Reflections on the Webcasted Presentation by Dr. Nellie

The Saturdays' class was interesting class and  new experience for me and my colleagues. We met  our teachers , different people from different country and Dr, Nellie in virtual class . Dr, Nellie was the presenter of  that class . She talked to us by online video and we were chatting with her. Also, we asked her some questions and she answered our questions but  unfortunately her voice wasn't clear and that made misconnected with her . She was exciting to talk with us and explain some points to us. I like the way that she shared her screen with us  . At the end, she drew some smiley faces  and I think that she wanted to tell us that she was happy with us .

Finally, I wish I could have this experience of virtual class but with high-level techniques to be distinctive and different experience. It's  useful way that it can connect you  with other teachers in the world even when you just set in a home  and open the virtual online  class in your laptop. When I  became a teacher I will try to use this type of classes to explain some  lessons that need to be in direct contact with academic people to tell us about their experiences and that will be useful to support students and motivate them .

The role of WeQuests in learning a foreign/second language?”

Bernie Dodge, the original designer, describes a webquest as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation."A webquest typically includes the following elements: An Introduction, a presentation of the Task, a list of Resources, a step-by-step description of the Process, a form or rubric for Evaluation, and a Conclusion that summarizes what students have learned.  WebQuests were designed to bring together the most effective instructional practices into one integrated student activity which emphasizes critical thinking, constructivism, cooperative learning, authentic assessment, and technology integration.  It's critical in the early stages of WebQuest development that you stack the decks in favor of your own success. You need to identify a topic that is worth your spending time on and one that takes advantage of the Web and the WebQuest format. WebQuests are a unique method for enhancing students' information technology and information literacy competencies. As inquiry-oriented, engaging, and student-centered activities, WebQuests promote high-level thinking and problem-solving skills. Although WebQuests are used extensively in primary and secondary educational institutions, they have received limited attention in higher education settings.Project-based learning is at the heart of WebQuests

 Finally, the structure of the webquest is a terrific organizational tool for most students.  All the requirements are laid out from the beginning.Students who is  using webquests  they must use their thinking abilities. Because  they are required to compare, contrast, make decisions and recommendations. They cannot lean on a quick cut and paste for their answers.

In my opinion  we as Students learn through discovery and synthesis with a quest.  (if structured properly)  This higher level of thinking is what we are striving for all of us  to achieve.

 

   : Here some examples  of Webquests

WebQuest about WebQuests for Elementary teachers

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/wq_wq.htm

WebQuest about WebQuests for Secondary Teachers:

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/wq_wq2.htm

Wordle for EDU401

Reflection on the three weeks

First, we all know that technology changes rapidly. Technology is integrated in our daily lives, both at education, work and at leisure. This is especially true for students. Students’ use of technology outside of the classroom raises the bar for its use within the classroom, making it an important component for student engagement. Collaboration can be fostered by using class wikis, blogs, and custom social networks.
Edu401 is a technological course that I find it very interesting and helpful not only in my studies but in d
Now I can see myself  as a Digital native and I'm very thankful dr.Hala  for your efforts to help us .different aspects of life. For example, in yahoo group when you asked us to introduce ourselves I really surprised to know a lot of my colleagues and I saw my colleagues helping each others . Also in blogger I didn't create account in it before but I like it's idea because it gives me the freedom to write whatever I like and I can make it public for others to see and comment on it .Wiki  is very famous site and I always take information's from it but  I don't know much about it and I'm exciting to learn how I can use it and how.

How would I use blogs, wikis and delicious with my EFL students?

First, I'll tell my students the importance and the uses of blogs, wikis and delicious.

1-The importance of blogger :

 Students can use it to communicate ideas, photos and class notes, improve their writing skills.

2-The importance of Wikis:

    Wikis are simple, efficient tools for managing knowledge and collaborating. They're particularly convenient in today's busy and international workplace.  They're easy to learn and use. Wikis aren't as complicated as other types of content management systems. With wikis, knowledge doesn't get buried in emails, locked into file systems, hard drives or servers, intranets or extranets, or closed in more specialized data management systems and knowledge management systems.

The importance of delicious :

It acts like a huge database where you can find whatever web link that you want. You will always stay up to date with the latest and most trendy stuff on the web .It can even enable you to advertise your own links (blogs, websites, and social addresses) .You can get the option to filter the most interesting links that will be sent to you directly .The website is easy to use and understand by anyone .There is no specific web browser that you must have or install before using it .

Then I'll start teaching them from the easiest one.

So I’ll start with  the blogger  .

1-What are the steps to create account.

www.blogger.com/

2- how they edit in their profiles .

3- how to post in their blogs pages.

After that I'll teach them about  the wikis.

1-How they  can create account in wiki space:

a-Add your e-mail and a password.

b-Choose a username .

http://www.wikispaces.com/

2-Complete the registration by filling the blanks and  make sure to write or save your URL link to your wiki ,name and pass word.

Finally, I'll explain delicious to them:

1.  
     

1.   1- Create an account at delicious:  http://delicious/

      2.   Follow the tutorial here:  http://www.slideshare.net/adrian.muller/delicious-tutorial

      3.   Start bookmarking  social links and tagging .

      4.   Add  links about their favorite topics .

    At the end I'll give my students a quiz about these sites.

"Application of Bax Normilasation in Saudi Arabia:The how!"

Stephan Bax argues that, "Our aim should be to attain a state of `normalization'
in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated".

First , he suggested  three phases  of CALL  and he explained each one of them. The main goal  that he was talking about is achieving   normalization to the point where we don't know that technology becomes invisible and taking  this to the classrooms and instructions.
Second, he suggested that (CALL)  will reach  this state when computers ( probably very different in shape and size from their current manifestations ) are used every day by language students and teachers as an integral part of every lesson like a pen or book. Teachers  and  students will  use them without fear or inhibition , and equally without an exaggerated respect for what they can do. They will not be the centre of any lesson, but they will play a part in almost all.
 He said that we will reach that point when technology becomes a part of our daily life that is not invisible to us such as anything else that we got used to it in our daily routine. That way, we may say that technologies are normalised. 
In KSA we are using some technical materials in the education, we still need more time and effort to achieve more time to be integrated in education.this normalization stage. Actually, teachers should be prepared enough to be able to take advantages of technology improvement. Moreover, this technology should be introduced to students in proper way so they can use it without any difficulties. In addition to that, the educational environment should be equipped to have all this technology. Nowadays, Saudi  teachers  start depending more and more on the technology while they are teaching. Now, we can see in the schools Power Point presentations, data show, computers labs, etc. But all theseechnologies need

We are a family

           Alslam alikom wa rahmat Allah wa barakato    

Jumua Mubarka

Welcome Dr. Hala and all of my friends .

Dr. Hala i hope that you prayed for us when you got Umrah and Insha'Allah God accepted  your Umrah .

All my friends i wish that we'll interest together in blogger and our Edu 401 course.