The week suggested much to think about and
try my hand at. It was a bit not as tense as previous weeks. I perceive it is so
on two reasons: I got used to intensive reading and became more skilled in
fulfilling practical tasks, secondly- this week offered exploring the fields familiar
and close to my understanding. Thus, I’ve read the material, created the Rubric
( which I enjoy a lot!), I have sketched my first WebQuest http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=119625
“Healthy Food Project”. Also it became
the time to use my knowledge more consciously –I have met my students from the
university and we started fulfilling the WebQuest tasks from “To Kill a Mockingbird”
http://www.zunal.com/author.php?w=111979
as it happened to be up to the point in accordance with our university course program. The WebQuest
was created by three Australian teachers
Sue Fearnley, Usha Chambers and Danielle
Macpherson, a sophisticated and clever piece of a creative work. At last I
browsed through the pages and lists of the WebQuests with clear vision of the
tool- very effective for the work in the classroom and beyond, helping students
find ways. PBL is what I have been doing in my classroom for at least 10 last years. Though,
it is no news for me I found very well structured articles to logically organize
my work and pay more attention to some characteristics I’ve neglected on this
or the other reason. Some statements sound not very fair to me in the articles presented
by Survival Tips for New Teachers on the NCLRC web site (http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/whatteach/survival.htm
). While speaking about the content
they
claim that working through the curriculum should be a process of discovery for
the students, but not for the instructor. I always open new pages together with
my students if even the lesson is well prepared and worked out. The vision of
those pages may be different for me and them, but students always make the
teacher learn and feel amazed. My Delicious page is full of links and needs to
be ordered, hopefully soon. I adore reading the posts on the mates’ blogs - tons
of hints, creativity and fresh thoughts. Rashid’s Reflections Through Comic
Strips are just awesome!
It's good this week was more easier to you than others we have gone through. I think you realised that it doesn't matter how much you know, you always need to learn. I have a different view with you on the claim that "working through the curriculum should be a process of discovery for the students, but not for the instructor." in Survival Tips for New Teachers on the NCLRC web site (http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/whatteach/survival.htm ) My view is that the teaching-learning process should always be dominated by learning rather than teaching. Therefore, students themselves should play the biggest role in the process where the teacher/instructor is their as a facilitator not a giver of knowledge. Ofcourse you should, as an instructor, always be nearby your students bot not for completely deciding for them what they need to study but for helping them discover what is helpful for them.
ReplyDeleteFinally, the Reflections Through Comic Strips are not mine but Rashid's. The names are a bit hard to differentiate. Rashid-Richard!!!!
The best
Richard
Dear Richard!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your letter.
1) It wasn't a misspell about Richard/Rashid- I was looking through all the blogs and I remember yours. As to the Comic Strips, I was sure it was your blog. Sorry for misunderstanding.I hope Rashid won't feel hurt because of it. I have corrected the mistake.
2) When I mentioned " for the instructor AS WELL", I meant that I am always in the process of learning. Actually, we are talking about the same things as I guess.
I am really very much flattered that you visited my blog and found time to write a comment.
best wishes
Hi Olena,
ReplyDeleteYou seem so enthusiastic, it's contagious! I envy a little bit your experience with PBL and working with rubrics. They are new experiences in my case, I have always looked for innovation and forms to transform my teaching but sometimes (as I am confirming with this course) we need more than just good intentions :)
I also loved Rashid's creativity, I usually surf his blog to see what new idea he posts.
Best wishes on next week's tasks.
Letty
Hi Letty,
ReplyDeleteNice you have found time to visit my blog and leave your comment. I am following your blog and see how nicely you go on with the program! I am sure you will like the project work- it gives so much satisfaction to a creative personality! If I could give you a piece of advice I would recommend starting with a very small project which is easier to follow and finish. Otherwise it grows to a very tiresome work with a lot of off-springs and it may seem there will be no end to the work. Rubrics are great to use when you spend time and give your students clear understanding what is ahead and what they are expected to accomplish within the class or home work. It saves you from many misunderstandings later when you give marks or analyze students’ achievements. The students will like it and they may choose the level of the performance they can cope with if even they will have a lower mark but they know well enough what they must do for that.
Wish you all the success.
Hi Olena,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that I finally visited your blog page and read all the interesting ideas and experiences you've been being a teacher.
I personally thank you too, for giving me wonderful suggestions at Nicenet. I feel so happy reading them and I am positive that those suggestions will work well in my class when tried.
My best regards,
REBECCA
Hi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog! I absolutely agree with you and those who consider this week as time for creativity. I like all I was doing: reading, writing, Rubrics creating, WebQuest. Webquests is worth trying. You said, as it creates an interactive academic activity in a much more controlled environment. I like this statement very much! I am sure you will succeed in making your Webquest when your time comes. This week I even tried a new program for the slideshow and made a short funny film. You can try your hand in it as well. It is the last post on my blog Master Class in Cooking Ukrainian Dishes Slideshow Slideshow: TripAdvisor™ TripWow.
I wish you nice empressions from the other weeks as well.
Hi Olena,
ReplyDeleteIt always pays off when one starts taking the task seriously and gets settled down. Hope that this brought a good change in your existing teaching skills.
Hi Tariq,
ReplyDeleteThanks for summing up- sounds exactly as I feel about this week's tasks performance.