Dear Sir/Madam,
This week was and required to get concentrated!! How?
There were many resources related to Learner Autonomy and the One Computer Classroom.
Some of the materials I have read are: the article by Dimitrios Thanasoulas (available
at http://iteslj.org/Articles/Thanasoulas-Autonomy.html);
Learner autonomy: drawing together the
threads of self-assessment, goal-setting and reflection by David Little (PDF);
Leaner autonomy by Richard Smith (http://eltj.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/4/395.full);
Strategies and Applications for the One Computer Classroom (http://www.lburkhart.com/elem/strat.htm);
etc.
From these resources, I have gained a
lot of insights that will help in my classes:
* Instead of having each student at a computer for
the whole class, I will promote interactions by having students access to one
computer where I will show videos, interactive PPTs, various websites, etc.
* I have learned what Padlet is and how it promotes
learner autonomy. In addition, I have created an activity that I can use in my
class. As it was the first time to do it, I am looking forward to receiving
feedback from the instructor and classmates as well for corrections.
* Learner autonomy does not mean that the teacher
becomes redundant; abdicating his/her control over what is transpiring in the
language learning process. (Dimitrios Thanasoulas). This point is very important, as a
teacher may think that creating learner autonomy, he/she is no longer concerned
with class activities.
* There may definitions of “autonomy”, but all of
them recognize in it ‘the ability to take charge of one’s learning’ (Holec). This is also crucial in a
teaching/learning process because so far we saw that when learners are
responsible of their learning, they learn and understand better. With these two
points, I must be aware of that fostering learner autonomy, I do not have to
abandon them. As a teacher, I have to help learners attain the construction of
knowledge, help them not see things happening, but make things happen.
* Even though we are talking about
leaner autonomy, it comes again to the teacher who will play the role of a counselor,
to convince students that they must construct their knowledge. This is the time
when the guidance from the teacher is needed. In his article available at http://eltj.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/4/395.full,
Richard Smith reminds that teachers should include learner counseling and
training to assist the ‘autonomization’ process.
* As soon we are submitting our projects reports
drafts, through week 7 I was asked to choose a partner with whom I shall review
the project report. Pablo Garcia accepted my request and I am happy to work
with him!
* On our class wiki site I have share two articles (Leaner
autonomy in practice: available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgo8h71bKAg;
Promoting learner
autonomy through communication strategy training: accessible at http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/seminars/promoting-learner-autonomy-through-communication-strategy-training).
Apart from ideas provided by Dimitrios Thanasoulas, these articles supply
enough insights with regard to learner autonomy: introducing a lesson, giving
group work, students working in groups, choosing activities,…
Thank you!
Sosthene
Hi Sosthene,
ReplyDeleteIt is true that we are learning each week more and more about how to make our teaching and learning more effective and motivating for our students. All these new tools and the materials we are reading, will allow us to come up with more bright ideas and activities to use in class.
As with the activity, you gave on Nicenet, it is a true example of all the benefits that we have gained from this wonderful experience.
I believe in the life long learning process and that learning is a never-ending process, which goes along with our breath.
Good luck,
Daniela
Thank you, Daniela!
DeleteI believe that "Learning is a continuous process". I hope that by the end of this training, we will have gained useful insights that will help us positively change the way we teach, especially in terms of technology use.
However, I am afraid that at the very end of the training I will stay burning with curiosity to learn more through the Interactive Web, in collaboration with the University of Oregon!
Ok, let's move step by step...
Best,
Sosthene