Week 7 Reflecton

Endless learning, the more we advance in this online course, the more one feels that it continues to be a distinguished experience, especially when you explore new things and skills one has never investigated or thought of. It is great to say that the human mind is a powerful endowment that would never declare its limit.

I have discovered and exposed Padlet which seems to be an eminent   tool  in the classroom. Students would love so much to be exposed to such tool. It is a common sharing platform where students can read easily documents in four different formats.  Finally, I have uploaded a document to Padlet, after struggling over four days to make out the way it works. Also I have created my own account.

Week 7 materials are an enlightening phase to unveil and again to refresh ourselves about the autonomous learners.  They open many doors students to contribute positively  and   effectively in their own learning. Teachers should set safe road maps for their students to cross the stormy rivers or streams safely and confidently, via well planned and ornamented diagrams. These instructors should be  devoted and self-denial ones. They  endeavor for the sake of their students’ needs.

My choice would be blogging. As far as a partner is concerned, I am still waiting for a classmate to suggest working together.  
Perhaps, confused with whom to start this journey!

Week 7 reading materials towards autonomous learning

This week reading materials have been a plus in our learning journey for the amount of information we have been exposed to and the variety of skills we would be implementing in our classes.

In the article “ELT Expert: Creating a Computer Lab for English Language Teaching” presenting the assumptions and how to set up a Lab learning center as a resource for both teachers and learners. It is useful to enhance effective communication with learners through the available materials and to achieve the intended objectives. The writer recommends software strengthening for a safe use at home.

In “The One-Computer Classroom” The writer explores the possibilities to use such equipment for coming up with innovative ideas by both the teachers and students. It can be used for administrative and communicative purposes, for evaluation, presentations, and last not least publishing and producing content. The writer proceeds in providing details for each component. In addition the writer suggests outstanding thoughts about “one computer classroom” across the program of study and the possible issues that would be raised such management, and students’ participation in the classroom.

In t he “Two Activities for Fostering Autonomous Learning” The teachers  are delegating their role to students to teach their peer and learn much better as they are fully engaged in the process of learning and unlearning new skills, especially in the second activity when students were asked to design test for their peers.

“Mobile Assisted Language Learning Applications”  article presents a variety of links and enlightenment, and the kind of applications that can afford instructions to devise activities for their students.

However, “Language Learning & Technology” has a great role in the historical background of computer software evolvement, and how many times they have been substituted with advanced technologies that has been never stopped being rejuvenated…..

All the previous raised issues above would contribute and enhance autonomous learning.  Autonomous learners would engage surely, and safely, via well equipped suitable materials and guidance for students to hold them responsible for their own learning.   But how can we say as Richard Smith states in “Learner autonomy”: that a “learner autonomy can be seen” as an educational goal which is cross-culturally valid”?

Week 7 PROJECT STEP: Peer Review Partner

Blogging is a great project idea to, implement in the classroom. It would provide endless opportunities for students to practice their wiring skills. The latters will get used to editing their writing before submitting their final products.

 It is also a chance to enhance reading skills. Students are supposed to read their peers' production and provide feedback and comment on them.
 They need to present their reactions to their classmates’ comments and feedback. Hence,  they will make use of their high order of thinking. It is a way to put into practice critical thinking techniques into practice, either by using bloom taxonomy or Socratic Method of teaching.

This is an invitation to find a partner who would collaborate and work by using BLOGGING TOOLS with their students in the classroom to provide opportunities for them to  develop as far as writing and reading skills are concerned. This would assure a boost to make better their listening and speaking abilities.