Week 10 reflections - What changed in my teaching carreer after taking this course?

Dear all,

When we started this course, in my first post I wrote  "What impact this new way of learning and teaching will have in my carreer as a young teacher?"

Well, I must say that it changed a lot. After being introduced to so many new technology tools and after starting to use technolgy in class I must say that first of all it had a very postitive impact.

 

In my first post during week one I pointed out that I work in the High School of Visual Arts in Gjilan, Kosova, which is a vocational school. Unfortunately, many students in this vocational high school said: "Why do we have to learn English, we are here only to learn a craft." I saw that they weren't motivated to learn something new, in this case English.

 

As I mentioned above, in this course we have been introduced and learned about many technological tools and how to use them. When I started to use the web for the first time with my students, I got a very positive response from their part (a thing that I never expected that would happen so soon). When for the first time I asked them to send their homework to me by e- mail, I noticed that they were interested to do it and began to come more prepared in English classes.

 

As we continued to learn new things,  I always tried to apply technology in class, even though it wasn't always possible because of the lack of computers and internet at school. But, after learning especially  how to use one computer in the clasroom, I immediately began to  prepare lessons with the interactive powerpoint, as for now it is the only way to include technology in class.

In additon to this, amongst  many great tools and webs  I started to use Nicenet and Blog with my students.  Two very new tools to students and also to me.  I plan to always use them in my teaching because they help students to inhance their writing and communication skills as well.

It was a great opportunity for me to have the chance to learn about how to use techology in class. I learned so many new things and I really hope that I will be able to use them in the near future as in Kosovo the schools still aren't digitized, and during winter we have a lot of problems also with eletricity. But, however , fortunately I atchieved my main goal, to motivate the students. Thanks to this course I learned how to integrate  technology in class appropriately and I saw that students began to feel motivated and started to come regularly to English classes.

 

Finally, I want to state that I feel very privileged and lucky for having the chance to work and to exchange my experince with so many great teachers from all over the world. I have learned a lot from all of you.

 

I want to thank Robert in particular. During all these weeks he was very supportive and helpful. He is a great teacher, and especially liked the way he gave his feedback.

 

Good luck to all of you in your future teaching!

 

Warm regads from Kosovo,

Blerta

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Intelligence Song

Below you have the multiple intelligence song, I hope you like and enjoy it!

WEEK 9 REFLECTIONS - Different learning styles

 

Dear all,

Before taking the online test that we were offered: http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/, and before getting the result I always thought of myself that I was a visual learner, but it was surprising and a bit confusing for me that I turned out to be a mixture of learning styles.
This made me reflect very much about how I teach my students, how effective is my teaching, and what do I have to do in order to maintain the balance between students with multiple intelligences and different learning styles.

As in our classes we usually have students with different styles of learning and with multiple intelligences, I think that teachers first of all must identify their own learning style and intelligence , then the students' intelligences and learning styles in order to meet their needs and to provide a more effective teaching,  because all of them do not acquire the same lesson in the same way. Till now, we did this in traditional ways, now we have to think how to address to a variety of learning styles through technology. 

However, after reading the materials about different learning styles and especially after reading Technology and Multiple Intelligences in After reading the materials about learning styles  identified by Howard Gardner in http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic68.htm, I've learned much more about multiple intelligences and  different learning styles, so I've added  some ideas about using technology for each style of learning.

These are the ideas that I've posted also in Nicenet:
1.  Some technology tools for Verbal/Linguistic learners "word smart" (according to Gardner) are: Web development tools - sharing a poem, myth, legend, news article; Voice annotation in word processing; Using comments in word processing; Audio recorders and digitizers - recording oral histories and interviews; Discussion lists and forums - discussing, debating; Chats ; Reading and interpreting web information.

2.   Some technology tools for Logical/Mathematical Learners "number smart" are: Organizational tools (databases, calendars); Multimedia authoring (HyperStudio) - show results, animate ; Videotape - experiments, demonstrations, data gathering ; Animation - demonstrate an experiment; Webquests ; Computer-aided design - for problem solving; Strategy, logic, and critical thinking software.

3.   Some technology tools for Visual/Spatial Learners "picture smart" are: Photo sharing websites; Comics and Sequential art; Animation software ; Puzzle building tools; Match pictures to vocabulary words; Websites with visual organizers or use color ; Visual Artwork; Computer-generated Board Games; Digital Camera; Concept Mapping Tools and Diagrams (Inspiration & Kidspiration).

4.   Some technology tools for Bodily/Kinesthetic Learners "body smart" are: Keyboarding, mouse, joystick, and other devices for movement ; Scientific probes and microscopes ; Video production - skits, dances, sports, role playing, demonstrations; Animation - Macromedia Flash; Digital still and video cameras - skits, plays, role playing, demonstrations ; Virtual worlds.

5.   Some technology tools for Musical/Rhythmic Learners "music smart" are: Music composition software ; DVDs and CD-audios; Interactive books with audio elements; • Video and audio recorders - digitize singing, musical instruments; Sound and music files; Music clips; Interactive books with audio elements; Music sharing sites.

6.   Some technology tools for Intrapersonal "self smart" are: Internet research - self paced; Word processing - brainstorming, diaries, journals ;Video projects - record personal ideas ; Multimedia portfolios ; Blogs.

7.   Some technology tools for Interpersonal "social smart" are: Blogs; Email projects ; Chat; Social networks; Webquests with collaborative elements ; Video recording - sharing with others through skits, debates, role plays; Peer tutoring; Virtual worlds; Group presentations (PowerPoint).

8.   Some technology tools for Naturalist "nature" are: Audio and video cameras - record natural world; Digital cameras - record natural world, field trips; Word processing - journaling, natural information; Geocaching – GPS; Desktop presentations (Powerpoint) - show tends and changes over time.

9.   And the final and the newest intelligence " Existentialist" by Howard Gardner is described like this: These "wondering" people learn best through seeing the "big picture" of human existence by asking philosophical questions about the world. Technology tools include email, chat, teleconferencing, and other interactive communication tools to help students address their questions.

All of these tools are great for respective intelligences and learning styles, but the tools that I consider very good and will use in my future teaching, especially for visual / spatial learners are:
cambridgeenglishonline.com/Cartoon_Maker, and www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/picture-match-30004.html, where where students can listen, read and match the words with pictures and also print their work.

For verbal / linguistic learners I plan to use Voicethread, because I find it a very interactive and useful tool for improving the speaking skills.
Another tool that I definitely find great for discussion is Nicenet, I have already created one for my class, and we have started to use it.
The other tool that I plan to use in my future teaching  is Blog. It is great especially for the students who are considered Interpersonal or "social smart." I have a created my very first blog for this course, and I've also created one for the students as part of the final project. I find it a very good tool for improving the writing skills.

Finally, I think that in order to be able to provide a more effective teaching to our students, we have to always "refresh" our knowledge about how to use technology in our classes.

  I want to emphasize that  it has been a great pleasure  and privilege for me to be part of this group and to share my experience as a young teacher with the experienced and wonderful teachers.  I would like to say thanks to Robert for his great work as teacher and mentor. He has been very supportive all the time.