Week 10: Its the beginning, not the end!

Hi All,

Almost everything in this course was new to me:
NiceNet with its discussion threads, Blogging with its reflections, making learning objectives according to Pennsylvania ABCD method, bookmarking at delicious.com, Tennessee Planning for Instruction, much of what is there in CALL, creating and using rubrics and alternative assessment tools, much of what is there on project-based learning, creating and using WebQuest pages, managing large classes and maintaining interactive lectures, maintaining learner autonomy and one/multi/computer classes, making use of NVIL, knowing more about learning styles and multiple intelligences, and most importantly useful comments and suggestions I received from course participants. Yes, all these are new to me.

All these tools are useful for me, but I will start with class blog, nicenet and webquest. I wished if the course allowed us to practice ANVILL much more. 

Putting concluding words is always hard. I feel I am missing something that I can't live without it:

To colleagues, I cannot say goodbye.
To Donna I cannot even imagine it.
Neither can I to the course.
We are here to stay.
We are here to share.
We are here for ideas gone and to  come.
See you again all. 

Can I have everyone's email for sharing ideas in the future? Mine is: dhahias@gmail.com

Best
Garri

Week 9 Reflection

Hi Everyone,

For me, this course is something more than what a teacher could put in words. Majority of technology-based tools, web resources and activities assigned are all extraordinarily useful for me. I have never felt so sad for any activity in this course except for one: I missed Friday's online discussion with Jeff.  I felt so sorry for that.


Once I am back to my university, I will change about 90% of my teaching methods. I will integrate my teaching activities mainly with many technology tools made available by this course. Further, I am thinking of recommending this course to my colleagues because, I believe, if all the staff in my department are well introduced to such new technology-based teaching, it will become so easier for students to quickly adapt with the new teaching modes. How and when will it take place will be a matter of discussion with Donna later on.

Best,
Garri.

Week 8 Reflection

Hi All,

Week 8 carries some sad news to me, and probably to you too. The lesson we were asked to prepare meant we are about to finish this course. Isn't true that teacher colleges usually give lesson plan procedures and instructions just before the teacher trainees graduate? So does Donna.

I found ANVILL tools very useful for developing teaching materials easily. Voiceboards, TCasts, Quizzes and Software can make teaching more easier and motivating. 

It's my first experience to post class instructions on a web-based technology. I found that very interesting, though I feel that class blog is far from being exhaustive.

Best,

Garri

Week 7 Reflection

Hi All

Many technology-based materials for enhancing teaching are now also at hand. Learner autonomy, one-computer class and finding a partner are the 'headlines' of this week.

Learner autonomy links are assets for me. They forwarded new definitions, more relevant ones, to those I used to know. Preparing a lesson  for one-computer class is also another merit I gained in Week 7. I found it the most useful part because it closely touched areas and special needs I always strive to meet.

Elsewhere, I found Week 7 much more lighter, both in content and burden.

Best,
Garri

Week6 Reflection

Hi Everyone,

Week 6 offers me a special relevance. It offers me all those useful techniques for managing large classes. It offers me how I can effectively design PowerPoint materials and present them in such a precise manner. Week 6 also offers me much about 'Interactive Lecturing' which will enables me to keep my students involved in every activity.

Most of what I need to do is there: 'think-pair-share,demonstrations and role playing',  'just-in-time teaching', 'problem-and-solution', 'out-of-class group assignments', 'cooperative learning', 'variety, pace, interest, individualization, speaking style', only to name some. 

I think I will make great changes i my teaching techniques from now onward.

Best,

Garri