Even if this week tried to squeeze and trouble me a lot, I could manage to read the articles and post for the discussions, in the meantime, design a lesson for one-computer classroom. What I found is CALL and learner autonomy are interrelated. And the most plausible point to me is 'prepare children to learn rather than teaching them'. It is what I have understood this week.

Children observing their autonomy in the basketball court

Learner autonomy is capacity for detachment, critical reflection, decision-making, and independent action' (Little, 1991: 4). Our job is to assist the children to have such capacity. It is possible through CALL. And I am really interested to use it different ways.

Finally I could design a lesson for one computer classroom. It is to enhance their listening skill at the same time to develop vocabulary. I made it different than the usual way of conducting listening activity. In this activity, they are engaging tremendously themselves. They peer assess their answers and use computer for the inference of the answer. It seems interesting to me.  Let me check how far it works. 

Meet You ALL Next Week.

Webquest: Can the children quest for, in fact?

As a part of my project work of webskills course and as a part of the children’s project work of the promotional exam of this year, I have assigned them a project to be done in zunla.com, a webquest. I have given for two different classes viz, grade eight and seven.

For grade eight, it is character sketch two prominent characters of the great play of Shakespeare ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and for class seven, is to design a format of formal and informal letter on a chart and writing an informal letter on any one of the given questions on a A4 size paper which is meant for language and literature expo so decoration is a must. I have attached some weblinks related to these sites and also attached some slides so that they can get concept and do it. Their submission day begins from coming Sunday to Wednesday.

I guess they will make it and we will really have wonderful time in the expo which probably be held next Sunday.

After all A Success

The international Conference of NELTA 2012 that took place in St. Xavier School became a success to me since I could share my ideas on how to bring technology in the classroom with ELT practioners of home and abroad. I shared delicious, twurdy, blog, webquest and at the same time I showed them what I have been doing in the classroom. They were so enthralled by my work. Thank you Robert. Finally I could make it.

Besides these, I have given them my gmail account so that I can guide then the interested ones who will feel like using them . The only question I posed at the end of my session was how it can be used in remote areas where there is no availability of computers. To address this, I gave my own example as my classroom is no techno-equipped but still, I have been using it. Just the approach should be different. Giving them PBL can be one of the ways being a mentor as per Prof. Stoller. Just one needs to face the challenge and dare to challenge the long-term used methodology. Even if there's a challenge in me of completing syllabus and engaging learners in positive direction, ultimately, I could make it. In this sense I won. They were convinced.

Maybe I may receive some mails tomorrow onwards to direct them in these regards. Ready for it. Thanks Oregon.

A long-awaited Dream

Webquest was my long awaited dream; therefore, I didn't know how I tried and tried for nearly the five long hours in learning and creating it. The questgarden and zunal, I first played with them, yes in fact, I played and quite a later I learnt them. I used to think of all the days how I could upload the assignment more systematically with clear rubrics. I used to search and at times try to upload the assignment on blog but finally, I knew webquest with rubrics. Yet my quest within the webquest is there. How can I upload template to make my students write on it?

Secondly the rubric, from rubistar is a brilliant tool.  I had stated earlier as well, actually, I wanted to copy the rubric in MS word and publish it for my class blog that was forwarded to us by Robert at the inception of this webskills program but now I could  create my own and make them observe their behaviour themselves to solve them through it.

Don't bother of thinking what to use as a teaching material. here you are with webquest .

These both tools remain perfect for project-based language learning. Since PBL is a motivating approach, using it can certainly transform the classroom ambiance.

A Noble Deed!

This week I am a bit happy even if I was troubled by power-cut and other personal affairs. The first thing of my happiness is I could make a technology-enhanced lesson plan which I had never done.  The second thing is I could share my entire problems related to me and my dear students to you all and expecting some suggestion from you all. I had never thought regarding their problems earlier. I used to only think of implementing some new things related to technology earlier and confront some challenges. But now it made me a proactive instructor!

If we think of problems only then these problems just cuddle up and we never get time to come out for initiation so what I believe is on Let's start approach since every problem is there for their solutions. But now I can talk to admin to manage some things so that things can be handled in comfortable situation.

Lauri's ESL website, Breaking News English  and Independent Study Lab, I found them really useful and have bookmarked them on delicious page.

Really a gripping moment!and yours???

KISS (Keep It Seriously Simple) as Robert says.