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! =)

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.

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.

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.  

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.