End of a Journey....

I remember the song'Goodbye' from the famous film "Sound of Music", and I am happy instead of being sad at the end of this course. I'm happy because I've learnt so much. I'm happy because I can now expand my learning which will ultimately benefit my students. I'm happy because I've made such wonderful friends. So, why should be pensive?

As my journey began, I was skeptical of my involvement in it. Unsure and scared of what I'll understand, knowing my initial inhibitions about technology. But Courtney's encouragements and the sharing and insights from my course mates truly helped my to move on. I started looking into the different facets of the course in a positive manner. The ABCD model, the importance of CALL, learning to blog for the first time, creating delicious page and adding favourite links to it, learning about PBL, Web Quest, creating Rubric for the students, every activity and task was like a new world opening for me. There was so much reading of specific resources that we all had to do, and to juggle that while teaching and grading papers at times became stressful. Yet, I moved on because I knew that the reward at the end of the journey would be sweet. To me, 'Reward' is not the certificate that I receive, but the smile I can visualize on the faces of my students, when they see me trying out innovative methods in the classroom with the help of technology. I can see their animated expressions, when they start creating a class Padlet. That is going to be my reward!

After these ten weeks more than being technology savvy, I'm richer in an amazing experience which I'll always treasure. It has helped me to be positive in difficult situations and I now know what to do to make my teaching unique, creative, interesting and approachable for my learners. That is my biggest reward from this course!

So, thank you Courtney for being such a wonderful instructor and guiding me, even when Internet Explorer and Nicenet would not side with me. Thank you University of Oregon, to have given us this  opportunity to be a part of such an enriching course. Thank you my dear classmates for your insights and sharing your ideas.

Let us all promise to keep in touch with each other and someone, may be Ahmed or Sanjiv,  quickly think of a group, which we can join and keep communicating regularly.

Best wishes and goodbye to all.....

Marching to the end.....

A week of highs and lows! As we come to the end of our glorious journey in this course, I want to savor the memories of interaction through Discussion and posting in the Nicenet class and class wiki regularly. Yet there is always something that keeps blocking my way , and that is the SERVER. It has become the bane of my life, that stops me often in my smooth journey. I try not to give up, I persevere, yet often fall behind the class.

In spite of the technical troubles, I devour through Howard Gardner's article on Multiple Intelligences http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic68.htm . The 9 intelligences that support classroom activities were supplemented by the reading of Richard Felder's article on 'Impact of Different Learning Styles on Classroom Performance' - http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
If we teachers know and understand the classroom situations, then as facilitators we'll b able to engage the different learning styles and the multiple intelligence of our learners.

This week was also about posting my final project for evaluation in the class wiki. My project is on the way to enhance creativity among my class 10 students in writing Formal Letters. Here, I've planned a blended method of the traditional with the use of technological tools. I would start the class with brainstorming on the topic 'Women Trafficking' with some questions for the students, that ultimately help them in writing. This will be followed by a Web Quest on the same topic, and I feel this will definitely help foster the creativity of my students. Finally my students will start writing their letters in email and send them to me for evaluation. As an incentive and motivation to my learners, I'll select 10 best letters and publish them in the students' edition of The Times of India. I'm grateful to Sophia, my partner for her review and kind words. Her comments have been a morale booster for me.

This journey has been quite a roller coaster for me...this is difficult academic time for me with umpteen papers for final evaluation and grading, with very short deadline. To juggle that and the tasks of this course, at times were very stressful. Yet, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The time constraints, the interaction with friends, Courtney's motivating words...made me look forward to it everyday. I really do not know, with the kind of technical support that we have today, how far in the reality I'll be able to put to use all that I've learnt in this course. But I'm going to cherish the treasure that I've come across here, and will definitely use some of the tools that I know I can blend in, in spite of all the odds. Then, I'll know that my learning has not been in vain!

Marching Towards the End of the Road....

Week 8 is coming to an end...just 2 more weeks left and it feels like yesterday, the course had begun. How time flies! 

We had an honoured guest amongst us, Jeff Magoto. His expertise in Web skills, Teacher share lesson and Materials Development is an inspiration to all of us. The more I come to know people like Jeff, Andrea, and Courtney, the more I feel how little I know. Jeff's creation ANVILL, a virtual language lab, can be used for speaking skills in Language Learning. It also infuses Collaborative Learning and Learner Autonomy. This is a great tool for the communication of distant learners, to develop their oral/aural skills. Thank you Courtney and Jeff for guiding us through, and always sharing with us new tools.

I've shared the draft of my Plan Project with my partner Sophia and thank her for her kind and encouraging words. I was quite confused initially before writing the draft. I somehow couldn't understand how to go about it. Reading all the resources, reading Courtney's mails again and again cleared the maze and I was able to venture into it.  I have used a blended technique, using the traditional and the technological. I have tried using the tools which I feel will make my class learner-centric, creative, collaborative and help my students to become independent. I feel this blended method will help me achieve my goal.

This week we had to create a class wiki or an online exercise that can be a handout. How I wish I knew about this a fortnight back. When I was taking a revision class with my class 9 students before their final assessments, this would have been of great help. However, keeping the thought in mind, I have created a crossword puzzle exercise on 'Relative Clauses', which I plan to use in the next session for my next class. Here the article by Lanternfish and the link by Chris Gunn truly helped me. I would once again like to thank Courtney for sharing these excellent articles and links with us.

I have been going through the lesson plan drafts of my friends in this class. They are so good and the plans are very intelligent. I've learnt much from them and would like to thank all of them. Friends, you are all excellent!!

When I started this journey, as a novice in the use of technology, many things seem difficult, vague and unreachable. Now, with the passage of 8 weeks, slowly and steadily all the learning is falling into place. I would never say that I have mastered the use of technology in class, but yes, I'm more confident in the use. I'm still learning...and will keep on learning even after the end of the course, but all is not dark....I can see some light!

If we want the best for our learners then change is a must. Our condition does not change but we bring the change in it that ultimately benefits our students. Here I'm reminded of what Walden Thoreau had said: " Things do not change; we bring the change."

Best wishes to all,
Paramita

Technology at its best....

My main reason to be a part of this course was to be technology savvy, so that I would be the right kind of teacher for GenX.

I'm happy to say that with the help of this course, my instructor and my friends, over these seven weeks I've learnt a lot. Week seven was devoted to Learner Autonomy, One Computer Classroom, Mobile Assisted Language Learning, Padlet and Partner Sign up for the final project. Sophia has said that it has been a 'roller-coaster' ride for her. I couldn't agree more, for it has been the same for me too. Moreover, the 'Discussion' thread has decided to boycott me...I don't know why!! But, I will not give up and keep trying till I can have at least one post on the thread.  I miss out often on the energetic discussions and then have no option but to pour out my frustration to Courtney.

We are all aware of 'Learner Autonomy', but for me the readings gave me a more scientific insight into it. There are so many facets to it than just independence of the learner. In our country, I know many conservative teachers frown upon the term, for they think  it talks about a teacher becoming redundant. I wish everybody would read Dimitrios Thanasoulas and Henri Holec's articles, which will help break this myth. How enriching their experience as a teacher would be ! The students not only become critical thinkers but at the same time develop responsibility to learning, problem solving, team work and so much more.

In most of our classrooms where there one computers, articles like - "Strategies and Applications for the One Computer Classroom" and "ESL Activities for the One Computer Classroom" are immensely relevant. With our classes being so large, all this while I thought it was a handicap to the use of technology. Now, after reading these articles, being led through PADLET by my instructor, I've found one computer to be quite a good resource. I've learnt how to use it in class for a specific topic with the web tool Padlet. I'm quite sure that my students would be thrilled to use it. The ones who find Story Writing to be a boring task, and the ones who are inhibited and shy away from a task would find Padlet in a one computer classroom to be interesting, creative and motivating. I'm not going to reflect on Mobile Assisted Language Learning, because no Indian school will allow the use of mobile in the classroom, even in the presence of the teacher. So, in my social context it will be irrelevant, although I'm sure in many countries it is acceptable.

I'm honoured to be partnering Sophia for the peer review of the final project. I already have a rough line on the project, and need to fine tune it before I upload it for my partner to review. I'm apprehensive of her views...will she like it? I know she will guide me if I go wrong somewhere, so I need to work hard on it.

Best wishes to all my classmates on their projects. 
Happy writing......

Week 6: Reading & Introspection.....

'Teaching Large Classes' and 'Using Technology on Teaching Large Classes' are two topics I can easily identify with. The average strength of the classes in our school is between 50 - 60. So, this weeks resources helped me to introspect on my methods and techniques that I already apply, and the ones that I had never thought of and can now try out in class. Some strategies and skills have already been used by me, like Role -Plat, Group Activity, Demonstrations, Think-Pair-Share, Question-Answer, and so on. The other aspect of using technology in large classrooms  - online website like Wiki, Blog, Web quest, Blackboard has never been used. So, to try that out would be quite novel not only in my class but in my school. I do understand now that technology will not only facilitate a large classroom but also help a teacher to tackle it better. What I like best after reading the resources provided that, I need not completely transform my classroom to a technological one, like one in the ICT lab. Keeping the conditions of my school, following the social condition, I can make a 'Blended Classroom'. I thank my friends here who gave me this term, as I often advocate for a blend of the traditional and a technological classroom.

Creating an 'Interactive PowerPoint' again was an eye opener for me. As I had created Power Point before, primarily for Professional Development Workshop and other projects, I thought I knew all about PPT. Yet, this task for the course gave me a new insight into it. As I said, it made me introspect, revise my technique, change my skills, and made me understand my class better, for, what I was creating was for them. It was highly invigorating and exciting for me, as I could almost visualize my learners sitting in pairs in front of their monitors trying out the tasks. This is what I want for them, break out of the obvious, the text book, try new things and do them happily. I believe that a happy learner will learn best. I can see many critics here who will nod their knowledgeable heads, that, I will never be able to keep to the curriculum and time frame of the syllabus. If planned with prudence, I'm confident that we teachers can give our learners the best.

It is unfortunate that, since my students are going to start their examinations from 20th November, I won't be able to 'Implement the Change' in the classroom.  I have already mentioned in my last week's project  step 4, how I would like to enhance the creativity in my learners using technology while they write Letter Writing. I thank Courtney for her positive feedback, and , this has inspired me to refine my skill.  My plan was to use emailing and follow it up with Web Quest. However, after going through Diana's interactive PPT on letter writing, I decided to bring some change in the process of implementation. Brainstorming would be more effective in my class than research, I thought. I've often seen, that when students are asked to research they are somewhat confused as they don't have much guidelines. They keep copying from some websites and think their research work is done. In such a  situation, much learning and understanding does not take place. So, taking a leaf out of Diana, I would like to pose my students with relevant and pertinent questions while brainstorming. Next I would show them some video's on formal and informal letters and share some links in the class on letter writing. I believe this will help my students, before  they start emailing on the topic given to them. The big question - will I finish this before their terminal/end of the year exams? I definitely will, if I plan out the lesson and pace out the tasks.

Thank you Courtney for showing confidence in me...hope I can deliver. I thank Diana for sharing her knowledge on Letter Writing....I believe sharing enhances our learning, and we if stop that, our learning also stops.
Benjamin Franklin had aptly said: " Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

Beast wishes to all.

Rubrics, Project Based Learning and Web Quest...

It has been a week of extensive reading and brainstorming for me. All my time other than teaching, has been devoted to technology. Such is the thirst for knowledge !

Project Based Learning...why didn't I ever search for it? What an amazing way to get creative and make a class interesting! Turning a teacher-centric class to a learner-centric one, giving the students to work with the freedom and novelty that they require, promoting community among the class members, and giving meaning to learning that normally goes on in the classroom. I know my students develop language and literacy skills by working on a product that exists beyond the classroom. Even in a multilevel classroom, there can be groups of learners doing different projects. The best thing about PBL is, the teacher's presence in the class is not overt, she acts as a facilitator and a mentor.

Rubrics works extremely well in a learner - centric classroom. Peer evaluation is common in our school ,but using Rubric to emphasize that the point of language learning is communication for meaningful purposes, would be a scientific way of teaching & evaluation. Any of the 4 skills can be tested through Rubrics. 'Rubistar' is an easy web tool and very effective.

Web Quest...there came the challenge for me. Very creative, but had to do real struggle to operate. It was a struggle between Man and Machine, and Man won. I was able to create a project for my class on the web quest and the whole rigorous process was highly satisfying. I now agree that it's going to be greatly motivating for both Teachers and Students.

Trying out the technology tools this week, I think I've approached the middle of a pyramid from its base. My target is to be at the top of it. There is still so much to learn and lots to work on, yet I'm not daunted, for the end result I'm sure is going to be 'DELICIOUS'.  

"My Heart Leaps Up..."

Week 4 has been all about reading ...reading ...and its application in the form of Lesson Planning, Project Task and Discussion.

I started by going through the reading resources on 'Using CALL in Reading and Writing'. I've particularly enjoyed and found 2 of them very effective for my classes - "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction" by Jarek Krajka and "Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL students using EBooks" by Mei-Ya-Liang.

The first article extensively discusses how the three basic articles of Web pages, E mail connection and Class websites can help the students to develop their writing skills. This article has become close to my heart, for I can identify with it and more or less know exactly how to use it. I've shared the link in 'Delicious Pages' , written about it in the different threads if 'Nicenet', incorporated it for my sample Lesson Plan...and would like to write more about it for my final project, hopefully.

The second article is based on improving Reading skills. The author gives importance in the selection of choosing books, reading and sharing books. I've found the links on creating a story map and advanced story map quite effective.

I've reflected on the technology of Writing that I will be using for my class of advanced language learners, in 'Project Task Step 3'. And improving the Writing Skill of my students is the issue, that is the main thread of discussion in my sample Lesson Plan.

So, my task has just started...with a lot more reading to do. Every article gives me a new insight to my experience as a Language teacher, and I keep thinking of the ways in which I can use them my classes. This is what I love, think about my young learners...how to give them the best so that they are able to face the world with all the right kind of ammunitions!

I remember  the words of Francis Bacon: " Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man."