Half way through

As week 5 is coming to an end I am reminiscing how it all started last December with a proposal from the secretary general of Fullbrighter Association in Bangladesh.... 

Shahidul Islam used to work with me in the same university but switched to another one a few years back. But he always kept in touch and informed me about workshops/seminars. When he suggested that I submit the form for nomination to participate in the Webskills course online with Oregon University, I expressed my doubts saying I had no ELT background. He assured me and said he had full faith in me that I'd be able to cope up. I submitted the form, Shahid recommended me, I got nominated, and registered for the course with Oregon University's Linguistics Department. The American Center organized an orientation program for the new participants where we had the chance to meet the old participants who received their certificates during that program. The happy faces of the former students proudly receiving the Oregon certificates from Fife McDuff was a real motivation. During the experience sharing part, they cautioned us about utilizing time properly and to read the articles right away when the week would open for our course. Before the course started officially, I had communicated with the department expressing my insecurities and wanted to know if I needed to study ahead. I still had in my mind that the course would introduce me to theory regarding the web and web-based approaches to teaching. A reply assured me that once the course started the course instructor would help me out with everything. I embraced myself with courage and was prepared mentally to go through a tough time.

The course started in January. During the first week I was bombarded with frequent emails from Courtney Cunningham. The orientation to the course was smooth enough with 4 simple tasks - introducing myself to the class, commenting on the ground rules, filling in a questionnaire and creating my blog. After the first week I started feeling confident about myself. Week 2 demanded more and I remember writing a few emails to Courtney asking for clarification or suggestions. She was and still is the able guide with prompt reply to keep me on track. After the second week (specially after seeing my points on Jupiter Grades) I felt things were settling in and I could ace the course!

Learning never stopped but it was different than what I had had in my mind. I was straight way applying and synthesizing after reading. I got introduced to various theory, tools and techniques. I learned from the Nicenet discussions too. It's like coming together and talking about our different contexts and how teachers in different parts of the world are striving to facilitate learning. 

In terms of applying technology I did two things with my course students (the same group of students I chose for the project). 
1. I conducted an open book test on the first book of the Iliad during which they used the web (it wasn't mandatory for all but 40%students browsed) via laptop and cell phone to aid them in the test. 
2. I created a blog http://tahsinay.blogspot.com/2013/02/your-task.html and assigned 90 students of two groups to use Noodletools for searching the web for course related studies. 

5 more weeks left. There's a project and report of the project due. But I don't feel apprehensive about it anymore. I feel confident as I march with my virtual friends-colleagues and know for sure that when the course comes to an end, Courtney will feel proud of herself for bringing into changes in all our lives as teachers/educators/facilitators.