Phewww.... End of Week 7!!

Woah! week 7.. hanging on! Ok let me see...  This week I started to carry out the changes I mentioned in the previous week. I have tried to use powerpoint and other multimedia in my class for my weak students. And as I predicted, the students love the use of videos and photo story. However, this does not mean that it was a success. Many students still can't understand the words used in my photo story as well as the accent of the speaker of the video which I downloaded from 'youtube'. But nonetheless, even the really weak ones were glued to the screen looking at the pictures and animations. 

Since, visual media is great  in grabbing my students' attention, I feel that I can use this method to make drilling a bit fun for them. I will try out using different picture but the same word and maybe instead of a sentence, I will start with one word. 

This week I read about learners' autonomy and also one computer option. I read about how even with one computer (which usually will be the teacher's laptop) we can still make our lessons interesting and use that computer to carry out many different activities. Most importantly, the sole computer is used as an administrative tool where by the teacher uses it to prepare the lesson, to carry out the lesson and also to receive feedback and comment from the students through email or blog or even facebook. 1 computer is not much but certainly good enough to create more and help enhance learning. Susan Gaer has definitely given many useful and easy to achieve ideas using the internet. I do hope to create my own WebQuest or at least start with it soon.

Learners' autonomy isn't something new actually. It is only now that we talk about it more. This is to cater to the ever changing and ever demanding needs of our learners. We can no longer just teach the old-school way; chalk and talk, as learners nowadays require more to become better learners due to the many distraction of our modern world. In my post, I simply love the way Holec has defined the term as he describe it as 'the ability to take charge of one;s learning.' Now as teachers and planners, we are aware of this. But to me I feel that the students should also be aware of this. And this, like Shue in his article, should not only be allow to take charge of their own learning when they are in college or university, they should be expose to it even when they are in primary school. This is so students will be independent learners instead of depending too much on the teacher and when they are in college, they find it difficult to cope with assignment and course reading where students have to be independent to read and be ready for class. 


Time have changed. So we need to change to ensure that we as teachers would be able to 'equip' our students with all the necessary skills not to just get a job but able to survive and excel in their profession. To do so, we must be ready to change and adapt to the demands of time, but students too need to be expose to the different requirement which they too have to take charge and be responsible for their own doings. They can't solely depend on the teachers and schools, they too have to play their role.  They need to see the importance to learn the language and how by learning the language they would be able to move further in their future. 

I think with or without technology, the teacher plays a very crucial role in helping a child to learn, no matter what subject it is. Many students would excel in a subject just because of the teacher. The teacher can help make the student aware of his or her potential and guide them to the correct or suitable path which they student will be able to shine and achieve his or her full potential. But I must also admit that with technology, the teacher is able to go further by helping not only the good ones but also the weaker ones. Technology allows the teacher to use and include many other interesting methods and ways to make lesson and activities fun and effective which was not possible in the old days.


I strongly feel that teaching will change in many ways in the future and we need to learn these new ways and be ready for more changes. Myself and what I am doing now is the best example. I never thought of I would be learning in a virtual classroom where I am to discuss topic and issue online. I also never expected that I would one day be writing a blog as part of a course requirement. It's simply amazing how the teaching and learning process has changed. I can only foresee more changes and that technology will definitely be a huge part of the teaching and learning field in the years to come. It will be a huge part BUT NEVER to take over the role of the teacher!