Hi, everyone.
Hope that you all had a great week!
We completed a lot of tasks this week.
1.
An
investigation into four new websites that we had never used before. I
personally liked Breaking News English, and I found that it would be helpful at
any level and for any purposes. The
focus is on reading, but there are many activities which students can do for
pre-reading, while-reading and post-reading fun.
2. We read two articles, one about using CALL
for writing and one about e-books in the classroom. Using
the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction (2000)
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krajka-WritingUsingNet.html
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krajka-WritingUsingNet.html
Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL
Students Using E-books (2004)
http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Liang-ExtensiveReading.html
http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Liang-ExtensiveReading.html
3.
Next, I tried to do some extra reading and looked at
the following articles:
- E-mailing to Improve EFL Learners' Reading and Writing Abilities:
Taiwan Experience (1999)
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Liao-Emailing.html - Using Technology to Assist in Vocabulary Acquisition and Reading
Comprehension (2007)
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Constantinescu-Vocabulary.html
- Microsoft's "Lesson Plans for Teachers" page, for
augmenting your lesson with technology:
http://www.microsoft.com/Education/en-us/teachers/plans/Pages/index.aspx
4. I created a technology-based lesson plan
based on a model being used by Baltimore Public School System.
5. Finally,
I thought more about my final project for this course. I looked at the needs of
my students and thought about a problem that could be solved with technology.
Outside of this class, I am
presently attending the International Writing Centers Association Conference in
San Diego now. I am presenting about a
paper that I have written about “Utilizing Tutors in the Classroom.” This is a
new initiative which I have started the past few years, first at my previous
university in Atlanta, Georgia and now at my current job at the University of
Macau. Now, that I have the basis for
tutors in the classroom, I need to think of ways to incorporate technology into
this project as well.
Overall, this was a great week. I enjoyed it a
lot and learned many things.
Back to Hong Kong on Monday! I hate that long trans-Pacific flight!
Take care, everyone!
Evelyn
Dear Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteYou happened to be my inspirer this week and I write to thank you for the great description of the needs and problems of the class you are teaching. I write a reply on Nicenet, view it when and if you have a minute.
Having read your blog entry, I see it is so different from my emotional staff! I filed to describe the details of my weekly readings, but all emotions are there, even supported with pictures!
See you on-line,
Marina Kudritskaya from Kazakhstan
Dear Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteI am sure you are jet-lagged and overwhelmed with the course and other duties. Your energy can be contagious, so I shouldn't complain.
As I read the last section of your post, I got excited about the paper you presented in San Diego. Do you think you can share it with me? If you remember, I am also involved in the Writing Center at the University where I teach and we're looking for ideas that can make the Writing Center outreach the university community. Any information about tutors corresponding via email about their experiences in Writing Centers? I saw something of this nature on the site of the International Writing Centers Association. Have you done this before? If so, how are the links established?
Thank you and regards,
Paula
Hi, Marina.
ReplyDeleteHow are you? Thanks for your reply. I keep meaning to mention to you that I almost accepted a job in Kazakhstan recently. I changed my mind at the last minute due to the heavy winters there. I am not very fond of cold weather. So, I hope that you are able to survive the long winter ahead.
Good luck!
Evelyn
Hi, Paula.
ReplyDeleteYes, I would love to share my paper with you. It is being reviewed now for publication. Once accepted (hopefully), I can share the link with you. This project was about putting tutors in the classroom with regular teachers and having them co-teach. I am doing a similar project right now with peer tutors and having them assist as well.
I have not done anything with e-mail between tutors, but that sounds like a good project. Is your Writing Center already up and running?
Take care.
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading your paper; co-teaching sounds great!
Our Center is two years old and in its 3rd year, I became its director. The idea of email between tutors I read about on the website of IWCA.
Paula
Hi, Paula.
ReplyDeleteYou have a young center too. Me too. The good thing is that they have no long history to compare things too, so we can invent new programs that will challenge the tutors and staff there!
Good luck!
Evelyn