Day 5 activities in Malt project

Day 5 - session 1

We had to demonstrate one activity how we engage learners.
We show one ice braking method. We have written all participants names on the sheets of paper, asked every one choose one of the sheet with name and write down what does he think about this person, or what was the first opinion, impression on that people. Then asked to give that sheet of paper back. After that, we gave again to pull and choose one of sheet where now was written name and the opinion about one of participant, now person could read this loud and every one could help him to guess who is this person.



After that we used voting system and answered on questions. Made a discussion of what we have learnt. And then we try to use removing boards.
Interesting web page where can find a stop watch what we used for one task:
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

Day 5 - session 2

We made a exchange experience about lesson plans in different country's.

Reflection

State which class you have started your lesson plan for?

Target group - english language lesson for beginners

What are the reasons for selecting this class?
English language in Latvia is the first foreign language in school for students.
The beginning of learning language is the most important part.

What impact do you think it will have on your learners?
This is useful for different learning styles and it is based on practical method.
Students won`t lose their concentration because they are involved in the creative process and students attention is based on making interesting and attractive questions. Students will development of creative, speaking and collaboration skills.

What difficulties might you encounter?

Students can lose their concentration on the main task.

Consider the resources you might need.

Different pictures of rooms and stuff in the house, glue, a sheet of paper for the poster.

Set yourself some target dates for:
completing the lesson plan - in this summer.
the approx date when you will deliver this lesson - October of 2009.
when you will complete the documentation of the impact of your new methods on your learners - November of 2009.

Day 4 activities in Malt project

Today we have learned a video, sound, picture making, editing tools, and I liked it to do it so much, this is the thing, what is most important to me, because I am a computer teacher. I have already so much ideas how I will use them in my lessons

Day 4 session 1

Audio creation and editing

We created audio files using these tools:

• MyPodcast Recorder; Audacity, Telephone
• Edit audio files using Audacity

Usefull Web Sites

• Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• MyPodcast (recorder) http://www.mypodcast.com/
• iPadio http://www.ipadio.com

Day 4 - session 2

Image editing and storage
We created movie files using these tools:

• CamStudio/Screencast-o-matic and Photo Story 3

My first photo story :)



Day 4 - session 3

Video creation and editing

We learned this tool:

• Windows Movie Maker

Day 4 - session 4


The main task was to make a learning resources which can I and others my groups colleagues use in everyday work.
We had to used the media which we have collected the previous afternoon and evening. Then choose tool which we have learned today, and make the learning recourse as good as we can..

Reflection

Which ICT tool did you use to create a motivating activity?

We used Windows Movie Maker. We created video which we all can use in our job. This video, I can use in my lessons as a example, what can be created with this tool.

How would you use this tool to maximize your learners' potential?

I think, that my task as a computer teacher, would be to teach students how to use this tool - the same as David did it for us. And after that students could made their own video.

How is this tool or resource particularly suitable for your specialist area/curriculum?

I think that this tool is very suitable for my work. My students could really could be interested in learning Windows Movie Maker, because this tool is for free, easy to use but with maximum effect.

How did you feel about your demonstration? What went well? What could be improved or done differently?

When we made our video we didn`t save our video in the middle of work, we didn`t think about saving our video, and there were a problem with our computer and we lost a lot of we have made. And the biggest problem for us was, that we didn`t put all files together in one folder, so we couldn`t show our video as we wanted.

Day 3 activities in Malt project

Day 3 - session 1

We had to split in pairs based on similarity of learners and/or curriculum, so we choose work all Latvian together - me, Brigita and Edite.
We had to put together our taught in previous classes and a prepare at least one learning resource, what we can use with our learners.


All tool together what we can use:

wwww.etherpad.com/maltprojecttools

Reflection

Which ICT tool did you use to create a motivating activity?

At course session we made PPT + Word document. We try to put all new things what we have learned (hot spots, interactive text box, hyperlinks to MS Word document from PPT. In MS Word - we used forms).

We made a resource for English lesson PPT and Word documents.

In everyday work in my lessons I use:

• Mindmapping;
• PPT;
• Intenet;
• Google - search, map, g-mail,g-talk;
• WIKI;
• HotPotatoes;
• CamStudio;
• Classmarker...
  

How would you use this tool to maximize your learners' potential?

These things what we use to made our resource for English lesson I can`t use as it is (look were are links), but all these things I will definitely use as a computer teacher in my job. I can creat learning materials for computer science, and these materials will become more usefull becouse:

• Learners will become more active in the lesson;
• Information will be more attractive and visualize;
• That kind of materials develops thinking and memory;
• Lessons develops students creativity;

How is this tool or resource particularly suitable for your specialist area/curriculum?

These tools what we used are very suitable for my job, becouse I teach them to my students already: and the most important is to teach students how to use these programms starting from beginning till more complex cases. I can teach all these interesting thinks - how to do it - the same as we learned, and also use it to made my lessons more creative.

How did you feel about your demonstration? What went well? What could be improved or done differently?

I felt very well. but there was one problem if you use forms in Ms Word you can`t use hyperlinks to other documents, because hyperlinks dosen`t work (you have to close forms and that means you switch off hyperlink opportunity.

Day 2 in pictures

Day 2 activities in Malt project

Day 2 - session 1

First task was to understand what is motivation and realized the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

Khawar show us a presentation about what is motivation and explain what is intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

What I understand that intrinsic motivation is person centered. This can be related to students needs, enjoyment, fun and achievement. Student want to learn himself. For example - I like to do it, I enjoy to do it!

Extrinsic – environmentally centered, comes from outside of the performer. In education this could relate to getting a qualification, a better job, status etc. For example - somebody tells me that I need it, and give me the reason why - be better than others...

Interaction centered, the individual’s interaction with outside influences change their behavior. In education terms motivation can be affected by outside factors such as teaching style, manner of giving praise etc. Students can feel more confident and stay more motivated.

After that we had to work in groups and put together Marlow`s hierarchy of needs. Look in pictures this is my group job:

Second task was to explore the learning and motivational theories and models like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Gagne’s 9 events of instruction, ARCs model of motivation, KOLB’s cycle of experiential learning and KOLB’s learning styles, Blooms taxonomy, Hertzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory.

We had to split in groups. Every group had to choose about which learning theory or model they want to talk about. Group had to find out everything and in a very easy and simplistic way explain other about this theory.

Day 2 - session 2

At first we look presentation on what is e-learning and blended learning.
I can say: "E-learning is - have I as a teacher provide support and improve teaching and learning process using and integrate electronic technology".

Then we had to do task, the task was made in PPT using interactive text box and we had to place given pieces of cards in the appropriate segment of the grid. On card were written learning processes/techniques what we can use in our teaching process and the task* look like this:

( * provided material during the course)

Also we had a time look and work through NLN materials provided as weblink and RSC e-books

In the end we learned very useful things - have with minimal resources achieve maximum effect:
FORMS - create interactive 'drop-down' boxes in Word.
COMMENTS - understand how more information can be given to a learner when documents are hosted online.
HOT SPOTS - my own informational hot spots on an image in Word.
Images PPT (and Word) - How to insert images and clipart in PPT and in Word - 2 separate documents.
Hyperlinks PPT - add hyperlinks to your PPT presentation to add interest and a feeling of movement.
Interactive text in PPT - add an interactive text box in PPT.

Reflection

This was a difficult session for me, because I am a pragmatist or/and activist in my learning style. I better prefer to jump in river to catch crocodile as to read books about what is crocodile... This day was full with theory, but with important and useful theory. I remember that in high school I had to learn such theory and this was a very good repetition. And none of the teachers haven`t teach me a theory in such a manner that is so easy understandable. Thank you very much!

What was the key learning from today's sessions?

1. A motive is an impulse that couses a person to act.
2. A lot of things can dismotivate pupils, so teacher is the person who can change things to become better.
3. You have to add a value to things, and people will be more motivated to do, learn, work...
4. As a teacher you have to think about learners self respect, if it`s missing they won`t be so motivate.

What activity motivated you most out of today's sessions and why?

Talking about banded learning and put all given key words in direct place were it belongs (classroom, product, online, process...) I haven't think about this till today - that I can look to tools and activities in that point of view. I liked that we were talking and David was writing in PPT everything, that was very interactive activity. I will try to use this with my syudents too.

How will you use what you learned today with your learners?

I liked all practical thing's what David offered in Microsoft Office programs, I will use these thing definitely, specially hyperlinks on pictures, interactive text boxes in PPT. I liked how it looks when he did in session time :)))
And definitely I will think more about how to make my lessons - not only in the way I learn but I will try to adapt my lessons to different types of learning styles.

Reflect on the extrinsic factors that might affect the motivation of your learners?

• Environment - classroom, color, air, e.g;
• Lack of technical support;
• Relationship - "teachers - learners" "learners - learners";
• Teachers lack of skills about, what is blended learning;
• e.g. picture from course

Etiquete in online

Nice to see that the etiquete is the same for everyone in all country :)

www.etherpad.com/netiquette

Malt project colleague e-mail address

www.etherpad.com/0806maltproject

My trip to Leeds

Hello everybody!!!

You are welcome to read my first reflection about Malt project course and my feelings about to be away from home.
At first I can tell you, that this is my first trip to UK, and all trip in total is a big challenge for me.
The course takes place in very nice hotel - Weetwood, it is not far from city center of Leeds.
I and my Latvian colleagues arrived here already in Friday, so we have got chance to take a tour to city center of Leeds. The city is very beautiful.
Have do I like Leeds? So it`s very unusual to see that houses can be in black color. But I think it's not a problem for English people. I would like to know why these houses are in black color? Maybe somebody can tell me? :)

Day 1 activities in Malt project

The Monday morning started with very delicious breakfast, I got a energy for all day.
Everyone come in time to start learn everything what is going to be offered :)

Day 1 - session 1

It was interesting for me to do the first task! We started to discover our own learning style. We had to remember and write down list of 10 items which were:
- shown on PPT;
- touch/feel;
- read out;
- see.

I think my excitement didn't let me to do the task so good as I wanted. But now I know, that I prefer learn and remember things visually so I`m not a good listener.
This task let me think about, that we teacher`s have to think about how we teach our learners. Mostly we teach in the way we learn. Is it good? No, we have to understand that our learners are so different, and their learning styles are also different, we can`t teach them only in the way we prefer to learn.

Day 1 - session 2

Our next task was to start a reflection diary. We started to make a blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T89bC3QF9g
( provided material during the course)

Day 1 - session 3

At first we discussed the results/responses from the pre-course activity e-usage questionnaire.
You can also make a questionnaire in http://www.surveymonkey.com/ it is easy, and till 10 questions it`s for free.

Second we had to split in groups. Each group had to place the given segments of the circle in a logical order and to Be prepared to explain the logic used. (It was the Becta Wheel as a floor jigsaw puzzle).
Original Becta Wheel
( provided material during the course)

I liked one group originality how they put together Becta Wheel:









Day 1 - session 4

We become aware of a number of online social networking tools like:

• Facebook,
• MySpace,
• NING.
  

Day 1 - session 5

First task was to think of different virtual communication methods and tools. We had to add our ideas to class electronic mind map using a wireless keyboard.

Second task was to try draw the image what described David. We were not allowed to ask any questions, see the image or see any body language of the person describing the image.

This task for me was too difficult. I couldn`t draw the picture because of language barrier. I felt very bad, I wanted to ask a questions and sad that David describes to fast, but I wasn`t allowed. I become even angry.

After this task I understand that such can fell also my students in my lessons. I speak fast, I like to do task quickly. In daily work I start to think that everyone has to know computers already very well. It is not true they are coming to learn, that means that they don`t know computers so well and they can`t learn in the speed I like - specially adult people.

One more thing what I have learned by doing this task. The teacher in the begging didn`t tell us what exactly we have to do, so there are no sense in detail if the main idea is not clear.

We had a home task - we had to split in three group, and each group had to develop a netetiquette using one of the following methods:

Group 1 : Webquest

Group 2 : Through useful videos on Youtube.

Group 3 : By sharing experiences within the group and finding out from other people's experiences.

Full instructions are available on the webquest ( made by teacher Khawar): http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=30573
( given material during the course)

We had to write our task in http://etherpad.com/netiquette

Reflection

1. Consider the results of the survey on technology use in everyday life of the delegates. Would the answers be very different for your learners? Reflect on how the transfer of technology in everyday life to the classroom can impact on their learning.


I have consider that my students - adult people (age group 24 - 65), answers of the survey could be different/ and for some of them it could be the same, because:

1. My every day job is related with people who do not have prior knowledge of computer use, that`s why in the begging of course they don`t use computer a lot, but after if they have a computer at home, they try to use computer as much as possible. They even consider the possibility of connection to the Internet. But if they don`t have a computer at home, and don`t have possibility to use it at work, all acquired computer skills are lost very quickly
2. And also I have a groups of people who have a previous knowledge using computers, than the survey answers could be the same, they use computer at work, at home, they know how to use internet and all possibilities what offers the WWW.

I have notice that adult people start to learn computers thanks to the Internet, they don`t know anything about Microsoft Office programs, but they use Internet like professionals.

In my area there are not a lot of possibilities to use computers in internet coffee our library, but there are opportunities to use computers and internet an education institution or work. And talking about mobile phones than adult people use it to make phone calls and take a pictures and

and practically it's all.

My work is related to computer training - I teach how to use computers, and it is already means that I propose to people start use computers in every daily life. I have notice that in the beginning they are afraid of using computers, but after course they feel more safer and motivated to learn even more - not only a computers, but also a English language, because all software in computers are in English, but our language is Latvian.

meklēt

2. Reflect on how technology can contribute to the learning and its potential benefits in a wider community and global context. Consider the opportunities and challenges of using social networking in education.

Technology can contribute to the learning in a wider community and global context.
1. In the way how nowadays teachers can build their own lessons differs from the opportunities of what they had a several years ago. Now there are so many ways to use a lot of IT tools, specially teachers have a chance to offer students the opportunity to learn also at home (e-learning). That means that we all can violate the time and space limits.
Also I like

• One of the biggest problem for my area is that not everyone has a computer at home, and if they have, it doesn`t mean that they have a internet access.
• What I have notice that virtual communication are two sides - one good and one bad.
  Good - that every one, who have a computer and Internet, they can reach each other when ever there is a need - by using social networking.
  Bad - no eye to eye contact it`s all become more formal.
  

2. Also teachers can use different IT tools in their lessons to make things and learning more blended - interesting, interactive, binding, easier to understand e.g.

• But we have problem that teachers are not motivated to use these new opportunities - a lack of computer and English language skills.

3. Reflect on the potential of increased virtual communication options, and the negative impact these can have on learners if not used appropriately and effectively.

The biggest problem for me as a teacher is, that students specially youngest, they want to use Internet all the time, also when they have to learn something new, not related with Internet. I liked have we all did it in course ,and I think I will use also that in my lessons, that we all together will make lessons rules, and one of the things will be, not to use Internet if it`s not allowed.

Also there are information from Internet, it`s more about children, but it`s useful to read for teachers and parents as well.

My feelings in the end of learning: