Jun 10, 2011

Levels of Technology Integration



After reading LoTi digital level framework, I should say that I'm in the middle of LoTi Level 1 – Awareness and LoTi level 2- exploration.

I am using different techniques for teaching my students. For example, I use power point presentations for making my class more interactive through the use of animated pictures. Since my students are beginners, they levels of comprehension are limited, so I always try to implement pictures to make it more dynamic and interesting when they learn. I use several digital tools as a source of getting access to internet and accessing emails. For the exploration or LoTi level 2, I always try to let them work in small projects using technology. They have to develop different topics using technology tools and present them to the class.

My expectations of where I want to be in the future are to be in LoTi level 4b – Integration: Routine. I expect my students to be engage in some critical thinking about real world issues. I will be expecting from my students to become more self-actualized and they can self – monitor their own progress.

Jun 8, 2011

A Quick Guide to the Teaching Methodologies

The experience gained by the working group suggests that a few basic ingredients are the key to the success of any EuTEACH course.
  • 50% of interaction such as role play, video, interviews of young people, group discussion
  • a clear presentation of training objectives at the beginning of each session
  • an evaluation of the course by the trainees
  • a bottom up participative teaching style (using the participant's resources and building on their experience)
  • a ratio trainers/trainees of at least 1:10
  • a minimum of three hours for each module

Advice to Future Participants

Hello everyone,

There are a lot of things that I have learned in this class which have helped me to succeed and get most of it. Since the very beginning, I learned that it was very important the time management because we had to combine work with reading and it is sometimes tough especially for instructors like me that teach from early in the morning to late in the evening. I had to read in my free time, and take some notes of what I have learned. I think this was a powerful method because when I went to nicenet to post my comments, I always had my notes next to me, so I could remember what I wanted to say.

Another important thing that I learned in this class was to make my planning in a more effective and detailed way. Since I started using the template for planning, I always use it to make my projects more coherent and detailed.
I also learned to make rubrics using rubricstar.com which I think is a great tool.
I'm glad to be familiar with that page, so I can do a variety of rubrics now.

Another important aspect that I liked the most in this class was our ground rules. I think that having clear expectations of what the professor expects from us, and how we should behave when responding to each other's comments was very clear. I think nobody had problems with other people suggestions and opinions.

Overall, this class was very amazing; we had the best instructor very supportive and respond to emails right away.

Jun 5, 2011

9TH WEEK REFLECTION

Hello everybody,

I can't believe we are in week 9 already. I'm so excited that we are almost done!!!
This week topic was very interesting to me because the focus on my project is based on the different learning styles students have, and the problems they face when learning a new language. According to Felder and Soloman, there are two types of learners: active and reflective learners. Active learners learn by doing while reflective learners learn by thinking. Sensing learners learn by taking facts while intuitive learners learn by discovering possibilities.

I was very amazed at reading to the article about multiple intelligences. I think we as instructors should find out students learning styles to find different teaching strategies. Gardner proposed that humans have seven intelligences. He emphasized in the fact that people's behavior is always changing, and so is our intelligence "expanding". I read the interpersonal intelligence because it is one of the main focuses of my project. I was very interested in the fact that some people learn through interacting with others, and that is what I want to try in my class. I am focusing a lot in cooperative learning for my project because by working together students contribute to a project and they also learn more. There are some big suggestions to incorporate technology in interpersonal intelligence such as the use of blogs, emails, and discussions. The other focus of my project is visual intelligence because I have seen that people sometimes learn more by seen and visualizing things. A good suggestion for implementing technology in this kind of people is through the use of video, visual artwork, match pictures to vocabulary words.

Jun 1, 2011

Technology and Multiple Intelligences

What are the multiple intelligences?

What do they have to do with technology?

How can I incorporate these ideas into teaching and learning?
artworkIn his 1983 book called Frames of Mind, Howard Gardner of Harvard University identified seven intelligences we all possess. Because our understanding of the brain and human behavior is constantly changing, the number of intelligences is expanding. Two to three new intelligences had been added recently. Gardner claims that we all have all the intelligences, but that no two people are exactly alike.
eye means essentialRead Concept to Classroom: Multiple Intelligences.This web project answers a series of common questions about Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.
Go to Project Zero to learn more about Howard Gardner's projects at Harvard. Then learn more about Howard Gardner. For some insights into the way the theory has evolved, read his PDF article titled Multiple Intelligences after Twenty Years.
Originally, Gardner developed the list as a theoretical model about the psychology of the mind, rather than a practical way to address individual differences. However, by understanding a student's strengths and weaknesses in each intelligence, we can help students become more successful. He also notes that integrating multiple intelligences into the classroom involves changing our idea about teaching and learning. It requires addressing individual differences and providing a range of activities and experiences to facilitate learning.
 
Technology can be used to facilitate learning in each intelligence area. There is no "right way" to integrate intelligences or technology into the classroom. The key is to provide the most effective learning environment for students.