Week 9 Reflection and more reflection

Such a happening week! It started with the course evaluation by taking a survey set by AEI Distance Education program. The survey was like a reflection to my learning. Another reflection was added to the list through an opportunity of writing participant story to share my experiences and/or stories about the impact of the course.

  

Then there was the weekly discussion topic on the use of technology to cater to different learning styles or multiple intelligences. This was also a reflective task as I have taken a quiz on learning styles at Edutopia to know about my learning style and I've to admit that the result was bit surprising. I always deemed myself to be a visual-spatial learner but it seems my learning style leans more on linguistic and interpersonal styles. I pondered on the link between my learning style and the way I teach. As a reflection I might just admit that I concentrate more on linguistic, visual-spatial and intrapersonal learning style for my students when I teach a class. Surprisingly, my lowest score came for visual-spatial style. But I use images, videos, maps in my classes frequently. 

PBL is a wonderful way to cater to different learning styles and intelligences. Projects might be extended to sharpen students' weak intelligences. Because we assign students with activities that they are comfortable with but do not push them to the limits with the intention to improve their enervated intelligences. I also assessed my WebQuest project in terms of MIs. 

This knowledge or awareness of students' learning style is not to make tasks easier for them but to enhance effective learning. Technology has a huge impact in the form of a simple photograph projected in the class which can trigger great learning to an interactive power point or a project based task on the Web. I also think it's a good idea to prepare a list of activities brainstormed by the learners even before the learning takes place so that their interest and learning styles are reflected on as Jane Carlson-Pickering says, "any time I begin to develop a curriculum unit, I seek ideas from the class first." 'Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits' published in the New York Times says the more you sweat to learn something - it is hard to forget. This actually reminds me of the initial stumbling I had to face when I was given technological tool-based tasks for this course. 

Finalizing my project was an easy job by editing the write-up as per the suggestions of Hector and Alina (my peer reviewers) as I wrote a project plan and not a report. I mentioned the project to one of my classes (as we had strike I couldn’t meet the other group) and asked them to pair up. It’s a slow start but I’ll bring up things slowly so that the project doesn’t cause any discomfort to my students. Reading others’ (Alina, Saida, Hector, Krishna and Izela in particular) projects and learning about the different contexts was also interesting. I’m planning to read all the projects.

I tried to create a lesson at ANVILL but failed. I need to see more of it before jumping onto a task.

A good news came through the acceptance letter from MELTA which caused a great happiness! I’m taking my project to the 22nd Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA) International Conference titled “Innovations in English Language Education: Evolving Policy, Envisioning Curriculum, Empowering Practitioners” to be held from 28 to 30 May 2013 at Persada Johor Convention Centre, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Feeling bit sad as the Webskills course is approaching an end. That's why I added cartoons to this post as a means to lighten things up. I got my life so tuned into this weekly schedule that I believe I’ll feel empty when it’s gone! Another reflection!