Abigail

code

code Proposal for 2009 research **Objective**: To enhance the learning of students by engaging them in platforms (blogs and voicethread) which encourage them to express their own opinions and be exposed to diverse views. **Target classes**: 2Exp (tail end) and 3Band 2 I hope to introduce blogging to the students, through the class blog. Teacher will post related articles or questions with regards to the classroom discussion and as an extension activity, students are expected to post their own comments or even create subtopics. Students are encouraged to respond to each other’s posts by leaving comments. At the start, this would be part of the grading in the continuous assessment so as to encourage students to go online to leave comments (When the culture of going online has been established, teacher may take this component out). *Topics and responses will be updated on Twitter once I have a better idea of what the lessons* [040109] I've decided not to use Northland Blog for my classes. I would want each of them to set up an individual blog and encourage them to go on and post regularly. This helps me to keep in touch with all of my students and also, I thought that using a class blog without any individual responsibility would go against the grain of our research and what we want to find out (whether when students use web tools, their attitude towards learning English would improve). But, because of the modular teaching (I'll be teaching 3B2 and 3B3 for two weeks), Northland Blog will be used for those two classes as part of an assignment.
 * Tool 1: [|Northland Blog] **

My blog used for teaching is [|http://msabigailchee.blogspot.com] (I'll be using Bloglines to monitor the updates). As much as possible, I would like to bring the class(es) to the computer lab to do this exercise in the first term, but would like to eventually move them to be extension exercises to be done as homework. Similar to blogging, the objective of introducing voicethread is to evoke students’ responses regarding certain issues discussed in the classroom. However, because it is more pictorial, and allows for voice recordings, it is a great tool to encourage oral responses.
 * Tool 2: Voicethread **

Here are some comments for both tools: I think on average, an ideal situation is I would like them to respond on their blog at least once a week. That would depend on how diligent I am in updating my own blog and finding interesting resources to excite responses. I hope that if not once a week, then once every two weeks, for the entire school year, save exam preparation periods.  Please see lesson plan below. I will update the 2EC and 1NT soon.  Other comments are in the discussion area (see tab above in non-editing mode). **Qualitative and quantitative results**: At the end of the year, I hope students will be more comfortable in expressing their views on an online platform (increased rating in an attitudinal survey). They would also be more motivated in English lessons (also increased rating in an attitudinal survey). They are more able to expand, express, debate and defend their ideas toward a given topic. Through increased reading and writing, they will also be more comfortable in expressing themselves in English (by comparing the length of postings at the end of the year).
 * 1) Please indicate a time frame. Please suggest how often they might need to participate in the class blog and whether this activity is over one or more terms.
 * 1)   How much time might you allocate and what sorts of activities might you conduct to introduce these practices? Is this even necessary?

Out of curiosity, do you or your school already have such a survey? I think... Not for English specifically. There's just a survey that's done for the school on general learning attitudes that's done sometime in Term 3.

Secondary 3B1 **
 * LESSON OUTLINES
 * Week || Topic || Lesson Ideas || Usage of IT ||
 * 1 || Orientation and Introduction || * Teacher introduction
 * Student introduction - speaking and listening for information about other people.
 * Student introduction - Setting up a personal blog ||

Reflecting, sharing personal thoughts on the net. || ||
 * 2-3 || Situational Writing || * Revision of writing a formal letter
 * Structuring a situational letter.
 * Assignment - student has to choose between a few options of object of fundraising - Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Lesotho & Cambodia.
 * Students to do Structured research using Internet.
 * Follow up activity on Blog - some reflections on the state of the countries they have read up on. "What do you think of microfinancing? Do you think it can eradiacate poverty altogether? What are some possible drawbacks of microfinancing?
 * Writing the final letter (written assignment)
 * Follow up activity on Blog - "What are some of your thoughts and reflections after reading the article "Jet Li's One Foundation". Do you think we can ever save the poor totally? Why?

Looking for pertinent resources, summarizing information, analyzing situations, drawing conclusions. || 2EC
 * Week || Topic || Lesson Idea || Use of IT ||
 * 1 || Orientation and Introduction || Teacher introduction
 * Student introduction - speaking and listening for information about other people.
 * Student introduction - Setting up a personal blog ||

Reflecting, sharing personal thoughts on the net. ||
 * 2 || Distinguishing between Formal & informal registers || * Trigger - Video clips from "I Not Stupid".
 * Writing drafts of dialogues from different scenarios
 * Vocabulary & Grammar - adverbs
 * Recording a podcast (based on written dialogues) || Using oral recording, they should be able to share their work with others and allow for critique. ||