Week 10: The last step is the first step

Hi everybody,
Time flies. This is the final week of the course. This course not only paved the way for me to use technology tools effectively in my classrooms, but also inspired me with new perspectives in teaching as well. One of the most wonderful aspects in this course is gaining new friends from different places from the world. In the past, I believed that I people who live in my country or who are familiar with my culture are only can give solutions to challenges I face while teaching, but surprisingly, I  found out that also people who live in other parts of the world can not only suggest effective answers but give me support as well.
There is something remarkable about this course, it is the ownership. Everyone of the group gives opinions, advice, help, and suggestions enthusiastically, heartily , freely and plainly.
The instructor of the course, Janine, conducted the course professionally and friendly at the same time.
I'd like to thank Oregon University and Janine for the very good administration of the course. I extended my thanks to my colleagues for their valuable contributions and making the course successful. The course would not be successful without their commitment and their sincere desire of continuing learning and gaining new friends.
 Actually the end of the course is the beginning of a life-long learning trip to explore and apply technology in our classrooms.

With my best wishes,

Samira

Week 9: Recap

Week 9 came to put every tool in the right room. During the past eight weeks, we learned a lot of wonderful technology tools, but the most important question about using these tools has been just covered, when we should use all these tools?.  This week we became aware of students' learning styles. This will help us in choosing the most suitable tool for our students. It guides us how, when, and where we should use our tools.

Though the links about learning styles are very invaluable, my colleagues comments and discussion were very focused and practical.

Janine inputs also highlighted different issues we may consider.

One of the most interesting comments was Julio's. He summed up others' posts. This helped me a lot as I was too busy to follow every comment.

I tried hard to finish my final report before Sunday as I promised Janine.
I wish you happy week end.


Samira

Week 8: Going up

As we are going towrds the end of the course, we are collecting more tools. this week was very rich and exciting as usual. We are introduced to Jeff and ANVIL. It is very a powerful too which may open new windows for using ICT in the classroom. This week I had to finish the first draft of my project plan and sent it to Batool. My first dratf was not fully completed as I hadt to fly to Ankara, Turey, to presnt my presentation in 11 EMTU. I hope I can find some time to write comment on Batool's  first draft of her project.


Samira

Week 7 Simple solutions for a big problem

As we are approaching the the end of the course, we were given many answers to a big problem which may face alot of teachers, one computer classroom. Especially in developing countries as there is not enough money to be spent on equipping schools with enough computers, teachers have to use one computer to his class. Developing interactive activities which give every student a chance to participate and get involved using one computer is a challanging in teaching. This week we covered a lot of ideas and tasks we can use in one cmputer classroom.
My colleasgues ideas and posts on this topic was very invaluable and rich. Their ideas covered nearly all language skills.

Learner autonomy also is one of the hot topic on the air teachers should  be interested in if they are after defrentiated learning and excellence of learning.
Discussion about learner autonomy enhanced my vision concerning learning process.

Another big step we diid this week. it is finding a partener to review my project plan. I am very happy to have Batool as a reviewer. We will exchanage ideas concerning the same topic : speaking. Seaking is not an easy skill to teach. I hope we find out new ideas and prespectives on our plans.

Samira

Week 6: New interactive tools but ........ a lazy student

Week 6 was full of interactive tools we can use in the classroom. I had a problem in the internet connection. This problem prevented me from posting a discussion on the Nicenet, but at the same time I had enough time to read about teaching in large classes. Teaching to large classes is not a new issue but it still need more new ideas and exploring new teaching methods. Given articles on this topic give fantastic teqneques teachers can apply. In Egypt EFL teachers suffer from crowded classes specially in upper Egypt in the primary stage. PPT give new hope to teacher to engage all students in classroom activities 

On Sunday, the last day of the week, I managed at last to look at the wonderful posts of my colleagues about interactive PPT. In addition, I got astonished to discover how much clever they are at using PPT. They posted a lot of wonderful presentations and Webquest. Until now I have not finished my task(PPT) or posted any contribution to Nicenet. I am afraid that Jannine would give me a big Zero this week. I think I should stay up to finish my tasks. Thanks God, though it is 10 Pm now in Egypt, it is about 4 pm in Oregon. Pray for me.

Samira 

Week 5 : Pearls from Technology Sea

Sharm-Elshaik- Egypt



This week as usual was rich, and fascinating. A lot of new perspectives: Rubrics, Web quest, and PBL. Interactive dialogues between the participants, visualized the concepts of using technology tools classrooms. Exchanging ideas and experience convinced us more with using technology in solving problems and difficulties we face in teaching language skills. I discovered that many teachers face the same problems I face. Moreover, I find out that I am luckier than many teachers around the world. The most rewarding thing was my colleagues' comments on my Rubrics and technology tools. I found their comments not only very reasonable but also practical as well. I think it is high time to refer to Janine, the maestro of the course, who conducts the discussion in a very constructive way wrapping in a very pleasant phrases.

Using rubrics helps me to be fair. Fairness is one of the most worrying issues for the teachers. In addition, professionalism will be handy by using rubrics in all tasks in the classroom.

Applying PBL needs more time to be more familiar to me and to my students.

Samira  

Week 4: Diving in the technology Sea

While we were diving in the technology sea this week, we discovered a lot of pearls and enjoyed wondrful reaf. the most interesting in the course is that we practice our language in new settings. New links and tools we are expereincing enhanced our language knowlege. Using reading, writing, and vocabulary in an integrated way paved the way to create new activities or tasks which encourage our students to practce the language in authentic situations. Authentic situations give the laguage usage powerful and rational for progressing.

This week we made one step forward to our project. We began to formulate the problem and look for answers.

Surperisengly, now I had so many tools that I couldn't find enough time to explore them.

Articles about writing and reading were very helpful to give us ideas and new concepts.

Samira