A restrictedly autonomous teacher's weekly reflection

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

Partner wanted!

An invitation for collaboration :)

Connected

This week has been very adventurous for me I would say. Yet, what is this life, but an ongoing adventure, where one should take some risks and seize new opportunities. I think this is what we are actually doing here. We discuss, share and discover different views and experiences connected with modern technological ways of TEACHING and seize the opportunity of LEARNING new things.

At the same time, this very week has been very productive as well. I have previously worked with PPT but once again I have discovered many new interactive ways of making a great presentation. Esecially I liked the various activities one could use in a PPT. I have made a PPT in grammar and I avoided using images, as I thought it is more appropriate. In my opinion, a grammar lesson focuses above all on accuracy. I tried to use my PPT as an electronic blackboard where I would explain the theoretical material by involving the students in the process.

Another importand thing is that a teacher should know the students, their personalities, in order to get to them. Very often I make examples using the names of my studetns. In this way they manage to get a better understanding of the studied material.

When it comes to large classes, I work with them only when I have theoretical courses. I am lucky to have 12 students for my practical classes. I would like to share the link of the book I found on the internet:
http://www.cambridge.org/other_files/downloads/esl/booklets/Jones-Student-Centered.pdf
The author explains everything in plain language and it is accessable for everybody.

I also liked the way other techers work with large classes. It is always interesting to discover new things and revise your own methods of teaching.

Connection Problems

I just want to signal out that this week I'm having serious internet problems. I hope I'll manage to do everything on time, At least I'll do my best.

On Assessment

David Norton, our English Fellow in 2010 - 2011, organized at the end of his stay a conference for the regional teachers from the Northern Part of Moldova. I was invited to contribute with a presentation to the conference, which I gladly did. As we are talking about assessment this week, I decided to post my presentation, maybe you'll find some interesting things in it.

Creative assessment

 

View more PowerPoint from Viorica Condrat

Black History Month Project

This is the project I spoke in my article, it was a Black History Month Project, which was meant to challenge the students to get to the core of this delicate issue.  We agreed that the theme of the project should deal with the cultural and historical significance of this month. At first, students brainstormed issues that might figure in their project. Through discussion and negotiation, they decided to dwell upon the controversy of the month, historical background and three most significant representatives in Black History.

We viewed the final outcome in the form of a poster where the most significant search results should be exhibited. The project was thought in black and white which was supposed to represent the present-day harmonious coexistence of the Black and White races.

While structuring the project it was decided what kind of information was needed and where to find it. Then the students devised the tasks among them.

As February was chosen to honor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln I assigned another task for them which would involve both creativity and concrete historic data. Thus, the students were asked to take an imaginary interview from Abraham Lincoln. They should think of two questions they would like to ask the 16th president of the USA. The third question took into consideration the modern context and said: “Mr. Lincoln, what do you think of the 2008 presidential elections and of the 44th president of the USA?” Then the students were supposed to think of possible answers. In this way several important events were mentioned, i.e. The Gettysburg Address, The Emancipation Proclamation as well as some information concerning the president’s political career and personal life. This was a proof that the students had done some research before answering the questions.

After the information was gathered, it was thoroughly analyzed. The students decided upon what to preserve in group. After a fruitful discussion we agreed that we should place in the center of the poster Langston Hugh’s poem Dreams. Students made a parallel between the poem and Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech I Have A Dream. Thus, we came to the conclusion that Black History is a history paved with dreams. We decided that if the Cherokee had a “Trail of Tears” then the Black people in the USA followed the Trail of Dreams.

At the end, the students were asked to “have their say” and express their opinion whether there is still the need to have such a month. Afterwards I asked them to evaluate themselves.

I enjoyed working on this project together with my students as it enabled me to see how they perceive the Black History Month. Besides, it appears to be the best way of combining creativity with specific information in the acquisition of English as a second language.

The project work described in this article was well-received by the students who thought it engaging and meaningful. They found the process rewarding, intrinsically motivating, and educationally useful.

P.S. In case you would like to see the project we worked on this year (It took a while till we finalized it) go to: https://vickycondrat.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/sweet-november-this-is-the-book-of-youth/

The Quest for a New Tool :)

So I have created an account on WebQuest and I like it. At first, I did not quite understand what I can use it for. I was puzzled a bit. Even the samples were not of a great help. As I am the adept of "involve-me-and-I'll-understan" issue I started to realize its benifits.

Firt of all it can be used as a guideline for the assignments the students should do. It can show from the very beginning what the teacher expects them to achieve during this course, lesson, etc. Secondly it stores all the links and files the students might need for the course. This is extremely good as their search will get a more organized character. Then there is the possibility of creating rubrics there as well. Once again the students will know exactly how they will be appriciated for their work. And all this can be found in one place.

I'm working on a WebQuest I intend my students to use when we are going to cover the module: "A Friend in Need" from our curriculum. I hope they'll be as thrilled as I am.

To write or not to write!

This the question that has been haunting me for a while. It is a frustrating question I would say. You have so many things to say, but somehow become numb if front of the blank sheet of paper. Probably this is exactly how the students feel when they have to write. I think it is high time we had to rethink our attitude towards writing: it should change from a must inot a pleasurable activity. But how?

Technology might help. Keeping blogs and expressing thoughts and ideas is a good way to enhance writing. I'm thinking to introduce blog writing next year in my class. So far, I've been asking the students to post comments on the main blog, but why not make them write their own? I think we will create a class web-site at this course that will meet our educational goals. I had one but it was not successful, I think now I'll do it otherwise so that I get what I need. 

I'm not sure though that education should be done exclusively on-line. I understand its benifits, but I still think that the physical presence of the teacher and peers is still important for a better assimilation of the material. In my opinion, it should be an addition to the process of teaching. This is how I feel about it. Maybe I am wrong. That is why I have been more hesitant this week in writing.

The importance of being read!

It is commonly acknowledged that people write things to be read. Definately, this is not the case of a diary a person keeps to record one's ideas and feelings. However, even in this case, the person would come back and read his / her experiences. So it is easy to understand why reading and writing always come together.

I've read some of the posts on the nicenet and I noticed that writing and reading are an issue in some classes. At least, they are in mine. I liked the links you shared, especially, Marija's http://www.superlame.com/. I think it is really great, and I have already thought of making comics. I think it should motivate the students, and it will also boost creativity.

I've already tried it and I liked it. This is the result!