Week 10 : Tiers and Matrix, advice for the future participants, and Week 10 blog

Week 10 has moved slowly. It has been quiet and a sad week, as we have now reached the end of the course. However, the readings for this week were very interesting. They were about Tiers of Technology Integration into the Classroom Indicators -TIERS1,2,3 and The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM)MATRIX. Tier 1: Teacher Focus on Productivity- This tier focuses on the teacher using technology to complete their job. Tier 2: Instructional Presentation and Student Productivity- This tier involves teacher facilitation of large groups learning activities, and student productivity use of technology. Tier 3: Powerful Student-Centered 21st Century Learning Environment- This tier promotes students to be actively engaged with using technology in individual and collaborative learning activities.

Finally, The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. There are five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Collectively, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix of 25 cells.

After my readings I posted the advice for the future participants on NiceNet. Then I wrote what I learnt this week onto my blog. I have learnt a lot of valuable information from Week 1-10. I am grateful and pleased to have met nice colleagues in Yellowgroup, and I hope we stay in touch. I had a very busy time on Week 8,9,and 10 because there were some extra training for teachers, and also a English camp at school to manage at the weekend. However, in this difficult time I was comforted with encouragement from my instructor and colleagues. I cannot thank the US Department of States and the University of Oregon enough for providing this precious course for the exchange teachers around the world. I would like to say a special thanks to my instructor, Dr.Donna Shaw for being so pleasant and generous to all of us.

Yaowapa

Thailand

Week 9 : Learning Styles, My Final Plan Report, ANVILL

The quote I selected for Week 9 is, “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince is a  lovely novel that many of you might read about it or watch it before. It illustrates that the time and emotion we have all been through should be appreciated. We have learnt together, worked and exchanged ideas together, we have discussed together, enhanced our knowledge, completed the big group and paired work together. Therefore, together we have formed a wonderful society, and I strongly believe this precious time will connect us together in the future.

This week I started posting on NiceNet immediately since the Summer English Camp 2014 for 100 students, from 40 schools in Surin Province was due to be held on the weekend. The Camp is organised by two English Resource and Instruction Centres (ERIC). I take responsibility and manage one of the ERIC centers, therefore I was particularly busy. Fortunately, our beloved instructor, Dr. Donna Shaw was extremely generous to extend the deadline, so I had more time to work on my Plan Report and submit it on Sunday. Although I have been teaching for over 30 years now, it was challenging to decide what the best idea was for my Plan Report. I still have to spend additional time searching and analysing my report before completing it.

ANVILL 1, now known as ANVILL 2 is an interactive web design tool like WebQuests for students to use inside and outside of the classroom. ANVILL will give the students the opportunity to learn English, particularly their speaking and listening skills. I believe in ANVILL to be a fundamental tool for students to improve their English skills in an entertaining and enjoyable way. Consequently, this can be more appealing for the students to study and practice English more frequently. Additionally, using ANVILL may be crucial to the students future life and further education. Therefore, I will strive to learn more about using ANVIL effectively in the classroom, so my students experience a new method of learning . 

Learning styles are important to understand every student I teach. The teachers have a responsibility to find out each students learning style accordingly. Therefore, this will help students not to feel alienated from classroom lessons and activities. Furthermore, I prefer only to speak English in the classroom and have students listen carefully. Thus, students will require a problem solving learning style to study more effectively in the classroom. I understand students have different learning styles, but I have not applied any tests to identify this yet. So I will use a survey to identify my students learning style, and then apply this in relation to my teaching style for the future.

Good luck to all the Yellowgroup members,

Yaowapa

Thailand.