Blog Post #3

Going into this class, I was apprehensive about my technology abilities because I felt inadequate when I got into anything beyond the basics.  This class turned out to be a huge positive.  It was fun, I learned a great deal and, best of all, I now feel less intimidated by educational technology!
Because of this course, I am much more excited and interested in incorporating technology into my work with adult ESL, and I definitely plan to use the curricular integration project I created in the future.  I learned many strategies and tools that are easily accessible, will challenge my students, and will make lessons more fun and interesting.  I'm hoping that with these new programs and an increased enthusiasm for learning, student retention rates will improve.

When I taught adult ESL last semester, I didn't try to use technology often because it was difficult to log in my students to the computers, and also because I was unaware of how to incorporate and manage computer programs and electronic resources.  Additionally, besides the teaching I did in Ecuador as a Peace Corps volunteer, last semester was my first time working as a formal teacher, so I tried to stick to the material I was comfortable with.  Now that I have more experience, resources, and education from the TESOL master's program, and I am no longer a brand new teacher, I am ready to try new things and take risks in my classroom.


In the coming semester, due to the changes being made with Holland Public School's adult ESL program, I will probably not be hired back as a long-term substitute (I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to teach last semester).  Because I do not have my teaching certificate, but will eventually have a TESOL master's degree, I plan on focusing my efforts toward the community college/university level.  Many higher education institutions have ESL programs, including Ferris State University in Big Rapids, where I hope to do my practicum this fall.  I hope to incorporate the educational technology skills I have learned into my teaching at Ferris and, fingers crossed, maybe this will somehow lead to a teaching position down the road.

I don't have any outstanding issues or questions because I think those will come when I actually use these programs in the classroom.  Like I said, I haven't had a lot of formal teaching experience, so I'm sure to run into difficulties, but I at least now feel more comfortable, curiosity, and motivated to incorporate these new skills, even though I know I will eventually run into problems.

Thank you, Sean, for this class!  Honestly, there have been various classes I have taken where I think, gosh, I can't believe I'm paying so much money and I don't feel like I'm learning much of anything that actually has a purpose in my life or career.  This course has not evoked those thoughts.  Because of EDT 619 I now have a large database of applicable ideas and resources to use in my future classrooms and, because of what I have learned, I am confident that I will become a better teacher!  YAY!

Blog Post #2

For my curricular integration project I will be doing an internet scavenger hunt.  I will assume my adult ESL students are from the ESL II class (which is the 3rd level out of  4 because Literacy comes before ESL I) and we have already spent several class periods practicing basic computer and internet skills.


Here is my idea so far: 
-Work in pairs.  I will assign more technologically advanced students with students who struggle more.  I will also try to put my Spanish speakers with students from non-Spanish speaking countries so that they don't rely on their native language when communicating with their partner.  Together they have to: 
-Sign into their email, which they will use to send me their completed tasks.  
-Create a Word and Excel document following the example provided and attach the documents to the email.    
-Search for a YouTube video of their home country and post the link to the email.
-Search for a YouTube video lesson for ESL, explain what they learned in the email, and send me the link on the email.
-Send the completed email
-Sign into Skype, call me and leave me a voicemail in English.
-Finally, sign into facebook and write about this scavenger hunt on my wall.  "Did you like it? What was difficult?  What was easy?  What was fun?  Do you think you did well?


To complete the project, I'm most nervous about actually putting it together on the Webquest.  I feel like I have a good outline and idea where I'm going with it though.  That's always the most difficult part for me.


With this project, I hope to feel more capable when it comes to internet resources.  It's exciting to learn how to do the fancy educational technology!  Because I was only a long-term substitute last semester through Holland Public Schools, and we are switching over to combine with the area consortium based out of Sparta, I'm not sure if I will be teaching at the same place again.  I will, however, be taking my practicum this fall and I'm hoping to do it at Ferris State University in their intensive English program.  There, I want to be able to show of my new skills and create something special for the students.


I'm focusing this project on computer and internet skills because, do to the detachment and disconnect immigrants feel when living in a new country, I believe they will be grateful to have better, inexpensive ways to communicate with friends and family in their native countries.  Additionally, it's very important that they learn basic computer skills so that they can help their children with computer homework and also, hopefully, gain better employment in the changing 21st century job market.

Educational Technology Blog Comment #3

http://esltech.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/my-3-favorite-podcasts/#comment-2658

Educational Technology Blog Comment #2

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3283339544946232720&postID=2838092831468613677&page=1&token=1340125279130&isPopup=true

Educational Technology Blog Comment #1

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12559663&postID=7496076128705448894&page=1&token=1340068417355

BLOG POST #1

After taking this class, I hope to feel more competent and knowledgeable regarding the resources available to ESL students and how to use the information effectively.  I also want to feel less frustrated when navigating through the endless amount of information available.  

Similar to most Americans my age, I have a basic understanding of technology through google searches, word processing, spreadsheets, personal communication, etc.  I felt as though my skills were fairly general until I worked with adult ESL students.  In addition to teaching English classes, I volunteered in the weekly computer class.  Through this experience, I realized that they often lacked technological education in their native country, which meant that their computer skills were low to none.  Because I am so accustomed to the internet, I never stopped to realize how fascinating and amazing technology can be for someone who is, for example, watching a youtube video of their native country for the first time.  I would like to share that experience with everyone, no matter their age or education level, because technology is awesome! 

I'm not exactly sure what I would like to do for my technology integration project, but I am thinking about something to teach basic computer skills to older individuals or researching and implementing resources to use with adult ESL students.

This past winter was my first semester teaching adult ESL.  During that time, I didn't use the computer lab often because, due to the limited computer knowledge of the majority of my class, I found it frustrating to get them logged in and guide them through the activities.  I would like to learn better techniques to teach my students basic computer skills and I would also like to find several resources, hopefully free, which guide them through the assignments and programs slowly and reliably.