Thursday, March 10, 2011

Final Reflection

 Is it easy to say which topic was the most successful? impossible. Each of them was better than the previous one. My first success was making a blog after a long time struggling. It was followed by the ABCD objectives. For a teacher like me-with zero knowledge in technology use, everything was caching- search engines, Webquest, PP presentation, creating Bookmark on Delicious which caused another struggle with technology, but I realised that it was why we were on the WIKI and I struggled. I have always wanted to know how the instructors (facilitators)work- I got it when we created our Nicenet thread. Fantastic! I will try to use it
 The readings seemed long at the beginning but then they turned out interesting and easy to follow.
I have all the links printed and know where to go when  needed. The only thing I didn't understand well was ANVIL, to be exact-how to make it. I hope it won't be a problem after some time when I become more skilled.

 I wish success to our instructor Robert and the whole group. Is it possible that we meet again sometime?

Marine

Sunday, March 6, 2011

To Robert Elliott

  Dear Robert,

I would like to thank  you,  I joined the WIKI absolutely unaware of web skills. At the beginning some of our  participants' experience terrified me. Due to your kind support I felt confident and I learned so much that I'm ready to share it with the whole world. I'm happy I applied for WEB skills course, this is what I wanted and needed.
  
Thanks to Oregon University and the staff
Thanks to my WIKI friends, I learned from them a lot

Best regards

Marine Chalauri

 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Week 9

 Just one week before the wiki ends. I feel sad and I feel happy . Sad bacause I have to say good-bye to the everyday expectations what to read  and do-will it be difficult or easy?, what to post at Nicenet and curiosity what my friends post there. Happy as there is hope that I'll have some free time to relax(which I doubt, one thing finishes and immediately something else starts, we never rest).
  Max Koller and Tom Glass, editors of the Forum journal made their contribution to wiki, I feel as if it was a face to face meeting. Since then I have felt  to be Forum more active reader.
 I felt  load came off my shoulders after I posted my class project. I can't say it is perfect but I think it's all right.
This week's reading was Learning Styles, a familiar topic but enriched with technology tools. I like reading biographies and found Howard Gardner's biography very active and rich. Wow, this is life , to do so much, write so many books. I like what he says:''My colleagues and I are studying how the ethical compass of young people is affected by the new digital media". We teachers have to do a lot to achieve half of what is desirable.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Week 8

It was a busy week. First of all, we had to upload project drafts and there is always a lot ti think what to write, how to write. when I write a project. I don't like writing projects, I don't talk a lot and this reflects on my writing, I always try to make it short and get rid of it, but even this doesn't give me a satisfaction.

ANVILL made me think a lot. I like the tool, it makes so many things  easier, meaningful and useful. Unfortunately, I doubt that we are far from using it so far due to many reasons.

Creating my Nicenet class was real satisfaction to me, if I could wish something to learn it would be that, though, I need some small tips to use it well and I hope to get it.
 My third grade learners(the first year of English) will enjoy printable dice with images and text. At this age they are so active in making such things on their own. Now, when I know where to refer for such things, classroom activities will change at least a little .I could make such things myself before, now they gen be got almost ready and in such number!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Week 7

Week 7 with discussion topics: Learner autonomy and One computer classroom is almost over.We've read very interesting concepts about learner autonomy, all what the authors have observed for years. In other peoples'( especially scholars')articles you can always come across with something new which makes you think over. But I would like to say that I never thought there was a great difference between autonomous and independent learners. I wonder what my colleagues would say.
As for one computer classroom, there were so many suggested activities on teaching grammar, vocabulary, teaching videos, reading, that what we need is just develop those ideas with the help of a computer and other technologies.I don't think it will be easy to use one computer for big classes.For small classes lots of activities can be performed. Lesson planning was good verification.
A partner seeking page was like an advertisement page. We were like atoms -moving and joining. I have a partner-Petra has similar plans for her project. Time to start.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Week 6

    Finally I've made a PP presentation. I have wanted to know how to make it for so long and is seemed to me so difficult! I admit it took me hours to get statements and download pictures relevant to young learners, but: you can imagine my satisfaction! I didn't make it for just WIKI assignment, I'm going to use it with my fourth-fifth grade students, I can't wait to do it and see how the learners will react. Another encouraging thing is that while working we learn on our mistakes and when we repeat the same thing with other class, we  change to better-that's how we gain experience.
   The articles on making PP presentation provides a lot of useful tips. Especially techniques to promote interactivity. Some items from it are familiar to us and we use them for interactivity, i.e.using a picture at the beginning of the class, eliciting to promote interaction, concept questions, but there were some new items in the articles: Blank slide technique, Interpreted lecture, Quick write. Making a PP presentation according to these techniques will make it worth.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Week 5

Week 5 was pleasantly different from previous weeks. Perhaps I got used to what we are doing. PBL by Susan Gaer and WebQuest was like spices to what I have done before. It inspired me with new ideas, directions, benefits.Truly, project work develops critical thinking, independent working skills, tolerance.
 I was so happy to make my rubric that I did not pay attention how irrelevant it was for my students. Thanks to Robert I will improve it. But I don't worry-now I know it is not a problem.
 I wish I could manage technical designing as well as others can.