Week 6 - Press an action button for interaction!

We're moving forward on our way to becoming true representatives of new tools in teaching!

This week’s topic we shifted from action to interaction in hope that we'll stop boring our students who are more than familiar with our gift of speech. Our task is to stimulate them to do things on their own with their own hands and brain, together, in pairs, teams and working groups. From this week on I believe that interaction is the best action! Nevertheless, when using modern gadgets we need to be careful not to overdo their use as less is  more!

After Week 6 I’ve realized that I need to improve and reinforce my knowledge on the tools I'm already using rather than shifting onto a new tool without brushing up on the familiar ones.

The saying is practice makes perfect and I agree with it! I’ve chosen this idea to be stepping-stone in implementing new tools into my teaching!

Week 5 - Following the right path through our Quests!

From all of the paths that we can possibly come across in the World of Web we found the best one that nourishes our needs.

Our modern students now choose to learn how to learn and why to learn. They design their learning themselves and reflect on it. We offer them great tools, set the goals they need to accomplish and point out evaluating parameters. We basically remove all the obstacles that may get in their way so they can focus on their ride and their finish!

This is perfect for our innovative society of team builders and team leaders who constantly create in this ceaselessly transforming World of ours!

Week 4 -Down the technology hole we go!

Phew! What a week this was! I am not sure if I picked all the fruit and put them into my delicious basket! My head is still spinning when I look into the side mirror!

This week we travelled further. On our stops we had  plenty of time to do our readings on  how to use computers to enhance ways to teach reading and writing. Out of many great resources found we had to decide on the ones that we found adequate for us and our little followers. In addition, they had to be followed by the ABCD's objectives! Yes, that magical formula that makes both teachers and students happy!

Later we got to the point where we had to use technology within the given frames. How to decide on what fruit would be the greatest resource of vitamins for our students. It would have been easy if we didn't have to follow the procedure of a modern nutritionist who knows how to carefully plan the healthy menu.

Travelling through the technology hole you can never be cautious enough! You have to be able to predict all the little bits and bobs that may give you a headache. I've spent a lot of time thinking of the ones that may strike my little followers! I’ll make sure to eliminate them.

This week's journey has taught me that you have to plan your journey carefully! You need to be able to help your passengers and share your food with them. You can never stop learning about amazing places and pick up what suits you best! You also have to be able to share your experience and never stop pedalling.

Next time, when I take my students for a journey through the Webland I will make sure to prepare them well, find them the best roads to travel on and to be there for them at all times!

Week 3 - Delicious Oranges' Talks

We cut this week into three slices. All of them were very delicious. Over the first one, the most delicious one, we shared our most delicate secrets.
The second slice was quite big so we chatted over it for a long time. We discussed the aural/oral skills starting from reading the different articles to visiting a lot of (web) sites that supplied us with a great deal of theoretical and practical resources. The talk on them was rich and educational. It seems like the Oranges have reached a higher level of communication. I am happy to be a part of this multi-way learning environment!
The last bite brought along a quiet conversation on former participants' projects. I’ve picked to talk about Runganayagie Nalini Reddy's Project. Reddy's ideas made me stop and think for a while. I've realized that teachers all over the World face similar challenges on a daily basis. I promised to myself not to complain about my working conditions and decided to try out ‘everything what is there' to help me in teaching.
I’ll definitely start from Podcasting and show to my students how to do it. I believe this will make them feel they can create with the knowledge they possess. They can reflect on it, just as I am doing right now, and get involved into the process of brushing their skills. I surely am brushing my ideas for the Final Plan.

Hi5 Comments & Hi5 Graphics

Week 2-Learning ABCD in Web searching

To begin with my colleague Afika's words: I was ecstatic to see my grades of week. I have to admit that I felt the same. Good marks really keep you going. This is why the Week 2 got all steamed up and all of us remained productive throughout the whole week. I had my ups and downs, but I managed.

 We began our 2^nd week with Web searching. After trying out various search engines I realized that this course is actually just the beginning of a long term process, what is known as Continuing Personal Development.  Before, I googled without goggles, not using any advanced options that could seriously narrow my googling. I discovered other Googles, more appropriate than the original itself. In order to find the most appropriate results I had defined my search around main criteria listed. I completely got the meaning of Deborah Healey’s quote: You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to search more effectively.

 Even though I didn't manage to explore all the options I wished to explore, I headed onto an ABCD (Audience, Behaviour, Condition, and Degree) objective. This model effectively supports better communication between teacher and students. It is proven to be very handy for both teachers and students. It simplifies who, what, how and how much should learn. The model is developed around Bloom's taxonomy and Revised Bloom's taxonomy with respect to different learning styles. You can try your ABCD's here.  Working through my ABCD’s I found out that I am using wrong verbs in my everyday lesson plans! Now I have a better perspective of how to clearly explain to my students what they are expected to do.

This week we also began with our Project by ticking the Task 1 box. At first this left me puzzled. I had to be careful when choosing the right group of students in order to lay the foundations of the Project itself! Finally, I am waiting for my mentor to confirm on my Year 6 Group. I am looking forward to my Final Project!