Keep them all.. ( Week 8 )

It's almost at the end of Week 8 and I think that most of my classmates are very busy with their tasks in real life and also in this course since the final project is on the way..I am struggling to manage my time in doing the project but I think I'll overcome this obstacle...

This week is more practical because we have to make an exercise whether it will be used online or offline and Robert gave us many links to make one.  I chose the printed exercise because I still haven't had the internet connection in the lab.I'll keep the links as my references. A class site is also one of the task this week. It will be great if I can make a class site such as Nicenet or a blog but I think I'll keep that as  my future plan. This week is another busy week, isn't it?

 ANVILL  is also a great tool for enriching students' ability in speaking although it requires good internet connection.  It took me a while in exploring ANVILL because it offers many great things such as Voiceboards, Quizzes and Survey, and Livechats. It gives me another tool and technique in my Speaking Class. While reading the explanation of ANVILL, I imagined about applying it in my lab along with the other tools for speaking practice. I am sure that I can get there soon..

Two more weeks in the class..soon I am going to miss it..

Sitting here with bigger bag.. (Week 7)

I don't think that I will fly higher than the previous week since I put more bags around my neck this week along with cookies bags from the Eid Mubarak.. *it's only me making a joke.. lol*

This week started with 2 discussions on the board and a lot of reading materials but I found out myself reading only few of them. Learner autonomy is one of the hot issues along with one-computer option. Thanasoulas'  article gave a very good quote says Autonomy is a process, not a product. I can not agree more about it. It's truly a process both in teachers and students' side. Dealing with one-computer classroom is not as easy as it looks. Carol and Francis' posting about their situation in the class gave me a new perspective that we should maximize what we have now and make the best of it. They inspire me to do the best.

It's time to prepare the final project and I hope that I can finish it on time..

I need more wings... (Week 6)

Flying with bigger bag around my neck is not always easy...I must admit that I tried so hard to keep up but I realized that sometimes I need to take a rest in order to fly higher.

This week is full with new experiences such as making an interactive PPT, engaging students and teaching large class. The links provided truly led me to many informational links. Interactive PPT took me a while to make it since I used to make the ordinary one..although I felt that I could make a better PPT but the one I submitted to Wikiclass was a good example of learning a new technique for me. 

The discussion about Engaging Students informed me that many techniques are available for us to use. I read my classmates' experiences and found out that I need to "dig" deeper. Technology provides many excellent ways to engage the students to the lesson and I realize that I am on the right track to embrace them. I am so happy that I have many experienced classmates here..


I agree that large classes are challenging.. it needs a powerful strategy to overcome the obstacles but I think I have more than one powerful strategy which I can use based on the course. Small group,Think-Pair-Share,ConcepTest,Concept Map etc are several techniques which are available to be used. Amazing..isn't it?


Week 7 is coming..Final Project is on the way..Hope we can reach the end with bigger bag and wings..



 

My "bag" is getting bigger and bigger.. (Week 5)

It's a very productive week as Shahnoza's wish and time consuming as Yudi said. I am totally agree since I need more time in completing all the tasks..we have PBL, Webquest, and Rubrics this week. I must admit that Webquest and Rubrics took me a while to comprehend. Both of them are new to me especially the rubrics because I used write down the rubrics in my Assessment Book and kept it simple. I kept in my mind the categories of the assessment. Now I have to write it down with the explanation. Thanks to Rubistar for making it easier for me and whola..I made one.. 

I took a while too in making my first webquest and realized it was easier to explain something using this technique. It is so organized. Based on my classmates' experience with blog and webquest when they asked their students to make one..I think it will be great to apply these to my students too..

One major thing this week is PBL and the discussion about it is so interesting on the board. In my opinion, PBL surely can change the way of teaching with more attractive ways. After reading Susan Gaer's article, I learned that this technique even can change a community ! I know it depends on the situation but it is worth it to try, isn't it?
I think the class will need more "bags" for the rest of the weeks..