Week 8 Experiences

creating a class site

         

• Like previous, week 8 was started by reading various resources on the web and to explore them in depth. Our task was set to create a class site or make online exercises. Online classes can be created using Nicenet, blog on www.blogger.com, a class survey using Google docs and website or wiki on Google Sites. Using Nicenet is easier and effective for discussion.

• I created it and it is obvious that the students where I have been teaching have difficulties using internet. My students sometimes go to cyber café and use face book and other social media.

• I created a blog for my students especially Grade 8, 9, and 10 to practice and improve in their learning behavior. Its link is http://learnfromremote.blogspot.com/ . It is online exercise not a class. It is targeted to the students who sometimes go to the cyber café. This site is also available in mobile friendly version so that many students can access through their general mobile and android devices. The site provides students with appropriate materials on the basis of their curriculum. It will be a resource for them.

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Online tools for enhancing learning

Our teaching and learning system is still traditional due to lack of technology. Recently we are interested in it since it is emerging slowly in developing countries. Technology has made the teacher's life easier and saved their time in doing their work not only faster but also accurately. What I found interesting is Make exercises online to print out http://www.toolsforeducators.com/   that helps us create word search, bingo, crossword puzzles, and board games for language learning.

I was interested in this type of tool. Another was "Lanternfish" to create  flash cards, bingo games, matching, multiple choice exercises to print out. http://bogglesworldesl.com/, Easy Test Maker (paper   tests) , http://www.easytestmaker.com/default.aspx are very helpful sites for the teachers..  These sites generate test and exercises that give relief to the teachers and opportunities to learn for students. Cross word puzzle maker http://www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html is one the fantastic sites.If we want to make poster online or print, there is http://poster.4teachers.org/teacher/index.php?teacher_id=208311 .These are very useful for me because I  prepare the materials online and use offline.  If these sites are used honestly by a teacher, it won't take a long time to  expertise in the field of teaching. The technology has promoted the learner autonomy.

Some interesting features are Make exercises online to print out, Exercises to use online or offline on a computer or to print out with hot potato game is useful game and software, Web Poster Wizard are designed posters.

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ANVILL  and Voiceboards

ANVILL stands for A National Virtual Language Lab, and as its name suggests, it's a modern web-based audio and video.  

Voiceboard is a modern technology tool which is accompanied with ANVILL and used for language practice orally. Discussions, audio journals, pronunciation exercise and other forms of oral language are practiced with this tool. This tool was developed By Jeff Magoto who was a guest instructor in our training this week. This tool enables using multimedia communication such as audio and video. I felt some problems using it because of slow Internet . 

Project Task

This week, we posted our first draft project  on our class wiki. Now we are working on pair to peer review.

 

Week 7 Experiences

Learner Autonomy,  The One Computer Class, as well as the use of Mobile Devices.

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Learner Autonomy

I began this week through reading three topics. Learner  Autonomy, the One Computer Class, as well as the use of Mobile Devices. This week remained rich in reading. .All the participants including me posted our views  on nice net. We were instructed to make a single discussion post on the nicenet this week. Some of us addressed all topics in one discussion and some made 2 or more  discussions.

By reading learner autonomy , I learned more about learning techniques by reading. My view on  learners autonomy is: learners study entirely on their own, applied in self-directed learning with their own responsibility and determine direction of their own learning. So learners study freely on their own pace and it emphasizes education as a social process. It is students centered reading technique or self-directed learning.

One Computer Class

If there were no many or personal computers in the class room, we could do many things using only one computer. The computers have been a part of our life because we are using it for different purposes in different areas. There are many ideas to use one computer in the websites. I read some of them and I had some on my own experience. We generally take advantage from one computer in a class. we can use computer for :

·         letters, class notes, quizzes, dictionary, thesaurus, hints for correct spelling, test generator, attendance, communications ( e-mail, internet) research, e-book, educational CDs, images, music and audio, videos and many social networking activities.
•   keeping students' records and preparing power point presentation and demonstrating in the class room .

The Use of Mobile Devices.

Nowadays different types of mobile sets are available around the world. They are used mainly for communication. Many mobile company are producing mobile devices that are very useful in our everyday activities. Mobile are minimizing the use of computers with their compatibility and operating systems. Mobile devices are replacing many other electronic devices such as, tape recorder, radio. camera, video camera and many more. They come with many facilities. Android phones are being popular these days everywhere. It can't be more if we call them mini computers.

Our concern about mobile devices are how they can be used in teaching and learning activities.  We can do many things using mobile device, such as:
•   listening
•   recording audio, video and playing back
•   taking photograph
•   looking for dictionary, finding words
•   communication – sms, email, massaging on various social networking application
•   playing games
•   reading

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Class padlet

It is new tool for us this week where we shared our links about learner autonomy. The links are videos, documents, pictures etc. It is a funny page. I have posted one link for learner autonomy and  other about one computer class.

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Project Task

I am refining my final project on "writing formal letters " to my grade 10 students. Writing formal letters is very important on the point of view of examination too. They may be asked to write the letter in Final exam that carries 12 marks. I am now preparing powerpoint presentation to teach this topic through the use of technology.

We are working to peer review our project task. I have invited my mates to be a partner for project peer review.