Nill'ys billboard

SELF REFLECTION

2006-11-02T23:41:00.000+10:00

SELF REFLECTION ON BLOG COMMENTS OF COLLEGUES -ASSESSMENT TASK
FOR FINAL ASSESSMENT OF CLN 618 Semester 2

According to the definition of CALL given by Egbert and Smith (1999) CALL is based on creating optimal technology enhanced language teaching and learning environments. (Egbert and Hanson-Smith, 1999 in Egbert 2005.)

DID CLN 618 COLLEAGUES FIND THAT I HAD OPTIMIZED THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING?This is what they said:-

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:
*Writing style -Comprehensive & well argued.
*Clear instructions given.
*Colours good
*Use of listening tasks appreciated
*Juxtaposition of foods of different lands commended
*Use of Australian food helps familiarise non native students with the culture of the country.
*Real language used.
*Liked my addressing two audiences (teachers/students)
*Liked pix of food
*Level of difficulty was manageable
---------------------------

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES MENTIONED BY COLLEAGUES:-
*Jam packed
*Pictures in the JMatch shouldhave been smaller so that they all would have been on one page - (easier for students.)
*Use of American English -confusing for learners in Australia.
*Topic more suitable for girls.
------------------------------

LEARNING & REFLECTION ON CONSTRUCTION OF WEB SITE & MISTAKES

I feel that the page WAS jam packed- which may make it less attractive to viewers /learners.Ideally, I wonder whether I should take off the list of links on the right side of the website. I put in that list as easy reference for the teachers. However, since the links are already there on the page elseware, maybe I should save up space and spread out my text, using spaces, separator lines and bigger font.

Colour & design - I don't quite agree with the colleague who like my colours, but then taste differs. I would like to change it and make it brighter.

American accent -Mishan (2005) opines that authentic materials drawn from cultural products are a powerful device in language learning.Thereby, even in the absence of a class teacher, they receive the necessary scaffolding as suggested by Vygotsky (1978) cited in Knutson ( 2003) and Hoven ( 1997).Yes. my viewpoint in buiding the website was to expose them to authentic speech. However, I could not get my hands on Australian video clips that would work for me. Hence the American!I should think that exposure to native speech , although not Australian, would still enhance language learning.

Matching activity - the size of pictures were thought to be too big. Yes, I agree. The tasks should be clear-cut.

Addressing more than one audience- teachers & pupils was good. Yes, I did this for the sake of clarity.

In retrospect, I might also not use video. The links don't always work too well owing to peak hour times owing to heavy traffic (Computer-wise) & if you don't have the right configuration in your computer. However, We future teachers cannot be too afraid of using it our classes- because as technology advances, these problems will pass. My immediate target group of adult migrants, too, have access to the latest technology and computers in the lab, so they might have good luck with the weblinks.

Suitability of topic- I agree with one colleague who said that it fits the bill. However, another colleague felt it would not really interest men. This is the second time somebody said this - the other time was with regard to the webquest! However, in the adult migrant context, this may or may not hold true. They will still need to get acquainted with food preparation, production and purchase - at least the purchasing is often done by men because the wives stay at home due to cultural reasons, or because the men have better street- smart skills. Anyway, my ealier masters (didn't finish it) was in Gender Studies. So its hard for me to accept that argument- as my colleague said, the men should at least try(cookery)- or it'll be hard for the family, in Australia!

Nilly

N.B-However, ironically, in my present class the students DO happen to be all females!

Please comment on my website in this space

2006-10-29T22:14:00.000+10:00

Dear Collegues of CLN 618,
If anyone wishes to comment on my website, could you do it as a comment to this posting, please?
I really enjoyed working with you all and seeing how different teachers work. Thanks so much for the help and friendship, too.
Cheers!
Nilly

2006-10-21T10:40:00.000+10:00

Dear colleagues in my technology class. If anyone needs help with geocities or hotpotatoes I will be happy to help. I feel that only now I have even a slight grasp of it to be able to say this.

2006-10-20T23:46:00.000+10:00

I have finished my Website. I feel quite drained. Not happy because I have two more assignments to give in nest week. Tomorrow is my daughter's string concert - their school was chosen to be among the finalists from all Qld schools. So instead of doing my assignments peacefully at the library, I'm going for the concert - which will take most of the afternoon. So its a hard life. Yet, its good to know that I'm not alone - we're, most of us, in the same boat.

Nilly

http://www.geocities.com/anushkaweerackody/Internationalfood2.html?1162015679500

MAHSA & ROBEE- THANK YOU!

2006-10-14T20:45:00.000+10:00

Hot Potatoes-what a fantastic educational tool! However, if not for Mahsa and Robee, I wouldn't have ever got the hang of it - I'm still struggling but, as I've mentioned before, since I take more time to process things, it was only their explanation that made me see some light.Thanks so much, Mahsa and Robee!

WEBPAGE -another mountain to climb..

2006-09-27T20:42:00.000+10:00

I have started looking at creating a webpage and geo cities.
My Webpage is currently at the start of its construction at-
http://www.geocities.com/anushkaweerackody/Internationalfood.html

WEBSITE

2006-09-25T22:53:00.000+10:00

Today, Mahsa showed me how to work with hot potatoes. My biggest problem is that I feel that I am very slow on the uptake. I feel that I'm much slower than in my youth - under-grad - days. Whe something is said, it just doesn't sink into my brain. This worries me because I'm not 40 yet. I never agreed with the philosophy on critical age hypothesis- always thought older learners can do it, if they are in good health. Yet, my own example doesn't convince me about this any longer. I can see that I'll have to persevere more to get my certificate.. I'm just taking a moment, right now, to enjoy myself being sad....

2006-09-16T15:58:00.000+10:00

16/9/06

We've just learnt how to do eportfolis in our technology workshop. I'd like to learn how to use these with young learners.

DESIDERATA

2006-09-13T23:57:00.000+10:00

Dear friends,
I had these words on my wall since I was 16, for 10 years, till I left home. I still think they're good words and decided to put it in here. Most of you may have seen it - do you think its a good recipe to follow?

http://hobbes.ncsa.uiuc.edu/desiderata.html

WebQuest in sight!

2006-09-12T00:27:00.000+10:00

11.9.06
Wheeeew!

I've done it! I think I really have..the webquest. Never thought I'd ever do such a thing in my life. It doesn't look too bad (to me) either! I have, in retrospect, hugely enjoyed this unit so far and this assignment. Much nicer than writing boring essays on pedagogies!

Another milestone has been designing the mini test. I've never had to sample a taste of my own cooking in the education area, before...It was such a good experience. I've discovered that a thousand things can go wrong when we set a test. The design might be good, but the logistics..I've got to think of everything.

For the first time since I started the semester, I'm breathing more easily- to have finished two assessment tasks is worth celebrating(till the marks come, that is..?!). And the next assignments can't be forgotten.

WebQuest holy grail!

2006-08-30T00:26:00.000+10:00

The webquest we have to create for our assessment is coming up fast - I'm quivering like a jelly at the thought of it - I've taken some small steps but I need to take some huge ones if I am to get anywhere...how am I to find appropriate websites to include in it? How am I to make it interesting to the target group? How am I to manage if my kids fall sick again - one's coughing again tonight..
This evening i've been working on an assignment - unfortunately not mine.. my 7 year olds - he had to draw his family tree. His speed of writing it all down was sooo slow- poor little mite!
Last week it was helping the 9 year old to get her interview of a person from an older generation, together.
And there was the short story and poetry writing competition they entered- were on the computer for hours..
It's hard to get my turn, these days.

2006-08-21T00:57:00.000+10:00

Dear anyone-who-reads-this,
I finally managed to get a photo that wasn't copyrighted to insert in my profile. Since it has taken me half the night and half the wee hours of the morning, I've realised that i'm more stupid than most. If only the OLT was working in our uni site I could have referred the free pix for language teachers site that we were told about in class, for my purpose. However, the computer is refusing to cooperate. I'm so thrilled about inserting the photo - all on my little ownsome, that I doubt that I'll sleep the rest of the night - or rather, the morning. As my child is on 8 puffs of ventolin and is only one step away from hospital, insomnia is more beneficial than detrimental at the moment. Sometimes small victories aren't worth the price , I think. Since I haven't achieved much I thought I'll go rainbow with the font -I feel like Anne of Green Gables with the dyed hair - admiring my psychedelic font effect!

WAYS TO GIVE A TEST

2006-08-10T13:49:00.000+10:00

I found this poem, written by a Lebanese poet - interesting!

2005 / 06 / 14 - Ways to give a test

My chemistry teacher, who is actually very witty
(He said he's been in Lebanon for three years
But he's taught for five years at the university:
A pleasant sentence that made us laugh to tears,
How could he live abroad and teach here?
I still can't manage to grasb that idea, I fear)
So my wise chemistry teacher gave us an exam
From some forgotten records of year nineteen ninety,
The given questions didn't match the taken program
Something he forgot to check out, oh, calamity!
I wonder how do teachers, like him, put their test
I mean do they find another year's session
And give it as it is, leaving their minds at rest?
Someone's got to take from them a confession!
And who's the bloke who has to suffer and not protest?
That's the student who must answer questions he doesn't know
Just because his teacher lacked time to put a decent test
Since he was watching some stupid television show!

A Poem A Day

From poems.com

Appreciating diversity

2006-08-09T23:06:00.000+10:00

I've found out that lots and lots of people don't like diversity - in society, I mean, and would rather stick to their own little sectarian compartments. My experience at uni has been that, happily, this is NOT true of the university milieu - at least, I've never seen it there. I've also realised that there is much to learn from people from backgrounds that differ from your own. It's the individual that counts...

...which takes me to my TAFE class. I'm a volunteer tutor and I'm tutoring adult migrants who are beginner speakers of English. Those classes are little havens for these migrants, a place where they are not looked down upon - where the teachers are so caring of the individual. The teacher whom I assist has my utmost respect.. the way she treats each individual is awesome. She pronounces each ones name correctly, because she takes the time to learn these names. This class is full of refugees, victims of trauma and violence .. and of war. In my quest to become a teacher I want to remember that each individual is special and needs to be treated thus...

Assessment

2006-08-08T11:10:00.000+10:00

I'm wondering how I'm to plan my assessment items for CLN 618. If I'm to assess speaking what are the components of speaking I'm going to test? Surely writing would be much easier to test. Yet, in MY context, I think learing to test speaking will be the most useful. Reading "Assessing Speaking" by Sari Luoma has been useful but I need to look at some test models and ask myself some questions such as why am I testing these students? What are their needs? My conclusion is, designing this test is definitely worse than sitting for one!

2006-08-05T14:01:00.000+10:00

For the past 2 hours I have been trying to find pictures that are free of copyright. I give up - I don't know how to do this. I also met Basim, Mahsa and Yvonne to try to set up our webquests and we totally failed to get into it. To add insult the injury my 9 year old cut her own hair last night with a paper cutting blunt pair of scissors. The result was that the bottom end of her hair was diagonal! So I had to cut it straight at the bottom and it ended up quite short. Before this disaster, her hair was well below her waist and we had never cut it from the time she was born -only trimmed it. She ended up in a flood of tears - which was continuing today. So life seems to be steadily turning into a nightmare The other day mahsa remarked that we are so busy worrying about the future that we forget to enjoy the present So I"ve decided to remind myself about this and look on all that"s positive for instance i"ve just learnt to post my blog in colour!

WAYS TO TELL CHILDREN THEY ARE IMPORTANT

2006-08-03T11:05:00.001+10:00

I've included a poem here that was published in the my children's school newsletter. It's for the parents among us who are juggling uni and running the homefront:

WAYS TO TELL CHILDREN THEY ARE IMPORTANT

Tell them often that you love them for who they are.

Show them that you love them by spending time together, listening to them, giving them lots of hugs and smiles.

Celebrate their achievements , no matter how small.

Praise them for trying, no matter what the outcome.

Keep special reminders of their successes and milestones.

Let them help you do things

Let them know that it is OK to make mistakes;its all part of learning.

Help them to build on their strengths.

Ask their opinions on family matters. It show you care about what they think.

Help them to solve their own problems. Show them that you have faith in them.

Make limits and expectations clear and consistent.

Givew feedback about inappropriate behaiour, but don't criticize your child.

Feedback should aim to teach, not hurt your child.

by Vicki Caldow

2006-08-03T11:05:00.000+10:00

2006-08-01T11:13:00.000+10:00

Techno-nightmare!

2006-07-31T14:02:00.000+10:00

I spent the whole morning trying to download a picture from the reccommended picture gallery. Something that has no fees, licenses and sudden surprises. The first half of the morning I was trying to download some clip art and an error message kept coming up. That's when I finally realised that I can't just download anything. Earlier on, I was exploring how to create a WebQuest and thought, hey, this is interesting although I could never create anything like the work of some of the students who did it last semester. After I finally inserted the picture from the photogallery, I was thoroughly dejected. If i continue like this, I'll have to finish the Masters when I'm a grandmother... scary thought!

First steps....

2006-07-22T10:46:00.000+10:00

Hi! I'm Nilly.
My primary occupation in life is being a mother. I have two children aged 7 and 9. My chief interest is to see how these two kids develop - spiritually,