Hi there,
This week has been marked by a lot of readings and exploring sites, new technology to use at the classroom. I have learned how to handle large classes. I found the article "Teaching Large Classes II-Enhancing Learning by Engaging Students" by Rick Finnman and Donna Shaw (http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/osu-hedp/large_classes_engaging_students.html) instructive and with practical ideas to implement.
I read about PPT and the ways it can be made better and more interactive. I try to make PPT interactive to me and then I would be able to make a more confident speech or lesson. I have to read some of the articles again to refresh some new (for me) options.
About Jeopardy. I have seen some of my colleagues making and using it for some workshops and some fun-events, and I wanted to make it myself, but then I either had no time, or people had no time to explain, so it was in the air. Now, I can do it) It turned out that it is not that hard, it is fun though time-consuming.
Since I am not teaching in August, I will be creating plan that would flesh out the technology. I have decided to create a google site for my group that will begin classes in September, and include all necesary informaton of the course on the site. I have begun exploting google sites, and I need more time to feel confident working with it. I am thinking of including interactive assignments for students on the site and expect them do it on time and with much more pleasure and enthusiasm than before. I also have to think how the students are going to be introduced to the site and how many would be actually using it. I do hope it would have appeal to the students since they are supposed to take an online final test after each semester. It is still very raw, I do need time to make it more real in my head and read more samples of other participants of previous courses.
Getting excited anyway )
Marina,
Moldova
This week has been marked by a lot of readings and exploring sites, new technology to use at the classroom. I have learned how to handle large classes. I found the article "Teaching Large Classes II-Enhancing Learning by Engaging Students" by Rick Finnman and Donna Shaw (http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/osu-hedp/large_classes_engaging_students.html) instructive and with practical ideas to implement.
I read about PPT and the ways it can be made better and more interactive. I try to make PPT interactive to me and then I would be able to make a more confident speech or lesson. I have to read some of the articles again to refresh some new (for me) options.
About Jeopardy. I have seen some of my colleagues making and using it for some workshops and some fun-events, and I wanted to make it myself, but then I either had no time, or people had no time to explain, so it was in the air. Now, I can do it) It turned out that it is not that hard, it is fun though time-consuming.
Since I am not teaching in August, I will be creating plan that would flesh out the technology. I have decided to create a google site for my group that will begin classes in September, and include all necesary informaton of the course on the site. I have begun exploting google sites, and I need more time to feel confident working with it. I am thinking of including interactive assignments for students on the site and expect them do it on time and with much more pleasure and enthusiasm than before. I also have to think how the students are going to be introduced to the site and how many would be actually using it. I do hope it would have appeal to the students since they are supposed to take an online final test after each semester. It is still very raw, I do need time to make it more real in my head and read more samples of other participants of previous courses.
Getting excited anyway )
Marina,
Moldova
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Marina
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to you I am thinking about using google sites. Students need a a tool that they are familiar with and I am really sure that they should use something related to google since it provides a lot of features to take our classes "outside the classroom". I am very convinced that students learn more when they take their English to real life situations, it means that providing them with these tools will make their English meaningful.
There is project called "Google Classroom" which I think will be launched by September, for more information take a look at this link
http://www.google.com/intl/en/edu/classroom/
Greetings
Ernesto Correa
Bolivia
Hi Ernesto,
DeleteI agree that students learn muchmore when they see why they learn the topics in ral life. They become much more motivated and eager to participate in practically everything you can come up with. By the way, thank you for the link. It seems to be really useful to use.
Good luck!
Marina,
Moldova
Dear Marina,
ReplyDeleteYou have raised the questions, that never leave my mind, since the course has started. I am also going to write the plan, as the academic year will start in September, what eventually complicates the matter. We have no chance to integrate these new tools and ideas simultaneously with our learning process.
I support your idea of creating google site, and right you are, it's difficult to introduce something new, until you feel like fish in water with it.
I really liked reading your reflections and wish you all the best implementing your plan.
Satsita
Dear Satsita,
DeleteYou are right, plan is the best way in our situation, at least there is time to learn things ourselves and then see how they work in real classes. Thank you for warm words, and I hope your plan goes easy.
Have a nice day!
Marina
Dear Marina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your words in my blog post for the week 5. I’m sorry, in the moment I’m not good enough in blogging and I did not immediately reply to your comment. But I'll learn it, I hope :-)
I always read your posts with pleasure, for they help me to contemplate the content of tasks and information of the week.
Thank you!
Nadezda Yashchenko,
Russia
Hi Nadezhda,
DeleteThank you for your reply. Learning new things takes time, I agree, and it is not always easy to implement them at once. I also need more practise doing it, and I wish you feel more comfortable with it as well. Hope your project goes nicely!
Marina,
Moldova
Hi Marina,
ReplyDeleteWe have all agreed that interactivity in the classroom is on the key issues and we luckily have the opportunity to learn about how we can improve the learning process. In that respect, I agree with you that the readings for this week have been quite valuable. I also feel that it takes time to reflect on all the elements of the project plan in order to create a tool that would serve its purpose. There are a lot of things to consider.
I think that your ideas about creating a google site and to include interactive assignments are absolutely great!
Best,
Visnja, Serbia
Hi Visnja,
DeleteThank you for your message! I would also add that some articles need to be read again to more details, which I hope I will do shortly. There are many things to think over, you are right. Honestly, I just have an idea and I have to think about how I could implement it. Wish you good luck in implementing your project!
Marina,
Moldova