Building Teaching Skills Through The Interactive Web

Time and tide wait for none.

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:58:00 +0000

Hello to all,

Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.

Yes, it’s sure and certain that we are now heading to the end of the edge of week 10. In the beginning before joining the course when I applied for the scholarship I was worried to be selected. I had great faith in God, I has worked hard all these days for something better for my professional career. I was just looking for the opportunity to be given to me and I can learn out of something novel and exciting to implement the same in the class.

RELO appeared as boon and blessed me with this scholarship of WebSkills for teaching course.

I express my gratitude to RELO for keeping faith in me and put forward to be the sincere and dedicated teacher for learning something better from the course, I feel so glad that I have been selected for such an amazing course.

I have learned number of things through this course like Blog, Delicious, Search engines, Online exercises, Listening websites, Rubrics, WebQuests, PBL, Interactive PowerPoint, Padlet, Class Wiki etc. Apart from these technological tools, I have learned how to implement them properly with appropriate pedagogy and what things we should remember as a teacher I should take before selecting technological tool for teaching.

It is really true that when we use technology in the classroom it makes lot of difference. In 21^st century we do not only have to learn the methods and subject knowledge but also as a 21^st century educator to be aware with new technology to sustain the interest of the students, be more tech-savvy teachers.

Finally, I want to thank our well-learned, alive, dynamic mentor Mr. Sean sir who have been ready to help and draw the path for achieving success in the course. You have set an example of being effective teacher. You are always being affirmative and enthusiastic. I wish I can be your students again in future and can meet you in person one day.

Hey! All the participants, how can I forget your immense support in learning this course in detail. You have been so nice and helpful. I have learned so much from all of you during this 10 weeks. I expect to be in contact with you all through social networking sites or any other alternative. I wish we can learn and grow further being in contact with each other.

Thanking you so much to all of you…J

Kamlesh Joshi

FB ID: https://www.facebook.com/Kamlesh.A.Joshi

Taare Zameen Par:- Stars on the Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:23:00 +0000

Learning the Learner’s style: Active & Reflective

"Inclusive education is the need of the hour."

-Aamir Khan

Week was busy in doing other activities first time. I was reading about the Survey given and which led me to most important platform which will make me connected with the course participants where I have learned many things and many things still to know. Learning is a life ending process. When we talk about the learner’s learning style, how could we forget the torch bearer our mentor who have took us through the journey of different activities which has generated interest by engaging us through online tasks, Mr. Sean Sir.

Howard Gardner's rightly said Multiple Intelligence is important aspects one should give attention to it in teaching and learning process. He also argues, we as educators, need to understand students' strength and weaknesses to be the real helper as a teacher to them.

Technology as a player to address the need of the students to make them engage to gauge their needs even with various learning styles. Every student is gifted with certain intelligence it's a duty of the teacher to find out to cater the need to address the learning for the student. Technology has made various sources available which can address the learning styles of the students according to the need.

Taare Zameen Par by Steven Rudolph, January 15, 2008

Aamir Khan is a talented storyteller, who has captured the essence of India’s educational dilemma in a moving drama about a dyslexic boy, cruelly abandoned by a world that fails to understand his condition and his hidden talent. The film does an excellent job of pointing out how each child has unique abilities, and how parents and teachers often become so obsessed with children’s weaknesses, that they fail to notice and celebrate their strengths.

From an educator’s perspective, what was so exciting about the film was the clear depiction of the multiple intelligences concept. This concept states that there is not just one intelligence, but that there are multiple intelligences, namely: linguistic, logical-mathematic, musical, bodily, visual, naturalistic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. In the story, the troubled boy, Ishaan, shows prodigious visual abilities through his artistic activities (creating remarkable drawings and paintings), and vivid imagination (represented in the maths test scene with the animated outer space sequence). He also displays exceptional naturalistic intelligence, indicated by his fascination with the fish and his strong kinship with the neighbourhood dogs.

I’m sure you all will love this film for the sheer beauty of the story, the direction, the acting, the music, and the message. But apart from that, I do hope that parents and educators pick up on the powerful educational underpinning of the film—that there are multiple intelligences and that there is more than one way to be smart. And further, that it is critical for us to understand the uniqueness of the child and how by using different techniques to address different intelligences we can help learners achieve their full potential.

Other Sources:-

http://www.languageinindia.com/oct2010/prasantastars.pdf

Engage, Learn, Achieve

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:07:00 +0000

'Engage, Learn and Achieve.'

Don't try to fix the students, fix ourselves first. The good teacher makes the poor student good and the good student superior. When our students fail, we, as teachers, too, have failed.

- Marva Collins

The week began with number of tasks to do. It was confusing as it was not easy to understand at once either. We needed to be ready for peer review and to submit it back on the wiki given. The checklist to be prepared and submitted with comments. I was really engaged in building my final report on the things I have done. Activity sheets are something I needed to focus for my class students. Even though the modification on the WebQuest is still pending. I am hunting to understand all these things from my perspective. This is indeed something I have never done and kind of great learning experience too.

The NiceNet discussion is something with full of useful online resources. I have signed up for EasyClassMaker which I found really useful. Even LessonWriter is something I am going to use for future suggested by Sean Sir. There are various Software, freeware and online sources which can give you a chance to create test online. HotPotato is something to be found useful but I prefer QuizMaker over it.

After completing this project I would like to focus on creating something Google Sites as first time I understood how it would useful if you prepare something using Google Sites. Your efforts are really groovy Sean Sir. I would be thankful for providing me this opportunity.

Most importantly I like the idea of peer review where I have learned so many things from her Project Report and also her comments have taught me many things to makeover. Tetiana, she is someone I find really helpful in understanding my need as a peer mate. I am hoping to bring so many changes in the project before I submit it. I am confuse in making online test activity using tools mentioned as I have created assessment and activity sheet for that. I hope my mates and Sean Sir will give me some idea on that.

Before I end up this post, I would say that the way we are being engaged in these activities it is making us to learn so many things and now we are on final stage of the course for achieving something beyond the hard-work we have done. I am worried about the feedback which will be given by Sean Sir for improvements that I seek into myself. I have really devoted most of the time in completing the course with my best…

Thanking you so much Sean Sir for making us aware with so many things during the course.

Best

Kamlesh Joshi

One Teacher vs One Computer

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 18:13:00 +0000

Blog Post week 7

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.”

- Bill Gates

As I was hoping to participate on NiceNet discussions but unfortunately it has stopped working since yesterday. I hope it will work soon as I am ready to participate in it now. Let's make a post before it.

The teacher’s role is very important but I would like to bring the most famous example where Learners Autonomy was judged using the different approach for teaching them through computers without teacher. I am talking about the first experiment of Sugata Mitra in 1999, known as the Hole in the Wall experiments in children’s learning. In the initial experiment, a computer was placed in a kiosk created within a wall in a slum at Kalkaji, Delhi and children were allowed to use it freely. The experiment aimed at proving that children could be taught by computers very easily without any formal training. There are such various examples where teaching without teacher was focused using technology but many a time technology fails to create impact on students, even they as autonomous learners could not learn without help of teacher. There are many issues to talk on.

During this week we had been busy in completing the implementation of the project but still I am in defining the process of the project. I need one more week in defining the need of the students using appropriate tool for developing their pronunciation abilities. I have figured out the problem but need some more time in implementing it into the classroom. We are running our classroom activities and students are being away from the college as there are tech fests going on around.

We have learned about one of the most useful tool that is Padlet. I really loved at the first glance as I needed something that can be used in such manner that students given liberty to post anything they want and it will be the open wall for them to read and share with each other. There are many more features I found really useful. I have started using this as regular activity for the student of my classroom. It is indeed the best tool I have come across till today.

This time we going to have peer reviewing and I have Tetiana as my partner. I am seeking to learn many new things from her. I am still hunting for her Email ID as I could not find the direct contact of her. Let’s see how these two weeks are going to be.

Thanking you so much to all of you.

Presenting Power Through PowerPoint Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 08:48:00 +0000

“In presentations or speeches less really is more, No audience ever complained about a presentation or speech being too short, Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance”

- Stephen Keague, The Little Red Handbook of Public Speaking and Presenting

Week 6 started with several questions like Teaching with Large Class using technology to engage students for more interactive solutions. We have already learned some many things on Project – Based Learning, WebQuest which can be helpful in enhancing learning in the students.

The second question focused was how is interactive PowerPoint different from the standard PowerPoint we usually see? How can you see interactive PowerPoint in your classrooms and can be made more interactive?

The third was most difficult in preparing for interactive powerpoint using two – three different elements for making powerpoint interactive for our class.

This time I have read all the articles in detail as possible and try to understand the need as a teacher to learn about large classes and interactive powerpoint. I have posted my discussion on Nicenet where I was answered by Sean Sir regarding my implementation of Blog as an assignment, he gave two solution for that.

1) Direct instruction to students on the use of the chosen tool to make sure that students have a solid understanding if its use.

2) Pick a different and more effective tool.

I knew I was wrong somewhere but I thought it will be done as an experiment. Tool selection is most important part when you use technology as a change agent in your class.

I have learned to make Jeopardy Game but it takes lot of time and also quiz using different types of style. The articles were really useful in explaining the detail of use and the instruction regarding the points that teacher should keep in mind before presenting the presentation in class has taught and reminded some useful tips for presenting presentation with power.

For making the presentation interesting I am going to create one video on my youtube channel which will focus on presentation projection abilities of teacher to grab the students’ attention using power point or Prezi which is far ahead in all terms than simple slide changing presentation.

There are more points to be discussed in this topic and can be done much more than standard techniques towards increasing interactiveness in presentation skills.

Thanking you to all my friend mates for making me learn so many things.

Kamlesh Joshi

Learn to Live, Live to Learn

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Hello To All,

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever."

-Mahatma Gandhi

As this week progressed with question mark on WebQuest, Project Based Learning and Rubrics with other assessment tools, I was wondering with the issue related to the classroom which I has to project but I could not make clear understanding to it. I have given lot of time to the readings but misunderstood the thing many a time. At last I could find a way to deal with the problem and its solution at large. Students have so many issues that teacher has to deal with but when it came through the solution with technology I was bit tensed as I was thinking of technology first rather than student’s problem. At last I could figure out what can be the solution of the problems that my students are facing in their day to day life while dealing with them in the classroom. Thanks to all who have added a new of mark understanding directly or indirectly by contributing here for technology based change as it helped me to understand the issue of my classroom with solution could be bringing with Technology.

I have learned three things most importantly during this week:

1. Project Based Learning

Project-based learning is a comprehensive instructional approach to engage students in sustained, cooperative investigation. It focuses on the central concepts and principles of a discipline, involves students in problem solving investigations and other meaningful tasks, allows students to work autonomously to construct their own knowledge, and culminates in realistic products.

In disciplines other than second and foreign language, the Buck Institute for Education (BIE), an American research and development organization, defined PBL as “a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning knowledge and skills through an extended inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks”.

When we talk about teaching in modern age, the shift in the traditional method which focus on chalk and talk method where teacher is in center towards technology supported project based learning which makes students centered learning. Students' centered learning provides opportunities for the students to initiate and participate in various kinds of activity during the Project Based Learning. The students who work in group and pair get opportunity to learn something new from the peers and they themselves become owner of independent learning. Technology makes Project Based Learning more effective in terms of its implementation where students can be given activity based on presentation, gathering information, internet based assignments, online discussions etc.

2. Rubrics

Rubrics and other assessment tools also guide students for creating learning environment for themselves in group or independent. Rubrics as an assessment tool create quality outcome in students' work. Rubrics is performance grading tool that can be used for growth in the students' performance. Tools like rubrics would give clear understanding of what they are suppose to do to get effective score in particular activity.

3. WebQuest

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. These can be created using various programs, including a simple word processing document that includes links to websites.

I have read so many things about PBL and Rubrics but still to read some more things about WebQuest as many of my mates have created project using WebQuest as I could not but I wish to do it soon as possible.

Thanking You all

Kamlesh Joshi

Improving your teaching with Lesson Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:38:00 +0000

Hello Again,

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

First of all, I am very thankful to Mr. Sean Sir for making the assignments clear with all instructions needed. But it was bit difficult for me in the beginning to understand what those things I supposed to do are. When I read three different post on NiceNet about week 4 I could figure out the assignment which I had to do. But it was not easy to do as you have to go through big process of reading, writing and understanding the things.

This week's topics were lesson planning, ABCD objectives, Reading Articles, sharing the issue of the classroom etc.

Lesson planning is something which is important for any teacher as it is needed to understand four basic things:-

1. Whom I am teaching?

2. What I am teaching?

3. How will I teach?

4. How will I know if students understand?

We have learned how lesson plan can be formed and used for classroom where technology is being implemented.

I have also read some of the articles where I have learned how to use the Internet in the classroom to enhance learning and achieve some teaching goals. It was all about getting to your class connected.

As per the assignment mentioned we were supposed to present one problem about our students which can be aided using technology as a motivation. I am seeking for better solution as a teacher for my students in coming weeks. I have stated the problem I am facing but not sure with the solution using technology.

I have searched new website that can be used for enhancing English Language. Reading new sources here with different uses and need is something useful for me as a teacher.

It is great to learn something new every week here.

Thanking You

Kamlesh Joshi

Resourceful Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:58:00 +0000

Hello to all,

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

― Dr. Seuss

“So many things to go through. So many new articles to read through. So many new materials to learn through.”

– Kamlesh Joshi

It makes me really happy to add new knowledge while being on this course. Week 3 was full of the reading articles and searching for new things for preparing the report progress. I went through many reading articles, reports etc. with interactive websites embedded with lesson plans. This progressing week is teaching us new form of learning. This time, Nicenet discussions were such long that I cannot read all of them. I have go through them rather not thoroughly. In the beginning only I got to know that I have to face DRC (Doctoral Research Committee) for PhD admission so I was bit tensed about working on this project and drafting the presentation of Research. I am happy to share with you all that I have been selected as a PhD candidate under Gujarat Technological University.

Writing assignment began with ‘delicious’ which was something most important thing as I have been using with Feedly, Pocket, Evernote etc. earlier so I knew the importance but by using, it has created the value within my learning style. I have added some links which are very important and want to add many more but it requires particular effort to be made rather I prefer pocket which is helping me to read the articles on offline mode when internet is not available many a time.

I have read Miller's "Developing Listening Skills with Authentic Materials" where he has rightly focused on importance of choosing authentic material as a teacher. I myself give so much importantance to the listening skills that I am always fond of listening the lectures of native speakers. I would say that I have developed ability of speaking good English because of listening only. It gives you immense exposer so one can begin easily. I have maintained habit of listening TED Talks for being updated with new trends and technology also it teaches many more things.

The Report I have written is of Nadina Nicolici, Lorin Salagean Technical Highschool, Romania. We are being L2 Second Language learner surprisingly English is 3rd language for them. I have learned many things from her experience and challenges she has faced. Most importantly the timeline she has mentioned carried through the implementation of activities and trial task for improving the students’ performance takes weightage of understanding the experiment with clear monitoring of her idea of using the tools properly.

Lets’ hope for new exciting week 4 for making the things into practice.

Thanking You

Kamlesh Joshi

Insightful journey of learning

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 06:46:00 +0000

Insightful journey of learning

“In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary in the West.”

— Sugata Mitra

This week was full of the assignments and workload. Even though it was hectic but it was enjoying. There were many thing we have learned during this week. It makes me really happy to add new knowledge while being on this course.

The week 2 was pretty busy with the tasks, assignment and activity of commenting and reading as we have clearly instructed through Sean Sir.

These tasks make you investigate, analyze, think and apply theory in practice as righty said by one of the mates Jurga.

First and for the most important source we have focused and discussed is http://www.noodletools.com/ where we could encounter various kind of search engines which enable us for going beyond the classroom boundaries and gives us new world to work on. The http://www.noodletools.com/ is really inspiring note with given various links which talk about various aspect of research and development methodology using different Search Engines.

Large number of discussion has made us engaged in various debates and talk on preparing the ABCD model of creating objectives for the classroom. This was the best and easy technique to be followed by any teacher for drawing out the objectives for all kind of activity. Sharing about the class and its setting was even most important step as we are going towards the project task which is most important in this program. I liked the SMART approach shared by Ouarda that objectives must be:-

Specific,

Measurable,

Attainable and Achievable,

Relevant and

Time bound

There are various sources we have discussed and many of them have shared new ones also. I would look forward for this new exciting journey of developing new sources and knowledge as a teacher.

Thanking You

Kamlesh Joshi

Learning Blog for teaching:

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 08:39:00 +0000

"Blogging and the Internet allow us to engage in a lot more real time conversations as opposed to a one-way dump of information or a message."

-Indra Nooyi

According to me the blog is a place where you can share your ideas and emotions. It can be private or to be shared publically so others can read your thought. I have started using blog in my profession since 2010 when I was working with Intel as State Trainer where I used to keep a kind of record of daily activities that I had conducted with teachers, principals, CRC etc. It has been always fruitful to reach my students, teachers, etc. using blog.

Creating a blog is really easy task now a days with some clicks and tricks you can make it much better. But blog needs an assistance for keeping it updated with your thoughst on daily or weekly basis rather people will stop visiting your site. There are various customization that one can do with blog but many a time those customization make your blog sluggish so one should have knowledge of making it easily accessible when one connects. There are various articles which talk about making the blog more effective for readers around the world.

I will share my experiences here on this blog which I have created for learning web-skills for teaching through University of Oregon. There many questions coming to my mind when I am dealing with this blog as we are going to learn some new ways to implement the blog better in the classroom. One may have good knowledge about technology but until and unless one does not know how to implement that technology for making the learning happen, it’s worthless.

I am sure Mr. Sean Sir will fulfill our desire of learning something better with meeting needs as a learner.

Thanking You. . .

Kamlesh Joshi

Assistant Professor

BITS edu campus, Vadodara.

Hello Everyone ! Welcome to the blog

noreply@blogger.com (Kamlesh Joshi) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 08:54:00 +0000

Hello there!!!

This is Kamlesh Joshi. As a part of learning from the online training course for English Language Teachers, I have prepared this blog which will contain all the fruitful learning that I have learned during this course from my mentors.

This course focuses on skills in English Language Teaching with technology. This course is funded through the E-Teacher Scholarship Program so I am so much happy that I have received this scholarship.

We are going to create an ongoing record of our work on this blog. Our weekly posts will also include an update on progress with this project and students interaction based on this project.

I am deeply thankful to UO AEI Webskills Team for providing me this opportunity to learn something useful in this 21st Century.

I am looking forward to learn some more things soon as possible.

Thanking You

Mr. Kamlesh Joshi

Assistant Professor

BITS edu campus, Vadodara.