Week 5

Another week gone and so much learned and to be shared… let’s take it easy, folks, I know you are all willing to know how this week went, but, as usual, let me organize my ideas….

# 1 Rubrics, Assessment, and Project Based Learning….

Resuming with some things I had worked with before, and a karma law in life (\ ohmmmm!) I always land on the territory of fairness… I say this because of the topic “rubric”. To some of you this term will be just one more word of those we believe we know the meaning, but, this happens to be one of these fundamental elements in evaluation: a rubric points the rules of the game! Without a rubric your students will never know what you were expecting from them. I have discussed this issue with my colleagues, and yes, we always argue how hard and subjective the creation of rubrics is, but, for God's sake, how important they are.

In any case, reflecting on the definition of grading rubrics always helps you return to the essence of what you are doing, that is, TEACH.

For my assignment I shared a rubric I have used in my written exams in 2^nd year. Looking forward hearing to the corrections and working on the improvement of it.

Txs Courtney!

# 2

I was also requested to either create a rubric or alternative assessment tool. I went for the creation of an alternative assessment and I am trying to work on the implementation of the use of online diaries and the creation of Podcast as a final class project. The idea would be to record the experience of every learner towards the development of a Podcast on a topic previously assigned. Comment on every step of the project and capture how the students evolve in this process. Again, this is a project of a possible activity involving the new tools we are learning. I wonder what you would have come up with…

# 3 Webquest 

As an extra activity, Courtney suggested trying with Webquests, and even though I was running short with time, I decided to go for it and create one… Well, must say I was very happy I tried. I found myself doing  serious exegesis regarding my proposal, and, of course, working hard on the evaluating rubric. Here is the link, please check it and tell me what you think of it, ok?

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=206017

How is your research going? # 4

 Describe a Technology Related Change

...and as usual, our weekly reflection on our piece of research. I decided to go for a digital portfolio. I know this will represent a change in what I have been doing, but, this is the reason of this program, to build new teaching skills. I promise to develop this idea further in my next week posting. Must say I have been showing a bad pain on my right hand and it is making it hard for me to type… 

Week 4

# 1

Reading, Writing, and Vocabulary Skills 

I decided this would be my first task this week. I chose an interesting text written by a fellow Polish teacher, Jarek Krajka, on writing projects in various genres and the implementation of technology. She talks about argumentative writing and how she added technology to the excercise. I decided I would use her experience to reinforce my writing portfolio in 2^nd year at the UCV. After reading her text I have decided to implement the use of new online resources to help my students in their process of data gathering when preparing for the writing about Terrorism or Freedom fighters. I believe that by guiding my students, giving them the appropriate links they can resource to and checking their progress with the class on a daily basis, we can’t go wrong!

# 2
Technology Enhanced Lesson Plan 

To continue, this week we also had to explain how the implementation of technology would improve a lesson. I chose again my 2nd year class and  Nelson Mandela’s component (by the way, happy b-day, Madiba!) and how the discussion of a preview of the movie “Cry Freedom” could help my students to have a clearer picture of the Apartheid in South Africa. This is a component I really feel excited about, because it is more than simply teaching my students how to write properly, but to help them create an opinion through the extensive reading and research of materials related to the topic.

# 3 

How is your research going?

Describe a class issue

To report on my research process, this week we had to discuss the existence of an issue in our teaching environment that could be sorted out with the implementation of technology. For my dear students of the EIM and fellow teachers likewise, we know this issue is easy: we have NO technology in our classrooms. Saying that we do not count on certain resources would be mean and imprecise; but I stick to my dream, I so want to have a smart board! I dare to dream. The options in my class would expand only by having a set-up radio there, let alone a SMARTBOARD. Maybe if I say it loud it will come true!

Week 3

# 1

A promise is a promise

As I had announced, I'm here to deliver some useful websites I have come to learn in this class....
http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.htm
(useful search engine for academic purposes)--> I loved it!
https://delicious.com/
(An online tool that allows you to collect your favorite website links (bookmarks) all in one place)
In my delicious account I have added valuable information for English teachers, maybe you want to give it a check?
https://delicious.com/baginska_ucv
I will continue with this posting later on this week...

# 2

Yummmmy! Delicious!!!

I’m going to say it loud and clear; I highly suggest the use of “delicious” I can’t stop adding links that I think may help my students or fellow teachers at Uni. It is very user-friendly  and handy to  remember  your links withouth having your PC.

So, just logon at:

https://delicious.com

and tell me how much you liked it!!!


# 3
How is your research going?

Yes, you are so right! This class is very, very intense. I have not well finished with a task when I have to get started with the next one! But you know me, I love studying and keeping updated, even when I do not have much time left for other things.
This posting is about our third task this week, to report on somebody’s research and describe the paper’s content. I decided to work with a paper from Kathmandu, Nepal. 

I chose it because it is related to development of writing skills, which is one of the areas I devote most of my time in my courses. One of the things that captivated my attention was the realization (and again!) of how similar realities are, even when we are so far apart! Students in Nepal do not have accessible Internet  (does it sound familiar?) and the teacher had to help students to open their e-mail addresses in order to have the activity running effectively.

Another important aspect, which I discuss with my students ad nauseam: learning what other people are doing in your area of research in the world, not only in your country. So here you have it! I found somebody doing action-research on developing writing skills in Kathmandu!

See you all soon!

Week 2

Web Searching.....

Dear all, I need to say that during this week I have realized that no matter how often and much you may use a tool, if you don’t learn the tricks of how to use it, you are only misusing it. I have been lucky enough to have come to contact with computers from the moment they started to be a boom in my native Valencia back in the 80’s. I learned the mysteries of COBOL, LOTUS, etc. I used to know all the “controls” you had to hold to get special characters in WordStar, etc.

With time, in the 90’s I got my first e-mail address in Yahoo and started to learn the use of the Net. I still can hear my mother saying “Internet is the devil”. In spite of my mom, I 

can say I am not afraid of technology, I know more things than many of my fellow colleagues (which makes me feel proud of myself), but GOD, my students are leaving me way behind!!!!! 

This is me, running behind my students’ bus!

Now, this course on Building Teaching skills through the interactive Web is hitting me in the face by opening my eyes to a diverse world of search engines that I will be sharing with you, and in that way we will all learn! (Txs Courtney!)

I have learned about “noodle tools” and from that site, a wide variety of options have spread to ease my path in the intricate roads of the net. Links to come!

Fellows, this is the world we are living, we just need to stop crying for not knowing and get control of the situation. My piece of advice: start training to run at an adequate pace!

... &  ABCD Objectives

I am not a trained teacher, in fact, my professional training is in the area of Translation and Interpretation studies, However, since my whole life has been devoted, in one way or another, to teaching, I have felt compelled to acquire necessary tools to face my students needs. In 2010 I had the luck to participate in a class on Instructional Design and one of the course’s objectives was to become familiar with the statement of Class Objectives. Therefore, this is not the first time for me to deal with Blooms' Taxonomy and 

Bloom's Taxonomy

the preparation of well explained class objectives. But, I need to say that in this point I agree with that old saying that goes “let’s start for the very beginning… when you read you start with ABC...” and so on…A⁺ to the explanation provided by Penn State Learning Design Community Hub!

 See http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/objectives/writingobjectives/

 The ABCD method of writing objectives  is clear, totally straight to the point and filled with valuable examples. I am sure that this way to understand the statement of objectives can help any person 

organize his/her ideas logically and neatly.

Cheers!