Thursday, October 20, 2011

Week 4 Reflections




One small step for a man, a giant leap for a teacher!

That`s how I want to start my week 4 post: A picture of a man walking on the moon and my own version of the worldwide known sentence once said by Neil Armstrong.
The statement I want to make today is how we teachers have been evolving with such fruitful course beautifully conducted by Robert. We have already learned so much by interacting with educators from all over the globe and have read so many interesting texts on how to use technology in the classroom in order to enhance all different skills. This week I have learned a lot about working with listening and reading skills with the help of various websites and different learning tools. I have learned how to get a clear picture of a lesson by writing a carefully thought lesson plan and I am eager to listen from other coursemates what they think about it. I have always been an advocate of lesson plans because it provides us teachers a great opportunity for reflection and growth. I am used to writing a lesson plan for every single lesson I teach, however, by reading the information on lesson plan by the University of Tenessee and checking on the template available this week I could improve my own plans by thinking of other aspects and details. Sometimes reality is very different from the image we create in our minds, and the paths the lesson takes are very different from what had been planned. However, as teachers, we can bettter judge and improve our actions if we can clearly understand what we have done step-by-step.
A good lesson I am going to take from this week`s texts and discussions is that technology has the power to transform an ordinary lesson into something special. Students can engage in forms never though before because they like novelty and using techy devices. However, one thing I won`t forget is that a web tool or site should have a purpose to be used. In other words, the teacher should not use technology for the fun of using technology, but envisioning something higher that could only be achieved because technology is being used. We should really ponder and question when technology is really going to make a difference or when it`s just going to make a task look more beautiful to the eyes.
I do believe that now we are going to become more selective and careful as far as opting for using technology for this or that purpose. Little by little we are becoming more skilled and educated and with the wise and brilliant comments and suggestions made by Robert, we are getting to see the "big picture"which is how web skills can make a difference in learning and teaching.
I have always been a fan of technology and heavy user of the World Wide Web. Years ago, in 2004 I used a tool for the first time with two of my teens groups. It was called FOTOLOG and it was a big hit among young people in Brazil. We could post pictures and people could leave their comments there. Basically, every single teen had a Fotolog account. I used my instincts basically and posted pictures related to the lessons and asked them to post comments and interact a bit in our "class page". I am sure I could have explored more this resource but at that time that was what I thought of doing. It was years before I learned about webtools for education.
I have never erased those pages , so you can just take a look at it :

http://www.fotolog.com.br/class454
http://www.fotolog.com.br/class256

Then, some year later our school trained us teachers on how to start using the internet in class and we were introduced to several webtools and the final project was to prepare a lesson plan for a class using a webtool discussed in the class.
I chose Vuvox and made a short video story with my students.This time the project was carefully chosen and a plan with steps had to be presented. It was 3 years ago and here is the final product: (students created the script and guided me on how to take the pictures. I just had to to the hard part of editing and posting it online!)

http://www.vuvox.com/my_vox/0c2a43813

Now I watch it and I feel proud of myself because this was such a personal achievement!

And right now? This is what I call my giant leap moment! It is so because for the first time I am getting formal input and studying several different theories and research findings that will certainly make me a more prepared professional. I am learning things that will add value to my teaching. I feel our rich discussions are so profitable and I am learning how to analyze every step I take when choosing to use the computer in class. Learning how to enhance the skills by means of creative technology is so exciting! I am still insecure about my final project because it is going to be a "big deal", a "big thing"! Well, it is the leap I am talking about, it is my own walk on the moon discovering new planets and new perspectives, a real turning point in my profession!
We are all onboard and we`ll make it, I am sure!!!!

Vini

10 comments:

  1. Hi vinicius,

    It is so encouraging to hear from you that we are all going to make it at the end. When I read your reflections I feel I am in a different world. You know I just feel nothing is new to you. While I still find difficulty even trying to get my blog To the view of the other course mates. Onething is sure as you earlier said we shall all make it at the end.

    I do agree with you when you say sometimes the reality is very different from the image we create in our minds and the parth the lesson takes sometimes different from what we plan. I had been a victim and felt bad the whole week because I did not plan my lessons well and took things for granted. Indeed a detailed lesson plan is just so important for all teachers to have before going into the classroom.

    I do envy some of you who on a daily bases actually practise all we do in this course. Anyone reading your reflection would say it is indeed a gaint leap

    Thanks for the link to fotolog. I wll visit it and try to see how it can be of help to me

    Thanks
    Margaret

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  2. Hi Vini,

    Thank you for very interesting post.

    I am impressed! It's nice to hear that you achieved so much and have become a real professional in using technology in the classroom.

    Hope you will share your invaluable experience with us.

    Keep up the good work!

    Elmira.

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  3. I can see how much experience you already have on using technology for academic purposes! On the contrary, this will be the first time I have the opportunity to include a technology-enhanced project in one of my classes beyond the use of powerpoint presentations and class email address.

    I agree with you that web skills can make a difference in learning and teaching. I think instruction can be really enriched with the Internet component because students are provided with choice, variety and authenticity, and are given a real purpose for developing language skills as well as the feeling of self-confidence when seeing their works published on the class website.

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  4. Hi Vinicious,

    What kcan I say, I am impressed of your picture because you are demonstrating we as teachers are giving a huge step in the way we teach and for our future success in teaching.

    About what you mention of planning lessons, it is true, we need to plan in order to have a guide for a meaningful class, or it will turn a waste of time with no direction to follow. I also do my lesson plans all the time, if something gets not with the plan, there is always a plan B but at least you have your ideas clear so your students have a great success at the end.

    Also, great tool you used. this "fotolog" looks interesting to teenagers and children. very good way you used it in your classes.

    congratulations for being so open to changes and giving those positive reasons why teachers need to make use of technology in classes.

    I am going to try this vuvox you mention, and let you know how was for me this experience, but it will be for my Science class perhaps.

    Nice weekend Viniciuos and take care,

    Regards ,

    Yariela

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  5. Hi Vinicius,

    A agree when you say that "technology can transform a simple lesson plan into something special". Especially after having planned e technology lesson plan and after reading the technology lesson plans of other colleagues, I saw that even the most boring lessons can be transformed into fun and more interesting not only for students, but also for us as teachers.
    Thanks to this course and to Robert, we have the opportunity to see and learn how technology can transform the teaching and learning processes.

    Best regards,
    Blerta

    P.S. I am very impressed by the photo you've posted. It's very nice!

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  6. Hello, Vinicius,

    I respect your great experience of using technology for a long time in your classes. You gave us a very important point, "the teacher should not use technology for the fun of using technology". I totally agree with you. To be honest, at first, I put my emphasis on what technology or websites to use and did not think so much of how to use, and even why to use them. I am also very happy to find one of my classmates proceeding far ahead of me. I do hope you share your great ideas, suggestions, experience, etc with us in your blog from now on.

    Best regards,

    Masa

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  7. Hi Vinicius
    Nice post, and I like the moon landing start of your post. One thing I notice about posting earlier in the week, like you do, is that you get quite a of of comments form clasmates.
    Robert

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  9. Hi Vinicius,

    Sorry I've been practicing on your blog! Finally,after 5 weeks of disarster, I can comment other people's blogs!!

    Speak to you soon!
    Tatsiana

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