Hi Colleagues,
Have you recognised that I am not the same person that I was a few short weeks ago? This is because the technology bug has bitten me. In the beginning, after the first bite, I was disoriented, flustered, feeling out of my depth, in short I had all the symptoms of 'Web2.0itis.' I contacted my Web2.0 doctors and nurses and a number of care professionals who saw me safely through.
They held my hand and told me every thing was going to be alright. They gave me food to eat, Jenny, thanks for the channa pie and cheese sandwich made with homemade bread. Donna thanks for always that helping hand and the red plums. Roland thank you for the reinforcement lesson on blogging. Could you believe it my friends? I had forgotten after being taught in class.Trumanne, Delores, Beverly, Amanda and Jennifer thank you for on the spot clarification in class.
Mrs. Cletus thank you for your patience. It was your first large class and I know you worked hard for your money. You went around to your students to ensure that they understood. You demonstrated well. You had our attention. Because of the compactness of the course, the time frame for delivery and assimilation proved to be a disadvantage to a wonderful programme. I think our class was a bit more challenged in terms of grasping and implementing the technology totally. Although there were some students who were very accomplished. I think this was good as they were able to share with class members.
As you can tell, I am well on my way to recovery. Pbworks sent me a seven day workshop on using wikis in the classroom. I am going to practice. I really want to become tecnologically savvy so that I can help my students at school. I also teach adults to read. Now I have a new reportoire of technologies to get them excited and even more motivated about their reading. Their self esteem will continue to grow as mine has. I am proud of myself, I did not give up. I am in a much better place with regard to using technology. I did not realise that I would have so much support.
Thank You every one. You have been so unselfish and supportive. I wish you all success with the technology. Thanks to our teaching crew, you were great, very professional and helpful.
Lots of Love, God Bless!!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Sharing Technology with Members of my Department
Hi Colleagues,
I am looking forward to the re-opening of school. This is so for many reasons. One of which is because I want to share witth the members of my department on the the new technologies that we were exposed to in our ICT course. The area of Visual and Performing Arts is an ideal one for using the various technologies that are embodied in the Web 2.0 's. The teachers in my department are young and 'techno savvy.' They show interest in anything that can assist and motive our students. They need lots of motivation as they do not get it in their home or other social environment.
When I had done my Diploma in Education and carried out the Clinical Supervision process with my teachers, it went very smoothly. They recognise that supervision can help them to become better teachers in terms of content delivery, understanding pedagogy and that its relevance to the teaching/learning situation is critical. In addition suggestions for technology use in lessons proved to be helpful. It motivated the students who were grouped and guided to use Co-operative learning in exploring and comleting projects. They were highly motivated and productive.
The technology we used then was the CD player with relavent CD's, digital camera, musical instuments, television, paints, fabric and a variety of other materials. Now I can introduce the new technologies to them. Perhaps they already have some experience using some of them. This is because they are all pursuing teriary level studies and are very pro active in the ways in which they approach their duties. I know that we will collaborate on the way forward with using these new technologies in our department.
I am also looking forward to sharing with my other colleagues. It is all for the benefit of our students!
God Bless!
I am looking forward to the re-opening of school. This is so for many reasons. One of which is because I want to share witth the members of my department on the the new technologies that we were exposed to in our ICT course. The area of Visual and Performing Arts is an ideal one for using the various technologies that are embodied in the Web 2.0 's. The teachers in my department are young and 'techno savvy.' They show interest in anything that can assist and motive our students. They need lots of motivation as they do not get it in their home or other social environment.
When I had done my Diploma in Education and carried out the Clinical Supervision process with my teachers, it went very smoothly. They recognise that supervision can help them to become better teachers in terms of content delivery, understanding pedagogy and that its relevance to the teaching/learning situation is critical. In addition suggestions for technology use in lessons proved to be helpful. It motivated the students who were grouped and guided to use Co-operative learning in exploring and comleting projects. They were highly motivated and productive.
The technology we used then was the CD player with relavent CD's, digital camera, musical instuments, television, paints, fabric and a variety of other materials. Now I can introduce the new technologies to them. Perhaps they already have some experience using some of them. This is because they are all pursuing teriary level studies and are very pro active in the ways in which they approach their duties. I know that we will collaborate on the way forward with using these new technologies in our department.
I am also looking forward to sharing with my other colleagues. It is all for the benefit of our students!
God Bless!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
How will we know if we are right?
Hi Colleagues,
A few sessions ago we had a plenary session in the auditorium with Mrs. Woods Jackson. We were discussing the various requirements for completion of our five lessons. After some discussion we were told that all the Ministry was concerned with was a mark, for each of us. This took me by surprise because I expected that our Ministry of Education would have been concerned and ensured that the design of the programme was such that it motivated teacher learning, participation and mastery. Many teachers were at frustratuon level and I was happy when we were told that we would get some time to practise the technologies that we would be using in our lessons.
After some discussion about the lesson format itself a colleague asked a burning question, "How will we know if we are right?' At this point Mrs. Woods Jackson agreed that indeed the question was a relevant one. The question of feedback and mastery are two important concepts in learning, whether for students in a high school or teachers at university level. If we do not master the skills and competencies in class, we cannot transfer the information and skills to those who need these new technologies in our classrooms.
She assured us that we would get feedback via Myelearning. Is this enough? I am not sure, for me I would have preferred face to face interaction. I guess it is still something to hold on to. What I particularly liked though is at the end, our very last class, Mrs. Woods Jackson offered us her support in our efforts to implement and use the Web 2.0 in the classroom. She even motivated us by telling us about producing lessons that can be sold if they are well done.
In the survey we completed at the end of our ICT workshop though, many teachers indicated that they now know the names of the the new technologies and know how they can be used in the teaching/learning situation. However, it will be noted that many teachers do not believe that they can implement and teach with the technology. They still need time for reinforcement and mastery. They need time to marinate!
How will we know if we are right? We have to hit the ground running and keep on running! As educators have been saying, "We have to run with it" and remember to check Myelearning.
All the best to everyone!
Thanks to our Teaching Crew!
A few sessions ago we had a plenary session in the auditorium with Mrs. Woods Jackson. We were discussing the various requirements for completion of our five lessons. After some discussion we were told that all the Ministry was concerned with was a mark, for each of us. This took me by surprise because I expected that our Ministry of Education would have been concerned and ensured that the design of the programme was such that it motivated teacher learning, participation and mastery. Many teachers were at frustratuon level and I was happy when we were told that we would get some time to practise the technologies that we would be using in our lessons.
After some discussion about the lesson format itself a colleague asked a burning question, "How will we know if we are right?' At this point Mrs. Woods Jackson agreed that indeed the question was a relevant one. The question of feedback and mastery are two important concepts in learning, whether for students in a high school or teachers at university level. If we do not master the skills and competencies in class, we cannot transfer the information and skills to those who need these new technologies in our classrooms.
She assured us that we would get feedback via Myelearning. Is this enough? I am not sure, for me I would have preferred face to face interaction. I guess it is still something to hold on to. What I particularly liked though is at the end, our very last class, Mrs. Woods Jackson offered us her support in our efforts to implement and use the Web 2.0 in the classroom. She even motivated us by telling us about producing lessons that can be sold if they are well done.
In the survey we completed at the end of our ICT workshop though, many teachers indicated that they now know the names of the the new technologies and know how they can be used in the teaching/learning situation. However, it will be noted that many teachers do not believe that they can implement and teach with the technology. They still need time for reinforcement and mastery. They need time to marinate!
How will we know if we are right? We have to hit the ground running and keep on running! As educators have been saying, "We have to run with it" and remember to check Myelearning.
All the best to everyone!
Thanks to our Teaching Crew!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sharing a message I received on the maxi taxi with
Hi colleagues,
A few days ago I entered a maxi taxi on the stand in Arima on a very rainy afternoon. I was on my way to UWI to do some research. A middle aged woman entered with a very healthy good afternoon. After leaving the stand the driver was about to put on the music when she began to witness. He waited and allowed her some time. She brought the good news from the Lord. She was brave, her voice was loud and clear, her diction was excellent, it filled the maxi. She spoke with passion.
Her main message was about prayer and fasting. She spoke of the health benefits and the ways in which it could be done. I sat up and took notice, I listened carefully. She recommended eating less snacks, smaller portions and giving up juice for a while. In doing prayer and fasting you could cleanse the body and have a stronger connection to the creator, if you believe there is one. I accepted the message with an Amen! Many people answered and gave some thanks.
It made me think about the important things I have to continue doing to ensure my holistic development. It brought home the fact that I have been concentrating on only one area of my development, that is my educational development, as most days we are hustling from one assignment to another or to readings or to work and you know what happens! So my dear colleagues, take time out if you are like me and regroup. Pray, fast, exercise, meditate, relax and do the things that will strengthen your mind and body and make your soul soar.
We know the message, lets spread it and focus on holistic development. Implications for our students, friends, acquaintances and family? Holistic development is needed to balance our lives! As one of our greatest books say, 'Man cannot live by bread alone....................'
Be Blessed.
A few days ago I entered a maxi taxi on the stand in Arima on a very rainy afternoon. I was on my way to UWI to do some research. A middle aged woman entered with a very healthy good afternoon. After leaving the stand the driver was about to put on the music when she began to witness. He waited and allowed her some time. She brought the good news from the Lord. She was brave, her voice was loud and clear, her diction was excellent, it filled the maxi. She spoke with passion.
Her main message was about prayer and fasting. She spoke of the health benefits and the ways in which it could be done. I sat up and took notice, I listened carefully. She recommended eating less snacks, smaller portions and giving up juice for a while. In doing prayer and fasting you could cleanse the body and have a stronger connection to the creator, if you believe there is one. I accepted the message with an Amen! Many people answered and gave some thanks.
It made me think about the important things I have to continue doing to ensure my holistic development. It brought home the fact that I have been concentrating on only one area of my development, that is my educational development, as most days we are hustling from one assignment to another or to readings or to work and you know what happens! So my dear colleagues, take time out if you are like me and regroup. Pray, fast, exercise, meditate, relax and do the things that will strengthen your mind and body and make your soul soar.
We know the message, lets spread it and focus on holistic development. Implications for our students, friends, acquaintances and family? Holistic development is needed to balance our lives! As one of our greatest books say, 'Man cannot live by bread alone....................'
Be Blessed.
The Reader and Technology
Hi Colleagues,
It seems that all I do now is impacted by my reading course, the theories, instructional strategies, new technologies meeting old technologies and the relationship among them all. Can you believe this happens so naturally that I catch myself delving into and reflecting on situations whether first , or second hand. I get caught up in making meaning from what I have experienced.
Last night I looked at a movie in which a young woman always requested that her friend read to her. He thought it was because of his beautiful, well modulated voice or the way in which his face changed to show a range of emotion when he was reading. He became totally involved in the act, in fact, it proved to be an act of unconditional for him.
During the film, the woman was convicted of attrocities at a war camp in Germany because she was a guard at the camp and was framed as the person who had written the documents, recommending the deaths of the frail women there. She was imprisoned for twenty years and it was there that she learnt to read and write. The young man began making audio stories for her of books that he knew she would like. These she listened to and followed the text from the booksShe began to that she checked out of the library.
Gradually she began to crack the code and began to make sense of print. She began to recognise words by tracking them and counting from the beginning of a sentence. She began to comprehend. After much practice from the text, she began to write and sent the young man her first sentence. As the years passed, she had a huge collection of audiobooks and writings, thus she was able to bear her confinement. She was in fact an emergent reader (Clay, cited in Tracey and Morrow, 2006).This is of note to me because many times we see children in our schoolyard looking so smart and intelligent only to find out, sometimes by accident of their many challenges with reading and other areas of literacy. In fact, they are smart and intelligent but need help to sort their literacy challenges. They are in fact emergent readers, they read below their grade level.
Colleagues let us all provide assistance for these children. Let us break them out of their 'prison walls.' Let us help them and leave none behind!
God Bless.
It seems that all I do now is impacted by my reading course, the theories, instructional strategies, new technologies meeting old technologies and the relationship among them all. Can you believe this happens so naturally that I catch myself delving into and reflecting on situations whether first , or second hand. I get caught up in making meaning from what I have experienced.
Last night I looked at a movie in which a young woman always requested that her friend read to her. He thought it was because of his beautiful, well modulated voice or the way in which his face changed to show a range of emotion when he was reading. He became totally involved in the act, in fact, it proved to be an act of unconditional for him.
During the film, the woman was convicted of attrocities at a war camp in Germany because she was a guard at the camp and was framed as the person who had written the documents, recommending the deaths of the frail women there. She was imprisoned for twenty years and it was there that she learnt to read and write. The young man began making audio stories for her of books that he knew she would like. These she listened to and followed the text from the booksShe began to that she checked out of the library.
Gradually she began to crack the code and began to make sense of print. She began to recognise words by tracking them and counting from the beginning of a sentence. She began to comprehend. After much practice from the text, she began to write and sent the young man her first sentence. As the years passed, she had a huge collection of audiobooks and writings, thus she was able to bear her confinement. She was in fact an emergent reader (Clay, cited in Tracey and Morrow, 2006).This is of note to me because many times we see children in our schoolyard looking so smart and intelligent only to find out, sometimes by accident of their many challenges with reading and other areas of literacy. In fact, they are smart and intelligent but need help to sort their literacy challenges. They are in fact emergent readers, they read below their grade level.
Colleagues let us all provide assistance for these children. Let us break them out of their 'prison walls.' Let us help them and leave none behind!
God Bless.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Listening to your students and Technology.
Hi colleagues, I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events that transpired in our last session. Two things happened that gave me a sense of hope. The first had to do with the rate at which we were going and the second to do with the assessment rubric for the lesson plans. The rate at which we were going in our labs left me breathless. Most days I caught some parts of the lesson but needed more time for supervised practice. Other students had the same problem as myself.
When Cherisse told us that we were going to have that supervised time to practice and work on our technology for our lesson plans there was and audible sigh of relief from the class. How would we have been able to complete our assignment to a high standard.
This leads me to the second point, the way in which students discussed another issue that will affect us in a negative way if nothing is done about it. We have a definite concern about the scales on the assessment rubric, the movement from 6-3-0. There is not much movement there. What about, if your work just fell just under 6, would you be assigned a mark of 3? Would that be fair to the student? Where are the in between marks to cater for such an eventuality? This needs to be addressed.
I would like to humbly suggest that supervised practice time in the lab sessions become a part of the design feature of this course in the future. What do you think? Success builds success. Listening to students and addressing their issues is key to their learning and emotional wellbeing. Are their implications for our own classrooms? Do we listen to our students when they reach out to us?
Looking forward to next class! Blessings.
When Cherisse told us that we were going to have that supervised time to practice and work on our technology for our lesson plans there was and audible sigh of relief from the class. How would we have been able to complete our assignment to a high standard.
This leads me to the second point, the way in which students discussed another issue that will affect us in a negative way if nothing is done about it. We have a definite concern about the scales on the assessment rubric, the movement from 6-3-0. There is not much movement there. What about, if your work just fell just under 6, would you be assigned a mark of 3? Would that be fair to the student? Where are the in between marks to cater for such an eventuality? This needs to be addressed.
I would like to humbly suggest that supervised practice time in the lab sessions become a part of the design feature of this course in the future. What do you think? Success builds success. Listening to students and addressing their issues is key to their learning and emotional wellbeing. Are their implications for our own classrooms? Do we listen to our students when they reach out to us?
Looking forward to next class! Blessings.
Falling in love and eBooks
Hi Colleagues, I have fallen in love with eBooks. I love everything about eBooks. It is a great tool for using with struggling readers and the disabled. What I like about eBooks is that students have the choice of choosing to create from a point of strength. Their creative strength. When students come to us from the primary schools they are coming with a wealth of experiences that we can use to assist them in becoming more successful and accomplished learners.
Teachers can also create eBooks that address the particular needs of students as well. Now I have a relatively easy to use tool that I can offer my students not only at the form one level, but also my form four class who have to prepare a reflective journal as a part of their final assessment in form five. Most of them are struggling readers, and do not have the necessary literacy skills. Last term I introduced them to some comprehension strategies like KWL and SSSQR . At first they were skeptical, but after using them they have come to realize their benefits. Here's to eBooks!
Best wishes!
Teachers can also create eBooks that address the particular needs of students as well. Now I have a relatively easy to use tool that I can offer my students not only at the form one level, but also my form four class who have to prepare a reflective journal as a part of their final assessment in form five. Most of them are struggling readers, and do not have the necessary literacy skills. Last term I introduced them to some comprehension strategies like KWL and SSSQR . At first they were skeptical, but after using them they have come to realize their benefits. Here's to eBooks!
Best wishes!
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