Saturday, February 28, 2015

Week 7 Prompt

Post # 1

Building and Refining your PLN

Using a blog as a web 2.0 tool is very rewarding. Participants in blogs can responds to posts, comments, discuss, and use forums. Blogs can be an ideal example of a collaborative and engaging learning.  After searching blogs I found some good inspiring ones, although Arabic K-12 field is still growing in the U.S.A and needs a lot of attentions and efforts from educators and executives. I usually search other contents and convert or get ideas to build Arabic curricula with perspective of the differences. 

These are the blogs that I discovered and subscribed:
First blog:
           This blog has many good resources for the Arabic and Chines contents. NOVA STARTALK is a summer institute in its third year designed to help teachers integrate technology tools and 21st century language pedagogy in the Arabic and Chinese curricula. Arabic and Chinese teachers in each language will create a collection of activities to expand the curriculum presently in place.
Second:
This blog provides programs and Apps that are used in teaching foreign languages. It is a door of many other blogs as well, and a source of information.
Third:
This blog has a flipped classroom method assignment. I can use many of these links in my classroom.
Fourth:
These blogs are good resources to use for the Arabic content.
This blog is a good resource for Arabic and Indian contents.
Sixth:
This blog lists some of the more interesting blogs from or about the Arab countries. This content is for 8-16 Grade level.
Seventh:
This blog has games and fun activities for Arabic content.

Utilizing Twitter
I can see the fruits of learning the materials of this course already. I have installed twitter since 2011 and never felt comfortable to use it, but I do now! I fetched and found 10s of useful links and documents that I can use in my content Arabic/technology.

Mr. Fadi, is an Arabic instructor, which I have met with him in several workshops, he is active and loves what he is doing. We have lots of common interests.

Mr. Gregor is an Arabic program officer at Qatar Foundation International. I have met with him at ACTFL convention of 2014. He organize Arabic workshops and so.

Madison Marks, is an Arabic Associated in QFI, I have met with her in previous conventions.

Al-Masdar organization, helps Arabic language professionals and students to effectively locate needed resources, and create communities of practice around open resources.

Al-Jazeerah, a news media that focuses on stories about real people. They tell the human story.

Teachers 2.0, is a collection of teachers sharing resources to help prepare students for the digital age.
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Top ten tips for using technology in the classroom and more.......
http://www.boxoftricks.net/tag/ict/page/2/


 Web 2.0 Tools For Teachers
http://www.teachertube.com/video/web-20-tools-for-teachers-59703





An example of teaching with web 2.0 technologies: Twitter, wikis & blogs - Case study






Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Unit 2 Prompt



The article of “I’ll see you on Facebook” was interesting, although that particular social networking applies to college students only. I have learned from school administrations that teachers of (k-12) are not allowed to have any of their students or their parents on their Facebook unless if they have them before he/she was hired in the district. Moreover, it is recommended if the teacher (k-12) does not have a public Facebook. I agreed with this empirical studies, although it was very limited on one gender and young age of instructor. Further research is needed. The outcome of this that social networking is highly important between the Instructor and his/her students and between the students amongst themselves. Facebook is believed to be one of the Web 2.0 tools because of the interactions between users.
I have taught Arabic grade level (k-12), ESL (k-5th) and designed an Arabic Curriculum for grades (6th-8th). I substitute right now until the end of this academic year (hopefully).
I always wanted to create units and lessons that melded 21st century goals to produce Technology Pedagogical Content knowledge (TPACK). The more I learn about technology the more I redefine my teaching and designing methodologies.

I have used many of the Web 2.0 tools, but after class IT6140 I learned that the same web tool can be used as a modification or a substitution, therefore it is important to make sure that you are using the Web 2.0 tool into its potential to transform the students’ level to help them make a difference.
Example of each (S, A, M, and R) from my current or future work situation:
Substitution    : like using the overhead or the smart board to read a lesson. I have recorded my lessons on screencasts to help enhance the comprehension, reading and listening skills.  The traditional way is to read off a book.
Augmentation: like using quizlet to answer questions; the good thing about it that it gives an immediate feedback, but the traditional way will be using paper and pen which takes a longer time to get the feedback.
Modification   : I have used the flipped classroom methodology to summarize a unit review (students are the centric of learning). The classroom time was for evaluation and feedback. The traditional way is to lecture the students (teacher is the centric of the learning process).   
Redefinition    :  I have used skype in my classroom to communicate with a native speakers of the target language. The students have interacted with the native speaker guest through exchanging information. This link is an example in the classroom when I was a student teacher.
  http://education.kera.org/north-texas-students-learn-arabic-in-morocco-virtually/

I am looking forward to trying (drop.io). It provides you with a full features drop box for storing your digital media,  and you can also upload your voice mail to the cell phone, record it, drop it the box and share it with your students, you can even share what the students recorded in the drop cast which will turn it into iTupe and they they can listen to it when ever they want and you may share it with parents as well .
I think this is just so great idea to Foreign language teachers. (phone.io) is the sister of (drop.io) except it focuses on the phone features.