Week 4 Experience October 31st 2010

LESSON PLAN GOES TECHNOLOGICAL

What a week that was. A week of lesson planning, writing and expanding the world of grammar. A week that reminded me of what teachers in my school loathe most: preparing lesson plans. The reason behind this unprofessional attitude is monotony it has. Why, after teaching for ten years, should teachers torture themselves with writing lesson plans? They ask. Now with the new approach that incorporates technology, this attitude is likely to go.

Students too are not amused by long lectures in English learning and writing. Visiting sites suggested this week gives learning some newness which might turn round the retrogressive way of reasoning.

It is a week that leaves me rejuvenated, more enriched but thirstier for more. It is a week that unearthed hidden treasurers in the world of teaching. I have benefited a lot from other teachers in this class. How I wish this course were a routine repeated so often. Perhaps Maria Silva's colleagues need such a course to change the attitude.

Writing, Grammar, Vocabulary

Krajka's article opens another known route to me. Writing is given a new lease of life. It's handled in an impressive way where all the genres of writing have been given enough space hence teachers will raise their stock if they visit these sites purposively. Lots of materials that are authentic and real are a big boost to all language teachers. I know I have a dependable companion in these sites.

Reading:

Giving students freedom to choose books is a great idea but they need teachers to supervise them. Through group discussions students will lean a lot from one another. Use of e-book method and discussing stories on line is a great idea.

It feels nice to know we are just halfway the course yet we have learned a lot. This week’s experience will make me remind the school administration to operationalize the working of the internet in the school

Week Three Experience

DELICIOUS

This was indeed a "DELICIOUS" week as we went through the journey of opening del. icio. us page I think I am excited about this task. This is yet a new venture that I am proud about. At least now I have my own del.icio. us page though not as detailed as other colleagues' pages especially Shahnoza's. I hope you update mine while- and - post this course. To me the world is getting smaller and smaller as the course progresses as we learn new things every week.

AURAL/ORAL WEBSITES

This exercise admittedly presented some difficulties at the beginning. The problem emanated from misunderstanding the instructions: funny isn't it? Finally I was able to open the suggested sites and again I got mesmerized by the quantity and quality of materials available. I settled for http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/  which handles phonetics which reminds me of my college days when you would make fun trying to pronounce different forms of /a/ sounds. My students also experience the same problem. The only facility the school has to help students practise pronunciation is through CD/DVD Media and radio VFS cassettes- again lack of technology.

The articles on listening and pronunciation rekindled the already dying fire in me. These two areas have been given a wide berth by many of us teachers. At least I was able to teach two lessons this week based on listening again using mostly textbooks.

Week 2 Experience

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK!

I am very happy with the way the course is progressing. I am particularly fascinated by the new things so far learned. I cannot wait to know how much knowledge I will acquire at the end of the course. I have learnt a lot from my colleagues; how I wish we were physically together inside a classroom.

The tasks of this week namely; searching the web, describing a class and ABCD learning objectives kept me busy and I had to spend more time with the computer than last week. Looking at colleagues' posts especially on class description helped me to rate my school and teaching environment in my country. When I read Norit posts where she talks about students attitude, what comes into the fore is the hardships we teachers go through trying to mould future citizens who are not interested in learning.

Searching the web opened another world of web searching hitherto unfamiliar to me. In the process of identifying the best sites I go a lot of other important information that enriched my world view.

ABCD learning objectives took me back to college days when I was training as a teacher. I found the American method of stating learning objectives similar to Kenyan method. I wish Mr Robert would react to my objective that I posted. This would give me assuarance that I did the right thing.

I wish to retaliate what I stated earlier about lack of technology in my school. I am yet to apply what I have so far learnt.

Week 1: My experience

Finally the course has begun: Bravo!

What is learning through interactive web? What is this learning online about? These questions would not give me a moment of relaxation.Using this technology to learn is totally a new concept to me and largely to most teachers in my country. I knew all along that it would present me with a  massive challenge, but isn't this what I have been looking for: A CHALLENGE. I believe I am equal to the task.

Although I am very busy around this time of the year as I prepare my 4th year candidates for their final exams which will usher them to university, I will not allow this to dilute my determination. I am also busy writing plays and verses for next year's drama festivals despite managing my own family as a husband and father but again this will not derail my focus.

I have managed to read several blogs but Dhika's caught my attention.When he says that blogs are not new to him, I cannot help but feel that we indeed live in different worlds.This is my first time to hear about it leave alone using one. Maria Silva also encourages me when she says this was her first time and this makes me feel am not alone.

This course will be an eye opener for me. Schools in my country are yet to embrace this technology and I would love to be among pioneer teachers to introduce the same. A few students may have computers at home and this may be the starting point.

I must thank Robert for offering me this chance and I am sure it will transform me and others who are close to me.

Building Teacher Skills

Hi participants,
My name is Francis Mbatia. I hail from Kenya, Africa.. Welcome to bulding Teacher Skills through Interactive web.

I hope we will have a wonderful time together in the next 10 weeks.