OVER...or...JUST BEGINNING...???

10 weeks...I just cannot fathom HOW 10 weeks have flown so very fast BUT the fact is, they have!

Difficult, frustrating, taxing, mind-boggling, exhausting YET wonderful, amazing, fantastic 10 weeks!

I have learnt and learnt and have had my eyes opened to the WORLD of TECHNOLOGY.  Never had I imagined that this World of Technology was so advanced.  That teachers/educators have selflessly shared so much technology online and I have been missing all these all this while.

From Delicious till Anvill,  ALL the tools I have been using and have been exposed to, have a role to play in my class.  I would use a tool which is appropriate for the learning outcome I have.  Each tool has its advantages and disadvantages.  So choice is vital...every and all tools that I have been introduced to  are important.   Nothing can be deleted or ignored.  As a teacher I need to be smart with my choice of tool.

SO, now WHAT?...

Is this the end...NO, it is just the beginning because now that I have this knowledge, what will I do?...

I feel the BEST way to show my gratitude to ALL who have shared with me is for me now to SHARE with OTHERS especially colleagues who are open to technology as well.

Being a recipient of this course is a great responsibility.  In a way being accountable to all who have helped me during these 10 weeks is not an easy task but the best way of saying THANK YOU is to make sure that I  progress on to keep using and enhancing my lessons with technology!

How to ensure this...I must find a partner who will monitor me...

So, I will not say goodbye...but...

till we meet again, Pam                          

WEEK 9 : The "END" is almost near...

Week 9 is over and I have gone through this week with such a melancholy feeling as this course nears its end...I never imagined that 10 weeks would fly so fast.  BUT good things normally do.

Our project was the major concern this week.  I truly rushed teaching all that I had planned.  The one week of exams and the one week of holidays did not work in my favour.  As I reflect, I have to say I work 'best' under pressure.  I am reminded of a tea sachet...the aroma is beautiful when it is put into some hot water!  I hope my project is also 'beautiful'...

What I really would like to do now is to develop on this project and to turn the writing of it into Action Research and then present it to my District Education Department...hopefully I can share this with others BUT I will wait for my evaluation first...(don't count your chickens before they are hatched...)

My thoughts drift to "what's in store after this?"...will I be different?  Am I going to return to my comfort zone and use 'no time' as the excuse?

Time will tell...maybe I should draw a pact with one of my course mates to monitor and keep tabs on each other.  I wonder if any of my course mates are game for this... we check on each other once a month??

My learning experience of MI this week muddled my thoughts to the point I didn't know how to respond to the Nicenet discussion. I started questioning myself especially after reading my course mates post...their posts were so clear with ideas on technology and learning styles.  

I couldn't answer my own question : say I want to teach summary skills and I have all 9 learning styles in my class.  Does this mean I need to prepare activities for all learning styles just to address one LO? 

Once Donna clarified, I am now less confused.  Thank you Donna...I sure will miss you as you have become my 'wikipedia' ~ every time I doubt, I email you...

Pam

WEEK 8 "HOW FAST TIME FLIES"

Week 8 is OVER...how quickly 8 weeks have flown.  

In the beginning I wondered if I would even complete Week 1 successfully especially when I saw the work Webskills entailed.  BUT I am glad for all the wee hours of work as it has been a satisfying 8 weeks though I wish I had more time to perfect my discussions and tasks and to attempt more than what was required.

I feel bad and sad to have missed the Webinar with Jeff as I had to be away from home due to a personal matter.  There are some things in life you just cannot control.  But I am glad to have had this experiential learning of ANVILL ~ what an amazing journey ~ much better than FROG ASIA!

However, I still have my PROJECT...my draft was not my best effort as I had not tried out my planned lessons yet.  Still have one more lesson to teach tomorrow.  Then I will start on my reflection.  Friday is the dateline...Phew!

I must remember to comment on my two 'buddies' by tomorrow~ 

Time is precious; not to be wasted, not even a millisecond...

Pam

Week 7 : Time is RUNNING OUT...

This week was not too bad compared to last week BUT I fell sick and so my momentum, mood and enthusiasm has been on the 'low'.

I did not have the time to comment on the one-computer discussion though I did read two articles.  I preferred to try the autonomous learning as this discussion created the opportunity for me to 'crack' my head and do some soul-searching on HOW I SHOULD and COULD incorporate this into my lessons.  I realize that this requires a diligent and conscious effort on my part if I sincerely desire my students to be lifelong learners.  The ultimate goal of education should be to make students independent learners.  After going through this online Webskills course  I have had sufficient practice on the true meaning of being an autonomous learner.  Hence Webskills "practices what it preaches".

Now I need to sit on my project...March is a hectic month in school...with a Carnival to raise funds and a Concert to organize.  I always wonder why I get caught in these ad hoc committees.  Before this is over, I have received another email regarding another ad hoc committee I am on ~ Award Ceremony!  I wish I can ONLY teach.  IF ALL the spare time I have in-between teaching periods is used to prepare lessons, I would be a GREAT teacher...I wonder if teachers in other countries are "jack of all trades and master of none"?

So why have I made my blog this Week so COLOURFUL ~ simply because I really feel under the weather and needed some 'brightness' in my life...AND with the pray this 'brightness' will remain bright till 31/3/2013...

    Here's WISHING 

   ALL MY READERS 

    A CHEERFUL WEEK 8

WEEK 6 : And I am WHACKED OUT!!

WEEK 5...and still going 'strong'

Week 5 is done and as I write my blog now, Donna has already sent us information about Week 6.

I have not been successful with either Webquest or Zunal...still have not understood why I am unable to proceed into creating one.  Need to email the others to see where I am going wrong (sigh!).

To be truthful, all the influx of available resourse has in fact 'torn me apart' ~ after 25 years of teaching service, mentoring younger teachers, giving in-house and adjudicating numerous English Language competitions, I now feel 'small', inadequate and 'lost'...on the other hand, I am so one-tracked about wanting to start digital learning in my classes (my kids think I am going 'nuts' ~ so much of mixed emotions).  Not Blog, nor Twitter, or Email, or even PowerPoint Presentations as I have tried these and my teenagers are familiar with these; more familiar than I am!  These just seem to be the tip of the iceberg.

I want to be fully equipped to boldly use Digital Learning where students directly access the given URL and attempt online learning.  Through Webskills, I keep being exposed to all that the internet has in store.  Hence I feel that I am so backward here in Malaysia.  This is what I want to try in my project paper.

PBL is another area I want my students to be involved in.  With ePals, Global School Net and Think Quest, I truly want my 13-14 year olds who belong to the niche English Language group to start on PBL with a class in another country.  I know my girls will be so excited with this.

My head is so filled with ideas but my greatest fear is that I will not have time to implement what I want to try...school work is so entailed with documentation and paperwork that I always feel robbed of time to plan better, more advanced and more interesting lessons.

I am going to invite my Principal to observe the teaching of my lessons that I plan into my project.  I hope this does the trick...

My vision ~ to equip myself. Then to motivate two others, Diana ( a Science teacher) and Faridah (a Biology Teacher) to also bring Digital Learning into their classrooms...wouldn't this be wonderful???

      Pam

Phew...Am I glad Week 4 is OVER!

It has been an exhausting week especially on my eyes.  Sign of old-age, I suppose.  I have been online the longest this week and am still not totally satisfied with my lesson plan.  I feel that I still need to source and checkout more online resource.  I was quite excited when I came across Animoto (something like Dvolver Moviemaker).

The week started with extensive reading which I read intensely.  In fact I read them twice as during my first reading I was interrupted by some household matters I had to attend to.

I enjoyed exploring the websites and analyzing their suitability for my classes.  More and more I am convinced of the fact that the resource for us, teachers, is a goldmine waiting to be accessed.  How wonderful to be exposed to such a wealth of online teaching materials!

My hardest task was writing the technology-enhanced lesson plan ~ a daunting task.  I still have the 'fear' of whether what I wrote is right.  I feel inadequate as to whether I have the guts to use digital teaching aids in class.  I have always downloaded materials for my classes but have yet to try digital learning.  I do feel very strongly about the fact that a technology-enhanced lesson definitely addresses the learning styles in my students BUT I need to get over my own feelings of insecurity...

Well, that's all for now...take care and have a fantastic week 5

Pam

  

Week 3 :  Hooray!  Week 3 Complete

The best part of this week was being exposed to the tremendous sources of online ready-made lessons/materials.  I have always played safe by accessing a few web pages and circulating within these.  I have tried others but have yet to employ these in my classroom teaching.  The main problem with me is time ~ after being made aware of all these sources, I truly wish I had all the time in the world to just sit at my PC to source and save in my Delicious page.

Indeed as the weeks go by, my small eyes are opened wider and wider to amazing and awesome online materials.  I realize how ignorant I have become by keeping within my comfort zone.

After reading the project by Camelia, I am more ready and willing to try incorporating more technology in my class.  Camelia has become my source of inspiration.  One of the issues in Malaysia is, we, teachers, are not addressing the different learning styles in our students.  Camelia's project has shown me the possibility of overcoming this issue.  If my project is successful, then I would certainly share it with my colleagues and teachers from other schools.

I just pray, this enthusiasm is not short-lived especially when I get caught up with my daily work schedule and chores.  Very often, my personal interests get side-tracked especially when I am balancing work and home.  So I have to consciously make time...

Delicious is delicious though when trying something new, my apprehension rockets sky high.  I have not totally got the hang of 'tag' yet.  I still cannot understand why when I type the tag, it does not appear under the tag column...will email Donna for help.  It can be frustrating when I  repeatedly try to no avail.

Week 3 is finally over and I wonder what is in store for Week 4...?

Have a great week~ Pam

Week 2 : As I Reflect...

Week 2 has been pretty hectic.  I have realised that to balance home, work and our course takes a lot of discipline.  But I work best under pressure and so have managed to complete all the 5 on the checklist (I pray so...).

I am glad to have been exposed to Websearching.  Before this I have only used Google, Google Chrome and Yahoo.  Now my repertoire has widened and there is so much more to explore and learn. As much as I was amazed and in awe, I was also a little ashamed that I have sitting in my comfort zone too long.  I have not explored all listed on Websearching yet BUT will definitely do so.  In fact, to keep me on my toes, I shared the list with my 17-year-olds in school (my 2 Form 5 classes) and have told them to share (in turns) what they accessed with the class.  This way, I too have to keep myself up-to-date (the teacher cannot look like a fool in her class, can she?).

The ABCD Objective was a time of recalling and recapitulating what I had studied 28 years ago during my first degree days.  Last December, while I was on the panel of interviewers for would-be TESL-option teachers, I learnt of the latest version of Bloom's Taxonomy where verbs instead of nouns are now used; and knowledge is now remembering and creating is the highest level.  So it was great to read related material and upgrade myself on the latest knowledge.  When I shared this with some 'senior' teachers, I received a "Is that so?" (sad, isn't it?)

The assignment I truly enjoyed was the project task #1 as I had to sit and think and analyse the classes I am teaching and would really like to try a project on.  I have 4 classes of English Language; two Form 5 classes (17 year olds), one Form 3 class (15 year olds) and one Form 1 class (13 year olds).  Each class is special and different and so to compare, contrast and finally decide which class I wanted to try an action research on was taxing and mind boggling.  But my yardstick was the National Examination.  My Form Fives also sit for the national examination but the Form Threes need more help and writing is a skill I have always been very interested in.  So I finally picked 3A.  Describing them and their ability truly took me down memory lane~ though I have only taught them for 3 weeks now, I have grown to love them for their diversified abilities and comical behaviours in class.

Well Webskills, you sure do keep me on my toes!

Week 1 : My Thoughts

Though excited and enthusiastic, I started this course being fearful of whether I would be able to cope with ALL the technology I would have to deal with and use.  But I am happy to say that I am learning with 19 educationists who seem to be very skilled at using technology and these 19 teachers come across as very learned people; all professional in their own right.

When I read their posts on Nicenet, I realised that this is an awesome group but I wish they had given a little more information on where they are from.  I am thrilled to be learning alongside them though a part of me is a trifle frightened that I will not be able to keep up with them.  Time will tell, I suppose...

So far I have enjoyed Nicenet; a tool I would love to use with my teenage-students.  In fact I have emailed nicenet.org to request for permission to use it with my English Language classes ~ spesifically to instill a love for the writing skill.  Presently we are using FROG ASIA in my school and I find it user unfriendly with the many widgets.  Nicenet is so much easier to handle, so I hope to hear from nicenet.org soon.

BUT this blogging thing is making me insecure...am I doing the right thing?  Well, I will just wait for Donna's comments to see if I am on the right track.  She comes across as a very warm and friendly person; and most importantly as someone who is not judgemental.  So I will just have to be bold enough to ask even if the questions may seem silly...

Bye...till next week.