Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Week # 10: Final Reflections

Now I have added a plethora of new tools to my bag of tricks!

It's amazing to see how much we have read, how much we have learned and implemented in our classrooms!

Week 0: Getting started, setting personal learning objectives and goals.

We logged into Nicenet and shared information about ourselves, starting to create a learning community. We collaborated in setting ground rules for discussions and rubrics for self-evaluating discussion board posts. We filled out a needs analysis survey to help ensure that the course topics are appropriate.

Week 1: Introductions; creating an Academic Blog

We created a blog on www.blogger.com. 

We wrote about what we had done and what we learned.

Week 2: The ABC Learning Objectives Framework and Effective Web Searches 

After reviewing different search engines, we analyzed the search engines in terms of use in our own classes and shared their advantages and disadvantages in posts on Nicenet that included the web page, the search term, and recommendation about the search engine.

After reading about the ABCD model, we shared a behavioral objective for a class we taught, using the ABCD model. 

Week 3: Skill-building Websites for Oral/Aural Skills and Saving Bookmarks with Delicious

After reading one article on listening-speaking website, and reviewing at least two different speaking, listening, and/or pronunciation web sites in terms of use in our classes, we shared comments about the sites, including the target audience, skill(s) enhanced, and an overall recommendation. 

After reading the instructions about using Delicious.com, we created and began to use our own Delicious site, and shared the URL including at least three links with appropriate tags. 

We read and analyzed one sample project and discussed that project. 

Week 4: Skill-building Websites for Reading/Writing Skills and Technology-enhanced Lesson Plans

After reviewing at least two different reading and/or writing web sites in terms of use in our classes, we shared comments about the sites, including the target audience, skill(s) enhanced, and an overall recommendation.

After reading about technology-enhanced lesson plans, we created a technology-enhanced lesson plan and explained how it was similar to or different from the regular lesson plan format that we used. 

We reflected on at least one course and described the issues that technology might be able to help with. 

Week 5: Project-basedLearning, WebQuests, and Rubrics

After reading about project-based learning (PBL) and WebQuests, we described how PBL could affect student motivation and behavior in class. 

After reading about rubrics, we shared a rubric for a lesson. 

After reading about project-based learning (PBL) and WebQuests and viewing some examples (Condition), we shared a project-based learning lesson plan or the outline of a WebQuest for one or more of our classes, including why the students would benefit. 

We considered the issues and possible technology tools and described a technology-related change that we would implement to address one or more of the issues. This had to be something that we did not do in our classes before taking this course.

Week 6: Creating Student-centered Classes and Interactive PowerPoint

After reading about examples of different student-centered, interactive large classes, we shared ideas about what techniques might be useful in our own settings to create a student-centered environment. 

After reading about ways to create active learning lessons while using PowerPoint and viewing some examples, we created and shared an example of interactive use of PowerPoint. 

We began to implement a technology-related change in our classes, keeping a log to record what was done, what happened and we described what we were doing. 

Week 7: Learner Autonomy and the One-computer Classroom

After reading about learner autonomy and reflecting on what we did in our own classes, we shared specific ideas about what we currently did and what else we could do to encourage greater learner autonomy in our classes. 

After reading about the one-computer classroom, we created a lesson plan for a one-computer classroom.

Week 8: Teacher Resources Online

After exploring the different teacher resources on the course website, we shared specific ideas about what we might use.

After exploring different sites with templates and exercises and reading about creating a class site, we created a handout, exercise, or class site and shared what we had created on the course wiki. 

We reflected on what happened when we implemented our project and wrote about it in a draft report to share with our partner.

Week 9: Learning Styles – Technology Connections

After reading about learning styles and technology tools for multiple intelligences, we shared a specific example of how we could use technology to address different learning styles in one of our classes (for preparation, in class or for students to use outside of class). 

We used the information from our partners and created a final version of our Project Report.

Week 10: Wrap-up

After reflecting on what we have tried and learned during the previous weeks in the course, we are now sharing specific ideas about what topics worked well. 

After reading about Levels of Technology Integration (LoTI), we described our L0TI level.

Now that the end is near I can see the big picture and realize how much I have progressed as both a learner and a teacher! 

All the experiences shared and all the efforts made have contributed to each one's progress! 

Donna's relentless support, help and assistance have been of paramount importance in this journey! 

Thank YOU ALL! 

Helô

Week # 10: Levels of Technology Integration


This week we had to read the LoTI framework and use it to assess our level of technology integration. We had to think about where we are now and where we would like to be in a year.


Now, I am at Level 4b:

Level 4b – Integration: Routine
At a Level 4b (Integration: Routine) students are fully engaged in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. The teacher is within his/her comfort level with promoting an inquiry-based model of teaching that involves students applying their learning to the real world. Emphasis is placed on learner-centered strategies that promote personal goal setting and self-monitoring, student action, and issues resolution that require higher levels of student cognitive processing and in-depth examination of the content.Students use of digital tools and resources is inherent and motivated by the drive to answer student-generated questions that dictate the content, process, and products embedded in the learning experience.

What is missing now, in my case, is the collaboration beyond the classroom for authentic students problem-solving and issues resolution.

So, in a year, I would like to be at Level 5 (Expansion), where emphasis is placed on learner-centered strategies that promote personal goal setting and self-monitoring, student action, and collaborations with other diverse groups (e.g., another school, different cultures, business establishments, governmental agencies) using the available digital assets.

I think the binational centers in Brazil could come up with some collaboration ideas so that we could promote learner-centered activities using the available digital assets.

I know the binational center where Gil works is well equipped. At Alumni we have the one-computer classroom and the Computer Labs. I think we have the required equipment. Now we need authorization to implement those ideas. 

Although being a 6 (Refinement) would be the ideal situation, it is not my target in the short term. At Level 6, the content emerges based on the needs of the learner according to his/her interests, needs, and/or aspirations and is supported by unlimited access to the most current digital applications and infrastructure available.

At Alumni, classes are pre-planned in that teachers take training courses, get guidelines with lesson plans and are supposed to use the school's materials: cards and PowerPoint Presentations. The examinations are ready regardless of the students' real needs.

I'm happy I'm at Level 4b! I just hope now I have the chance to pass on what I have learned in this course to my peers and convince my educational director to implement some of the ideas. I know there are the administrative issues, though. 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."




Helô