Classes 2- 3: WebQuests

WebQuests

WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning, says workshop expert Bernie Dodge. This means it is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web. Beyond that, WebQuests:

• can be as short as a single class period or as long as a month-long unit;
• usually (though not always) involve group work, with division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives;
• are built around resources that are preselected by the teacher. Students spend their time USING information, not LOOKING for it.

Today we are going to try one of the WebQuests. Your assignment will be to complete a WebQuest about your learning style.Please read carefully and follow all the instructions in the following WebQuest http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=68399

Step 1 (this class):
Today you need to define a learning style that fits you, to help me place you into one of the groups that we'll get and to start working on the group part of the WebQuest.
Here are links to the personality tests: 1 , 2 (and you can also find your own tests to find out your learning styles)
Step 2 (the next class):
Your groups will have to make presentations during the next class.

GOOD LUCK!

CLASS 4: GOOGLE DOCS AND PRESENTATIONS

For the first task please follow the link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lY-9BB94w05w-sVpP0rrG-CRuFdTn5thr_bFZphZwxE/edit

After finishing the first task, please follow this link and choose a topic of your presentation by writing your first and second name in the appropriate column. You will work in groups of 2-3, so there should be the names of all group members next to the topic.

141

142

So for the next class your task is to create a presentation (in google docs) on the topic you chose. After finishing it - share it with me (olga.anikina@gmail.com).

Now more about the format of your presentation.

This is going to be Pecha Cucha presentation (which is a 20-slide presenattion where each slide is shown for 20 seconds). In your presentation should contain 20 slides 15 seconds each. There shouldn't be much text on the slides - try to use imges to support what you are talking about.

Here you can read about and watch examples of Pecha Kucha presentations ad see some tips on creating them: 

http://www.pechakucha.org/

http://catherinecronin.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/pecha-kucha/

Here you can find tips on how to make and deliver an effective presentation:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/presentationskills.htm

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/tips-for-creating-and-delivering-an-effective-presentation-HA010207864.aspx

http://www.accuconference.com/resources/effective-presentations.aspx

http://www.instigatorblog.com/how-do-you-prepare-for-presentations/2008/01/16/

Please make sure you practice before presenting. The better sprepared you presenattion will be the higher mark you'll get.

I am looking forward to listening to your presentations. Good luck :)

Evaluation spreadsheet 

Class 1: Introduction and Blogs

Class 1: BLOGS

Hi everyone!

During our classes we are going to work with different media that can be used for learning foreign languages (English in particular).

Before we start I would like to ask everybody to think How often do you use computer technologies in your everyday life?

What about Internet? What do you use it for?

How often do you communicate with people on the Internet? Search for information? What language(s) do you use? Why this particular language?

In groups of 3-4 discuss the following questions:

Do you think computer technologies could contribute to the process of learning English? Can they help you in learning English? How? 

Why use technology at all? What are the advantages? 

Our first class is devoted to Weblogs.
Today your assignment is to create your own weblog (if you already have one, please create another blog in English ) 

GO TO blogspot.com

CREATE A BLOG

CREATE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT (if you do not have one)

NAME YOUR BLOG

CHOOSE A STARTER TEMPLATE

START BLOGGING

TITLE

TYPE YOUR MESSAGE IN THE WINDOW

PUBLISH POST

VIEW POST

To view blogger control panel

GO BACK

SETTINGS

PERMISSIONS (here you can assign who will be able to read your blog)

COMMENTS

SAVE SETTINGS

VIEW BLOG 

Here you go! Congratulations on creation of your own weblog.

Home assignment:
1. Post autobiography on your blog (with pictures, video and everything you can think of).
2. In comments of this post answer the following questions:
a. How would you like to use weblogs on your classes of English?
b. What project(s) could one carry out using weblogs? 
P.S.: I am looking forward to reading your blogs.