Would you agree with me that the Internet, as Web 2.0 Tools, has it all? Perhaps you have your doubts about this. However, in terms of education and language learning, a vast variety of tools are available for free use. Isn't that great?
By patiently exploring the mysteries and shortcuts one gets to find on the Web, one can come across valuable tools that can exponentially benefit one's teaching and student learning. The problem, at times, one has to admit, is that the search might prove to be useless. But teachers don't have to give up.
One of the most important things I have learned through this Building Teaching Skills W2010 is that sharing is the cornerstone in trying to move from the usual teaching in the classroom to a more interactive, participate, encouraging, and inclusive learning heading towards the regaining of student voices and learner autonomy. If all of us, members of this online course, can keep on sharing our findings on the Web, our language teaching will become much more fruitful and fun. And this can be fulfilled by continue posting on our blogs and commenting on others' blogs as well.
"Once this course is over, what is the next step?," you may have already asked this questions yourselves. In my particular case, I am now planning a five-week on-line training with our Mentor Teachers. Once mentors are trained with some of the most important things we have been learning through these intense weeks of Web learning and meditation, they will be able to continue replicating this information. In this way, little by little, information will be diseminated and more teachers will be heading towards autonomous learning, B-learning, and PBL, without forgetting the importance of having clear learning objectives for our students.
Finally, as I posted in our "virtual classroom," my teaching style has taken 180° change in direction. To keep up with the new techonoligical gatgets of the future, we must continue to share, be in touch, and develop ourselves professionally. Lifelong learning is just about to open more learning possibilities for us, teachers, and consequently for our students.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Dear Jonathan,
I agree, 'Sharing and collaboration' is the elixir of technlogy.
It is indeed very good idea to carry on working together after this course.
Dilip (India)
Hi Jonathan,
Who would disagree with? You are right the web has it all.But, who really knows how to use it? A happy few.
Now we are equipped with the practical tools we need to carry on the learning journey we started a few weeks ago for some or years for others.For me the change has already started in my classroom, and I feel more confident today to share with my colleagues who are aware that our current practices need rethinking.Yourself, you have already initiated this replication process.I will walk into your footsteps .
I am beyond words grateful to the hand you gave when I asked for it.You have been such a reliable and insightful partner.
Thank you
Hassina
Dear Jonathan,
you seem to be so good at planning and organizing things, You already have a dissemination plan worked out. I wish you a lot of success in that as well. I have also feel that so much in my views and even practices has been changed owing to this course. I would not dare to measure it, but see your point.
You have been one of the great praticipants in our discussions, often the first to 'digest' the week's ideas for the rest of us.
I believe that we are all changing little by little by deafult. Sometimes giant leaps occur too, of course.
In this course we have changed for the better. Let us try to keep doing a difficult thing - keep an open mind.
Todo lo que no es tonto, cambia, as they say.
Warmest regards from Croatia,
Andreja
Dear Jonathan!
I am very enthusiastic when I read your comment about keeping in touch, and continue to share with each other.
Well, it's true we, as English teachers need to develop furthermore professionally, must be ready to open more learning
opportunities based on accurate needs analysis and appropriate materials and methodologies.
There is no doubt that modern computer-based technology offer great potential for helping students learn English, but the best teacher will learn how to integrate these technologies into their instruction!
regards
Stela