As an enthusiastic reader of many blogs, I'm interested in finding out, how blogs could be used as a tool for learning reading and writing.
The great thing about blogs is that everyone should be able to find a blog of a specific topic that interests you.
a) Less advanced learners. A group of 7th graders. The assignment could be divided into following tasks: a) finding/reading a blog that interests you. b) Commenting on a post in the blog. c) Creating a blog of your own, as a sort of a portfolio, where several texts would be posted throughout the lower secondary school.
b) More advanced learners. A group of high school seniors. The assignment here would include the same tasks as with the less advanced learners, however with more demanding texts. The students could be adviced to write the blog during the whole course and all the texts would be posted there. As for the reading part, the students could be given the task to follow and comment on a couple of blogs that post regularly.
tiistai 17. helmikuuta 2015
Task 1
Expectations for this course
I expect this course to give me information about the possibilities of technology in English language teaching. Moreover I expect to gain concrete ideas and tools waiting to be adapted to my own teaching practices when I start teaching again in August. Having been on maternity leave for the past three years, it would be nice to have some modern and fresh ideas to bring with me as I return.
My technological skills are quite modest and I feel it is my responsibility as a teacher to improve these skills that will play an increasingly large role in the future of the school world.
I expect this course to give me information about the possibilities of technology in English language teaching. Moreover I expect to gain concrete ideas and tools waiting to be adapted to my own teaching practices when I start teaching again in August. Having been on maternity leave for the past three years, it would be nice to have some modern and fresh ideas to bring with me as I return.
My technological skills are quite modest and I feel it is my responsibility as a teacher to improve these skills that will play an increasingly large role in the future of the school world.
Task 2
S.C Herring Discourse in Web 2.0
I think the article reminded us of the fact that the new media is really not that old at all. What seems to us as new and modern, e.g. Wikipedia, is actually just a technological and somewhat modified version of the good old encyclopedia. Another example is Twitter which is basically a modern form of older practice.
Text remains the main channel of communication, just like it was when books, magazines and letters were the essential tool for staying in touch and following the things that happened around us.
What was also interesting was the different kind of way to behave between male and female users. Studies show that men act more assertively, profanely, sarcastically and in an insulting way than women. Female users in turn tend to be more supportive, affectionate and up-beat than men.
I think the article reminded us of the fact that the new media is really not that old at all. What seems to us as new and modern, e.g. Wikipedia, is actually just a technological and somewhat modified version of the good old encyclopedia. Another example is Twitter which is basically a modern form of older practice.
Text remains the main channel of communication, just like it was when books, magazines and letters were the essential tool for staying in touch and following the things that happened around us.
What was also interesting was the different kind of way to behave between male and female users. Studies show that men act more assertively, profanely, sarcastically and in an insulting way than women. Female users in turn tend to be more supportive, affectionate and up-beat than men.
Task 3
I didn't know anything about Voki before but now that I learnt about the tool a bit, I got very excited about the possibilities it could offer. One of the benefits is definitely its suitability for learners of all stages. As for the assignment, I could think of following ways of applying Voki in speaking exercises.
a) Less advanced learners. The target group would be 7th graders that have learnt English three to four years. The assignment is introducing your home and neighbourhood to your classmates. First, you need to choose a suitable character to do the job. This could for example be your pet or a mouse living in your cellar. After that you write down the introduction (what kind of a house it is, who lives there, who live nextdoor, what your neighbourhood is like, what you like about it and so on). Finally you record your introduction and save it online.
As the teacher I would then review it, make sure it contains all the required parts and give my feedback. It would also be an option to play some or all of these in the class. Another option would be to assign the pupils to listen at least one or two introductions and ask some additional questions about the houses/neighbourhoods etc.
b) More advanced learners. The target group is a group of high school seniors. The assignment is to give a presentation in Voki that would then be played in front of the class. The character should be chosen according to the topic of the presentation. The assignment could, for example, be to give a speech about a certain topic. The basics of writing/giving a speech should be taught beforehand and it might be a good idea to watch parts of some inspiring speeches to get an idea.
If all speeches were to be played in front of the class, the benefit of using Voki here would be questionable. However, if this particular course contained more than one larger oral exercise, all the exercises could be done in Voki and be reviewed by the teacher. However, only one presentation per student would be played in front of the whole class. Peer evaluation is, of course, one suitable option here, and would probably work quite well, since students could watch each other's performances at home, too.
a) Less advanced learners. The target group would be 7th graders that have learnt English three to four years. The assignment is introducing your home and neighbourhood to your classmates. First, you need to choose a suitable character to do the job. This could for example be your pet or a mouse living in your cellar. After that you write down the introduction (what kind of a house it is, who lives there, who live nextdoor, what your neighbourhood is like, what you like about it and so on). Finally you record your introduction and save it online.
As the teacher I would then review it, make sure it contains all the required parts and give my feedback. It would also be an option to play some or all of these in the class. Another option would be to assign the pupils to listen at least one or two introductions and ask some additional questions about the houses/neighbourhoods etc.
b) More advanced learners. The target group is a group of high school seniors. The assignment is to give a presentation in Voki that would then be played in front of the class. The character should be chosen according to the topic of the presentation. The assignment could, for example, be to give a speech about a certain topic. The basics of writing/giving a speech should be taught beforehand and it might be a good idea to watch parts of some inspiring speeches to get an idea.
If all speeches were to be played in front of the class, the benefit of using Voki here would be questionable. However, if this particular course contained more than one larger oral exercise, all the exercises could be done in Voki and be reviewed by the teacher. However, only one presentation per student would be played in front of the whole class. Peer evaluation is, of course, one suitable option here, and would probably work quite well, since students could watch each other's performances at home, too.
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