These nine weeks have been really productive, but even a bit tiring for me I had too many tasks to accomplish in a limited time. Thus time management became the key word to succeed and success to me (but I suppose even to my colleagues). Some times I was really in doubt with myself and often I had the impression that I was not going to succeed because of my lack of knowledge in technological matters, consequently I had to work really hard to be accomplish the tasks successfully.
Personally, I think that the course's syllabus was well-constructed by providing to us all the supportive material we need. The materials and the task we studied and did every week were mainly of two types theoretical and practical. All the materials were hand in hand together, the theoretical materials to support the practical ones, but not always. As far as practical exercise I would mention the creation of: blogs, wiki, delicious, webquest, Rubi rubric, interactive PPP, Google maps etc. Whereas the theoretical materials helped us to Developing Listening Skills with Authentic Materials, The Employment of CALL in Teaching Second/Foreign Language Speaking Skills, Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction, hree Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL Students Using E-books, Less Teaching and More Learning" by Susan Gaer gives some background information about project-based learning, Student Learning Styles and Their Implications for Teaching, etc.
Students do and learn better with technology. Unfortunately, I have discovered this recently, only after the course began. Yesterday was my last day of school and next week the students are going to take exams for all the courses they had followed this term. As it was the last day, I asked my students to fill out an anonymous questionnaire about what they though about the subject, if the objectives were clear for them, if the lectures have been very difficult, etc. but I was more interested in the implement of the technology and if they found it useful or not, if they think it helped them to learn better and more, if it increased their critical thing and learning autonomy; and I also asked them to provide suggestion to improve what they think needed to be done in a different way.
The result was amazing. I was really surprised because I didn't expect from them such a positive feedback; almost all of them found blogs and the wiki page useful, some of them even suggested that it should be obligatory for all the students and for all the subjects (my initial idea was to experiment and then compare the students who used technology with those who didn't).
Anyway this simple questionnaire opened my eyes on how much the students can profit from technology in class and outside.
Has this course made us better teachers?!
If better means more conscious about the potentiality of technology the answer would be "YES, IT HAS"
The result was amazing. I was really surprised because I didn't expect from them such a positive feedback; almost all of them found blogs and the wiki page useful, some of them even suggested that it should be obligatory for all the students and for all the subjects (my initial idea was to experiment and then compare the students who used technology with those who didn't).
Anyway this simple questionnaire opened my eyes on how much the students can profit from technology in class and outside.
Has this course made us better teachers?!
If better means more conscious about the potentiality of technology the answer would be "YES, IT HAS"
Well, unfortunately this would be the last blog for this course and I want to say THANK YOU to all the participants for their thoughtful comments and to Donna for her extraordinary support. I will remember this for very very long THANK YOU :-)
Enjoy the Cake:
