Dear colleagues;
Due to the fact that we need to be as updated as possible, this is the first of four online discussions that we are going to build together. The idea is to read the texts that were previously assigned by the facilitator and enrich the learning process. Your professional participation is highly appreciated. It is your responsibility to read the material carefully and go beyond the anthology if you require more information.
The assigned readings for this week are: "No Light at the End of Tunnel Vision: Steps for Improving Lesson Plans" (pages 17 to 29) and "Defining the Difference: Comparing Integrated and Traditional Single-Subject Lessons" (pages 31 to 37)
When posting your participation, you have to mention the readings separetely in one entrance: you just type the title of the reading, and then, your comment. If you need to quote or use external references , it is a must to follow the APA style.
The deadline to post your comments is Wednesday, October 3rd, so you can reply to the others' comments on Thrusday and Friday.
It is a pleasure to meet you all.
first reading
ResponderEliminarIn the article, there are key points we have to consider such as: first of all, that we as tt have to be updated; the problem on this topic is that most of the time we just got our professional title and it is even worse if we get our tenure because we forget about updating our knowledge or being in touch with other professionals to keep on with the new trends. Another aspect to consider is the fact of having students with different learning styles in our classrooms (for example do they learn better in groups or by doing or do they learn better by seeing or hearing), but the problem in this aspect is that tt do not plan for their student´s strengths, instead we plan according to what is the best and the easiest way for us, ignoring the fact of individualized education. Individualized education not only means to consider students with special needs in order to help them improve their knowledge, it also means to take into consideration contexts and cultural aspects of the community where I´m working. It is also to consider the setting (classroom facilities and even external factors), and the amount of lessons you can use to develop an specific topic.
Now to conclude with my comment, I would like to point out about the fact of developing communicative English classes and applying the constructivism approach to have our students learning better and more rapidly. We as professionals have to encourage our ss to be motivated in the classroom and with this our learners are going to be more creative, they are going to work harder and they are going to develop critical thinking skills which are three aspects that are trivial in the learning process. (EDI)
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
ResponderEliminarFor having good results in the learning process there are some aspects we have to consider. For example, to implement an integrated curriculum in our teaching process. Some of the advantages of doing this are: First of all, students can establish a connection between their prior knowledge with the new concepts they are going to learn and of course this makes the process of learning faster and easier. The second aspect to take into consideration is that with this new model we as TT are exposing our learners to real-life situations or experiences, this means to have a meaningful learning process for them. Finally, our jobs as TT is to plan and develop SS centered-classes in which our job consists on guiding them in the process, giving them a lot of opportunities to lead and construct their learning and we are also creating a collaborative learning environment. (Encouraging team-working habits)
The fact of having to face new educational challenges in which, teachers have to change their way and style of teaching is not only a challenge but a real good way to improve the quality of the learning process itself. I really believe that by implementing this integrated curriculum approach in the classrooms, we are creating a meaningful learning environment for students, and a pleasant experience for educators. (Edi)
No Light at the End of Tunnel Vision: Steps for Improving Lesson Plans
ResponderEliminarAfter reading this article and analyzing it, I got to the conclusion that I had to share about this specific topic because this is the first time I read about it.
Are your students global or analytic learners?
We are now learning that teachers should be challenged to develop a plan and motivate the learner in different approaches depending on the learner’s receptive capabilities and type of learner.
After learning about the differences between global and analytic learners through the reading, I started to investigate more and I found this example which helped me to visualize the concept better.
“Global learners need to see the whole picture before they can focus in on the details presented to them. Often, they need to see pictures and to connect new information with facts they already know. There has to be a reason for them to learn the new information. For instance, when putting a bicycle together, first they may examine what the finished product will look like and how it will work. Globals may even begin to put the project together without following the written sequence of steps. Analytics, on the other hand, tend to go one step at a time. They look at each discrete piece of information, absorb it and then move on to the next step. These people would take the same project the global learner has to complete and attack it from a different perspective.
They may take all the materials out of the package and begin by looking only at the
pieces needed for step one. Once that was completed they would move on to the next step, proceeding in a sequentially organized manner. Globals look at the whole project while analytics examine it in small steps. Each of the learners completes that same task but approaches it in a different manner. Neither way is better – each way is best for that person.” (Klavis and Stephenson, 1996)
After reading this, I started to think, what type of learner am I? It is definitely important for us as teachers to find that out first and then we will have to make the decision to start taking it into account when we design our lesson plans. Are our students global or analytic learners?
Graciela Arguedas
READING 1 No Light at the end of tunnel vission: steps for improving lessons plans
ResponderEliminarI can understand through this reading that a lesson plan is the teacher’s road map of what students need to learn and how it will be done effectively during the class time. Before I plan my lesson, I will first need to identify the learning objectives for the class meeting. Then, I can design appropriate learning activities and develop strategies to obtain feedback on student learning.
That´s why I consider that to be effective, the lesson plan does not have to be an exhaustive document that describes each and every possible classroom scenario. Instead, it should provide me with a general outline of teaching goals, learning objectives, and means to accomplish them. It is a reminder of what I want to do and how I want to do it. A productive lesson is not one in which everything goes exactly as planned, but one in which both students and teacher learn from each other.
READING #2: DEFFINING THE DIFFERENCE: COMPARING INTEGRATED AND TRADITIONAL SINGLE SUBJECT LESSONS.
This reading shows some differences in intent are apparent. I understand, however, that the educators who actually implement integrated approaches are the same educators who are interested in the most effective ways to teach. They are the ones who constantly ask, “How can I engage all of my students in this learning?” They also are the ones who use the most effective planning strategies, such as a backward design process, and are concerned with authentic assessment practices. Therefore, despite some differences in the degree and the intent of integration, the three approaches share many similarities. The centrality of standards and the need for accountability bring the three approaches closer together in practice.
Interdisciplinary approaches offer an excellent fit for standards when we as educators approach them through a backward design process. Although teachers might organize transdisciplinary curriculum around a real-world context, the reality of covering the standards and grading in distinct subject areas quickly brings them back to the disciplines.
That´s why I ask me, when students spend after-school time participating in a society that reflects the roles of real life, will their test scores in math and reading improve?
Thanks!!! Ana Beatriz Jimenez
Defining the Difference: Comparing Integrated and Traditional Single-Subject Lessons
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion, every method in teaching is the same for they deliver the same message to the students. Therefore there are pros and cons in every teaching method.
The pros for traditional methods are that teaches encounter too much of responsibilities for teaching in the classroom to make sure everything they think is understood by the student. Thus it is a good method, where there is efficient communication between teacher and students. There is also the typical way and a controllable class where the teacher teaches on the blackboard, explains, asks students to copy and makes sure students pay attention and listen. Besides that, the traditional way in disciplining students in school and teaching them is an effective way in building a good characteristic student where he respects the teacher.
There are also cons to the traditional method way where students are too afraid to ask their teacher questions. Thus students get bored of the same way of teaching method done by the teacher and listening to the teacher talk while they sit down in class and heat up their chairs.
On the other hand, the pros of the integrated method in teaching help a lot where there is a centered classroom which is created by the teacher and accepted by the students.
Integrated curriculum supports meaningful learning because of personal and interdisciplinary connections. Therefore, students even have a bonding relationship with their teacher to be their friend so that they can share their problems to the teacher without being afraid.
As for the cons of the integrated method of teaching students become too independent where they think they don’t need guidance from anybody because they think they can accomplish anything by themselves. Thus students also begin to be too comfortable with their teacher as their friend in school and forget their responsibilities and respect over the teacher.
Lastly, I feel that integrated and traditional teaching methods should be balanced because they both bring good intentions in educating a person for the better future of everyone. Thus it sends out the same message even in different ways but being yet useful.
Gracie I totally agree with your comment because it is well known that making a balanced between what you are doing and what you will do is the best way to improve our teaching process. it is not just to throw away what you have been doing for years and adapt a new approach. instead, it is a matter of taking the best of both and implement these new trends and aspects in our classrooms.
ResponderEliminarJenny Porras Vargas
ResponderEliminarNOT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL VISION
While I was reading this article, I really understood that planning is really important in our daily classroom, because that gives you the security to teach a topic and improve as a professional. We have to consider that we have to use different kind of strategies in our planning, because we have different students and they learn in a different way, most of them are visual, others are more kinesthetic. Others learn in a context; that why we have to be creative while we a preparing our planning. Furthermore we have to pay attention with students with special needs because they need more attention to encourage to learn a language also using strategies like work in groups or in pairs gives students security to participate and acquire a language
In conclusion we as a teacher we have to different kind of strategies to create a nice atmosphere in our classroom and the students do not fell frustrated to acquire a language
SECOND READING COMPARING INTEGRATED AND TRADITIONAL SINGLE SUBJECT LESSON
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion every single method of teaching is really important, but it is depending on how we teach it. The role of the teacher is being a facilitator offering choices and giving prices to the students. Using different types of approaching like communication and interaction with the students is really important in the classroom to integrate students to acquire a language. Teacher has to be creative, for example, in the article the authors Lim 2004, p.117 refers “when children are given abundant materials, they are more capable of developing complex artistic skills, which are necessary for higher symbolic expression”; Learning by doing is a nice strategy to our students to acquire a language and integrate student in a curricula, also the motivation is a powerful key to follow their goal more effectively and acquire confidence. My goal as a teacher is to motivate and inspire students to pursue English as a second language and to create interactive classroom environment that supports effective learning.
"Defining the difference: Comparing integrated and traditional single subject lessons".
ResponderEliminarI think that integrated curriculum approach is successful in making students more aware of content area connections, providing a learning environment also supporting academic and social needs. We're gonna see more positive attitudes about themselves and school. It's important to provide them new opportunities to work together, it will be a valuable innovation. When curriculum is integrated, material is connected in the way in which it exists around us and throughout the world. Another important aspect is that we are going to see better results in the student's learning process.
Maria Laura Calvo
Steps for improving leson plans.
ResponderEliminarFirst reading
Lesson plans can play a vital role in the teaching process. It gives the teacher an effective guide whilst handing out the lessons to the students and pupils. It helps use resources and time with efficacy and efficiency. And last but not the least it provides the much needed preparation which is essential, for it is not advisable to enter the classroom not prepared.
It is important to know that not all the students learn in the same way and that the multiple intelligences allows students to realize their strengths in learning and gives teachers the opportunity to understand the dynamics of the classroom.
Maria Laura Calvo
Reading 1: "No light at the end of the tunnel vision"
ResponderEliminarI really liked both readings. I think that teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, disciline and classroom management techniques and a desire to make a difference in lives of young people. our commitment as educators is to be a facilitator and provide the right tools to our students during their learning process and likewise integrate the topics covered in class in order to obtain better academic results. Beyond developing a lesson plan, it´s important to put into practice what we write, and motivate our students; taking into account the different learning styles.
Through a lesson plan, we must give to our students a clear idea of what they´ll be learning, to present the lessons in a clear and structured way.
Ana Catalina Calvo
SECOND READING: COMPARING INTEGRATED AND TRADITIONAL SINGLE SUBJECT LESSON
ResponderEliminarIntegrating subject matters, concepts, and skills, we can not only cover everything we need to, but also help our students make important connections.
Moreover, our students feel motivated, they help each other and at the same time they receive feedback.
Through an integrated curriculum, the learning process is more meaningful and this is what our children and teenagers need.
Structure is another important aspect. It is a fundamental part of school because structure provides security to students when they know what to expect, especially in the early elementary levels.
Ana Catalina Calvo
First Reading:
ResponderEliminarNo Light at the End of Tunnel Vision: Steps for Improving Lessons Plans
It is very preeminent to point out that we as teachers must bear in mind different aspects and issues when planning our lessons; for instance: instruction itself, individualization, multiple intelligences, students 'needs, pupils' learning styles, analysis of the context and consideration of the impact of contextual factors, the selection and preparation of teaching materials, provision for and maintenance of effective teaching, and so forth. Therefore, these elements constitute a set of interrelated elements, and their nature and function allow educators to improve the teaching-learning process within and outside the classroom.
Teachers should examine the processes of planning development in order to avoid teaching conventionally and acquaint language learners with fundamental tools to "survive" in their life. Notwithstanding, planning is an essential practical activity since it seeks to improve the quality of language teaching through the use of systematic and pedagogical strategies, development, and review practices in all aspects of a language program.
To sum up, quality education cannot simply be assumed to happen. It results from an active, ongoing effort on the part of teachers to ensure that good planning practices are being developed. Thus, I do deem that a teacher cannot be able to teach without his lesson plan. It can be tedious on the part of the teachers especially when it is done for the first time; however, lesson plans are actually very essential in inculcating pupils' necessary skills, knowledge, and wisdom they need.
Written by: Jorge Paniagua Vargas
María Laura Brenes Mata
ResponderEliminarIn regards to the first reading "No Light at the End of Tunnel Vision: Steps for Improving Lessons Plans", I consider that it is strictly necessary to take into account very important aspects and elements when preparing a lesson plan, for example the different learning styles of the students, the motivation, and unique characteristics of each learner.
Additionally, if teachers prepare a complete and organized lesson plan, this is going to help for sure to improve the learning and acquisition of knowledge of not only the students, but also of the teacher.
In other words, a lesson plan has to provide a guideline for the teacher, as a way to accomplish goals and objectives. It is a reciprocal process of learning because in this way, teachers are following an organized outline in order to carry out a class in the best way, and the students are learning throughout a well- prepared document that intends to guide them to the ultimate goal of teaching: to learn.
María Laura Brenes Mata
ResponderEliminarIn regards to the second reading "Defining the difference: Comparing integrated and traditional single subject lessons", I agree about the fact that applying an integrated curriculum approach will be helpful in order
make students to be involved during the development of the class.
Also, another important aspect is to take into account the element of motivation using strategies that make feel them integrated not only with the subject matter, but also, with the teacher and the rest of the students.
If students consider that they are part of the class, there is a big possibility to improve the process of learning as well as their academic development. In conclusion, if students are highly motivated and they feel they belong to the class, all the people involved in the process of learning are going to experience positive attitudes as well as positive results in the related field.
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ResponderEliminarSecond Reading:
ResponderEliminarDefining the Difference: Comparing Integrated and Traditional Single-Subject Lessons
The term curriculum refers to a very broad field of inquiry that deals with what happens in schools and other educational institutions. Curriculum is all those activities in which learners engage under the auspices of the school. This includes not only what pupils learn, but how they learn it, how teacher help them learn, using what supporting materials, styles, and methods of assessment and in what kind of facilities. Hence, a curriculum describes the major elements that will be used in planning a language course and provides the basis for its instructional focus and content.
In numerous classrooms of today, students learn bits and pieces of knowledge, and too many leave formal education with little idea of how to apply to real life what they have learned for 12 or 13 years in their school life. Furthermore, students tend to be passive recipients of the knowledge handed down by teachers, rather than active seekers of problems to be solved. This state of affairs is often blamed on the division of the curriculum into separate subject-matter areas and the lack of real-life problems and issues that are dealt with in the classroom.
When talking about an integrated curriculum, I would state that it is an approach to curriculum that will help students draw on their school-learning when facing up many everyday dares. The term curriculum traditionally refers to the teaching content in one subject area. Nevertheless, I do reckon that an integrated curriculum, in a nutshell, refers to the fusion of knowledge from different disciplines; the approach to learning and teaching from a variety of world-views, strategies, and resources; and the tapping of real-life situations for problem solving, and critical thinking in the classroom. Likewise, according to Oberholtzer (1937), "Education has the task of setting up programs so that the child may and will develop the ability to answer intelligently and faces courageously certain life problems with some skills in finding possible solutions” (p.15).
In short, the adoption of an integrated curriculum demands methodical understanding of the approach. However, only by using an integrated curriculum approach for an extended period of time and working through the problems, the approach can be perfected and successful. Accordingly, an integrated curriculum holds much promise for raising students who will be able to apply their school-acquired knowledge to their work, to their personal development, and to their life in general.
Written by: Jorge Paniagua Vargas
Being a teacher is not an easy job and trying to figure out what our students need it´s even more difficult. That is why we as teachers must be updated bringing new techniques in our class in order to fullfill our students learning.
ResponderEliminarI have seen how students have lost their interest in their own learning process and it is a shame and that makes me think how or why it changed? Because if we go back to their first formal learning experience as in preschool education we can see how the students learn in an easy way using different kinds of activities and giving them hands on material, relia and using integrated curriculum.
As teachers we should go back and analyze what did we have lost on the way to primary or high school? why those activities worked before and now that we have different structures on the class students get lost?
A teacher is not only a person who waits for people in a classroom, writing on a board, or hides behind books, a great teacher should be a person that inspires and touches people´s hearts with love, respect and authority and help people become better human beings. A great teacher should not have limits to teach only what a program or a syllabus develops, but also we have to teach values, attitudes, how to solve problems and get our students engage and participate in their own learning process for the rest of their lives.
Teaching is a special calling. It is not a profession well-suited to everyone.That is why we must love what we do and try to find workshops and develop our teaching performance in the best way, as we do with our lesson planning in order to have everything ready and take activities to involve our students into a cooperative learning process and help them become proactive students with a high level of proficiency taking into account teachers and students real life experiences in order to have a meaningful learning.
In order to reach this goals we as teachers should never forget to plan student center lessons instead of teacher centered classes and let the teachers become guides and facilitators because our main rol is to be role models
Now, after reading what Maria B thinks about planning. I would like to add the fact that: when we as teachers prepared our lesson plans, it is a must to consider how to teach learners how to learn. It means to booster their confidence, to increase their motivation and organizing an appropriate learning environment. We have to seek to make sense of the learning process. A crucial aspect for me is “ in my class I have to plan to teach as a whole but making questions and activities to keep all the students doing the same thing, understanding at their own pace and learn by using their abilities ”
ResponderEliminarAfter reading some of my classmates' comments, it is necessary to state that an integrated curriculum would be more meaningful and functional for every single person immersed in the teaching- learning process (teachers, students, parents, and the like.) Furthermore, most of them concluded that planning is a very relevant tool when teaching. I do agree with that!
ResponderEliminarEducation should be a part of everyone's life. A high-quality education offers opportunities for all and sundry. That is to say, education is the most outstanding resource citizens have in order to improve and strengthen our lives and humankind as a whole. I do deem that the overall purpose of education is to prepare both present and future generations.
Costa Rican educators, as all educators around the whole world, have to deal with many vital functions within the teaching-learning process, for instance: planning, giving tests, grades homework, talking to parents, helping with after school activities, and so on. Assuming that the teaching-learning process is a social task for both present and future times, all of us should not delay our efforts to improve this process. It seems to me that the ultimate purpose of the different components of our educational policies is focused on the intellectual development of students. Although this may sound unreal, it is something that Costa Rican educators have to bear in mind when teaching. In other words, both students and teachers have just become a number in a system that responds more to international economical policies than to real needs.
Our students are "desperate" for learning, but we must know how to handle their needs to their real-world life. That is why, an integrated curriculum and planning have a preeminent role in the teaching-learning process. Both elements should be part of our educational system to improve this process within the classroom and "prepare" our future citizens to succeed in life.
After reading some of my collegues' comments I Strogly agree with Maria Laura brenes because integrated curricula make students more confidence to participate in the classroom also using positive attitudes about themselves in the school, that is part of motivation according as I read :)
ResponderEliminarI agree with all the comments but I really liked the point of view of Maricruz because the work of a teacher is not easy, we have a very important job that is the future of our students. However I believe that this work would be easier if teachers think a bit on what is best for each student, not a program fulfill.
ResponderEliminarOur job is to meet all expectations considering motivation, be not only instructors but facilitators. It is important to always work in teams of teachers to sustain and support each student.
We have to recognize the value and worth of each student and try to understand their perspectives. Finally I think that we have to treat our students with respect and thus earn the respect of them as well.
My Comment:
ResponderEliminarI personally think all my classmates have already shared very good comments about the most important aspects of the readings. Furthermore, I would like to give emphasis to what I consider essential in every teaching process. Maria Laura Brenes mentioned it “the element of motivation”.
We need motivation to become teachers. We need motivation to make our plans. We need motivation to teach. We need motivation to read and investigate about all these topics and to apply the best of everything we learn to improve our teaching. To enhance this I am sharing some ideas that would help to keep us motivated! One of them is being recognized as a teacher, not only financially but also professionally speaking.
Not being too overloaded is also crucial and this has to do with payment. If we got decent wages, we wouldn´t have to work that hard, like most of us do in our country to survive!
Having some time off to relax and do other things can be extremely enriching and motivational as well! Students´ interest might also contribute to our motivation. Students’ energy does play an important part in our motivation!
I also believe that to be open to accept the new is essential. I feel really motivated when I´m learning new things. But then we need to be given the space to do so. Some teachers are so loaded that when they come back home they just want to sleep!
Flexibility and openness to the new also keep me motivated. When preparing a class I try to picture myself as a student and ask if I would enjoy it. If not, I would throw my plan away and start from scratch! Would you guys do the same thing? I finally think this course is going to help us to get the courage to do so. We are going to learn how to plan our lessons and do our teaching with motivation!
Talking about the first reading lesson plan prepares a lot of importance and benefit to the teachers and learners. First, lesson plan shows the importance in teacher parts. Mostly, we use the lesson plan as our guide to teach the same subject or topic for a presentation. As a result, it keeps them on track to accomplish the objectives. For instance, we must do arrangement the contents in logically order to make lesson go in sequence. Something that calls my attention is that when we are planning our lesson,we have to take our students' learning abilities, attention spans, best method of learning and strengths and weaknesses into consideration. Many students learn through lectures and can maintain a good amount of concentration, while others require a more hands-on learning approach.
ResponderEliminarFirst reading:
ResponderEliminarLesson planning is important because it gives the teacher a concrete direction of what she/he wants to take up for a day also the teacher will be more prepared and confident while teaching the lesson. Another important aspect is that if you plan your lessons thinking about what do they really need, the students will appreciate your work as a model of well organized work to imitate. Finally remember that our students perceive how we feel and especially if we enjoy what we do, if so I'm totally sure that learning will be productive.
Second reading:
ResponderEliminarIntegrating the four skills can help a teacher create a relaxed atmosphere in his or her class. The combination of activities involving different skills enhances the focus on realistic communication, which makes the students be more motivated and more involved and engaged enthusiastically in classroom activities.
I think it is necessary and important to integrate the skills to achieve meaningful learning, taking into account that not all students learn in the same way so there will be collaboration between them and motivation.
There are some things in which I totally agree with what Catalina mentioned in her comment; for example, I strongly believe in this phrase “Real success in English teaching and learning is when the learner can actually communicate in English inside and outside the classroom”. As a matter of fact, we have to teach our students not only to be able to solve an exam and get a very good grade; it is a must to teach our students and give them tools to be able to go outside the school building and they can be able to face real-world situations. It is to prepare them for real life and not just for a test.
ResponderEliminarAnd the other aspect which really called my attention was when she mentioned that we as teachers sometimes focus on one specific skill and the other skills are ignored. Let´s remember that English is a whole and continuous process so we cannot teach just one skill in isolation. To achieve a good process and a meaningful learning we must teach a skill but complementing with the others.
Lesson Planning
ResponderEliminarThis first reading is a “dream come true”. This is exactly what all teachers need to grasp an idea on how to plan each lesson. I loved the way the author started the chapter writing his own objectives for it. It is through a real case and strategy how I personally learn. After I finished reading the article, I came back and analyzed if the author’s objectives were fulfilled. I have to say: “yes, they were”. I feel now much more prepared to use this information and to teach it to my teacher colleagues in our school. It was very useful for me to get these ideas through a format (outline) which explains the process step by step, on how the lesson should be planned. I learned the difference between goals and objectives. I loved the one, two, three listing. For squared structured minds like mine, it really works. The guidelines for lesson planning are very clear and they help you to have everything under control if a student “takes yourself off on a tangent”. I will definitely translate this article and use it in a very near future.
Assessing Oral Language.....
ResponderEliminarAccording to what I read and what I think about assessing on different skills, it is very important to expose our learners as much as possible to the target language. When we as teachers want to develop and teach listening and speaking skills, it is a must for us to give and maintain real-life contexts of language to make the process of learning more interesting and of course more appealing. Taking into consideration that there are several purposes for listening can help us to develop better learners and of course it is a must to expose learners to different sources in which the teacher is not going to be the only person students are going to listen to. Remember to consider different accents and pronunciations. Whenever our students are listening they are making associations between their prior knowledge to what they are listening to.
On the other hand, speaking involves a two way process because there is a turn taking role to express ideas or listen to the other person talking. Assessing speaking in the classroom becomes an easier task than assessing listening because you can hear your students and even gives feedback if necessary. Reading in our contexts, is the main goal for MEP´s policies. Students have to be able to read a text and answer questions about this text in order to get a good grade to approve a test. So the main goal is for comprehension purposes. But we have to struggle with some reading difficulties, that’s why I´d like to encourage my colleagues to teach first of all reading techniques to make the process of reading more appealing and easier for our students. And finally, it is a must to think about student´s prior knowledge on writing to make then establish a connection between what they know, and what are they go to learn. It is also a must to select appropriate writing assignments to challenge them (ZPD theory).
To conclude, let´s consider the appropriate rubric or evaluation strategy to measure student’s knowledge and even the way they are getting better in a specific period of time. Student´s needs, abilities a weaknesses are very important to consider when we are assessing students performance in class.
Integrating the “Four Skills”
ResponderEliminarFor many years in the past, second language teachers tried to teach the four skills separately. Nowadays, the tendency in a lesson is to integrate the four skills which are listening, reading, writing and speaking. Through this approach, the lesson pretends to model for the students the real life integration of the language skills and allows the teacher more flexibility to create interesting lessons. Good interaction in the class involves more than one skill for the students to be able to send and receive messages. If we want to teach our students written and oral language, all the skills should be reinforced. Actually, they reinforce each other. We learn to speak from what we hear, and to write from what we read. I personally liked all the models the article presents those which integrate the four skills. But definitely, the one that really called my attention was the Task-Based Language teaching because it organizes a course around the communicative tasks learners need to engage in outside of the classroom. It focuses on a whole set of real world tasks such as exchanging opinions, reading newspapers and menus, writing letters and e-mails. All this, without any doubts, involves all four tasks. I am very interested on investigating more about it and use it in our school’s curriculum.
Performance Assessment for English Language Learners
ResponderEliminarI found this very interesting because I think it is a clear humanistic view on how language can be approached. When people learn a second language, they obtain content knowledge, acquire skills, and develop habits as they practice the application of all three to “real world” situations. They fulfill this through the performance of tasks that are meaningful and engaging to them. According to the reading, English Language learners, play authentic performance-based assessment when they use natural language according to their levels of proficiency, work on projects that represent real-world experiences, and connect the language between the tasks and their lives and cultures.
While investigating on this topic, I found two charts which helped me get a better view of the difference between performance assessment and traditional testing. I learned that Performance-based learning and assessment are not a curriculum design. Meanwhile teachers decide what to teach, performance-based learning and assessment constitute a better way to deliver their curriculum. It was important for me to learn that teachers do not have to quit using units of study or favorite activities in a performance-based classroom because authentic tasks are rooted in curriculum, teachers can develop tasks based on what already works for them. If we did this, assignments would become more authentic and more meaningful to our students.
I can now explain that Traditional testing helps answer the question, “Do you know it?” and Performance assessment helps answer the question, “How well can you use what you know?” Through Traditional testing, students recall, identify, list and match. Through Performance assessment, students classify, compare, analyze, and evaluate. We need to visualize these two ways of looking at our students'literacy do not compete; the challenge is to find the right balance between them.
On the other hand, I agree with the fact that Rubrics as Traditional testing are important because they describe the goals for learning and identify the extent to which students have met them. Through our many years of experience, we have met many, many students who decide to quit our program because they do not like to be evaluated using rubrics. They usually drop school and go find some tutors. Right before they leave Costa Rica, they come back to get their formal fluency level results by taking the Oral Proficiency Interview with us. The results are fairly low. Too bad for them! Definitely, the learning process requires both, Performance Assessment and Traditional Testing. It is our job to find the perfect balance to get the best of it all.