Aug 4, 2011

week7

So, another busy week. Week 7. The topics were learners' autonomy (+teacher's one) and one comp classroom..I read all articles and  skimmed discussions on the above, and found out that autonomy topic was more discussed. But it  was mainly framed with increasing autonomy (i.e freedom)  of teaching methods/strategies and growing necessity of self-teaching/self-evaluating for learners ( i.e. self-study or what?). Second topic articles and discussion covered 'survival' matter  and advice of how to teach with one in-class computer...Sure, offline.Hmmmm...
To tell the truth, I'm a bit at a loss for such topics choice for this week...Hope next week ones will be more technology-driven  and valuable, sorry...
As for peer choice, I would prefer our course mentor to appoint anybody herself as I respect all course participants and will appreciate their kind attention to my project.
I'm also sorry but I won't create any special lesson for 1-comp class as I'm not sure to have a comp in-class at all.  It is not so important.  Anyway, my PPT sample interactive (week6)  could be an add-on to such lesson ( or I will print out slides).

Kind
Irina

One comp nicenet

Dear Donna and buddies:

I think that both discussion topics of Week7 - One computer and Learners'(+teachers')automony - are 'interconnected'. 

Using or integrating of even one computer gives and develops more automony both of teachers and learners in education at any stage and at any institution...

As far as I know, in some US states kids play and learn using computer at the kindergardens. Some other states are opposing to that.

Lot's of off-line or downloaded and saved programs could be applied in-class to facilitate teaching and learning, motivate and engage pupils/students. But they can be replaced by TVsets and recorders, or even 'teacher's' live performance, textbooks, handouts...

Using Internet in the classroom is A DIFFERENT thing! In my classes at college - it'is not possible. In my previous University experience - possible BUT very limited (i.e. some sites like Youtube are not available, other have limited access and so on). But in turn,there were no problems with number of PCs stations for students.

So, using Internet in the classrom (not a gadget) is a problem that deserves a separate discussion and great teacher's attention... 

Meanwhile, I prefer to develop the strategy of out-of-class(remote)online autonomy of higher education (university age) students through our collaborative course wiki-site, and use our rare and time-limited in-class meetings for oral/speaking/ 'live'communication on textbooks or other syllabus topic.
The less 'live' class hours and the more 'class' attendees we have, the more difficult it gets to teach and to learn efficiently! It doesn't matter with or without a computer. The fact is that so we HAVE TO develop our and our students automony by any possible means...

Kind
Irina