Week 15

Thursday, April 27, 2017

WEEK 15:  Using technology to provide feedback

Rate: 5

This week I read an interesting and pretty important article about “HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK” which explains the advantages and disadvantages of using it and also it provide good example to implement it in the classroom.

Something I want to remember from this article is the benefits of using screen capture software. Teachers, which are the most commonly user of this element,  use this programs to provide feedback to their students in such an interactive way that seems a face to face feedback. Showing a website and explaining it during the feedback can help greatly students due to everything will appear in one single video and they would not need to look for extra explanation. Also, it allows teachers to provide a lot of feedback in quite a short period of time which becomes a listening practice. Something that made me read more about it was that teachers who may notices a specific problem that a whole class is having, can easily write out the key points in Microsoft Word and then record themselves taking them through the points and what to think about. It is particularly useful in distance learning contexts because teachers and students never meet. Finally, it may also have certain advantages for dyslexic students as it relies less heavily on text. The only drawback that these programs may have is the cost for some of the most proficient one which include more tools and option for recording.

Week 14

Thursday, April 23, 2017

WEEK 14:  Students´ participation in the classroom

Rate: 4

This week I read the articles “10 Benefits of Getting Students to Participate in Classroom Discussions” and “Increase Student Interaction with "Think­Pair­Shares" and "Circle Chats"” which state the importance of involving students to participate in classroom discussions. 

Something that made me want to read more about was the benefits of students´ participation in the classroom when learning a second language. Participation in classroom foster students to get involves into a discussion and allows them to interact with classmates. Also, it provides student-students feedback when sharing their thoughts and any mispronounced word is corrected by themselves. Furthermore, teacher can analyze students’ responds and provide the adequate corrections.  Beside that participation can be used to balance who’s contributing in class and how much. It is important to include everybody into class activities even though their contribution in minimum because In such way students will be able to develop their speaking skills.

Something I learned from this article and that every teacher should know was think­Pair­Share. It explains the process teachers should follow to incorporate students into a discussion. Educators firstly should ask thought-provoking questions and give some time to learners to think about the possible responds. After one or two minutes, students should be asked to share their ideas with a classmate. During this process teachers can monitor them to verify their production. And finally, teacher can ask students to share with the whole class what they   were discussing about the questions.

Week 12

Thursday, April 05, 2017

WEEK 12:  How to develop meaningful projects with students´ help

Rate: 4

This week, I read an article about maximizing the benefits of projects work. My initial reaction to it was Intrigue. I thought finally an article that explains how to create projects in which students can get involved with.  And indeed, it presents heavy arguments about involving students in the creation of projects to foster them utilize a second language.

Something I learned and I immediately wanted to share with a college was that the basis of successful projects. A project should focuses on real-world subject matter that can sustain the interest of students. Also, it requires student collaboration and, at the same time, some degree of student autonomy and independence. In the same way, a project can accommodate a purposeful and explicit focus on form and other aspects of language. And without forgetting, that it is process and product oriented, with an emphasis on integrated skills and     end-of project reflection.

Something I learned and that I immediately wanted to share with a colleague was the ten-step process to maximize the potential benefits of project work.  It explains how to develop a project taking into consideration students´ ideas for deciding a project´s topic with the teachers´ guidance.  It is greatly important because students are capable to obtain a feeling of ownership to the project.  Also, instructors are able to designs language-improvement activities to help students successfully present the final outcome of the project. Such help may focus on skills for successful oral presentations, effective written revisions and editing, persuasive debates, and so forth.

To sum up, teachers should structure their curricula around topics of relevance to students in various vocational areas, so that students will have an idea to perform the investigation. Also, teachers should provide the correct environment and elements to use during a project, in such a way students feel supported by the instructor or guide in any improvised circumstance.