ITS the 10th & FINAL WEEK
Is it time to bid GOODBYE to ALL my friends in trhe E course
Its hard to find the vocabulary to express my sentiments - Relief??? Sadness?? Achievement?? Nostalgia??
I must state explicitly, I'm sure glad that I decided to follow the E course on 'Interactive Web Skills'. There's so much that I have learned about the benefits and advantages in integrating technology into language teaching in order to promote creativity, diversity in teaching material, and enhanced student interaction among peer groups.
Of course, I have to keep in mind the lack of resources in access to technology in most schools and educational institutions in rural and under priviledged areas. Yet, despite obstacles, I'm determined to make best use of existing resources, in terms of technology enhanced teaching.
HEY ALL - I look forward to keeping in touch with all of u'll. It will be encouraging to know the extent to which others have put to practice the knowledge and information gained in the classroom.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
HEY ALL! It's Ruki.
Overcoming obstacles on the road to SUCCESS
It was rather challenging finding keeping to deadlines to complete the final project. But, I made it. Am looking forward to the comments from our instructors as it will be a learning experience. Earlier on, during the middle of the E course, when my email account was hacked and I was unable to log on to my mail, I was totally disheartened and never though I would be able to get back on the E course.But, i managed to get back on, with Jodi's encouragement to some how finish. Now I'm glad I did re join and now on the verge of completing it.
I feel I have been on a express train with limited stops, during the 9 plus weeks gone by. Nevertheless, I have been introduced to so much knowledge and information. I look forward to including much of what I have learnt in my teaching. As some classrooms in Sri Lanka frequently lack access to computers or internet facilities; technology infusion it will undoutedly be challenging. So, I'm glad for the material I read on being creative in a one-computer classroom.
Overcoming obstacles on the road to SUCCESS
It was rather challenging finding keeping to deadlines to complete the final project. But, I made it. Am looking forward to the comments from our instructors as it will be a learning experience. Earlier on, during the middle of the E course, when my email account was hacked and I was unable to log on to my mail, I was totally disheartened and never though I would be able to get back on the E course.But, i managed to get back on, with Jodi's encouragement to some how finish. Now I'm glad I did re join and now on the verge of completing it.
I feel I have been on a express train with limited stops, during the 9 plus weeks gone by. Nevertheless, I have been introduced to so much knowledge and information. I look forward to including much of what I have learnt in my teaching. As some classrooms in Sri Lanka frequently lack access to computers or internet facilities; technology infusion it will undoutedly be challenging. So, I'm glad for the material I read on being creative in a one-computer classroom.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Its the end of the 8th week on the E Course - Honestly, I don't know if I should sad that the 10 weeks of enriched learning has whizzed past OR ELSE if I should be happy that after two more weeks I do not have to be stressed about doing assignments and keeping to deadlines for E course.
This week, I learned much writing the lesson plans. I'm thankful for the comments I received from my partners. I look forward to editing and revising my lesson plan. The web resources/tools introduced through the readings are excellent resources to enrich and diversify the teaching process to engage student interaction. I'm currently in the process of exploring and discovering various web sources, 'Tools for Education' to enrich my teaching. In the past years I had limited IT usage in the classroom to PP etc. But, now I have started to increasingly incorporate technology into my lesson plans. The student response to creative learning sessions has been very encouraging indeed.
This week, I learned much writing the lesson plans. I'm thankful for the comments I received from my partners. I look forward to editing and revising my lesson plan. The web resources/tools introduced through the readings are excellent resources to enrich and diversify the teaching process to engage student interaction. I'm currently in the process of exploring and discovering various web sources, 'Tools for Education' to enrich my teaching. In the past years I had limited IT usage in the classroom to PP etc. But, now I have started to increasingly incorporate technology into my lesson plans. The student response to creative learning sessions has been very encouraging indeed.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Hmm... It already Week 7 (TIME seems to fly)
HEY ALL! I'm sure all you guys are busy attending to home work assignments, amidst so many other responsibilities. We have been exposed to so much new innovative thinking and learning strategies during the past few weeks. This week, the most important and crucial information I gained was 'Learner Autonomy.
YEP, the role of the learner in the classroom is of dire importance. Especially coming from Sri Lanka, most educational institutions and schools schools still adhere to very traditional teaching methodology and strategies.There is a dire need for a dynamic and inspired change in the curriculum to usher in learner enthusiasm and autonomy in the classroom and learning process. Obviously, technology can give that much needed boost to create learner interest and motivation for learning a language. From my experience as a teacher, I feel that students should take charge of their learning process; with moderation and guidance by the teacher.
I have realized that especially in developing countries, English Language Education should be more broad based. The policy makers should pioneer a redistribution of power in knowledge, especially with the advent of IT infusion into language acquisition.
I was very challenged drawing up a lesson plan for a 'one computer classroom'.Many schools in rural Sri Lanka, has very limited access to computers. Most schools in the under developed areas would only have a few computers in the library that can be used only by teachers. In this context of limited IT access, a one computer classroom is a reality for most teachers in Sri Lanka.
HEY ALL! I'm sure all you guys are busy attending to home work assignments, amidst so many other responsibilities. We have been exposed to so much new innovative thinking and learning strategies during the past few weeks. This week, the most important and crucial information I gained was 'Learner Autonomy.
YEP, the role of the learner in the classroom is of dire importance. Especially coming from Sri Lanka, most educational institutions and schools schools still adhere to very traditional teaching methodology and strategies.There is a dire need for a dynamic and inspired change in the curriculum to usher in learner enthusiasm and autonomy in the classroom and learning process. Obviously, technology can give that much needed boost to create learner interest and motivation for learning a language. From my experience as a teacher, I feel that students should take charge of their learning process; with moderation and guidance by the teacher.
I have realized that especially in developing countries, English Language Education should be more broad based. The policy makers should pioneer a redistribution of power in knowledge, especially with the advent of IT infusion into language acquisition.
I was very challenged drawing up a lesson plan for a 'one computer classroom'.Many schools in rural Sri Lanka, has very limited access to computers. Most schools in the under developed areas would only have a few computers in the library that can be used only by teachers. In this context of limited IT access, a one computer classroom is a reality for most teachers in Sri Lanka.
HI ALL! Its Week 6 already
Only today, I'm doing the blog for last week, (week 6), as it was hectic and crazy week for me. My yahoo email got hacked, and I had no way to access my email account. I was totally lost, as it was the email account I had used for over 15 years. Thus, I couldn't do my E courses assignments either. Anyways, now the email account is restored and life seems back to normal. I have managed to do catch with the assignments for week 6 as well.
Yes, the readings for week 6 were very informative indeed. I have been using PP for teaching for a very long time. Nevertheless, after getting through the readings for week 6, I belatedly realized that the interactive element had been minimum in the PPs. I realized that merely including pictures, graphics, charts, tables in PP presentations makes it visually stimulating and entertaining, but not necessarily interactive.I noted down many suggestions that would make PP more interactive, and thus a more useful and productive teaching method to achieve learner objectives.Especially in language teaching, what matters most is usage, more than knowledge; and interactive PPs are very useful to keep learners engaged in the task, with maximum peer interaction.
It was a very educative experience, reading through the sample PP given in the course readings.The new knowledge I gained from the readings helped me in planning and designing the interactive PP for the project task.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Week 5
Well, we are already half way through the course.I have learnt much from reading about PBL in the assigned readings. I realize how much PBL helps to make a definite change in helping students to develop language skills.I look forward to integrating PBL based activities into my general language teaching. Technology can be used to enhance PBL activities, as the web is an excellent tool to locate material based on student interest. Getting through the assigned readings for week 5, made me reflect on the inherent drawbacks and disadvantages in traditional teaching such as drills and grammar based curriculum.I sure look forward to enriching my teaching by using PBL/
I realize the importance of using PBL to promote student motivation.In this respect, web quests can be a creative tool to be used by teachers to enhance learning through PBL activities. From the assigned readings, I gathered how to create student tasks, designate resources and encourage students to work in groups in utilizing web quests for teaching.
Well, we are already half way through the course.I have learnt much from reading about PBL in the assigned readings. I realize how much PBL helps to make a definite change in helping students to develop language skills.I look forward to integrating PBL based activities into my general language teaching. Technology can be used to enhance PBL activities, as the web is an excellent tool to locate material based on student interest. Getting through the assigned readings for week 5, made me reflect on the inherent drawbacks and disadvantages in traditional teaching such as drills and grammar based curriculum.I sure look forward to enriching my teaching by using PBL/
I realize the importance of using PBL to promote student motivation.In this respect, web quests can be a creative tool to be used by teachers to enhance learning through PBL activities. From the assigned readings, I gathered how to create student tasks, designate resources and encourage students to work in groups in utilizing web quests for teaching.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Week 4
HI! Its week 4 on the E course and I have already learnt so much. The weekly readings on Reading/writing skills, using the internet as a teaching aid opened new horizons for me. I was exposed to and learnt creative and innovative teaching methodology to use in a classroom. I hope to use online lessons in the curriculum as the students would be exposed update material, with wide variety and choice to suit different age groups and professional interests (in case of adult students who are already employed).The role of the teacher in a wired classroom is very dynamic, and I intend to implement much of what I have learned through the E course in my teaching.
Reading sample lesson plans (given for readings) made me reflect on my classes and make assessment about achieving teaching objectives. Writing a lesson plan for the project task helped me to explore new avenues of enhancing student output in class. Importantly I realized the advantages of utilizing technology (as far as possible as Sri Lanka is a developing country and all classrooms do 'not' have access to technology) to enhance language skills and competency of students.
HI! Its week 4 on the E course and I have already learnt so much. The weekly readings on Reading/writing skills, using the internet as a teaching aid opened new horizons for me. I was exposed to and learnt creative and innovative teaching methodology to use in a classroom. I hope to use online lessons in the curriculum as the students would be exposed update material, with wide variety and choice to suit different age groups and professional interests (in case of adult students who are already employed).The role of the teacher in a wired classroom is very dynamic, and I intend to implement much of what I have learned through the E course in my teaching.
Reading sample lesson plans (given for readings) made me reflect on my classes and make assessment about achieving teaching objectives. Writing a lesson plan for the project task helped me to explore new avenues of enhancing student output in class. Importantly I realized the advantages of utilizing technology (as far as possible as Sri Lanka is a developing country and all classrooms do 'not' have access to technology) to enhance language skills and competency of students.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Week 3
Hi All! It's Ruki. Hope all of you are enjoing the E course so far. There's so much i have learnt from week 3 readings. The readings on developing listening skills were very useful in formulating appropriate listening exercises for Pre, While and Post Reading stages. I was reminded about the importance of using authentic materials to promote enhanced learning. Listening exercises are essential to help learners develop effective communication skills. I realized the importance of using native English models in listening activities for non native speakers, while keeping in mind not to devalue the input from our own native langauges. The usage of technology in media (Radio,TV, Video, Internet, CD Roms) is a must for teachers of English - an ideal source to locate authentic, update, relevant and appropriate teaching material.
Reading through the specified links for pronunication and speaking components of English Language Teaching opened my mind to a whole vista of knowledge and information. It was mind boggling to realize the creativity of materail available on different websites related to English language teaching. The applicaion of technology to langauge teaching would undoutedly enhance and enrich the learning process in non native learners of English. I realised that utlizing technology is very important and essential to overcome the drawbacks and inherent disadvanatges in a traditional and conventional classroom. But, I was also made aware of the limited access to technology in a developing country.
Reading through the specified links for pronunication and speaking components of English Language Teaching opened my mind to a whole vista of knowledge and information. It was mind boggling to realize the creativity of materail available on different websites related to English language teaching. The applicaion of technology to langauge teaching would undoutedly enhance and enrich the learning process in non native learners of English. I realised that utlizing technology is very important and essential to overcome the drawbacks and inherent disadvanatges in a traditional and conventional classroom. But, I was also made aware of the limited access to technology in a developing country.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
E Course - Week 2
During Week 2, (from Ruki)
I learned much about finding/locating information on the web for research, teaching and learning purposes. Many web sites have numerous limitations and it vitally imporatnt to be very wise and selective in the choice of an appropriate search engine for a particular academic task, in a specific subject context. Now, I realize the importance of giving proper and adequate instructions to students on how to choose search engines in toder to enhance learning.
From the E course material I also learnt that 'Google' is not the most appropriate, useful and inclusive search engine. I leant the importance on investigating and searching for otherseb sites as well. There are many other sebsites that I can brief students on.The information and material I gathered on search engines will greatly assist me in my teaching career; to provide guidance for my students.
The ABCD model was expremely useful. The class reading prompted and encouraged me to ponder, reflect and critically evaluate the teaching objectives for the classes that I'm currently teaching. I also reflected on the classes that I have taught duing the past years; how I could have been more specific in my teaching objectives and enhanced the learning process of my students to a far greater extent. In retrospect, I realise the improtance of focusing more on Audience, Bahaviour, Condition and Degree of the teaching objectives that I design for my classes, in order to enhance learning outcomes and be more creative in the design of leanring circumstances.
I learned much about finding/locating information on the web for research, teaching and learning purposes. Many web sites have numerous limitations and it vitally imporatnt to be very wise and selective in the choice of an appropriate search engine for a particular academic task, in a specific subject context. Now, I realize the importance of giving proper and adequate instructions to students on how to choose search engines in toder to enhance learning.
From the E course material I also learnt that 'Google' is not the most appropriate, useful and inclusive search engine. I leant the importance on investigating and searching for otherseb sites as well. There are many other sebsites that I can brief students on.The information and material I gathered on search engines will greatly assist me in my teaching career; to provide guidance for my students.
The ABCD model was expremely useful. The class reading prompted and encouraged me to ponder, reflect and critically evaluate the teaching objectives for the classes that I'm currently teaching. I also reflected on the classes that I have taught duing the past years; how I could have been more specific in my teaching objectives and enhanced the learning process of my students to a far greater extent. In retrospect, I realise the improtance of focusing more on Audience, Bahaviour, Condition and Degree of the teaching objectives that I design for my classes, in order to enhance learning outcomes and be more creative in the design of leanring circumstances.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
E course
Week 1
It was very interesting, plus challenging, creating a blog. To my dismay I found that my IT knowledge was quite limited, and not update as I assumed it to be.
Creating bloggs is a unique experience; it cretaes a virtual classroom environment on the web to learn, think, reflect, ponder and share with others from across the globe. Creating blogs is a experience which enables learners to glean knowledge from others from different cultures, religions, countries, ethnicities, traditions etc. Blogs help to make the world a classroon for interaction; promoting harmony and understanding in a wordl torn apart by wars, chaos and disasters.
.
It was very interesting, plus challenging, creating a blog. To my dismay I found that my IT knowledge was quite limited, and not update as I assumed it to be.
Creating bloggs is a unique experience; it cretaes a virtual classroom environment on the web to learn, think, reflect, ponder and share with others from across the globe. Creating blogs is a experience which enables learners to glean knowledge from others from different cultures, religions, countries, ethnicities, traditions etc. Blogs help to make the world a classroon for interaction; promoting harmony and understanding in a wordl torn apart by wars, chaos and disasters.
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