, with activities related to grammar, listening, vocabulary which I already tried and encouraged students to keep working on their own.
With regards to technology enhanced lesson planning I found it a good exercise of reflection. I am already taking all those elements into account when I plan my lessons, I have them mostly in my mind, I just write the sources or bookmark the links... Wow, look at how I am! "Bookmark the links!" This IS something new in my teaching practice.
Now I remember that one day this week I wanted to use the computer lab and I could quickly copy and paste from my bookmarks into a memory stick and into the computer the students were going to use. I felt digitally fluent! =)
This week's readings on reading and writing were fairly interesting, what I found most useful were the websites for students, with activities related to grammar, listening, vocabulary which I already tried and encouraged students to keep working on their own.
With regards to technology enhanced lesson planning I found it a good exercise of reflection. I am already taking all those elements into account when I plan my lessons, I have them mostly in my mind, I just write the sources or bookmark the links... Wow, look at how I am! "Bookmark the links!" This IS something new in my teaching practice.
Now I remember that one day this week I wanted to use the computer lab and I could quickly copy and paste from my bookmarks into a memory stick and into the computer the students were going to use. I felt digitally fluent! =)
Saturday, 23 October 2010
week 3 has been a delicious computer assisted speech
Well, I have started my delicious bookmarking which in fact I still don't manage completely as this world of websites is overwhelmingly new for me. I still have to repeat aloud what I am doing and keep forgetting passwords and names.. I am fine but want to be honest here in my blog. Think aloud.
The course has already made some things easier for me. Today students were so motivated with some of the online videos and radio programmes focusing on listening that when the bell rang they wanted to stay!!! (On a Saturday afternoon by the end of the course this is something different) I had to tell them they could find the link on my facebook and continue on their own.
I am still too busy teaching, planning and mentoring to be able to write more and read all the threads on the discussion board. I feel I am not working to my full potential but I know I will improve next month.
The course has already made some things easier for me. Today students were so motivated with some of the online videos and radio programmes focusing on listening that when the bell rang they wanted to stay!!! (On a Saturday afternoon by the end of the course this is something different) I had to tell them they could find the link on my facebook and continue on their own.
I am still too busy teaching, planning and mentoring to be able to write more and read all the threads on the discussion board. I feel I am not working to my full potential but I know I will improve next month.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Week 2: learning objectives, Bloom, Critical Thinking, web search...
I confirmed that looking inside we find the outisde... I am more relaxed now and think I will be able to follow the course. I created the ABCD learning objective, which was something familiar to me. We are aware of the importance of setting clear objectives and evidence of success for ourselves and for students as well. I even start my lessons by telling students what we are going to work with and how they will show they can do it. This helps them keep on focus, know that the break is over and is time to start working even if we make jokes or talk about something else on the way. It's a journey: we know we are driving the car, we have to keep looking ahead and through the mirrors, checking the dashboard as we chat, listen to the radio or drink "mate".
I want to move up Bloom's Taxonomy as in "Taxonomy for the Technology Domain". I feel motivated now as I also understand that what stresses me and may be some of my virtual classmates, is that we are not native digitals so we have to practise that multilateral learning skill at which our students are much more proficient.
I want to move up Bloom's Taxonomy as in "Taxonomy for the Technology Domain". I feel motivated now as I also understand that what stresses me and may be some of my virtual classmates, is that we are not native digitals so we have to practise that multilateral learning skill at which our students are much more proficient.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Blogging for ELT from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/blogging-elt
After reading the article I feel I need to put into practice what I haver read there. I understand what I read, but as an adult and visual learner I need to see and do to understand better. I want to start a tutor blog combined with a learner one to use next year. Definitely, I need to learn how to use this tool. I tried with facebook but it did not work. Students use it for a different thing and I could not get them to set it in English or check regularly my wall to see comments or assignments. Blogs are more formal though friendly exchange is possible and I think it should be part of the course as long as all students have access to the Internet, at least in groups.
I liked the ideas to keep students motivated especially the one of the mystery guest, in which someone that could be a teacher can leave comments to arise students curiosity.
I liked the ideas to keep students motivated especially the one of the mystery guest, in which someone that could be a teacher can leave comments to arise students curiosity.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Week 1: Reflections
Well, I think I have done it, I mean, started the blog. I feel a little anxious, thinking whether I will be able to submit assignments in time... I will try to do my best.
This is not the first time I have created a blog. I had used blogger before, but I did not know what to do with what I had created. Now I see it has many uses:
+ starting a net with classmates (being a student)
+ leaning from each other (student-student interaction)
+ showing attendance by posting twice a week
+ learning by doing
+ organizing and managing our own learning
+ assessing and self-assessing
It gives me an idea of how I can design a course in which my students would get engaged. I feel I have got on the plane. I am working to have a safe take off.
This is not the first time I have created a blog. I had used blogger before, but I did not know what to do with what I had created. Now I see it has many uses:
+ starting a net with classmates (being a student)
+ leaning from each other (student-student interaction)
+ showing attendance by posting twice a week
+ learning by doing
+ organizing and managing our own learning
+ assessing and self-assessing
It gives me an idea of how I can design a course in which my students would get engaged. I feel I have got on the plane. I am working to have a safe take off.
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