I am so impressed by the presented examples and ideas of wiki use in teaching and learning.
I am thinking of using wiki (maybe google site) for my JPNS class. Off the top of my head, I think I could make a page of vocabulary list and ask students to add any new words (along with example sentences) they come across when they learn Japanese outside of the class. This way, students and I can create our own original list of words we can all learn collaboratively. Students may be rewarded for adding many words to the list. I could even make it like a class competition: who gets the most words? This idea, as you may see, definitely comes from the example of biology class wiki presented in our class. =) I really liked it!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
VD for JPNS class
Virtual Demonstration:
I took an example of VD from mathematics. I am wondering what VD would be like in my JPNS class.
Here are some examples that I used in class, which are YouTube videos.
How to talk rude
I used this one to show how people say "no" in a non-textbookish way.
I took an example of VD from mathematics. I am wondering what VD would be like in my JPNS class.
Here are some examples that I used in class, which are YouTube videos.
How to talk rude
I used this one to show how people say "no" in a non-textbookish way.
Discussion v.s. Q&A
Discussion pages:
After our class about use of eLC, I started thinking of how I can have a discussion page for my JPNS class as well as what kind of discussion would be going for such a basic language class. I then figured students do not really "discuss" things about Japanese language online because, in my opinion, language learning at this level would be more individual and personal. Students language development depends on their individual practice on their own time and effort. And social and interactive aspects of language learning should be discussed in class, at this level.
So I decided that, instead of using the discussion page feature of eLC, I would simply make a "Q&A" post in the class blog, once in a while. Whenever students have a questions in our ongoing materials they can post their questions by making a comment under the post. I often go see the blog myself and try to the answer. I like this way since the Q&A can still be in public.
After our class about use of eLC, I started thinking of how I can have a discussion page for my JPNS class as well as what kind of discussion would be going for such a basic language class. I then figured students do not really "discuss" things about Japanese language online because, in my opinion, language learning at this level would be more individual and personal. Students language development depends on their individual practice on their own time and effort. And social and interactive aspects of language learning should be discussed in class, at this level.
So I decided that, instead of using the discussion page feature of eLC, I would simply make a "Q&A" post in the class blog, once in a while. Whenever students have a questions in our ongoing materials they can post their questions by making a comment under the post. I often go see the blog myself and try to the answer. I like this way since the Q&A can still be in public.
Monday, February 8, 2010
eLearning Commons
For the elementary Japanese language class, I use eLC only to upload files of huge size. I often have PDF files of manga pages to explain Japanese grammar in class and later I upload the files in eLC so students can download if they like. I just couldn't find a better way to do this. This works well so far.
I was also thinking of using eLC to keep my grade book for quiz, tests, participation, and other assignments. But I have too many quizzes and tests and I take attendance almost everyday. So I figured it is too overwhelming to have every grade record (like the grade of every quiz and test) in a single "grade" page in eLC. I decided to stick to my old way of keeping grade, which is excel spreadsheet file. Near the end of the semester, I will use the eLC grade book feature to show students' current grade. I do this because last semester many students asked me by email about their grade and I had to tell each one every time. It was just so time consuming!
For the elementary Japanese language class, I use eLC only to upload files of huge size. I often have PDF files of manga pages to explain Japanese grammar in class and later I upload the files in eLC so students can download if they like. I just couldn't find a better way to do this. This works well so far.
I was also thinking of using eLC to keep my grade book for quiz, tests, participation, and other assignments. But I have too many quizzes and tests and I take attendance almost everyday. So I figured it is too overwhelming to have every grade record (like the grade of every quiz and test) in a single "grade" page in eLC. I decided to stick to my old way of keeping grade, which is excel spreadsheet file. Near the end of the semester, I will use the eLC grade book feature to show students' current grade. I do this because last semester many students asked me by email about their grade and I had to tell each one every time. It was just so time consuming!
Monday, February 1, 2010
The way to have teaching portfolio on line is really great way to take a first step on working on gathering and organizing my materials. I'm really glad we spend some of our class time to see how things are done in the online portfolio.
I find the social bookmarking useful, too. But I decided not to use it at the moment because it seemed a little overwhelming and because I carry my laptop everywhere all the time so I have all of my bookmarks in it. Besides, I would really like to keep things in my Google account. I wonder if Google provide similar bookmarking service. If so, I would love to start using it.
Here I would like to introduce my class blog for my elementary Japanese language class.
http://yamaguchijpns.blogspot.com/
I first started using this blog simply to make an announcement such as when is homework due and when we have a next quiz and all, just in case an email I send out is not received.
Then, I realized having a class blog is a great way to provide and keep useful learning/teaching resources such Syllabus, course calendar (with homework and other assignments due dates and tests dates. By the way we have totally 6 lesson tests besides final.), YouTube videos, and other online learning materials (online dictionaries, etc). Having a classblog helps me in that whenever I have a little idea of using, say, a YouTube video, I just make a link to it and leave it. Come back to it later and decide if I really want to use it in class or not. I just love to have everything in one place and organize materials so students and I can come back to it whenever we like, and use them many times. This also helps me as a language instructor to emphasize "repetition is the key."
I find the social bookmarking useful, too. But I decided not to use it at the moment because it seemed a little overwhelming and because I carry my laptop everywhere all the time so I have all of my bookmarks in it. Besides, I would really like to keep things in my Google account. I wonder if Google provide similar bookmarking service. If so, I would love to start using it.
Here I would like to introduce my class blog for my elementary Japanese language class.
http://yamaguchijpns.blogspot.com/
I first started using this blog simply to make an announcement such as when is homework due and when we have a next quiz and all, just in case an email I send out is not received.
Then, I realized having a class blog is a great way to provide and keep useful learning/teaching resources such Syllabus, course calendar (with homework and other assignments due dates and tests dates. By the way we have totally 6 lesson tests besides final.), YouTube videos, and other online learning materials (online dictionaries, etc). Having a classblog helps me in that whenever I have a little idea of using, say, a YouTube video, I just make a link to it and leave it. Come back to it later and decide if I really want to use it in class or not. I just love to have everything in one place and organize materials so students and I can come back to it whenever we like, and use them many times. This also helps me as a language instructor to emphasize "repetition is the key."
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