Technology in the classroom

Dear Students,

We are embarking on the second portion of our journey, and our plane is now ready to take off. You are welcome to stay as a participant or just coast -- the decision is ultimately yours.

During some of my meetings with you last week, we dicussed an online resource prepared  by CBC specially for students in Manitoba: CBC Manitoba | EAL

There are many lessons for you to complete as a self-study, and we can start with the latest on the changing world of teaching and learning.

Please click on the link below for you to start this wonderful journey -- we will be using this information during our blog this week.

Re: CBC Manitoba | EAL
http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/eal/2012/10/the-changing-classroom.html

Position one: technology is necessary for us to improve our language skills
Position two: technology is unnecessary for us to improve our language skills

Homework: Helpful or Harmful?

Some say that homework is helpful to one's learning whereas others believe it is harmful to students as it interferes with one's time for leisure.

Therefore, I propose two positions. You may choose to agree or disagree with one or both positions and you must offer supporting statements to confirm your position.

Which of the positions below do you agree and/or disagree with and why?

Position one: Homework is helpful to students
Position two: Homework is harmful to students

Before stating your point, please click on the following link to obtain background information and additional vocabulary to help you support your position.

http://www.scilearn.com/blog/homework-debate-is-homework-helpful-or-harmful.phpThe Great Homework Debate: Is Homework Helpful or Harmful?

My very first podcast!

Title: Audacity Podcast for EDU653 7:45 minutes

Created by: Rita Zuba Prokopetz for CMU

Topic 1: Podcast4EAL

Host: Rita Zuba Prokopetz  

Music for this podcast courtesy of SDZP -- July 9, 2012

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to EnglishOnline4Everyone and to my very first podcast.

MUSIC

This is your host Rita Prokopetz for EnglishOnline4Everyone. The topic of this episode is Podcast4EAL – in other words, podcast for learners of English as an additional language.

In order to keep you focused on the information and to help you understand the topic better, I have provided answers to 10 questions that I propose throughout this episode. These questions range from fundamental, such as what and where questions, to analytical and critical thinking, such as how and why questions, to a hypothetical type of question – what if!

By the end of today’s episode, you will be able to understand what a podcast is, so you can become a frequent listener of other podcasts, and possibly create and publish your own in the near future.

MUSIC

For additional information and to be part of the discussion on this topic, please go to the blog at englisonline4everyone.blogspot.ca

I have listed the questions and answers on the blog, so you can read the information at a convenient time later.

MUSIC

What is a podcast?

According to ”Wikipedia, The Free Online Encyclopedia,” a podcast is a type of digital media -- a form of electronic media.

Where does the word podcast come from?

The word Podcast comes from two other words: iPod and broadcast.

What do podcasts consist of?

Podcasts consist of several audio files -- on a topic of interest -- to which you can subscribe. You may listen to one or many of the files on a particular topic.

What do you mean by subscribe?

This is similar to a newspaper or a magazine to which you subscribe – the topics are chosen for you, but you are the one who will decide which articles to read on any of the topics. In addition, like the newspaper that you may read anytime anywhere and as often as you wish, you may also listen to a podcast over and over and you may also share it with your colleagues.

Are all podcasts pretty much the same?

All podcasts have an audience – in other words, listeners. For example, the audience for “Learning English with CBC” is comprised of English language learners at an intermediate level. In Canada, the level would be Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5/6.

What about this podcast – what is the level?

This is my very first podcast, and my audience is mainly learners of English at an intermediate level; however, since the topic may be of interest to other people, “everyone” is invited to listen.

How do I ensure I remember everything you say?

You may go to the blog englisonline4everyone.blogspot.ca where you can see and read the full transcript of this podcast along with exercises for you to practise the vocabulary and grammar.

What are the topics of future episodes?

The first few lessons and podcasts I publish will be based on the wonderful world of the Web and the powerful tools available for our classrooms.

Why should I become a podcast listener or publisher?

You may wish to listen to information on a topic of interest to you or may wish to share something with your colleagues. As a language learner, you will be improving your listening skills and well as your writing and speaking skills when podcasting both as a listener and a publisher.

After I finish listening, what I should I do next?

Once you have had a chance to listen to my first podcast, I hope you will join me at englisonline4everyone.blogspot.ca to share ideas, participate in discussions and collaborate.

What would happen if I chose not to participate in podcasting?

This is a choice only you can make. As a language learner, the more educational tools you incorporate in your everyday learning, the closer to your language proficiency goal you will be.

Whether you agree or not with the last statement, please share your thoughts with me on our blog.

MUSIC

Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to another episode of EnglishOnline4Everyone. http://englishonline4everyone.blogspot.ca/

MUSIC

This podcast was created and posted by Rita Prokopetz for English language learners. Music was provided courtesy of SDZP – permission granted for use in this podcast only.

MUSIC

Thank you!

Topic 1: Podcast4AEAL

According to ”Wikipedia, The Free Online Encyclopedia,” a podcast is a type of digital media -- a form of electronic media.

The word Podcast comes from two other words: iPod and broadcast.

Podcasts consist of several audio files -- on a topic of interest -- to which you can subscribe. You may listen to one of the files on a particular topic or all the files on that topic. This is similar to a newspaper to which you subscribe – the topics are chosen for you, but you are the one who will decide when to read and which articles to read on any given topic. In addition, like the newspaper, you may listen to a podcast over and over and you may also share it with your colleagues.

Each podcast has an audience. For example, the audience for “Learning English with CBC” is comprised of English language learners at an intermediate level. In Canada, the level would be Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5/6.

I will be publishing my first podcast this week, and my audience will be mainly learners of English at an intermediate level; however, since the topic may be of interest to others, “everyone” is invited to listen

Using the format of the CBC podcasts and lessons at CBC Manitoba | EAL http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/eal/lessons.html , I will include both a classroom version and self-study version to each of the podcast topics I publish. Like the CBC lessons, mine will also be available “online4everyone!”

The first few lessons and podcasts I publish will be based on the wonderful world of the Web and the powerful tools available for our classrooms – both as a leaner and as an educator.

Once you have had a chance to listen to my first podcast, I hope you will join me here to share ideas, participate in discussions and collaborate, so we can all become better learners.

Thank you!

Welcome to EnglishOnline4Everyone!

Today is Sunday, July 08, 2012. It is 6:30 p.m. and I have just created this blog.

 

This EnglishOnline4Everyone blog will serve as a platform for my communication with my adult learners of English as an additional language (AEAL), my future students at the AEAL teacher certificate program and "everyone" who may be interested.

 

I hope you will join me here from time to time to share ideas, participate in discussions and collaborate, so we can all become better learners.

 

Thank you!