Learner Autonomy

Hello everybody,

Moving from a teacher-centered class to a student-centered class is inevitable now. We have to create the motivation inside our students to be independent learners.
Here is my reflection folowed by my own plan on AUTONOMY:

I read the articles mentioned. A lot of definitions are given for “Autonomy”, but a simple definition is “the ability to take charge of one's learning, teacherless Learning”. I got through the Autonomy’s phases and the main seven attributes of an autonomous learner. I read the three dominant philosophies of learning.
The articles mentioned the conditions needed for learning autonomy: cognitive and metacognitive strategies on the part of the learner, motivation, attitudes, and knowledge about language learning.
The teacher’s role is stressed: Teachers have a crucial role to play in launching learners into self-access and in lending them a regular helping hand to stay afloat.
How Can Learner Autonomy be promoted?
The articles mentioned some strategies:
1. Self-reports
2. Diaries and Evaluation Sheets
3. Persuasive Communication as a Means of Altering Learner Beliefs and Attitudes

My own ideas to encourage greater autonomy in students:

1. Teaching students different learning strategies and study strategies that suit their learning Styles.
2. Enhancing their receptive skills (listening and understanding different English dialects, reading; scanning, skimming…)
3. Enhancing writing skills; summarizing, writing reports, letters, essays, reviews…etc
4. Enhancing critical/creative thinking, problem solving skills
5. Helping get the skills of self-evaluation and evaluating the work of others
6. Guiding students to different resources

Helping students to promote Autonomy using technology across the course:

1. Giving students “the tip of the day/ week” in using technology
2. Internet Search skills
3. Creating and using blogs, WebQuests, groups, websites…etc
4. Recommending useful learning sites from time to time
5. Giving them tasks, which are basic parts of the course, as homework
6. Personalizing part of the course
7. Giving positive feedback to autonomous learners’ activities.

All the best

Ahmed Khattab

One-Computer Class

Hello everybody,
Technology cannot do everything on its own. Technology gives the desired results with the help of good techniques and strategies in addition to low-tech aids. We must never forget setting clear learning objectives and an alternative method of assessment. One computer in a class is not too few. It is a magic box for endless varied resources.Great results do not come at the first class. Things need time and gradual until all the audience get used to the trend in leaning/teaching situation.

Here is my own "One-Computer Class" Plan. Your Comments are so welcomed.

Lesson Title: How do they see their country?
Level: 11 (2nd Year Secondary School)
Time allowed: 50 minutes
Learning Objectives:
Listening to (an audio-clip of) four Londoners Speaking about London transport, buildings, Cost of living and landmarks, students answer different exercises and distinguish the “for” and “against” opinions with 90% accuracy.
Teaching aids: Computer with PowerPoint, data-show, Textbook, Blackboard, pictures, Cards
Class Setting: Students sit in six groups, six students in each group.
Warm up:
Giving each group one card with about four questions and the number of a certain picture. Students Look at the numbered pictures on PowerPoint slides. They answer the questions on the cards.
Listening:
Using WMP (Windows Media Player) the teacher plays the audio-clip (Listening Text). Students listen to the text three times. After each time of listening, students are given time to answer one type of exercises on the textbook. Exercises are graded in difficulty. Checking and discussing the answers orally.
Further Practice 1:
Using PowerPoint, the teacher slide-shows 6 pictures about landmarks, ancient sites, transport, traditional uniform, modern cities and famous Egyptians. Each group will choose one picture. They express their opinion in the content the same as the four Londoners did in the listening text. The other groups can ask questions and discuss points.
Further Practice 2:
In turn, groups will come to the computer (without data-show) to get through an interactive activity while the other groups do the exercises in Workbook.
Homework:
Groups design a brief interactive PPT on the picture they have chosen in “Further Practice 1”.
Assessment:
A special rubric is designed to assess listening, oral discussion, critical thinking and collaborative work. Each group will have a copy inside their own folder with their weekly gradation and marks.

The following link is very useful:
http://www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic84.htm

Best Regards

Ahmed Khattab

Technology in Teaching Large Classes

Hello everyone
I learned different techniques on teaching large classes: variety, pace, interest, individualization, setting up routines, speaking styles, enlarging the circle, collaboration. I also learned some techniques and tools in using Technology in Teaching Large Classes: learning quality, just-in-time teaching, in-class activities, out-of-class group exercises, classroom communication system; PowerPoint, Mailing List, Online MCQ, The use of WWW reviews, Virtual resources sites. I learned not to use the textbook only, but also making learning related to what students like to encourage them to find what their interests are.
The technique that suits my students in Project-based Learning is “Removing technology from class”. This make students concentrate and work better. Using technology will be in the form of out-of-class activities, launching a new project...etc.

Nice techniques and technological tools would not help a teacher teaching in large classes without other tools. A teacher has to have a strong character controlling his class and introducing his techniques. The school administrative staff has to help and support the teacher especially dealing with trouble-makers and rude students. A teacher cannot get good results without the whole society adopting the same methods, trends, attitudes...etc
All the best
Ahmed Khattab

Interactive PowerPoint Show

Hello everybody,

I created my interactive PowerPoint Show. It is about organic and non-organic food. It covers four stages of the lesson: warm-up,reading, debate, homework. I used hyperlinks for the reading stage.

I hope you will like it.You can find it in this link:
https://sites.google.com/site/webskillsw10/powerpoint_files/AhmedKhattab.rar?attredirects=0&d=1

All the best

Ahmed Khattab

Possible Uses for PowerPoint in Classes

Hello everybody,
Although I can use PowerPoint very well, as teaching tool, I have learned a lot by reading the different sources recommended (hot keys, shortcuts, the audience needs and characteristics, goals and handouts, when and how to talk, when to address seeing and hearing, using mixture of media…etc). I think I can do a lot with PowerPoint to get my students engaged all the time and during all the stages of the lesson:
1. Warm up: graphic images or pictures may be used. Groups look and comment, or look and answer questions, look and solve the problem given…etc

2. Main Points: Using a certain technique, like questioning technique, with the help of different media that address different senses and learning Styles, the main points of the lesson can be handled. Students anticipate, ask, answer, speak, discuss, draw, write, listen, conclude, present…etc

3. Application Activity: Giving a model sample (using text, pictures, vide-clips, web-links…) of the application Activity for the Students before doing the activity individually, in pairs or in groups. I think this helps Students know what is expected from them and how their work will be assessed.

4. Wrap up: Using images or other graphics to help students recall what has been taught. Other techniques can be used (True/False, close test, fill in the gaps, correct the mistakes, fill in the gaps, label the figure…etc).

5. Homework: Homework technique can vary to suit the material taught. Using text, Video-clips, web-links, WebQuests, Online Discussing Groups…etc homework can be assigned. Students can be asked to present their homework as a PowerPoint presentation.

In my opinion, PowerPoint is a magic tool to teaching aids.

All the best

Ahmed Khattab

Enhancing Learning by Engaging Students

Hello everybody,

I think "Online Discussion Groups" will suit my students as a technique to get them involved. The advantages of Online Discussion Groups are:
1. Students feel they have a community of their own
2. There is no face to face observation and this gives students enough freedom to get involved and be natural, creative, to share and care
3. the moderator can direct the discussion all the time to be on the desired track
4. this technique basically uses e-mails to send, receive and subscribe. so, it enhances the use of technology and multimedia and the skills required.
5. Files are allowed in different format
6. Having different intelligences, skills and learning styles, students can benefit from each other and help one another
7. Students can work at ease, at any time or anyplace
8. students can use an endless resources from the internet
9. An online discussion rubric can be used for evaluation or assessment

All the best

Ahmed Khattab

A Rubric about "Online Discussion"

Hello everybody,
As we learn this course online and we learn how to make

learning community online, I decided to create my Rubric

online. My Rubric is about "Online Discussion".I

customized a rubric I read and added some rows to suit

my students. I also customized the language used.I created an online rubric on this wonderful site:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Best wishes
Ahmed Khattab