Grades are ready!

Congratulations everybody,

Your grades are ready so I'd like you to check your mail. I attached the feedback on the lesson plans you sent me and a summary of the number of posts with the final grade.

Once again I want to thank you and I hope we meet again soon to continue learning together.

Merry Christmas and a very beautiful 2016.

Final task!

Hi everybody,

I am sorry I did not publish this yesterday but I was a little sick. Anyway here it is. Good luck!

Here is a presentation that would help you put together your final task. Watch it and put on your thinking cap so we finish this module. Enjoy!

Integrating Critical Thinking and web-based activities

Forum 4: Solving problems while using books.

Hi everybody,

We are almost ready to finish this series  of forums. It has been great to have the chance to get to know you more through your comments and opinions. This time and keeping in mind the importance of textbooks in our context we are to discuss the solutions to some common issues we face when using textbooks.

We all know there are some disadvantages teachers and students might encounter when using a book. You can find some on pages 181- 183 in the TEFL book.  So here is the chance to discuss solutions to problems we find in our everyday practice. Look at the following chart presenting some common difficulties students and teachers might face when using books. Choose a problem and post a solution to overcome that difficulty. Reply to one of your partners as well.

Almost done guys. You are doing an awesome job. Thanks for sharing!

Weakness	Teacher/Student Difficulty	Ways of Overcoming Problem
The textbook is designed as a the sole source of information.	Students only see one perspective on a concept or issue.
Textbook is old or outdated.	Information shared with students is not current or relevant.
Textbook questions tend to be low level or fact-based.	Students assume that learning is simply a collection of facts and figures.
Textbook doesn't take students' background knowledge into account.	Teacher does not tailor lessons to the specific attributes and interests of students.
Reading level of the textbook is too difficult.	Students cannot read or understand important concepts.
The textbook has all the answer to all the questions.	Students tend to see learning as an accumulation of correct answers.

Forum 3: Educational Technology: Good or Evil?

Hi everybody,

I think we have done enough reading this week so let's change the approach.
Here are the links to two videos I'd like you to watch. Once you have watch them post your comments to the following question: Is the use of Educational technology taking us away from the real nature of teaching? Don't forget to reply to one of your partners' comments.

If you have the time you can also complement the information by reading pages 195 -197 in your TEFL book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA1Aqp0sPQo

http://www.ted.com/talks/ramsey_musallam_3_rules_to_spark_learning#t-381128

Styles and strategies!

Hi everybody,

Here are the links for an activity Martha asked me to post for you. Deadline for this one is December 15th. I wish you the best!

Read the articles and post a comment answering the following questions:

1.       Are you prepared to try matching your teaching style with the learning styles of your students? Explain your answer.

2.       Do you always cater to your students different learning styles? Give examples.

Articles:

Teaching for Multiple Intelligences

The importance of learning styles in ESL/EFL

Great memories!

Something else I'd forgotten. The group pics. Once again I want to thank you for everything. You guys rock!!

Educational Technology presentations

Hi everyone,

I had forgotten to include the ´presentations you worked on for the chapter on Educational Technology. Here is the information:

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Thanks for sharing your great ideas.

Forum 2: Advantages and disadvantages of lesson planning.

Hi everybody,

So far I think you have done an incredible job. I am very happy with the quality of the interaction we delivered in Forum 1. I feel blessed and lucky to have the chance to learn so much from you.

Here is our second forum which deals with what Jeremy Harmer calls the planning paradox (read pages 364-367 of the TEFL book if you want more information). Here is a short list of pros and cons of lesson planning. Read them and post your opinion about the need of having a lesson plan for every single class we teach based on the ideas mentioned. Is it necessary? Explain your opinion keeping in mind the information on the planning continuum we checked in class.

Take care!

Some advantages and disadvantages of lesson planning - HIMANSHU MALLICK

Advantages of Lesson Planning

1. It inspires the teacher to improve the further lessons.

2. It helps the teacher in evaluating his teaching.

3. It develops self confidence in the teacher.

4. Proper care is taken into consideration and you can make adjustments keeeping in mind the level and previous knowledge of students.

5. The teaching matter is organized in a time-frame.

6. It inspires the teacher to ask proper and important questions.

7. It provides guidance to the teacher as to what and how he should teach.

8. It helps in creating the interest of students towards the lesson.

9. It stimulates the teacher to think in an organized manner.

10. It helps the teacher to understand the objectives properly and look for appropriate ways of reaching them.

Limitations of Lesson-Planning

1. In new or odd situations teacher feels himself/herself helpless.

2. Sometimes simple matters become complicated.

3. More time is required to plan a lesson.

4. Teacher can not work/teach independently.

5. There is lack of flexibility in lesson-planning.

6. The teaching process becomes more difficult.

Describing learners

Great ideas in this outstanding presentation:

The Reguettoners from heaven

Motivation!

Two presentations dealing with information about this interesting topic:

Prezi

Power Point

Managing for success

All of the secrets to manage classes successfully in the following link:

Managing for success

Teachers and teaching contexts.

Hi everybody,

Here is the link to the presentation about this interesting topic. Enjoy!

Teachers

Forum 1: Elements of lesson plans

As we already know teachers develop their own personal styles to plan their lessons. There are many things you can include in a lesson plan and the possibilities are endless. Some of these elements are mentioned on pages 371 - 374 in the TEFL book.

Here is a list of elements you can find in lesson plans. Read the list and choose 5 elements you consider essential for your lesson plan. Post the list of the 5 elements and a short explanation of the reasons behind your choice. Don't forget to read one your partners' comments and reply to it.

Good Luck!

Elements of lesson plans

Teaching the TEFL: Lesson planning

Hi everyone,

Here are the pictures with all of the great ideas you had for teaching the topic of lesson planning. Thanks for everything!

Educational Technology Quest. Team 2: María, Miguel, Gisela, Juan and Edward

Welcome team 2,
Your mission should you choose to accept it is to go through the following 4 steps individually (20 minutes), then with your partner discuss the use of the different tools in EFL teaching (10 minutes) and finally present your ideas to the rest of the groups (10 minutes). As always, should you or any of your team be lost surfing the internet or caught visiting other webpages, the teacher will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck!!

Step 1
Go to the following link and listen for a while:http://splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/player/web/2006-10-26T05_07_12-07_00
This is an example of podcasting. How do you think a teacher can use this tool with his/her students?

Step 2
Check the following online dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Take a look at the different dictionaries they have in there. How could a teacher maximize the use of a tool like this with his/her students?

Step 3
Check the following sites: 
http://online-voice-recorder.com/es/

https://voicethread.com/

What kind of activities could teachers ask students to do here?

Step 4
Check the following two sites:
https://storybird.com/

https://prezi.com/

How appealing do you think students will find them?

Educational Technology Quest. Team 3: José, Octavio, Alberto, Piedad and Misael.

Welcome team 3,
Your mission should you choose to accept it is to go through the following 4 steps individually (20 minutes), then with your partner discuss the use of the different tools in EFL teaching (10 minutes) and finally present your ideas to the rest of the groups (10 minutes). As always, should you or any of your team be lost surfing the internet or caught visiting other webpages, the teacher will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck!!

Step 1
Go to google and find a page that can tell you a little more about what a wiki is. Think of some ways of using this with your students

Step 2
Check the following site: http://www.newspaperme.com/
How would you integrate a site like this to your classes?

Step 3
Check the following link: http://vocaroo.com/
Is a site like this of any help for a student? How could you help your students to use it?

Step 4
Find the name of two online encyclopedias. Take a tour of the site and make a list of advantages and disadvantages of using a site like these with your students.

Educational Technology Quest. Team 4: Gina, Ruth, Lidia and Paul.

Welcome Team 4,
Your mission should you choose to accept it is to go through the following 4 steps individually (20 minutes), then with your partner discuss the use of the different tools in EFL teaching (10 minutes) and finally present your ideas to the rest of the groups (10 minutes). As always, should you or any of your team be lost surfing the internet or caught visiting other webpages, the teacher will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck!!

Step 1
Visit the following site: http://es.englishcentral.com/videos#!/index/all/all/trending/0

What kind of skills could students practice here?

Step 2
Check the following site: Piktochart
Is there anything a teacher could do with his/her students in class using this site?

Step 3
Visit the following site: Powtoon
What kind of skills could students practice here?

Step 4
Find out what a wordle is: wordle. What could teachers do with this tool?

Educational Technology Quest. Team 1: Jennifer, Rosana, Brenda, Meliza and Lilibeth.

Welcome team 1,

Your mission should you choose to accept it is to go through the following 4 steps individually (20 minutes), then with your partner discuss the use of the different tools in EFL teaching (10 minutes) and finally present your ideas to the rest of the groups (10 minutes). As always, should you or any of your team be lost surfing the internet or caught visiting other webpages, the teacher will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck!!

Step 1:
Watch the video on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
Think of what language skills a teacher could promote using blogs.

Step 2:
Check the following link. What skills could students practice with it? http://edu.glogster.com/

Step 3:
Go to: http://translation.babylon.com/
How could an English teacher use a site like this one?

Step 4:
Check the following two links. How could students benefit from using these two websites?
http://www.ted.com/talks/browse

http://esl-bits.net/

Teaching the TEFL material

Hi everybody,

This entry is a collection of the material we used in class plus some other material I hope you find it useful once you start teaching this module. Have a blast!

Lesson planning beliefs

Lesson planning styles

Writing instructional objectives

The ABCD model for writing objectives

The TTT approach to lesson planning

The PPP approach to lesson planning

The PDP approach to lesson planning