I don't know where to start from. Probably from the very beginning.
I have thought that the more we are getting closer to the grand finale the easier it will be. I was mistaken. I think the esiest task this week was to find a partner. I would like to thank Poncho for expressing his desire to be my partner for our next week's peer reading of our project drafts.
When it comes to one-computer classroom, it was not difficult as well, just a bit time-consuming. What I want to say is, I thought at first that some random thoughts would do, but then I realized I had to make a more specific lesson plan. But this why we are here: to realize things and ideas, "Reflections into Actions" as Victoria entitled her blog. We do not only learn but actually DO things (I'm too much into Pragmatics, aren't I?).
I would also like to add that we use very often a computer in the classroom. We use it for listening activities, or for watching something, or for making public a presentation. I liked the activities from:
- http://www.susangaer.com/sgaer/onecomputer/wordprocessing.html
- http://www.susangaer.com/sgaer/onecomputer/internet.html
- http://www.lburkhart.com/elem/strat.htm
- http://www.seirtec.org/present/onecomptr.html
Some of them were new to me, others were not.
The reading for this week mostly dealt with learner autonomy, something that should be ecouraged, cultivated, in our students. I have already shared the existing problems here in Moldova, i.e. the student are too much teacher-dependent. If there is nobody to watch-dog them, they won't do anything. This is a problem we are fighting and trying hard to solve. I think that our schools have to adopt not only verbally but also in practice student-centered teaching and the problem will gradually disappear.
Another issue is the teacher autonomy. I think the teacher should be autonomous within the curriculum he/she has to follow and according to the students' needs.
So these are my reflections for this week
Cheers
Vicky