Week 10 Transformation

In the final week while writing this post, I experience a mixed bag of feelings - a tinge of sadness in parting ways, a sense of accomplishment (except for the LoTI survey ;), an understanding of the power of the new knowledge to bring about more changes . . . As Maya Angelou says, "When you know better you do better." And I have learned! During these 10 weeks I have equipped myself with many Web tools and strategies. I have created my own blog and also have been using blog posts for my class. I use Noodletools and also introduced it to my students. I have a Delicious page. I explored the Web for teaching oral, aural, reading, writing skills. I learnt about Google docs, Rubric, PBL, WebQuest, interactive power point, online exercises, and ANVILL. Discussions took place on Bloom's Taxonomy, learning objective, teaching large classes by integrating technology, learner autonomy, alternative assessment, one-computer classroom, learning styles and MIs.   The guest moderators enlivened the discussions with their tips and guidance for us. I developed a project plan using WebQuest during the course and now I'm implementing it. I was benefited from the reflective teaching through the blog posts each week. I think the key strategies that helped me survive are – 

• managing time properly 
• following the guidelines and instructions of Courtney 
• watching others' works 
• being positive all the time.

If I look back I've to admit that the active participants of the Webskills course contributed to the understanding of each other a lot. I became enriched not just from the reading materials but also from the Nicenet class discussions, and revelation of others' context and practices. Izela has been very good at summarizing reading materials in her posts and active in using all kind of tools; Hulya has made me realize how technological tools can be adopted in our similar contexts ; Nataliia has worked like a peer-mentor, and shared her works and ideas enthusiastically; Mariam, has had a depth of understanding regarding matters; Hector has been a spiritual guide through his wonderful posts in the blog; Krishna's excitement has been contagious and the list goes on . . . I have been fortunate enough to get this opportunity to make friends with all of you in this course. I'm grateful! So my words for you will be -

Courtney has been a helpful, encouraging, enthusiastic, precise and organized mentor for all of us. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her (officially!) for her great work, guidance and aid to us. Hats off to you!

As for my future plans regarding the use of technology in my class - I see myself LoTI level 2 - Exploration now. But as I implement my WebQuest project, i might reach the next level Infusion. I want to see myself reach Level 4b - Integration: Routine in a year from now. The ways to do it are -

1. Conduct workshops and collaborate with colleagues at my workplace by which almost all courses will integrate technology according to the comfort level of the instructor so that when students take a course which demands the use of technology on the part of the students, they will not feel alienated.
2. Develop course sites with the help of which students will be able to work on their own and practice self-directed learning.
3. Adopt the use of more technology-based tools for certain lessons, course and assessment where I've the freedom within the university set course modules. 

At the tertiary level in Bangladesh inertia, ignorance, absence of standardization, insufficient time, lack of proper methodology, lack of educators are all evident in case of technology integration in teaching-learning scenario. It's through a little step at a time by which we can pave the path. Participating in the Webskills course was one big step that I'll always remember as it transformed me. All the staying up at nights, surfing the sites, participating in the class discussions, writing the blog post, working on the given tasks paid off with a richer insight, a better understanding about how technology can be of great help to enhance learning and a transformation into a more equipped teacher. I understand there is no end to adapting to changes as a teacher, and there is always a world of possibilities for everyone to have a better life.