Week 7: Project Task Five: (Continued) Implementation of my Technology- Related Change: “DISCUSSION” and Reflection

Project Task 5: (carry on) Implementation of my Technology- Related Change: “DISCUSSION”         

Hi Dear Robert and all classmates!!!!

Discussions in the classroom can lead to greater student understanding-but this does not automatically happen. Discussions can be fruitful when the teacher is clear on the reasons for conducting discussions, adopts approaches for making the discussions productive, and is comfortable with the various roles the teacher must play in discussions. In discussion as the way of teaching, I can see some arguments regarding the ways that participating in discussions helps learning:

• It helps students explore a diversity of perspectives.
• It helps students recognize and investigate their assumptions.
• It encourages attentive, respectful listening.
• It develops new appreciation for continuing differences.
• It increases intellectual agility.
• It helps students become connected to a topic.
• It affirms students as co-creators of knowledge.
• It develops habits of collaborative learning.
• It develops the capacity for the clear communication of ideas and meaning.
• It helps students develop skills of synthesis and integration.

As far as I am concerned discussion should be conducted by the following approaches:

Ø  Establish clearly defined groups.

Ø  Make available a common base of information for class discussions.

Ø  Set a specific product for the group discussion.

Ø  Allow sufficient time for discussion and reflection.

Ø  Using questions that require clear thinking.

Ø  Rephrasing student comments.

Ø  Monitoring and responding.

Ø  Accepting the expression of feelings.

Ø  Modeling effective self-disclosure for the class.

I always have got an attempt to conduct discussions in my classroom because it plays key role in getting better English language. I love this style of learning very, very much.

Week 7 (Reflection) “Building Teaching Skills through the Interactive Web”

Introduction

Research has shown, time and again, that students learn best when they are engaged. Through the use of technology, students can become active participants as opposed to passive ones where they simply receive instructions or information. Trust is another factor that enhances the learning ability of students. With the help of technology, teachers can establish credibility in what they are teaching. Web based tools can be used for providing demonstrations and examples that can help students establish credence in what they are learning. In seventh week, we majored in assorted favorable subject matters; as, use of one computer in classroom, learner autonomy, wallwisher, and finding a partner for peer reading.

Use of One Computer in Classroom

Computers are now considered the most effective, accurate and comprehensive means of acquiring knowledge on any course or subject matter. We can make use of the computer to direct the class's attention to large group instruction that previews, motivates, provides context, provides information, illustrates concepts,  leads inquiry, demonstrates a concept, stimulates discussion (i.e., debate, role play), asks questions (i.e., problem solving, involves students (i.e., decision making), and reviews. Students can share their ideas through presentations (i.e., speeches, oral reports, review activities). One computer gets teachers able to fit into place students properly. In this week, I learnt immense and large scale ideas from my teacher as well as classmates.

Learner Autonomy   

The meaning of learner autonomy is one which views autonomy as a capacity, a construct of attitudes and abilities, which allows learners to take more responsibility for their own learning. Autonomous learners are those who openly accept responsibility for their own learning. The autonomous learners show initiative regarding learning, and share in monitoring progress and evaluating the level to which learning is achieved. Learner Autonomy is fully indispensable for students to get through in their learning.

Wallwisher

Wallwisher is an online collaboration tool to share ideas, resources, and thoughts on a particular topic. It plays very vital role in one computer classroom as well as in encouraging learner autonomy. Wallwisher can be utilized as icebreaker activity. We can produce one of our own, and give our schoolboys the opportunity to post their short profiles onto our “walls”. By doing so, we can help them feel comfortable with each other by learning a little bit about the their classmates, for example, their favorite school subjects, likes and dislikes, hobbies, weekend outing, and so on. Teacher can put activities, videos, quizzes, discussions, stories, and so on, regarding his/her subject for students onto “wall”. I love this tool very, very much.

Finding a Partner for Peer Reading         

In this week, we selected our partners for peer readings. It is actually a great style of learning any subject matter. Peer review refers to the many ways in which students can share their creative work with peers for constructive feedback and then use this feedback to revise and improve their work. Three steps to give peer feedback are compliments, suggestions, and corrections. We can get better our communication skills through this advantageous learning style.

Conclusion

Learning with technology enriches our teaching strategies as well as our students’ education. It became a momentous and crucial in every sector of education. We can create a sound technology learning atmosphere for students at our schools or colleges. It will allow supporting our students learning skills. This week was a great week. I went through many well-informed topics, and expect that I will put out of sight from my students. Finally, I am really grateful to my teacher who wants to let me learn more and more about how to use superior techniques in teaching according to the new era.

Thanking You!!!!

Warm regards,

Nazeer Ahmed