Let me be frank- part II

I am not happy because I am very busy. Ever since I started this course, my work load increases by the minute and makes me ridiculously busy.
This week, I saw the discussion board with some good 70 posts on reading, writing, and vocab and another 30 odd on the class project. I want to read all of them. Every single one of them.

Time, I need more time.

Sigh!

Week 4-Technology enhanced lesson plans and so much to learn

Week 4, as usual, made me realize how blind I have been. In every university I have taught so far, there were many computer labs and I taught in the class NEXT to the computer lab. And the labs were free!!!!!!!!!

I have even used a lab for teaching when all the classrooms in the English Unit were taken. How come I didn’t see the computers in the lab?

“Aiyo!” – A Sinhalese expression to say “ Oh shit”.

I prepared my very first technology enhanced lesson plan and it was great. I used the website http://www.manythings.org and Robert gave some really useful comments.
The readings for this week were great and I found time to read two extra articles as well. Use of technology can be a real solution to most of the problems we face as teachers. That’s what I learnt this week.

The project task- we don’t see it, but Robert is taking us through the formal steps of a research and these days we are doing the literature survey and identifying the SRP (Specific Research Problem).

Let me be frank!!!

The best thing about this course is, every week we are introduced to a new aspect of using technology in ESL teaching and then as you engage in the course work, you spend the whole week thinking about those wonderful times you are going to have implementing them in your class and seeing you and your students move forward!!!

The ultimate dream of any teacher!!!!

Thank you Robert and thank you E-teacher scholarship program!

Computer Assisted Language Learning

And I am back!!!!

Education should go on par with changing times and as I see it CALL is one way of molding teaching methodologies to suit the needs of modern times while making the best of technology available to facilitate learning.

Use of computers on one hand joins education with a ubiquitous technology in society while making learning close to the students of the modern world. It is true that computers incorporated with learning makes learning easier and it makes it easier and more productive to the teacher as well.

But as I feel, the best thing about CALL is the motivation it gives to students. The impact and influence of technology, especially computers, is so strong that students have come to believe that anything detached from technology is boring.

But CALL gives students this “techi” feeling and yes, it is a wonderful booster of enthusiasm!!!!

The 'delicious' week!!!!

I have seen how technology makes life easier but this week I felt it more than ever. As I said in my Nicenet post, I had a time ‘protecting’ my bookmarks.
I am somebody who has no luck with new technology and all electric items (yes, that includes computers as well) start giving some trouble when I am around. In fact, my life is full of technology related disasters.

For example, during my undergrad days, I took International Relations as my minor and there were about 200 students for that lecture. The lecture hall gets jam-packed and Umesha, with a lot of difficulty somehow manages to sit under a fan and … it stops working!

BA undergrad thesis, one day more for final submission, my computer refuses to ‘save’ !

MA thesis, a couple of weeks before final submission, Umesha sees a silvery smoke (like the silvery strands of thoughts in Harry Potter) coming out from her computer! (my fiancé comes to my place in the middle of the night with his computer!!!)

In all the universities I have worked, I have used more than two computers. This is my 4th month at my new work place, and I’m using the 3rd computer!!!

So as you can see, I am thrilled to have learnt about Delicious this week.

My bookmarks are finally safe!!!

This sounds more like an advertisement … I think!!!

Very First Day of Week Three

My sister asked whether I got my week two results. I told her "Well, Robert hasn't shown up in the class yet".

This is online learning!

But what's the big difference?

We share ideas, comment, do assignments and work towards all familiar deadlines, and get marks. My friends have wished for my sister's wedding...

We don't meet face to face but that's the only difference!!! Almost insignificant a difference considering the way we interact!!!!

Week three is now open in the class website and Robert will send an email shortly. And then we all will work towards achieving our tasks, from different parts of the world!!!

Happy week three everyone!!!

And wish me the same!!! (especially this week!!!!)

Thus ended week two!!!!

ABCD objectives, Blooms Digital Taxonomy, new search engines and this is how the second week of the course passed. I had to join the discussion a little late this week, as I was busy with lectures.
However, I managed to finish all the readings in time to meet the mid-week deadline.
I find the ABCD objectives really useful for two key reasons; first it gives a clear sense of direction and secondly it’s easy to understand and thus put into practice.
I read through all the posts of my class mates and I was fascinated by the plethora of information, the difference of settings and above all the variety of approaches we all have and actually that’s the best things about the course.
Things change so fast and the things we memorized and based our work on change too. That is what I thought when I read Blooms Digital Taxonomy.
It is interesting learn to about these new theories and to use them in practice and then to learn how they are used in a variety of other settings.
Week three is going to be hectic as I have my sister’s wedding coming but hoping to meet the deadlines…. Somehow!!!

Week two started

We are now in the second week of the course and we are reading about Noodletools and ABCD objectives. 

I just want to thank the “E-teacher Scholarship Program” for giving me this wonderful opportunity to learn about  new technology and how to make my teaching on par with the fast moving world. 

I am going to be a high-tech ESL practitioner!!!    

More to come about this week's task and discussions!!!!!!

Week 01- Reflections

My first blog in my first online course; I am very excited. 

I always wanted to bring in a new flavor to my teaching and I feel as if I am entering a whole new world of knowledge, with an array of new possibilities to explore, to learn and to practice.

In my teaching so far, the closest I have been to using technology is the use of Faculty Moodle,  apart from using PowerPoint that is. In order to make my teaching interesting and to generate an enthusiasm in my students, I have tried different methods like incorporating literature, drama and songs to my lessons. But while creating this blog I realized that blogging can be another such way of making teaching ESL  interesting and relevant as well. As I teach in a university, my students are very young individuals, relying so much on this new era of technology. I feel that I can now enter their world as part of their 'techno-community', and it can only give wonderful results. 

I am looking forward to entering this new world of knowledge and sharing ideas with my class members!!!!!

"Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved"

        Ralph Waldo Emerson