A new challenge - Webskills

Assessing Technology Integration

This week our task was to look at two comprehensive models to assess our own technology usage in the class. The results of both assessments showed that due to this course I have made steps towards a higher level. To illustrate this I have attached one of the charts here. As I mentioned it in our Nicenet discussion, I am quite visual. The blue colour shows what I did before the course; the new elements are marked red.

Summary

The other task this week was to think about what we have learned during the past 9 weeks and to give advice for future participants of a similar course.

I am sure that some elements are missing from the following list, in which I try to summarise what I did during this course.

- I created this blog.
- I reviewed and analysed different search engines.
- I started using behavioural learning objectives, following the ABCD model.
- I reviewed different speaking, listening, and pronunciation web sites in terms of use in my classes.
- I created and began to use my own Delicious site.
- I read and analysed one sample project.
- I read articles about using CALL in reading and writing instruction and commented on them.
- I visited some of the multi-skill websites and found some specific web pages that work for me in my class.
- I repaired a Technology-Enhanced Lesson Plan.
- I read about how PBL, Webquests, rubrics and alternative assessment could affect student motivation and behavior in class.
- I created my Webquest.
- I created a rubric for a lesson.
- We discussed what techniques might be useful to create a student-centred environment.
- I created an interactive PowerPoint document, which I shared with the others.
- We discussed how to encourage greater learner autonomy.
- I contributed to the class Padlet site, where we posted links about learner autonomy, the one-computer classroom, and using mobile devices.
- I created some hand-outs, exercises, a class site on Nicenet, I started getting acquainted with ANVILL, and I made my own Wiki on Google sites.
- After writing my own draft project report I exchanged it with Minjung’s project, and then I reviewed her project plan.
- I took part in many discussions including one about how we could use technology to address different learning styles in classes.
- Using the information from Minjung I created the final version of my Project Report.
- Every week we shared our reflections on what we did and what we learned that week and commented on other people's posts.

There are some other tools I've heard about either from classmates or explored myself which could be incorporated into future courses such as Quizlet, Socrative, Kahoot!, infographics. ANVILL was just mentioned on the course site. More Information would have helped me.

I have already started to use most of the tools I learnt about during this course.
My favourite ones that I am planning to work with in the future are Padlet walls, interactive PowerPoint, Hot Potatoes, rubrics, wikis on Google sites, Nicenet, Blogger, Socrative, Infographics, Kahoot! and ANVILL.

The course is so well-designed that my only advice for new participants is to follow the instructions and do their best.

Farewell

It's hard to believe that the course is almost over.

At the beginning of the course I made a list of participants.
That time it contained names and data.

Now the same names mean a lot to me.

Thank you.

P.S.: I'd be happy if everybody sent his or her photo to be added to this Padlet.

Click here to visit my "Webskills Participants Padlet"

(If you don't wish to be on this Padlet wall, please, let me know, and I'll delete you.)

Learning styles and Technology Tools

I don’t usually cite other people’s words but following sentences could have been written by me. I can’t agree more.

“Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominant styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.” http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/ .

Among the optional resources I found a link to a quiz http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-assessment which asks 24 questions and gives you some insights into your learning preferences. This is what I received.

It clearly shows that I am a mix of learning styles as everybody is. Of course, there are dominant elements. I am quite interpersonal, which is not bad for a teacher. :-)

The most interesting thing for me this week has been ANVILL. What a useful tool! I have watched several videos and I am looking forward to starting using it. ANVILL stands for A National Virtual Language Lab. I am planning to create media-rich lessons using this speech-based toolbox. The most attractive feature of ANVILL for me is that „Spoken language tasks can be integrated into any type of exercise, providing discussion and practice opportunities.” (https://anvill.uoregon.edu/anvill7/ )

After long thinking I have created my Nicenet class for those students of mine who are so called “private students”. They are members of my groups, their names are in the class registers but I hardly ever meet them as they are outstanding athletes who do not have to come to school every day. They go to training camps, travel a lot, take part in competitions, some of them even live abroad and come home only for exams. The requirements for them are the same so I’d like to help them with their studies as much as I can. By this time we kept contact via e-mails. Now I created the Nicenet site for them and sent the students invitations.

Final Project

After reading my peer review partner’s, Minjung’s comments I made some modifications and additions. The final version of my project has been uploaded to the course site.

I’d like to seize the opportunity to thank Minjung for her help, kindness and advice.

By the way, I finished my own WebQuest and shared it on Zunal.com. Link to my WebQuest: Teen Issues - Letter of Advice

Course Evaluation

I’ve been very pleased with the course. I have learnt much more than “webskills”. Having classmates from all over the world has broadened my horizons. We have never met in person but I think we have become really close to each other.

I’m extremely grateful to the course instructors for helping me through this course.

There is one thing I have forgotten to write down in the evaluation. When I applied, it was said that “Participants should expect to spend on average 8-10 hours per week in course work.” Instead of „week” they should have written “day”. In the last 9 weeks I spent half of each night in front of my computer, not to mention whole weekends. I am not complaining. What I’d like to express is that a lot of time is needed for this course but it is worth it.