Week 5: Weekly Reflection

Dear Sir/Madam,

Week 5 of the training was wonderful!!! Not only it was a halfway of the ten weeks that we have to cover, but also it brought me a lot of insights that will help me improve the ways of teaching and assessing!!

I have visited http://www.sun-associates.com/lynn/pbl/pbl.html; http://zunal.com/zunal-help/help-about-whatiswebquest.php; http://rubistar.4teachers.org/;http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/assessing/alternative.htm and have learnt that:

- Project-based learning is motivating because it allows students work in (small) groups to solve challenging problems. This is very important because students feel concerned with the solution of their own problems and that their contribution is needed and valuable.

- In a project-based learning, students are exposed to a variety of learning styles. Thus, a combination of various styles helps students learn better. And now, how can’t they get motivated if everyone learns through his/her learning style?

- The use of PBL can work well with technology: look at the learning styles: visual learners, kinetic learners, logical learners, language-oriented learners: students need visual things, like images, games, visual elements in reading, writing via colored pens, spelling words, stories, songs, poems, puzzles,… These needs satisfied using technology, students learn better, as the computer tool will provide them with facilities related to each one’s learning styles. But I don’t see well how to incorporate PBL with technology for kinetic learners. Again, I think there are limitations in my class since there are very few computers (desktops). I think portable computers can help students who can’t sit still long.

- Within PBL, rubrics and/or alternative assessment play a great role because activities are built around topics or issues of interest to the students; the latter sit in a real-world communication contexts and know evaluation criteria and standards.

- Rubrics and/or alternative assessment can incorporate independent learning when:

* The emphasis is put on strengths instead of weaknesses of students: these won’t be shy or ashamed of their mistakes;

* The focus is put on communication not on right or wrong answers: this will allow students to express themselves;

* Learner-centered method is the most used: all activities are learner-oriented and the teacher is a facilitator;

* Rubrics provide a measure of quality of performance on the basis of established criteria.

All in all, PBL, rubrics and/or alternative assessment allow students to get involved in their learning, they are responsible, participate actively with interests, collaborate among themselves and independently construct their knowledge. Expectations are known.

- Another point not to be forgotten is about WebQuests: it is the first time for me to hear about it, but I am glad to learn that WebQuests are based on the ideas of inquiry and constructivism. They incorporate cooperative and collaborative teaching/learning. This is very important in a classroom environment, as weak students learn through quick students and there is a mutual exchange of experiences. A part from information got from http://zunal.com/zunal-help/help-about-whatiswebquest.php, I am happy to read additional information from http://legacy.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-b.shtml, suggested by my classmate, Omar.

- I have learnt how to create a rubric and have created two rubrics: while one is about writing friendly letters (available at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzdTIwMTN3ZWJza2lsbHN3aWtpfGd4OjNkOGRkODQyYTJhY2U1NzA), the other one is about writing persuasive essays (available at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzdTIwMTN3ZWJza2lsbHN3aWtpfGd4OjNjMjlhZjcxYzFjNDQ1NjM). My students need these skills. Me, too, as there are insights with regard to assessment standards.

- http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ will help me create quality rubrics.

- Rubrics are for me a new tool that I am going to use as a technology change and as a solution to a major problem related to assessment.

- After reading about project-based learning and WebQuests, I am trying to think of a project that I might do with my class. The link is the following: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=205672. Even if I have shared it at Class Wiki, it is still looking as a draft. Therefore, I need to add some ingredients and do some important retouches.

- The last but not the least thing I have learnt through week 5 is about finding images from “Google images”. I tried it while I was creating my WebQuest. It was so interesting for me!!! My gratitude goes to Courtney who guided me along the way!!

Thank you!

Sosthene