I cannot believe it. Is this really the last week. Shall I not check on Mondays what the next topic and task is? Shall I not hurry up to type my comment on the discussion board any more? Shall ı not worry about whether I did the task correctly or not? Oh God! It is over and I don't know how I will get used to this gap...
What I did
This week has been much easier than trhe previous ones as there was only one topic and no tasks. However, the LoTI framework is really worth spending time on. It is a kind of mirror actually. When you look at the 6 levels, you replace yourself somewhere in it and this makes you feel that you need to improve.
What I learned
Reading the framework, I realized that I am not that teachere who is quite good at using technology. Sometimes I used to feel that my students are lucky as I use plenty of technology but now I see that they are not so lucky and I need to do more to integrate tech into my classes.
How can I apply
I am thinking of using LoTI framework as a checklist from now on. I will check it from time to time and assess myself in terms of using technology in class. I hope that day will come when I will say that I am at level 6 and then ı will call my students lucky.
This course helped me gain lots of things and I feel I have improved a lot. Thank you Donna, Guest instructors and Classmates.
Best, Nehir
My City
The old town and the harbour, Antalya
Friday, 26 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Week 9 - Reflection
Time has incredibly passed and I cannot believe that I am about to reflect on the 9th week. It is almost over.
What I Did
This week hasn't been so busy as there was only one topic to discuss about and it is a very serious topic that every teacher must be familiar with; learning styles and technology support to address to them. I read the articles and anectodes on different learning styles and technology and shared my opinion on the issue on nicenet. It was great to read my c lassmates' opinions on the topic.
This week included the last step of our project plan. We attached the final report on the wiki. Thanks to my partners Susi and Holguer, I guess I've completed my project plan report successfully and I hope I will get a good grade.
What I Learned
I learned that technology is indispensible in every part of education and we can make use of it to address to different styles in class. We can use basic software programs that offer encyclopedic collections, drills, or demonstrations, presentation software, like PowerPoint, Electronic mail, data-base programs, electronic communication, productivity softwares to handle different learning styles.
How can I Apply
I have always taken MI and learning styles into consideration; however, I have been neglecting it for some time, as well. That's why I will explore the web to find out the necessarry tools again to make use of learning styles.
I cannot believe that we are moving towards the last week. It has been great and I will miss everyone a lot.
Best, Nehir
What I Did
This week hasn't been so busy as there was only one topic to discuss about and it is a very serious topic that every teacher must be familiar with; learning styles and technology support to address to them. I read the articles and anectodes on different learning styles and technology and shared my opinion on the issue on nicenet. It was great to read my c lassmates' opinions on the topic.
This week included the last step of our project plan. We attached the final report on the wiki. Thanks to my partners Susi and Holguer, I guess I've completed my project plan report successfully and I hope I will get a good grade.
What I Learned
I learned that technology is indispensible in every part of education and we can make use of it to address to different styles in class. We can use basic software programs that offer encyclopedic collections, drills, or demonstrations, presentation software, like PowerPoint, Electronic mail, data-base programs, electronic communication, productivity softwares to handle different learning styles.
How can I Apply
I have always taken MI and learning styles into consideration; however, I have been neglecting it for some time, as well. That's why I will explore the web to find out the necessarry tools again to make use of learning styles.
I cannot believe that we are moving towards the last week. It has been great and I will miss everyone a lot.
Best, Nehir
Sunday, 14 August 2011
WEEK 8 - REFLECTION
A lovely week with great tools...
What I did
Firstly, this week has been really important as we have sent our first drafts for the final project for our partners to refvlect on them and help us improve our reports. Then, I went through the great online tools to generate exercises shared by Donna on our class wiki and loved them, though I found them a bit difficult at first. Then, I prepared a very simple matching exercise on hot potatoes. In the last stage of my online exercise, I shamed on myself as I found it difficult because it was quite easy. The best thing this week maybe ANVILL, which is a toolbox especially to improve oral skill and it includes great tools to motivate students. Jeff gave us a great presentation of the tools but I need some more free time to explore them more. As usual, I shared my opinion about online tools and especially ANVILL on nicenet.
What I Learned
I learned that there is no need to panic. I have been uneasy for some time as there is too much to use online and I have been feeling a bit scared actually. Finding out about ANVILL relieved me as it is a nice collection of online tools fot the biggest problem of language teaching and learning- oral competence. Besides, I learned that there are great tools to generate both online and downloadable exercises. Actually, I knew they exist but I did not know how to use them. Creating my own exercise made me feel happy. Finally, I realised that I will feel lonely the moment this course comes to the end.
How Can I Apply
This week's tools are those that we can freaquently use for variety in class. And especially visual exercise makers are great tools such as pictionaries or visual handouts. I am sure I will prepare hundreds of handouts using these tools and motivate my students. When it comes to ANVILL, ı really want to integrate it in my lessons but of course after getting to know the tools very well.
As I said at the top, another lovely week it has been and I have gained a lot again. Thank you Donna and Jeff.
Nehir
What I did
Firstly, this week has been really important as we have sent our first drafts for the final project for our partners to refvlect on them and help us improve our reports. Then, I went through the great online tools to generate exercises shared by Donna on our class wiki and loved them, though I found them a bit difficult at first. Then, I prepared a very simple matching exercise on hot potatoes. In the last stage of my online exercise, I shamed on myself as I found it difficult because it was quite easy. The best thing this week maybe ANVILL, which is a toolbox especially to improve oral skill and it includes great tools to motivate students. Jeff gave us a great presentation of the tools but I need some more free time to explore them more. As usual, I shared my opinion about online tools and especially ANVILL on nicenet.
What I Learned
I learned that there is no need to panic. I have been uneasy for some time as there is too much to use online and I have been feeling a bit scared actually. Finding out about ANVILL relieved me as it is a nice collection of online tools fot the biggest problem of language teaching and learning- oral competence. Besides, I learned that there are great tools to generate both online and downloadable exercises. Actually, I knew they exist but I did not know how to use them. Creating my own exercise made me feel happy. Finally, I realised that I will feel lonely the moment this course comes to the end.
How Can I Apply
This week's tools are those that we can freaquently use for variety in class. And especially visual exercise makers are great tools such as pictionaries or visual handouts. I am sure I will prepare hundreds of handouts using these tools and motivate my students. When it comes to ANVILL, ı really want to integrate it in my lessons but of course after getting to know the tools very well.
As I said at the top, another lovely week it has been and I have gained a lot again. Thank you Donna and Jeff.
Nehir
Sunday, 7 August 2011
WEEK 7 - REFLECTION
Hi Everyone, 3 weeks left and the upcoming weeks seem to be more challenging due to the action for the project plan. The crucial topic that dominated my week was learners' autonomy...
What I did
I read the articles "What Is Learner Autonomy and How Can It Be Fostered?" by Dimitrios Thanasoulas and "Learner Autonomy: Bird-in-the-hand or Bird-in-the-bush?" by Samuel Sheu. I found both articles really useful and I must accept that I got more optimistic about the issue. I shared my opinion on the topic on nicenet.
Then, I spent quite much time on the sources about ESL Activities for the One Computer Classroom (S.Gaer): Word-Processing Ideas: , Strategies and applications for the one-computer classroom, 7 Categories for Classroom Computer and other additional resources, which are worth going through throughly, especially elf-access: A Framework for Diversity by Michael Rodden and Michelle Parrington gives some reasons for setting up a self access center, as well as some tips for saving money while creating your self-access center. REading these sources, I prepared a lesson plan for one-computer classroom.
By the way, we set up partnerships for the project plan, which is quite exciting. We went to the wiki and posted our names on the partner form. I suggested Holguer and happily she accepted me and then Susi joined us.
What I learned
I learned once again that the sources on the web are endless and there is a varity of options that we can apply in a one-computer classroom, which is my situation. I feel I improved more on learners' autonomy and how to establish it.
How can I apply in my class
The ideas especially on
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=13326 are great and I am sure I will use most of them. 25 Ways to Integrate the Internet - some very good ideas to think about, with links to resources. I will definitely apply them.
I will pay more effort to create my self-access center and try harder to make my students more autonomous.
As for application, this week gave me great ideas for one computer classroom and I will try to apply most of them.
In brief, it's been another great week
Best, Nehir
What I did
I read the articles "What Is Learner Autonomy and How Can It Be Fostered?" by Dimitrios Thanasoulas and "Learner Autonomy: Bird-in-the-hand or Bird-in-the-bush?" by Samuel Sheu. I found both articles really useful and I must accept that I got more optimistic about the issue. I shared my opinion on the topic on nicenet.
Then, I spent quite much time on the sources about ESL Activities for the One Computer Classroom (S.Gaer): Word-Processing Ideas: , Strategies and applications for the one-computer classroom, 7 Categories for Classroom Computer and other additional resources, which are worth going through throughly, especially elf-access: A Framework for Diversity by Michael Rodden and Michelle Parrington gives some reasons for setting up a self access center, as well as some tips for saving money while creating your self-access center. REading these sources, I prepared a lesson plan for one-computer classroom.
By the way, we set up partnerships for the project plan, which is quite exciting. We went to the wiki and posted our names on the partner form. I suggested Holguer and happily she accepted me and then Susi joined us.
What I learned
I learned once again that the sources on the web are endless and there is a varity of options that we can apply in a one-computer classroom, which is my situation. I feel I improved more on learners' autonomy and how to establish it.
How can I apply in my class
The ideas especially on
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=13326 are great and I am sure I will use most of them. 25 Ways to Integrate the Internet - some very good ideas to think about, with links to resources. I will definitely apply them.
I will pay more effort to create my self-access center and try harder to make my students more autonomous.
As for application, this week gave me great ideas for one computer classroom and I will try to apply most of them.
In brief, it's been another great week
Best, Nehir
Sunday, 31 July 2011
WEEK 6 - REFLECTION
Only four more weeks left, time really flies !
What I did
Just as the previous weeks, I read quite many sources on engaging students especially in large classes, interactivity and interactive lessons and powerpoints, and tips for powerpoint presentations. After reading all these, I shared my thoughts on nicenet about large classes and activities to engage students , then I shared my opinion on powerpoint presentation and created my own interactive powerpoint presentation, which was for revising parts of a house.
What I learned
Out of the sources on engaging the students, I learned that there is much more than we already do to engage students and handle crowded classes. I learned that I was right in beliving in the power of collaboration and group work.
Out of the articles on powerpoint presentations, I learned a few useful tips to improve my presentations such as hiding the pointer.
Out of the sources on interactive powerpoint presentations, I learned a few more action buttons.
How can I apply
This week's topic, discussion and task have been directly related to our lessons and this week was great in improving what I already use in my classes. So there is not much new that I can apply in my classes but there is a lot that will help me apply all these much better.
Thank you Webskills and Dear Donna and Jodi for all your contributions. I love to be here.
Best, Nehir
What I did
Just as the previous weeks, I read quite many sources on engaging students especially in large classes, interactivity and interactive lessons and powerpoints, and tips for powerpoint presentations. After reading all these, I shared my thoughts on nicenet about large classes and activities to engage students , then I shared my opinion on powerpoint presentation and created my own interactive powerpoint presentation, which was for revising parts of a house.
What I learned
Out of the sources on engaging the students, I learned that there is much more than we already do to engage students and handle crowded classes. I learned that I was right in beliving in the power of collaboration and group work.
Out of the articles on powerpoint presentations, I learned a few useful tips to improve my presentations such as hiding the pointer.
Out of the sources on interactive powerpoint presentations, I learned a few more action buttons.
How can I apply
This week's topic, discussion and task have been directly related to our lessons and this week was great in improving what I already use in my classes. So there is not much new that I can apply in my classes but there is a lot that will help me apply all these much better.
Thank you Webskills and Dear Donna and Jodi for all your contributions. I love to be here.
Best, Nehir
Sunday, 24 July 2011
WEEK-5 REFLECTION
Incredible, we are half-way. The fifth week with loads of gaining.
What I did
Firstly I read and watched some sources on rubrics, project-based learning and WebQuests and shared my opinion on nicenet and read about my classmates precios ideas. Following this, I went on with my project task, which was describing a technology-related change or potential solution for my project class and the issue in that class. I tried to explain why I think it will be useful in resolving the issue. Then, reading the sources provided by dear Donna, I had a look at RubiStar, which I fell in love with :) I registered and created a rubric for a persuasive essay with the topic " Human Cloning is Wrong." I found RubiStar extremely handy.
Finally, Donna had offered extra points for the ones who created a webquest. I did not have enough time for that as it is more difficult for me now to spend time on the net due to the expected baby and radiation. However, I registered ans started to create my webquest and the url is http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=108498 but it is not completed yet.
What I learned
I learned that there is no end to the things that I will learn. Firstly I learned webquests and had the opportunity to see a few samples. I think a webquest will definitely appeal to my students but it should be well planned and interesting. Therefore, enough time spent on it, it would be a great tool to motivate the students.
I learned that rubrics really work in evaluation and the students should be given the chance to see the rubric to see where they get or lose points. I read about the four types of rubrics, two of which were new to me: - Primary trait rubrics and Multitrait rubrics. I understood that I should spend more time on rubrics as it is really serious in evaluation.
How can I apply in class
This week I discovered new and very nice tools to use with my students. RubiStar will be my life long partner as long as I teach, it is obvious. I look forward to sharing with my coleagues here.
Secondly, I will complete my webquest as soon as possible and in the coming academic year I will ask my students to carry out the project. Though not definite, it will be about different learning styles, as it will be beneficial not only for the students but also for the teachers to get to know the students more in terms of multiple intelligences.
This week I am mostly interested in the webquest and I really want to apply it as soon as possible.
That's all for this week. Thank you Donna for this fruity week and thank you friends for your inspiring ideas.
What I did
Firstly I read and watched some sources on rubrics, project-based learning and WebQuests and shared my opinion on nicenet and read about my classmates precios ideas. Following this, I went on with my project task, which was describing a technology-related change or potential solution for my project class and the issue in that class. I tried to explain why I think it will be useful in resolving the issue. Then, reading the sources provided by dear Donna, I had a look at RubiStar, which I fell in love with :) I registered and created a rubric for a persuasive essay with the topic " Human Cloning is Wrong." I found RubiStar extremely handy.
Finally, Donna had offered extra points for the ones who created a webquest. I did not have enough time for that as it is more difficult for me now to spend time on the net due to the expected baby and radiation. However, I registered ans started to create my webquest and the url is http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=108498 but it is not completed yet.
What I learned
I learned that there is no end to the things that I will learn. Firstly I learned webquests and had the opportunity to see a few samples. I think a webquest will definitely appeal to my students but it should be well planned and interesting. Therefore, enough time spent on it, it would be a great tool to motivate the students.
I learned that rubrics really work in evaluation and the students should be given the chance to see the rubric to see where they get or lose points. I read about the four types of rubrics, two of which were new to me: - Primary trait rubrics and Multitrait rubrics. I understood that I should spend more time on rubrics as it is really serious in evaluation.
How can I apply in class
This week I discovered new and very nice tools to use with my students. RubiStar will be my life long partner as long as I teach, it is obvious. I look forward to sharing with my coleagues here.
Secondly, I will complete my webquest as soon as possible and in the coming academic year I will ask my students to carry out the project. Though not definite, it will be about different learning styles, as it will be beneficial not only for the students but also for the teachers to get to know the students more in terms of multiple intelligences.
This week I am mostly interested in the webquest and I really want to apply it as soon as possible.
That's all for this week. Thank you Donna for this fruity week and thank you friends for your inspiring ideas.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
WEEK-4 REFLECTION
WHAT A TOUGH WEEK IT HAS BEEN!!!
Thanks God this is the end of week 4, which has been really difficult for me. Two journeys and staying in houses that have no access to net and a piece of great news : I started the course on my own but I will continue with my baby inside :) Now it is much more difficult to type as I try to be at least 30cms away from the computer to protect the cute guest against electro magnetic frequency waves. Anyway, below is the summary of this week:
What I did:
As usual we were asked to read and comment on a few articles such as "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction" by Jarek Krajka and "Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL Students Using E-books" by Mei-Ya Liang. They were really useful and we were given some great urls to explore and I really loved some of them especially http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/. The others are also good but I love keeping my students up to date as much as possible and this website provides us with newspapers from all over the world, which is great.
Secondly, we were asked to write about some issues, problems or concerns we have for our project- class--ones that technology might help solve. We described the class and students, discussed an issue. The issue I talked about was regarding motivation and class discussions.
Finally, we were asked to Prepare a technology-enhanced lesson plan and as I worked heavily on writing last year, I designed a lesson for story-writing. I tried to integrate technology into my lesson letting the students see the short film of the story they are expected to write.
What I learned
I once more learned that writing a lesson plan is no easy at all. I am really hopeless at doing this.
I learned that there wait great websites and sources for us,language teachers; we should just explore explore and explore not to be BURN OUT teachers as Jeremy Harmer states.
I learned that life is full of surprises :)
How can I apply these in my classes
OUt of this week, my biggest treasure is a few more great websites and I can use these in my classes in various ways. As for my favorite website this week http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ I can assign them pages weekly and give them general knowledge quizes every friday, which improves them in two aspects.
When it comes to the lesson plan, I don't think I will have a lesson plan for each lesson. In my school we aren't asked to do this and to tell the truth this makes me relieved.
Yes, that's all for Week 4, which was another great week here in this course with a lovely instructor and lovely colleagues.
Best, Nehir
Thanks God this is the end of week 4, which has been really difficult for me. Two journeys and staying in houses that have no access to net and a piece of great news : I started the course on my own but I will continue with my baby inside :) Now it is much more difficult to type as I try to be at least 30cms away from the computer to protect the cute guest against electro magnetic frequency waves. Anyway, below is the summary of this week:
What I did:
As usual we were asked to read and comment on a few articles such as "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction" by Jarek Krajka and "Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL Students Using E-books" by Mei-Ya Liang. They were really useful and we were given some great urls to explore and I really loved some of them especially http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/. The others are also good but I love keeping my students up to date as much as possible and this website provides us with newspapers from all over the world, which is great.
Secondly, we were asked to write about some issues, problems or concerns we have for our project- class--ones that technology might help solve. We described the class and students, discussed an issue. The issue I talked about was regarding motivation and class discussions.
Finally, we were asked to Prepare a technology-enhanced lesson plan and as I worked heavily on writing last year, I designed a lesson for story-writing. I tried to integrate technology into my lesson letting the students see the short film of the story they are expected to write.
What I learned
I once more learned that writing a lesson plan is no easy at all. I am really hopeless at doing this.
I learned that there wait great websites and sources for us,language teachers; we should just explore explore and explore not to be BURN OUT teachers as Jeremy Harmer states.
I learned that life is full of surprises :)
How can I apply these in my classes
OUt of this week, my biggest treasure is a few more great websites and I can use these in my classes in various ways. As for my favorite website this week http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ I can assign them pages weekly and give them general knowledge quizes every friday, which improves them in two aspects.
When it comes to the lesson plan, I don't think I will have a lesson plan for each lesson. In my school we aren't asked to do this and to tell the truth this makes me relieved.
Yes, that's all for Week 4, which was another great week here in this course with a lovely instructor and lovely colleagues.
Best, Nehir
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