Google does it

for me.  When searching for things we "google" it.  When setting up a new email, many choose a gmail account.  So when it comes time to collaborate Google Docs seems like a perfect choice.  For my students to collaborate on a project they sometimes have difficulty merging too many different applications.  Some students use Microsoft Office at home but may have an older version that has trouble opening or working with newer versions.  Then we have Mac users and also others that don't have any software for word processing installed.  Open Office appeals to those who didn't want to purchase a costly product but that doesn't provide the collaboration that Google Docs has to offer.

Not only can the students use Google Docs for word processing, they can use it to plan a party, I mean learning experience. You can create a sign up sheet to get people to bring things for the event.   The students can access the spread sheet from home instead of passing around a paper, signing up for something and forgetting what they said they would bring.

Next year I will use this tool to prepare for our New Year's celebrations.

Image Citation: Fireworks of Saint Ramon II (Spain) by cerovaci. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cerovacio/4970107281/

Mastery is the product

The idea that what we produce demonstrates mastery rather than how we perform on a test is exactly what a language teacher wants to "hear".  I want my students to be able to survive in real life situations.  They need to be able to communicate; get the point across successfully.  That means they can order food, get directions, make a reservation, catch a plane, train or rent an automobile.  It doesn't mean the grammar is perfect or the syntax is impeccable.  Of course we want our students to speak well but little mistakes that don't interfere with the meaning aren't that end of the world.

The ability to connect with native speakers all over the world is an amazing tools for students studying another language. It gives them the opportunity to perform through written and spoken words and make a meaningful connection.  It brings the language to life, which is the whole point and purpose for learning to speak another language.  My hope is that this shift in learning will give people a chance to continue using what they learned in school in the real world and that I will stop hearing, "I took __ (insert language) for 5 years and don't remember anything."

Could I go Paperless?

I'm not sure. I like the idea of reducing the amount of paper we use, making connections with others and tapping into the resources available to create a richer product.  I'm intrigued by the ideas presented in the article by Beshkin about a course offered without using paper.  I do see some pitfalls to relying entirely on books online.  For example, a few weeks ago many people in Pennsylvania spent almost a week without power due to a storm.  Although this was an unusual circumstance it does occasionally happen.  Here is a funny YouTube video (in Spanish) about the advantages of a good old paper book.

A paperless class would require different kinds of activities.  Integrating 21st century skills and utilizing Web 2.0 tools would create an environment where students play a more active role in their learning.  The teacher becomes a facilitator, guiding the students in their learning.  Learning can be measured in a variety of ways through projects, discussions, observations and still include tradition methods such as research papers that are submitted electronically.

This type of course lends itself well to building a network of online resources and connections.  I think the students today would embrace a paperless class because most things they do do not require paper.

Beshkin, A. (2000, November 20). General studies offers a paperless undergraduate class. Retrieved July 24, 2007, from Columbia University, Columbia University Record Web site:http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol26/vol26_iss10/
2610_Paperless_Course.html

Connect-Connecting-Connectivism

Last November I attended a conference about how we can better reach our students  by giving them access to learning 24/7.  We saw this video by Sir Ken Robinson that really stuck with me and impressed upon me the NEED to exchange our antiquated techniques for 21st century learning.

So we now know that we can obtain information at the click of a mouse through websites created by all walks of life- well at least the human ones:).  We are learning from each other.  The wiki created by group D supports using the term "Learning Theory".  The debate is about semantics; whether or not to use the word "theory".   Is that really what is important?  Isn't the idea that sharing, collaborating and the connections we make are a better way to learn?  Embrace the new and don't get bogged down with the terminology!

Wanna Skype?

This is the question I posed to my new friend Deborah.  Deborah and I met through the previously pls class I took.  We "teamed" up so to speak as we both posted our assignments early in the week and were able to comment, collaborate and complete our work before the weekend began.  It worked well with our busy schedules.  Since the class ended, we have continued to keep in touch via email.

So, a few weeks ago, during Module 3, she kindly offered to help me with my frustrating Pageflake fiasco.  I said, "YES PLEASE" and, "Do you wanna Skype?"  She said sure -(brave soul)- she's new to Skype. I set up one laptop with Skype and my other laptop to work on Pageflakes.  It took a few minutes for her to figure out that my settings were off and my page was finally ready to share.  I spent HOURS on this project by myself.  Two heads are much better than one. THANK YOU, Deborah!!

As an experienced "Skyper" I can say I'm a HUGE fan.  I Skype daily with my family from Europe to Tennessee.  Every Sunday morning my cousin sets up the laptop in Spain and we are able to talk face-to-face with my 91 year young grandmother and the rest of the familia.

On a professional level, I tried to use Skype to connect with a teacher in a neighboring district but my school blocks the site.  However, we did video conference using Elluminate and our students were able to talk to each other.  I hope to use it again so my students can speak to a native speaker via video conference.  It really makes them realize how cool it is to speak another language.

I think what I love most about video conferencing is that I enjoying talking to people.  I much prefer this to writing.  It may be due to my less than stellar typing skills but for me Skyping is the next best thing to hanging out with friends and family.

Facebook Podcast en Español

As I was exploring the podcasts in iTunes I found TONS of really cool files that would be great to use in the classroom.  I came across a series that is a conversation between 2 people made for students studying Spanish.   I chose a podcast about Facebook to use in class because I felt it would be interesting for teenagers due to the topic and the pace is perfect for my Spanish IV students.

I will have my students listen to the podcast by providing a link to it via this blog and also through my Fusion page.  The fusion page is what we use at school to communicate with parents and students.  There are worksheets that people can purchase as well as the transcripts of the dialogues.  I would need to preview some samples before deciding if it would be worthwhile to purchase.

After the students listen to the dialogue they will need to post a reaction on our class Edmodo page.  They will write what they liked best about it and what they did not enjoy.

Fenomenal Flickr Fotos

The possibilities are endless when it comes to creativity with digital photos.  I have been using Kodak Gallery (formerly Ofoto.com)  for the past 8 years to share pictures monthly with my family and friends.  I often use my own digital pictures in the classroom when I am teaching about a country I visited.  However, there are so many countries I have yet to explore and flickr is a great tool to bring to life those places, that I personally have not experienced first hand, like Machu Pichu, Peru.

Image Citation: Machu Pichu by cudinski. Retrieved November 8, 2011 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cudinski/290974450/lightbox/

Blog using Wikis 4-D-1

After having completed the assignment in the wiki, I can see many useful activities that would benefit from this type of collaboration.  This was my first experience with a wiki apart from the one time I did actually make a correction on Wikipedia. 

One activity, in particular, that I would like to try would be a class Chain Story in Spanish.  It would be an online version of passing a paper around the room and adding a sentence to create a fun story.  This would help students practice connecting words, using synonyms and editing grammar.  I think it would be a nice method to use a particular set of vocabulary words in context to create meaningful communication.

Where do we fit?

As a language teacher, I feel my department is constantly struggling to fit "in".  We seem to be caught in the middle between required courses and electives.  Students are required to take 2 years of a foreign language in High School if they are planning to attend college.  Sometimes we are considered to be a core subject because the grades earned in language courses count toward the GPA and the courses are weighted as College Prep, Honors and Advanced Placement.  However, there is no language requirement for graduation.  

In other countries, the children begin to study English at an early age.  Why is it that my district only begins to offer foreign language in 7th grade?  Research shows that learning a foreign language improves critical thinking skills and creativity.   Students also generally score higher on standardized tests and perform better in other subjects.  The study of a world language and culture prepares students to compete in a global society and provides them with insight into the diverse and complex world in which we live.

Technology is bringing the world closer together.  We can Skype with friends and family around the world, send messages instantly circumventing the globe and yet we don’t see how important it is to learn another language.  It is just an “extra”.  So my question is: Is English enough?  Wouldn’t studying another language help us compete in this global society?   What skills do you feel are necessary for our kids to have as the world becomes a smaller place?