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Thursday, December 6, 2012

 The end of the course I fee sad and happy. Why sad ?  Because  I found new creative technology based colleagues and instructor who were patiently  guided us to learn new ideas of the world technology.  Now they leaving me alone to  implement those ideas which I learned from them.  Why I happy ? I can be I touch with them when I need some suggestion  from them.
 
In Week 10 LoTi survey  I found little bit difficult for me because some questions are not appropriate to my context.  we do not all time our studnets  to use their digital devices, there is no rule . Therefore we  let them to use in some points: for searching needed material, use dictionary , do some quizes and activities.

 Now after the course  I have some new ideas how to suggest our school to integrate   technology teaching in their crriculum . First I am going  to share my new ideas through condcuting some trainings and  demo lessons, short workshops.  If I will demonstrate practically than our teachers start using , enrichinf their curriculum through incorparating technology teaching ideas into their curriculum / syllubus.
All topics which we have discussed  were relevant . It depeneds on our topics,  theme what tool to use. Fore xample sometimes it is more appropariate for me    goggle bloging , nicenet class and webquest , wall wisher for sharing course ideas and keep learning materials for the teacher s as well as for the students . I also liked -emailing  to each others feedback on our project work.  It is so interactive and quick rther than other tools for improving our written work. 
 What can I only suggest to add , I think,  might be so effective tool also to add vdeoo sessions to this course. Because  it is  so important also video conferences for exchanging  our ideas. 


Thank  to all , and I hope we will in contact with you all.
   Do svidaniye   and spasibo za vso,

 with best regards,
 Gulnara 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

 After learning new concepts Learning styles and multiple intelligences from M-Ed course, I started   applying in my teaching practice and   shared with my colleagues through conducting trainings and demo lessons, too.  Many my colleagues who use learning styles and multiple intelligences in their teaching wonder how important it is for their students. Testing of our students’ learning styles and MI helps us to know how, what and when to plan activities according to their interest and abilities.    Our experience worked well because students started working well, understand the topics, develop flexibility, thinking and analytical skills. Therefore my colleagues and I always test our students learning styles and MI ever new academic year and share with each subject teacher in order to improve their teaching practices. Using this idea also helps students to reflect on their learning process and identify sphere for improvement.
             What new, easy to check and appropriate LS and MI testing ideas I have leaned from this week 9 is   using technological-based tests. I found it is very easy, appropriate, safe teachers’ time to check.  Before we have used paper –based tests and   analyzing those testing took our time. 
 We can use the following  test  to identigy our students  MI.   Technological-based tests help our studnets to be more  autonomous  in identifying their LI and MI. In addition  this skill develop student technology use skills.  Inquiring topics the following test  for elementatry class and site for other students useful.

Elementary Checklist


Mastery
·                                 ___ I enjoy doing things I know about.
·                                 ___ I'm good at getting things done.
·                                 ___ I like copying or making things.
·                                 ___ I follow a routine every morning.
·                                 ___ I work out problems step-by-step.
Interpersonal
·                                 ___ I like games that everyone can play and nobody loses.
·                                 ___ I enjoy working with friends.
·                                 ___ I'm good at helping others.
·                                 ___ I like group projects.
·                                 ___ I like it when everyone is happy.
·                                 ___ I am good at understanding other people's feelings.
Understanding
·                                 ___ I enjoy reading about things that interest me.
·                                 ___ I'm good at organizing things.
·                                 ___ I like to figure out how things work.
·                                 ___ I learn mostly from reading.
·                                 ___ I like assignments that make me think.
·                                 ___ I like to take my time on projects that interest me.
Self-Expressive
·                                 ___ I enjoy doing things I've never done before.
·                                 ___ I'm good at discovering things.
·                                 ___ I think of lots of new ideas.
·                                 ___ I like to use my imagination.
·                                 ___ I like art and music.
·                                 ___ I like “What if . . .” questions better than “yes-and-no” questions.



2. http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm


Now  I am going to use  and share with my colleagues and students new, easy  and interactive way   of identifying their own  learning styles and MI.   The following cites will prove my ideas about LS and MI:


  • A good knowledge of learning styles and multiple intelligences can give teachers a powerful tool for providing learners with matrix of different learning preferences and opportunities for all students to develop all learning modes. . 
  • By using learning styles and multiple intelligences we can bring students of different strengths and preferences together, giving them all the chance to share their expertise, and to develop their 'weaker' intelligences by learning alongside fellow students who are 'stronger' in these areas. Learning in this way can do wonders for students' self-esteem, as they see themselves valued by their peers.
(ratrieved from : http://www.classroom-management-success.org/learning-styles-and-multiple-intelligences.html)


 Seond our big assignment  was  submition out final project report draft  .   It was so interactive  week because we have  paired and worked on  our  project work improvement process. We have  exchange  with our  feedback to each other. When I got my feedback from  my partner I started to think about my  changes in my final repart draft.  I think , I have managed to submit my  report i in pite of electricity short off during the projecting process.  And I am now  waiting for my  feedback from Robert.

 Some issues occured during implementation process  therefore I am going to continue my project  plan in the furture changing some topics .

While reading my coleagues  ideas, their blogs found out  many of them are very skillsful on technology use than me. Because I am first time in this course  when I have taken  first TESOL  technology -based course  I faced some difficulty open and  to work with site . But later I have  somehow experienced on technology use.  From, this course  I gained a lot of skills   opening blog, working in wiki,  interactive PPT, google blog, Wequest,  developing rteaching resources, project work and etc.
 Last I want to say  thank you  for Robert  guiding us  to the right path in the  world of technology  and thank you for my colleagues  for  their best ideas  which they shared with me.

    



 I hope we will be in touch  in furture  with each other. My address  : gabdieva@gmail.com ;  abdieva1968@mail.ru


        Soon  is new year,  Happy New  Year!






Sunday, November 25, 2012

 Unit 8 is the two steps to the end  of the course which is pitiable.   I do not have  a lot information about my colleagues learning but  I can say  I learned new ideas and   improved new skills in this Unit:
 Firtst my experience hearing about nicenet  down. I really suprised on  this news and worried also about our task.  Tnanks to Robert  that in spite of   less time he back upped our discussion in google and added all of us there.  I appriciate his job and it gave me hint to  improve further my  webskills.    Even I have a lot of new ideas  and  enhanced my web skills ( I think) but still  there is the room for learning.
 What I  was aware  in thius unit  is to  be cautious and be  ready   to open new  web blogger.
     The peer  feedback idea was familiar  for me from my trainer  job except  the process.  I mean  the process of  choosing a partner through google doc,   sharing our  project plan and reports and receiving feedback from our partner  through wiki  was new for me.   Frankly saying  I was worried  in the process of choosing  partner because when I sent to  one of my colleague  my  invitation she did not respond. But she later explained that she did not really see my invitation.  Therefore I have chosen  another partner , which he helped me to see my  errors  in my project work.  Thanks to him  in spite of  my grammatical errors he managed to read my paper and  gave constructive feedback.  You know, in my nature I do not like writing  long sentence reports. I like to write short and bullet point  reports because it saves my time.  I know it might face difficulty to the reader understand  my view point.  Therefore , I prefer  oral presentation than writing. In oral presentation I  can explain  my view point clearly.
  The other  motivated activity  in this Unit is  preparing tools. This activity helped me  to acquire new web skills  - creating worksheets, flashcards and tests. I developed  test using easy to make test website  for my Grade 7 .I did not share this URL because  I want first to test it tomorrow's my lessons and than share with you all. Other created  materials I have added to wiki.
 I  am aware with ANVIL  . I have used it before  during CE science at our school. It is so interactive way  of communication and video taping website.  During CE course  teachers   speech videotapped and shared with each other. I liked this idea and  planned to use    during  CE English training course in  winter holiday.
 Of course , it needs time,  resources  ( webcam)  and full bite internet.
   What  requires on me only plan, implement into practice , check and identify pitballs  and continue learning ....

Friday, November 16, 2012


 Dear my colleagues,
   I am so excited and  worried. You may ask why are you excited?
I am excited because I am  enhancing my Web skills through  reading,  practicing, doing , sharing and discussing. One of them in Uint 7 is wallwisher and   3D presentations  . These  skills are new for me. I enjoyed  practicing and opeing the site.
 How  I am planning to use  WW:     one of the best idea  is  developing  advertisement board. I request Grade 11 students  to think creatively about their adds on learned topics.  But I am so worried about my schedule  because  when I plan this activity  the comp. lab will not be free. I have to use one computer class where is not interenet connection.  In that moment I have just present how to develop WW and   assign as a homework.  We have in LRC computers  are connected with  interent and my studnets can use  internet and develop  WW and attaching their works. After this activity  I have question: how can we assess this activity? Should I develop rubrics a or  checkilist? Could you help me to identify assessment tool.
  The articles on  developing students independent learning or autonomy learning is so thoughtful. They helped me to reflect back to my class.   You know Grade 11  studnets are already adults. Sometimes I do not give them autonomy when they are doing grammar tasks.   But majority of time  when they do project works,  prepare presentation on the giventopic they are free to choose their time, topics, and plan time. They enjoy  with their learning in this time.
 Thanks to my colleagues sharing powerful and useful ideas  , for exam Csilla, Sam and Tushar.  I will borrow your ideas if you give permission. For example , lino site,  Sam's   webQuest ideas , Tushar one computer clas ideas.
 Yes i know it is so  difficult teaching  in large class from my experience  teaching English   with 30 students.  This number of students for  teaching language is  a lot because  there will not be  opportunity  of participation , speaking and doing activities.  I  learned from this unit  how to use WW,  interactive PPT ( unit 6)  will be helpful in presenting topics and  engage studnets  with learning.
Other insteresting action is  making students pair in analysing each  others   taks, projects. This will help us to see from other eyes and improve our  work.  I was worried about " if my  colleagues did not choose as a partner what should I do". Thanks to Tushar that he  was agreed being my partner and work together in analysing our project work.
 Only one challenge  there will be less  hours for my project  implementation . I can do  planning and thre four hours teaching.  I thik it will be enough for  analysing  pluses and minesus of  my project work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 I started making changes  in my project work: for example  I added some presentation and taks  in my zunal.com, developed PPTs one of them I have snet to  PPT presentations , the next one I will send  after  my use, because it needs some changes.
These are URL   for my WW a if it is possible :
http://wallwisher.com/wall/jkgoc6gtwo
<iframe src='http://wallwisher.com/embed/jkgoc6gtwo' frameborder='0' width='100%' height='480px' style='border 1px solid #999999'></iframe>
 With regards,
 Gulnara

Saturday, November 10, 2012

  What was  useful for me in Unit 6?
Every English language  teacher  applies to  the  course to learn something new , useful  and best ideas which help  to motivate  students to improve their language skills and engage them learning  interactively. I got also for myself some useful ideas. For example  readings about engaging studnets in learning and  interactive lectures,   even they were not about  English language large class teaching , were interestiong.  I  got from interactive lecture reading  one strtategy which named " Just-in -time teaching" where teacher prepares  questions  on  one of the topic from studnets textbooks or sites and  send  those questions to students through  discussion board , internet. Students  read questions  and their texts  answer to them. They come to the next lesson with new idea and new questions  for class discussion .   The video  about implmentation of this strategy was  also practical .
 The next interesting , challenging and more useful  skill which I  practiced  was  developing interactive PPT Jeopardy game for  using in  Grade 11 during revision lesson. I found this activity was so usefulk than other discussions in this Unit because I like to learn more through doing rather than just speaking.

The other task which I have to implement  my project work.  Our studnets now are haviing rest . They start studying  from Monday. I am going to complete  my  all PPT which I have started now and share with my colleagues and use it ion my lessons.





































Sunday, November 4, 2012

 How exciting and challenging learning !

 Project Based learning   motivates our learners to be more  independent, creative and problem solver.  I used this  idea  in my lessons. One of them   conducting research on different  topics in English lesson. Students  enjoy doing individual tasks. They learn how  to develop questionnaires , interview and prepare presentations.  Now I added  to my this learning   teachnology based projects . Thanks to Robert and Jennine and my colleagues  giving  such a good idea.   I opened  class   in Nicenet  to my students and  workiong on other WebQuest site. 
 Other very intresting  learning was   creating Rubrics and  ideas of using alternative assesments in our teaching.  Rubistar.com  was easily guided m,e how to create rubrics.  I want it  to share with my colleagues in my CE training because   assessment in our teaching is very crucial.  We use "5" mark assessment and it is sometimes became subjective.  Therefore the idea  of using alternative assessment tools like rubrics , checklists and observation sheets will be more objective and  helpful. Students can also assess themselves using  required rubrics or any other tools provided by the teacher.
 I received  very  constructive feedback on  developing ABCD objectives and  narowing my studnets needs  to my project . Thanks to Robert I am working on  my project and developed new abcd  objectives. 
 Now I am working on my extra  WebQuest site  which named  "Let's learn English through reading and writing" as so I am going to work on my students' writing and reading problems. 

  Happy,
 Gulnara

Monday, October 29, 2012

I was reading all my colleagues   reflection  and came into conclusion that they are so creative and  skillful in building blog.

Articles about using CALL in writing and reading activities
The reading  provided by Robert were so  useful . I got  good idseas from them  , for example, in 
   Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction (2000)  . This is lesson plan  where e-books with authentic  e-texts and good steps on using web teaching  were provided. As it is so importantt to  improve our students reading and writing skills. These skills one the problems of my grade 11 . Therefore I was  so busy with reading and searching  websites for my teaching.


 One of the so engaging  activity was  exporing websites  which were provided. One of them "Breaking News English"  where I found  reading, vocabulary and listening activities./ I tried  to use one of the stories from there which one  is about Jeans .  This story helped me to engage all students with learning. In addition from other reading I noticed  the problems  of webteaching lessons.   We have also the smilar issue , for example,  some students have internet connection due to   expensive internet/ face difficulty on gathering information and etc.  The purpose  is developing students' writing skills, reading  different jenres  in the context.  Selected information  are so helpful to us  because they are so interesting, apealing  texts.
  Integrated  web  lesson plan
 I enjoyed when  I have  developed lesson plan . I read my colleague slesson plan and  Robert's lesson template  and modified my own  lesson plan.  I  used it  in my practice and shared with my colleagues at school.  It worked well. Thanks for the new ideas  for Robert and  to other my e-colleagues.
 what was challenging for my to open RWc where we saved our  favourite sites. I tried several times  and  managed to open and save my sites.  It was cool!
 Another  very interesting  activity to identify target group needs and problems in my last  Project idea.  Frankly to say  it was little bit challenging for me  to identify my students problems as  I am teaching  this Grade 11 students this year.  Because  they have  problems in learning languiage .  Majority students  face difficulty even to speak in English.   Lastly I have selected  integrated  skils. Reading and writing which are  so  important  and require improvement. 

 Gulnara 


Monday, October 22, 2012

Dear my colleagues,
This is the  film which I used to my open door lesson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWRZVL7IacQ . It was so  exciting and good site  for developing students  language skills.
 Use with pleasure and  reflect on it.
  Unit 3 reflection:
  "  This Unit was so exciting and so challenging for me.  You may ask Why? I can answer to your question.
 First it was so challenging  I could not find free time to sit and  to do my assignments  due to overloaded  weeks  due to 10th anniversary of our school.  There was  so big preparation : decoration, banners, preparation open door lessons... so on.  I was so busy .  There were quests  from  different Embassy  in Kyrgyzstan: German, French, American , and also members of AKDN organization.  One of the exciting moment for us  Princess Zahra ( The Aga Khan's daughter's) visit to school and to my open door lesson where I   planned to teach  through using video  about planning to travel " Long weekend" where I used  speaking activities.  First I request students  to talk about their last weekend ; introduced new words from Video; watched first episode and  discussed the meaning through doing while watching tasks . During post watching video  requested students  to  develop  plan  for spending their weekend trip and  act it out. For example, imagine you are going to travel to.....  what do you take with you? Who  will go with?  Where are you going to travel?  Students  have world map and they label where to go.By the end studnets shared  their role playes  and got feedback from guests, from me and from their peers.  It was so exciting when my Grade 7 students showed their knowledge on English. They were so confident in speaking in fornt of guests.
 Secondly this unit was so exciting and engaging. We opened our delicious site where  we can bookmark  our sites. It is so helpful because  we can open it  from different computers and from different place. I found so useful and helpful  task when we reviewed  Last Projects. It gave us  f ruit for thought  to improve my final project . I opened  Nicenet class to my  Grade 11  students and shared  wirh them and requested to join. I will send URL when I will addd their my tasks.  Readings were also so interesting  and gave ideas how to use  web oral/aural activities from internet web sites. For example,  BBC UK news programs,    English language worksheets, pronounciation activities and etc.
 So , I learned  from Unit 3 to plan  time for the study ahead,   to use delicipous  and giigo bookmakers, opened to my studnets nicenet class, analysed last projects for getting guidence to our  future  projects.
   Thank you  for the challenging and engaging  tasks.
Good luck for our for all  during Unit 4!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

   I am with E-teacher course  teachers during introducing course syllabus .
 My ACCESS teacher colleague at  USA Embassy home in Bishkek where I recieved my UMBC E-traing course  certificate.
Dear coleagues,
 I am again here to share my reflection on  A.B.C.D objective writing and  choosing  the target class for the final  project.
  Our course becoming engaging, interesting  and challenging step by step  .  I am happy that I am learning  from you all.
 I questioned first when I saw the ABCD letters  What is it? Why ABCD? Later I  got its' meaning after reading Unit 2 article about  writing objectives .  Inquiring Bloom's taxonomy and reviewing it. I applied ABCD idea into my practice during developing lesson  plan objectives. It is really helpful and guide us  how to put  language objectives and not to forget about D point ( how much ours students  to learn and how it measured) After several practice I managed it and even  implemented in to my teaching process.  May be you know or not about sytem of assessment in our country we use "5" mark assessment. Sometiomes this mark is  become subjective. But planning objectives as D help us to see  what should we assess, how to measure our studnets learning. 
 After that  the next question apperead in my mind: should we all time to write  ABCD while writing our objectives or  it is enough to keep them in our mind and write our objectives? I questioned Robert and  my other colleagues. I hope I will soon  get answer. I hope my other colleagues felt the same challenges. If you have  good experience  and felling with abcd concept  share with me, please.
 Secondly I want to share  my view point about selection target group to my final  project. If to say truth I was so challenged  what target  group can be appropriate for me . At least, I decided  to choose Grade 11 and ESL teahers who are now  doing their E-teacher course with me.  They are  adults and  know computer well. Majority of my students  have computer skills and computers connected with internet.   I have requeted and taught how to open nicenet.org for  getting information from me.  You see how this my learning making my life easy and interesting.  I can sit at home and communicate with my students and engage them to learn English sharing  web sites  with them through on-line. I am so happy for that.
 What about you?

Happy and so thankful to instructors and colleagues,
 Gulnara
Dear  Colleagues,
  It was so exciting for me  the second Unit  as we have  started it with WEBSEARCH.  You know , before I always used  only google.com, WIKIpedia for big staff and Youtube for videos and songs  and BBC world web news program, some other staff  to use in my lessons.
 Now from noodletooles.com I found  there are other sites for  searching different concepts.   It was  so great! I inquired and tried  to   search diffrent concepts from  different websearch tools.  There are bing.com, USAgov.com, ask.com , sweatsearch.com , BBC news  for  the phrasal verbs, quizzes an other stuff. If  to tell you truth  I was engaged    analysing web. search sites  even I did not know how time passed.   really engaged  activity.
 I also shared some  websites like BBS news, youtube,  with my students to look for  the topics what we have learned in the class.   Half of them they surfed the internet and shared their view points that they enjoyed , too  updadting their English. For example  in grade  11 , my students searched   Phrasal verbs , they listened some Phrasal verbs and brought to the class. Even they have acted out some of them.   I have shared here with you sites which I have used and my students used. 
In short, I am so thankful to Robert and other our instructors that provided with us  such a engaged  and challenging tasks for  updating our knowledge.
I can finish  websearch reflection with beautiful Chinese quote: 
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."(chinese proverb retrieved from 
Don't you think it is true  to the fact and it's so matches to our present learning hours.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Introduction

Hello my colleagues,
 I am going to introduce myself. My name is Gulnara   from Osh , Kyrgyzstan.   I am an English language teacher  and Professional Development Trainer at Aga Khan School.  It is one of the  best school in  our town. I like my job. It is so interesting and challenging  because I work with different level of students and teachers who needs  my support. Therefore  I have motto " Be in  the place where  my support needs , speak needed words, share useful things, learn from experience".
  I have done my Master Education Program from  IED-AKU Karachi, Pakistan in 2002. After graduating I joined  to Aga Khan school when it was opened also in 2002.  This year on the 18th of October  we are going to celebrate our school's 10-anniversary  and my  10 years experience with this school.  I also teach ACCESS students   who are eager  to learn English.
 Now I  am  with you , with the Web skill course instructors and colleagues. I am so happy for that because I am so eager to enhance my webskills in order to make more interesting  and more interactive my  English lessons.

Gulnara Abdieva
PDT, AKS, Osh

Thursday, October 4, 2012

My first reflection on openning blogger

My first impression on Web skill course and openning  Blogger.

 I've gotten  this  excellent  learning experience from Web skill 10 weeks course.  I opened  my second  blogger to share my  first impressions and  futher reflection on learning process throuhgout  this course.  It is so practical  experience that  teachers learning how to open  learning log blogs and  apply it in their practices during teaching. 
I am very glad   of my participation and getting new ideas  on using modern technology in our teaching  in this  technology era. I am so curious on learning new ideas and eager to learn  web skill's  strategies and  implement in my  teaching process.   Yes, I know  that I am not so skillful but  there are my  skillful  instructors and colleagues who will support me  to  improve my Web usage skills during 10-weeks course. I need  yoursupport and hope you will guide us if we are wrong and face difficulties.
 Opps I  have forgotten to share my first  impression  on openning this  web blog.  Yes I heard about this site from my colleague Natlya who participated  to this course and  completed succefully.  She explained me how to  open thios blogger and I tried to  open  when I started CE course with English language teachers before. But I did not use this blogger due to lack of  we b skills . I also  did not how to continue further. I hope from  this  time I am going to learn everything  how to  use it  and continue further. 
 It was challenging for  me to  open second page for reflections. By the end after several tries  I opened  it. I am so happy!