As we reach the end of any thing be it a trip, a party, a school year or what ever, we feel that saying goodbye is the expression we hate most no matter how aware we are from the beginning that we are bound to say it. In this course I have one of my best trips in the field of teacher training. I think all my class-mates will have the same opinion. A long time ago Christophe Columbus led some of the most important journeys in human history which led him to discover the Americas. A discovery which altered the whole world as it was known then. My journey through the course is just as important and fruitful.

Ding these ten week I have learnt multitudes  of things all fostering my better teaching practices.I can list them as follows:

• Search engines
• Wiki
• nicenet
• using the blog
• Rubrics
• Webquests
• Tools for educators
• .......

The list is still long which means that we had benefited a lot from each and every activity we did so far.

All I can say to my colleagues and teachers is that I am grateful. Now I know what it means to study online and I also know the bulk of possibilities that online resources can provide me with in a very Short time. In addition, I can create my own teaching material. Surely this will make of me a different teacher.

I wish all the best to all of us.

Ilham

Week nine reflections:

Greetings to all

I feel that we started counting our last hours.

During this week we started our week with a topic of great importance in the field of teaching. Multiple intelligences enable us to value our students as wholes not just in terms of old standards which see intelligence a particular performance. Now we are more aware that our students can progress if we give them the chance to show their attributes. Similarly, considering MIs leads us to accept and benefit from the different learning styles to reshape our teaching strategies to fit these styles. It is high time to abandon the one recipe lesson that applies for all students in all classes .the teacher is bound to be flexible. Surely technology provides the best tools to cater for all the learning styles at once.One more idea in this respect is that we ourselves discover new things about how we prefer to learn and teach.

Our second accomplishment for the week is the final project that we were able to send. It was a very important for me to go through the exrerience of writing and proof reading our colleagues projects.

All the best

Week eight reflections

Dear all,

Like all the weeks in the course, I learn many new things.

To start with, writing the report gave an opportunity to pre-view my practices as a teacher in light of this training. There has been a great deal of information to be processed before the application can take place. I learnt that in trying to implement technology in class I’ve got to take many variables into consideration. One other element I find very important here is that a teacher who plans to integrate technological tools has to be fully aware of all the intricate details that may, if not regarded, hinder his lesson and turn it to nothingness. Furthermore, he has to outline the possible mishaps and tries to find a way out. Writing the report thus really added to my experience.

Secondly, I learnt a lot about the tools suggested for this week. We have discussed learner autonomy in previous discussions. These tools exemplify how a teacher himself should develop and use his autonomy in preparing his lessons or activities. Besides the tools suggested give him a break from the monotony he may feel when he uses only one source material. So making fun-activities, tests, flash cards and so on and so forth are all new to me. In fact I am still trying to figure out all the intricacies of hot potatoes, even if I have heard of it a long time ago but had never tried it.

Since learning is a process I can’t say I have mastered all the tools fully. I am sure I will learn a lot more about each and every tool. Every trial teaches me and adds to my experience. I feel my lessons have not yet finished. I will carry on learning them after I finish this course.

Concerning the tools for educators, I don’t know why I can’t download my activities. Does anyone have a clue? By the way I have followed the instructions but it doesn’t work.

I also quote Shirish question about ANVILL: how can I use it with a one computer in class.

Regards,

Ilham

Week seven reflections

Greetings to everybody,

This week information load is as important as the preceding ones.

During this week I got to reflect on the meaning of learner autonomy and it implications for both the students and teachers.

At first glance the word autonomy equals independence. Independence from the authority of the teacher who is the leader of the class; the fountain of knowledge to whom all have to pay attention as he starts shedding his knowledge on the passive , empty-headed students. The teacher, on the contrary to the related out dated tradition of teacher role, step.  He starts playing other roles. Rather, he is an assistant. He helps leaners get through their learning process by valuing in them all the positive attributes that make them successful learners. He should train them to adopt useful learning strategies and understand that learning is not restricted to the four walls of the classroom. Notwithstanding, it is a process that can take place where ever. All they have to do is to be alert to what goes on in their surroundings. The first article stresses the importance of these elements in relation to the topic under discussion:

·         Learning strategies

·         Learner attitude and motivation

·         Teacher role in fostering autonomous learning

·         …

Secondly, it goes without saying that the aim of the course is to enable us to integrate technology in their teaching practice. Therefore, the introduction of a task like planning a one computer lesson plan is aiming at the realization of the course goals. Of course the task is meaningful. However, it can’t be done perfectly without having an overview of activities and preparations that a teacher has to do on the class computer before it is integrated in teaching. I find the examples presented very useful. They gave me an insight to how my computer, which is supposed to be used in class, should look like.

As I am doing a plan project, I am trying to write the details of the report. The articles I read were of great help since they touched upon the topic I’ m dealing with. I hope I can finish my draft before the dead-line and my peer-reader too will not find any complication. By the way it is great to a peer reader. We are sometimes unable to spot some our mistakes. So another reader may be more efficient.

Finally, the overall lesson I learnt from this training is patience, especially when connection is too slow.

Cheers to all.

Week 6 discussion

Hello all,

Firstly, this week again I am thrilled by the amount of important information I’ve got to know about teaching large classes mainly because I see teaching crowded classes is not something that all teachers are  eager to do. The ability to keep track of all students and provide them with the necessary help in an hour session is too difficult; I had to spend too much time getting students to write, reading and correcting all their mistakes in class, which means three hours in one lesson. Each student, on the other hand, attends more to his own mistakes. With the use of pre-planned correction, and having students read others’ writings. I think I will be able to go over the writings beforehand and direct my correction session. Students also will be able to interact and discuss their writings.

Secondly, for a long time I felt using power point presentation is not that distinguished. Many slides are being moved. The audience is passive, and at times feels bored. Personally, I used to think that over using power point in class may not be of great help. In teaching the present simple for example, my students and I are used to following the explanation of the lesson step by step on the blackboard. They had to write the examples on their copybooks. That’s why I have never thought of depending on PPT. the second reason maybe that I am not well trained at doing that. I felt there may be some mishaps if I tried some tool I don’t know well.

During this week I have been learning about PPt and experimenting on it.

Like some colleagues, I will not have students to work with them on my project. This means I will write a project plan.

Ilham

Week 6

Oh dear! this is the sixth week. I am trying to keep up with tasks of each week. Meanwhile, I return previous weeks and see other suggestions from other teachers. Today I've seen the webquest suggested by Ida. I like it because it gives an idea about how we can teach basic English to our students, especially because mine are just beginners. It looks motivating.
Thanks to all who are presenting us with new possibilities. 

This week was as amazing as the preceding ones. I learnt a lot about new tools,alternative assessment,and PBL I tried to create my web quest. Something which  I ll complete as soon as could