Welcome to the community blog for ESL 5073 Computer Assisted Language Learning. This community blog is for taking our discussion of topics, issues and resources in CALL beyond the classroom. All students will be responsible for participating in weekly discussions on the blog and for leading 1 blog discussion during the term.
In order to participate, you'll need to set up your own personal blog on blogger and request membership to this community. Once you do, introduce yourself here by replying to one or two of the following prompts:
1. Have you ever kept a blog before? If so, for how long?
2. Have you ever used technology in your teaching before? If so, what kind of technology did you use and for what types of classes and learners?
3. What sorts of technology are you interested in learning to use?
I am very excited about this semester and this class!
ReplyDelete1. I have kept a blog before. I tried keeping a blog in college. But i didn't keep up with it for very long. But then, last year, I started a new blog. I like to share it with anyone. theglutenfreelife.wordpress.com. It is a website to help people who must eat gluten free. There are not a lot of delicious recipes out there for people who cannot eat wheat. So, I have made a blog to help with that! I have been doing this blog for about 4 months.
2. When I was teaching in Thailand, I used powerpoint. I also used different videos and soundbytes online for class. I was teaching middle school and high school students.
Hello, this is Sharon. Here are my answers
ReplyDelete#1-Well, I tried to create a blog last year for the Refugee forum but I had problems helping my friends try to access the account...so I didn't get any posts.
#2-I've used many types of technology in teaching such as powerpoint presentations, listening CD's for textbooks, companion websites for class workbooks, and even the BEST plus oral assessment that uses a laptop for questions and scoring.
#3-I'm interested in trying to set up a webpage for students to log in while they are using specific links to record the amount of time they spend on the link and the actual items they have completed at the site. This kind of record could help with giving learners credit for class hours in a disatnce learning program. I'm also very interested in the computer based speaking test.
I am a first grade teacher always looking for new technology to use in my classroom. Right now I am experimenting with Mimio, an interactive whiteboard. With technology comes complications, for instance my school does not have the funds to accommodate every classroom with the tools they need so I am frequently running around to find extension cords and find a person that knows how to tweak the screen. Also, with the interactive whiteboard I am having troubles calibrating the "mouse", which is the pen to use on the whiteboard. That is also one thing I like about technology, the fact that you can guess and check yourself easily. I can teach myself how to use it even if there is no support available. As I was checking out the Mimio, I had a realization that experimenting with new technology and finding the best way to use it in a classroom setting and then being able to teach it to teachers is exactly what I want to do!!!
ReplyDeleteKara Leyva
I've been keeping my wretch blog for 5 years now- it is a way for me to keep in touch with my friends in Taiwan and another way (besides using skype)for my parents to take a peek at my recent life.
ReplyDeleteResources are limited in the Chinese heritage school that I teach at so I would download suitable videos or soundtracks for my 4th Grade Chinese language learners to practice listening comprehension and speaking. They only learn Chinese once a week, my job is to keep them motivated and provide them with practical lines/idioms/phrases they can use in their daily lives (mainly to show off). I am not sure what technology I'm interested in to use...I guess so far I'm intrested in everything/anything that can enhance my future teaching.
Hola clase!
ReplyDeleteI've become very familiar with blogging, and many other Web 2.0 technologies in the past few years. I began a personal blog on my electronic portfolio since I entered the IST program at UTSA. I primarily use it as a reflective tool, where I can share my thoughts, ideas, and opinions in regards to my coursework.
I have also spent a large amount of time researching the uses of blogging in higher education and found that blogging can be used as a medium for social interaction, knowledge construction, and as a reflective tool. There is an undeniable promise in the power of blogging to enhance learning and teaching, and I wish more teachers would embrace this concept. I've also had to blog within Blackboard in many of my graduate courses. I enjoy blogging, but I don't like the how the blogs are set up on Blackboard, especially because once the course is over, the blog is deleted. I'm extremely happy that we are using blogspot this semester instead of Blackboard!!!
I use technology in my classroom every single day. I am a first grade ESL teacher and have found that my students are more motivated to learn when technology is involved. Since most of my students are second language learners, I try to use technology as a tool to enhance their oral language skills. My students have made Vokis (www.voki.com), digital stories, and have conducted interviews using flip video cameras. They also use Kid Pix, Kidspiration, and mobis, on a regular basis for writing, math, graphic organizers, etc. I have never been afraid to use technology in my classroom and my mind is constantly working on developing creative technology projects for my class.
I have never had a blog before, can you believe that?! I am still trying to figure out what a blog is, in fact- my nine year old son is guiding me through this process! He is definetly a lifesaver when it comes to technology because it is my weakest area (that is the reason I am taking this course).
ReplyDeleteThe only so called "technology" I've used for teaching are the basics: projector, computer, phone, ELMO, school radio. The equipment has been used for the class as a whole and individual groups in mainstream/ESL elementary students. I haven't gotten into the modern technology, but I'm really hoping I can overcome this area.
I'm not sure what is really out there, but I would like to learn whatever technology is necessary to teach students in particular ESL students.
Linguistics, Sharon, Terri, Mary, Kara & Angie, welcome to the class blog. Although I've kept a blog for more than 5 years now, I'm not as familiar with blogger as I am with the other blogging tool I use, LiveJournal. Unfortunately, LiveJournal has begun to incorporate ads to an annoying degree, so I wanted to try bringing the class over to Blogger. However, I am still getting used to the interface and am learning that commenting on this blog is not quite the same as commenting on LJ. Alas!
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I'd like to ask each of you to e-mail me the e-mail address that you are using with your blogs. This seems to be the only way I can add you to the community to give you permission to post your own entries.
Before taking CALL class, I had no idea about blog. It took me 3 days straight to create my blog, and I went to different websites to learn how to make it. Finally, when I created it, it was like eating a piece of cake.
ReplyDeleteRegarding technology, I really want to learn any kind of technology that helps me to convey my message to students.
I have never blogged before... it always seems kind of like a diary and I was always really bad at that too! But I have read and enjoyed loads of other peoples' bogs. However, I think educationally the purpose of a blog is quite different than someone just posting their thoughts for the world and can be a useful tool for communication and participation. I will say, I am usually hesitant to share too much on class blogs or forums because it's in print, and the words you use can be more easily misconstrued on touchy subjects than when you speak in person. As for technologies I want to learn--I'd like to learn how to incorporate multiple tools into an online learning site. It seems really overwhelming to develop, and I'd like to begin to face my fears!
ReplyDeleteI haven't kept a blog before but have thought about it several times. I think it will be interesting to learn more about it.
ReplyDeleteNot having used that much technology in my teaching experience – especially computer technology, I am looking forward to becoming savvier! I can see how it could be very helpful to have better language learning tools available to use for instruction and practice as well as assessment tools that technology can provide.
I'm one who has avoided using technology for a long time and feel that now is the time to break through and take up the challenge to learn. I think blogging, podcasting and website creation and use are a few of the technologies that can enhance my future teaching.
Hi all, how is everyone doing?
ReplyDeleteI am SUPER excited for CALL this semester :D
I have never blogged on my own personal blog before because I don't feel I have very many interesting things to share and also I don't think I'm as funny, witty, or creative as my friends who maintain continuously maintain blogs. That being said, although I am not an expert in maintaining ... I am an expert in reading blogs :P I hope this class can help me overcome my fear of blogging and get creative and interesting - especially with all the new stuff we will learn :)
I have used plenty of technology in my teaching before but as I mentioned in class, this technology (e.g. overhead projector, power point, etc.) is predominantly used by me, the teacher. I am hoping to learn how to extend and expand technology into the hands of my students and their language development.
Lastly, there is not particular technology I'd like to learn about. I am new to CALL and I'm a sponge - ready to soak it all in. Let's do this!
I am looking forward to a fun semester and learning with and from all of you!
Jean :)
I use a blog both on facebook and my company's website to keep users updated with relevant information. I have not kept a continuous blog for very long, but have been using bogs since about 2002ish.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, I developed a 'gradebook' application that my school purchased to keep track of their grades. (I am sure they have since updated to a new platform). That is as close to education development as I have been.
I am planning on opening up a private school in 2012 and am definitely interested in being introduced to the technology out there so that I may develop better applications to aid my students. This course is more than relevant to me.
Hello! This is Melanie.
ReplyDeleteThis is my FIRST time keeping a blog. When I lived in Japan, I promised my friends and family that I would start a blog and religiously update it with all of my escapades. Easier said than done. The blog never materialized due mainly to the easiness of uploading pictures to my Facebook. And nowadays, who can keep up with updating blogs, Facebook, Myspace (if you're one of the few to still have one) Shutterfly, Twitter, etc., etc.,?
The only experience I have using technology while teaching was when I worked at ECC Web School during my stint in Japan. This consisted mainly of sending pictures of fruit, cartoon characters, etc., to my students via a whiteboard-type interface. I look forward to learning how to CREATE technology!
Hello! The first question posed was, have you ever kept a blog before?
ReplyDeleteTo this I respond, that in my last year of high school, my friends somehow convinced me to start a live journal. But the main reason we utilized this was to keep up with assignments and frustrations and host studying communities for our international college prep school. I initially enjoyed blogging for the purposes of community and building ideas for studying and sometimes venting to the other students in my high school class, but after graduating, I lost my reason to continue working posts in that community. Our exit exams were finished! Gradually everyone disappeared.
My reaction was that blogging or online journals and forums did not serve much of a purpose after that.
Currently, I am greatly excited to see how a new method of using blogging will work out.
I have seen it be useful in posting for online language and literature classes to engage in student interaction as an extension after classes at the university level.
I am greatly interested in how blogging and similar methods will be useful in language teaching, such as ESL.
Another question asked if I had used technology before in teaching.
The answer is yes, but never to an extent where I had control over the technology used. I have discovered websites such as conjuguemos.com for teaching Spanish and Latin classes that truly help students develop patterns in verb conjugations. This was used for high school students in San Antonio as well as college students at WSU. Both were beginners and discovered that the website was helpful for pattern building.
I also utilized youtube for songs in both Spanish and English for language classes around the world and for music classes. I am unsure how technological that is, but it does serve as a great tool.
Currently, I am greatly anticipating building new methods of technological use. I am brilliant at using easy websites that are used by many people, but it will be beneficial to learn how to develop in technology exploration to better myself as an instructor.
Technology is indeed a brilliant way to connect across the globe, and thus I am excited about learning :)
--- E. Hubbs
I had used blog for 5 years while I was still in Taiwan. At that time, I usually post my story or events to share with my friends. I also like to visit my friends' blogs and leave messages in their blogs. But I haven't used it for a while because I use facebook instead.
ReplyDeleteAs a Chinese heritage school teacher, I usually play CD in my conversation class. I will ask my students to follow CD to read sentences in the textbook. I find ou t that they can imitate pronunciation from CD and learn it effectively. Besides, I will google pictures or find materials online to help students to learn the target language. My students are at intermediate level. Sometimes I will also play films to lead them discuss specific topics in class. I really love to use technology in my teaching.
In short, I have never kept a blog. In fact, I don't really follow any. My use of technology in the classroom has been limited to PowerPoint presentations, displaying images or Word documents, and the occasional podcasts.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely interested in any new technology I can adapt and motivate my students with.
Hello, I am pretty new to blogging, strangely enough, I just don't blog, I talk to people on facebook, but I never blog, I think it would be really cool to get into it. Honestly I don't blog because of laziness. In reality I don't even know what a blog really is-it seems maybe something that can help a person get their point across the web. Like a political tool or something. Or something where you can vent. I don't know.
ReplyDeleteAs far as technology in class, I am really a new teacher, and mostly have taught refugees, in classrooms with no internet or computers, so to say my technology is pretty much chalk. yeah. I have used power points for presentations and stuff but thats it.
As far as technology I am really looking for a review. I need to know like the trends in CALL right now, what is popular what is outdated? I would love to learn how to use games for learning. I love playing video games so this is interesting to me. In fact I am just listening to this game podcast right now, and I am fascinated. I don't play MMOGs myself but I know a lot about them, and have plenty of friends who play them. So yeah. thats it.
Hello all! I've kept a few blogs before. I used to be like every emo teenager and had a LiveJournal where I shared all of my thoughts and feelings and made not-so-subtle comments about everything and everyone. LiveJournal caused a lot of drama, so I stopped using it in college. I also had a basic Web page up where I posted fanart of my favorite Japanese cartoons (Yikes! I just admitted that on the internet!) I have a blog for my high school ELA class set up, but I haven't incorporated it into my class yet. Today I limit my internet ramblings to Facebook status updates where I really only address topics of importance. Like Lady Gaga.
ReplyDeleteIn my classes (teaching) I plug the LCD projector into my Netbook and show PowerPoints, YouTube clips, and other Web sources. I also teach the students how to use the basic search engines, create their own PowerPoints, and use the computer for something other than MySpace and video chips of people doing stupid/funny things.
(example- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQlgA68z_L4 )
I am really looking forward to learning more about HTML so I make the internet do what I want it to do. Hopefully I can use those skills to improve my teaching. I also hope to acquire more resources specifically for ELLs. As an ELA teacher I have a lot of resources for ELA, but I'm less familiar with good Web and technology resources for ESL. I want to say "I DO CALL!"
-Nina
P.S. It's really hard not to use internet slang on blogs....
Hiya classmates y profesora :D. I look forward to joining you all for the first time tonight!
ReplyDelete#1 I have kept a blog before, it was short lived and I thought that I might never blog before. Does Twitter count as well? I stopped that also. So, sometimes putting my thoughts to paper, web, etc gets me into trouble (just kidding). More times than not, I feel my thoughts are not well enough collected to contribute to the blogging world because I get a lot of "LOLs" and "OMG- seriously?"s. But here I am, so here it goes.
#3 What technology am I NOT interested in learning about? I am a little technology obsessed and I have a lot of fun trying out all the new things. I am interested in incorporating my photography into the current technology trends and I cannot wait until I can really get it out there.
Hello people! Nice to meet you here. I am kind of emotional now, but it feels good to get myself in MA-TESL program in UTSA.
ReplyDeleteActually I have My Page in @mail.ru, so called My World. This way I am communicating with my friends in Russia and Ukraine.But I haven't keep my blog yet.
ReplyDeleteI used to have simple CD-player to teach and master communication skills and pronunciation of my middle and high school students.
CALL is interesting idea. To be honest with you I am kind of skeptical about. Hope I will see that is going on soon
1. I have kept blogs before, but mostly on facebook. I use Facebook as a forum to keep in touch with friends and have discussions about politics and the like. I had an email blog a long time ago, but it got too big and there were just way too many emails filling up the inbox. Email is not a good blogging forum.
ReplyDelete2. I have not logged many hours teaching...just a little over a semester. I have used technology though on varous occassions and have become aware of how to use technology in new ways that I can't wait to explore. As a student teacher I used various interactive games in the class...and from time to time helped students create newscasts using moviemaker and audacity with some basic special effects. As an ESL mentor I used different language software and games to engage students. My experience in that regard is highly limited through to more conventional computer games.
Since then I have learned how to use the webcam to make in-class vodcasts and project video. I was also introduced to different programs like Hot Potato to encourage students to participate remotely. From a traditional perspective it seems kind of frightening that one would allow students in the classroom to remotely participate in class discussions through their phones and, whereas I can understand the breakdown of community, I also see the potential for encouraging a a freer and more open dialogue within the community of the classroom as students who might not have otherwise felt comfortable participating openly, might participate more readily through their phone. Althogh social media filters alot of human interaction, it also liberates human interaction by eliminating many of the barriers we articificially create.
3. I am definitely interested in exploring more with in-class social media and real-time assessments. Also, I would like to learn to develop a teaching style that integrates technology like vodcasts and webcam projections into daily instruction to make learning more dimmensional while expanding the possible range of activities in the classroom. Mastering the technology I think it only the first step...learning how to seamlessly integrate it is the second and more challenging step that I would like to explore.