Reflections: Week 7

Every week comes with new ideas and new significance. Last week was obviously an important one as the week's discussion and reading materials helped me to be illuminated with the ideas of engaging my students in a large classroom situation. In fact, handling a large classroom is a very usual picture in our country. Creating slides using power point was also a nice experience but not new. Furthermore, we were also instructed to ponder over our final projects. Donna's plan to lead us to prepare our final project gradually appears scientific. In fact, she has encouraged and guided us bit by bit  to our final project.

But what's about the present week. It seems that this week is a logical continuation of the last one. Last week we talked about how to engage students in the large class context. This week we are talking about the autonomy of the students. Donna's timely interventions in the discussion board were also very effective and idea generating. In fact, Donna's later two posts had a lot to think , to talk and to write about the issue of autonomy.

The discussion about one computer classroom has also been a very much enlightening and contextual. In fact, it is a harsh reality of the majority of the classroom in my country that we can afford more than one computer. In many of the cases there is no computer at all. Though I did not post in this discussion, I enjoyed reading the posts of other participants.

We were also guided to find out a partner for sharing the project draft. This is obviously a good idea as because of this we have got a chance to detect the short comings and lacking of our projects before final submission. I did not have to face much trouble to find out my partners as both Pam and Shindu immediately agreed.

My experience about WalLwisher is horrific. I haven't yet been able to work with it. As usual I sought help to Donna. But she informed me that my computer might not be supportive to open it. Not only that but Donna also exempted  me from the assignment about on Wallwisher. Otherwise I had really been in a big trouble.
 On the top of everything the project which is to be submitted very soon kept me busy all the time. I was indeed preoccupied with it. Though I have been  able to complete the draft yet, I did some ground work and started writing. Hope to complete it by the assigned time.

With Best Wishes

Khayrul

Reflections: Week 6

In last week's blog I marked the week as a week of new discoveries and new hopes. The week was really so. I got something challenging and enlightening. Knowing something about alternative assessment, being registered with Web Quest, creating rubrics and the Nice net discussion all those things were really enjoying and illuminating. All these things have really helped me a lot to build up my confidence which will surely guide me to shape my future teaching model.

The present week is also as significant as  the past one. This is the week which has offered a lot about interaction in a large class room. This is indeed a vexing issue for me as I am to struggle a lot in the classroom as mine is a big classroom. Speaking truly, before this orientation I did not have a complete idea about the issue. Some times I surely thought over the issue but not in an organized way. Often I also did not come to a convincing solution. But after going through the articles and suggested links I got so many things, so many ideas about how to engage students in the large class room. I am simply impressed and overwhelmed and ultimately confident. Other participants' discussions were also encouraging. In fact, we, the participants, share almost the same class room setting. Lila's problem was indeed my problem. Her feeling and possible solution was also similar to mine.

Creating power point presentation was also a very good experience. Though I was not in the regular use of slides in my class room, I had a basic orientation of creating slides using power point. In fact, while I was doing my MA in TESOL, I had regular presentations which I used to do using power point or OHP. 

This week though I did not get much time to think over my project task. You know here in Bangladesh we have a mass movement against war criminals of 1971, the year of our liberation. This is indeed a movement against communal force, against conspiracy. This is a movement of the second generation of our country, a movement of the youth. So it appeared to me as a social responsibility which was a must to be carried out. As result I tried to attend the movement in different ways and at different times.However,  I, as Donna's direction, tried to make a plan how to develop it. I have not yet developed much confidence over it but hope to complete it in time.

Hope to read from you
Khayrul

New Exploration and New Hopes

The present week is no less significant than the earlier ones. In deed, like any other week the present one has also appeared with new kind of exploration and hope. Last week we got the experience of so many pearls like the web site like Breaking News.com.  We had to read few good and effective articles. Besides, we had to prepare a technology enhanced lesson plans. All these things have certainly added a lot to our professional development. 

What's about the current week? This week is certainly  a week of advancement and exploration. The idea about alternative assessment is quite new to me. Though it is new , I have enjoyed reading about it. I must admit that it has opened my eyes about a new but effective ways of assessment. From this onwards my students will take the responsibility of being corrected by self efforts. It really sounds encouraging and meaningful.It will really be a matter of happiness to see my working independently.

Being registered with Web Quest was also a very exciting jump.In the web quest, I found unimaginably effective things. I was quite impressed and overwhelmed. Through Web Quest I have got a very big chance to share my ideas and perception with world community. It's truly fantastic and encouraging.

I also enjoyed discussion on Task 4. All the participants had had a very good and effective discussion. I really enjoyed every post.

Creating rubrics was a bit bitter experience for me. At first, I became bit puzzled about what to do and how to do. But after few trials I discovered that it was  so difficult as I thought first. Ultimately I  became successful and smiled. Now I feel confident that if need be I will be able to create rubrics for my own cause and for own context.

Looking forward to facing  more excitements and new knowledge in future.   

Khayrul

 Week 4: Reflection

Week 3 was a week of amazement and excitement . And this week, at least to my eyes, is a week of enrichment and reflection. 1st Nice net discussion was really a nice one. The web sites provided by Donna were simply resourceful and multidimensional. Those were really  exclusive sites  as in those sites I found a  lot of ready made materials to be used in ESL/EFL classroom. Once again I am to admit that this is the first time I have got the trace of such gems.
2nd Nice net discussion has also been very effective and timely. It is timely as it is a stride ahead of our project work. Thank to Donna for her such  well designed  course plan as she is gradually leading to our final destination of a final project.
Preparing a lesson plan has also been a good experience for me. The guide lines have also  turned to be a very effective one as besides preparing a lesson plan for this week's work,  it will surely guide me for my future plans. The website Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Instructional Technology was a very effective one as I got  valuable ideas and concepts of lesson plans from here.
However, this week was a very tough week for me as I had to play a lot of professional and familial responsibilities. Despite, I truly enjoyed every thing, every discussion of my dear colleague. 

Thanks to all.

Khayrul
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