Week 7: AUTONOMOUS LEARNING

Week 7: AUTONOMOUS LEARNING

Hi friends! Week 7 is about to be closed.

 What an adventure!

A quick one, isn’t it?

This week we were blessed with two main topics: Learner Autonomy and one-computer/mobile devices in the classroom. I focused my discussions on learner autonomy, but I was also interested in one-computer/mobile phone devices.

First of all I read “What is learner autonomy and how can it be fostered? By Dimitrios Thanasoulas: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Thanasoulas-Autonomy.html .

 In this article I learned definitions of learner autonomy. I read also synonyms of autonomy learning such as independence, self-assessment, and responsibility and so on.  In short learner autonomy is someone who learned by himself, who takes initiative for learning. However, autonomy learning does not clean away the role of the teacher, but he is there playing the role of a facilitator, providing them with scaffoldings. No place for spoon feeding in autonomy learning. As goes the saying: “Teach students how to fish instead of giving them fish.” Autonomous learning is what our world needs today.

 http://www.lburkhart.com/elem/strat.htm

As far as the second reading is concerned I do not have deep experience of using computer in class or mobile phone devices in class. First, we do not have a computer in the classroom; second, mobile phone is forbidden in our school. But I do use my computer as a teacher tool to prepare courses, assessment.

This week is like the cornerstone for me. I was asking myself, when I read the schedule of the course, how to teach a whole classroom with only one-computer.

I learned through these readings, and through colleagues’ posts many ways of using one computer in class. Now I know I can use one computer as teacher’s tool. If I connect the computer with a projector I can use it for the whole class. I can use it to write a story. Thank you all.

I was so happy experiencing Padlet or wall wisher. I did not wait to create my own for the class.

I also found a peer partner , Ahmed HAMZI, to read, and evaluate my final project report.

Thank Courtney! Thank you classmates! For such a rich week.

Let keep on going higher and higher.

 “Sky is the limit”

Thank you week seven!!!

Bernadette

Implement the change

Implement the change

Hi Courtney and dear participants

Here six weeks now that we are launch in this adventure of using technology in teaching/learning. I learned new strategies, experiences etc. It's time I implemented the change. Thank Courtney for your positive feedback that highlights my implementation. 

My concern was to remove shyness and poor expression form within my students of grade 5. They are aged between 15- 18 years old. They are 62, 22 girls and 40 boys. For that reason I implemented the change. I introduced technology in my class to help students improve their speaking skills. I went through bygosh.com, chose a lovely story, download it and and used it in class for a reading comprehension lesson. The students enjoyed the course because I use lots of the methods for large classes such pair work, group work. I also teach them how to use voxopop. Their homework was to summarize the story and record it in voxopop. I first did an example and make them listen to it. It motivated them and they were so excited to try. Some of them succeeded in trying, but they all were interested in it. As Courtney suggested, I helped them with some guiding questions. Some of the students were not able to try the activity because of the lack of condition to do it. I was so sorry! I tried by all means to find another technique of recording off line. Fortunately I discovered Audacity.com a very nice tool to record voice without internet connection. The satisfaction of my students is total. Audacity is in our current use now. And because they are launch, they regularly try the activity alone, outside the classroom. I think my goal is achieved. I give them individual feedback each time they exercise themselves and that motivate them. The contact with me is regular. They also evaluate one another (peer evaluation). They work and discuss with each other. 

This change initiate a new idea which is to create a listening lesson with their recordings. They will listen of course with guiding questions. They will assess, and evaluate their peer recording. Usually I integrate skills in my teaching.

I feel relax and happy. My large class is no more a hindrance, thanks to webs-skill course. I am so grateful. Thank Courtney for your help, we are now moving like the wind. Thanks for providing us with wings. We are now flying with our own wings, how wonderful it is. Yes! knowledge is the real power; I feel now powerful.

Best !

Bernadette

INTERACTIVE WEEK 6

Week 6: teaching large classes effectively

I was very busy this week. I read, I created an interactive PowerPoint, I discussed, I implemented the change...I learned a lot especially about how to integrate technology in classes, mainly in large classes.

First of all in the article teaching large classes effectively in http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlycareer/teaching/latgeclasseshtml I read about teaching large classes. The author provides with lots of possibilities to help teach and keeep students engaged in large classes. 

The first aid proposed is " in-class activities" such as pair work, group work, make students act, reflect...

The second is "out of class group assignment", a great technique to solve the problem of grading.

I can make technology work for me. So finding an adequate technology is interesting and fundamental for the large classes. Immediate feedback empowers students. And the fact that they can use technology outside the classroom is a very good thing.

I also read Teaching large classes-Enhancing Learning by engaging students by Rick Finnan and Donna Shaw: http:tep.uoregon.edu/resources/largeclasses/engagingstudents/buldingrelationships.html. Many good methods are mention in this website. It list up some problems with large lecture- style classes such as the lack of interaction with the professors, inadequacy of classroom facilities and environment, lack of frequent testing and grading... My own experience with large classes and all that I read all this week that need to be done for large classes to be taught effectively is so demanding. 

By the grace of this course the problem is losing weight; I feel the change. I implemented the change, and I could not recognize the students. A whole post will be on the change I implemented. A very simple change but so engaging.

I called this week the interactive week because I worked so much on my interactive PowerPoint. I really enjoy doing it. In this PPT that I made, students can learn by themselves.

Bernadette

Week 5: RUBRICS, ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT, PBL AND WEQUEST.

MOVING HIGHER AND HIGHER!

Hello everyone!

Here is a small reflection about week 5 learning.

I read about Alternative Assessment and discuss on it on Nicenet. Through this reading I learned what is an alternative learning. I have a lot to say about it but let cut a long story short. Alternative learning is learning by doing. The students do the work by themselves. They are at the center of the teaching/learning process. The teacher plays the role of a facilitator, a guide; encouraging, motivating learners. The students with the help of the teacher improve their communicative skills by interacting with one another, assessing themselves and their peers. Alternative learning is an active learning. The experience shows that this method is motivating the learners, because the learners in general, be they youngs or adults like  to be considered, responsibilized, valued...Alternative learning provide them with these aspects.

What about Rubrics?

They are wonderfull tools for assessments. I usually use a rubric to assess the students but this time I learned more about rubrics. There are different types of rubrics and it is very easy to create a rubric through Rubistar (http://rubistar.4teachers.org/)

For PBL (Project-Based learning) I believe it is a great project, where students have their own pace for learning. They learn from one another. PBL copes very well with rubrics because the students need to know what to do, and how they will be assess.

As for the Project Task step 4, I tried to find a technological solution to my students poor expression and shyness. I am quite sure, the website ByGosh (http://bygosh.com), could be one of the medicines.

At last, I did an exciting Extra Credit task by creating a WebQuest (http://www.webquest.org/search/index.php), (http://www.Zunal.com). I discovered the usefulness of webquest in the sense that it is interesting and motivating. It also helps the students develop critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making skills. What I appreciate much is that it includes cooperative learning.

Bye-bye!!!

Thank you all!

Your comments and contributions are welcomed.

Bernadette

Week 4: -TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERS TEACHING AND LEARNING.

Week 4: Technology Empowers Teaching and Learning.

• Skill-Building Websites For Reading/Writing Skills and Technology enhanced Lesson Plans.