Friday, March 6, 2015

Assignment 5: Task-based Instruction

Dear Access educators,

This week we will be exploring the complex, yet amazingly resourceful world of tasks. 

Task 1: Let's understand the TASK BASED TEACHING AND LEARNING approach.

 Watch the two videos posted below and write a full definition for Task Based Instruction, as a comment to this blog post. Your definition should be no less than 150 words and it should include details regarding the following:


  • what a task is;
  • how tasks are designed;
  • why do Task Based Language Learning
  • how Task Based Instruction can be implemented
  • advantages of Task-Based Learning



Task 2: Explore the task-based lesson plan ideas below and choose one you really liked. Explain why it was interesting to you and how you would integrate it in one of your Access lesson plans. Give specific examples (which grade, which textbook unit, which Access unit or project).



a) Teaching Speaking with Task-Based Learning
b) TBI teacher training
c) Good practice exchange
d) Teddy Bear Project
e) Folk Tales Project / Official Project Website
f) Widgets video series / Official Website
g) Presidential elections
h) If Clause: giving advice
i) Sample Lesson Plans from POOLS-M (pages 7-14)
j) Example of ”No Materials” task

Task 3: Now it is time to learn how to elaborate tasks. Study the resources below and write an extended paragraph (100-300 words) which would explain the steps in elaborating a complex task.  Post your paragraph below, as a comment to this post. 



Task 4: 
  • Elaborate a complex lesson plan based on the Task Based approach.
  • Link the lesson plan to your Access  curriculum and  textbook.
  • Choose one unit you will be teaching in March or in April  for Access group.
  • Place it on your blog (created last week) and post the link below, as a comment to this blog post. 

Use the resources below as examples:




Ideas for task based instruction assignments:
62 comments:

Assignment 4: Integrating Blogs into EFLT


Dear Access teachers,

 One of the most resourceful online tools for teaching English is the blog. This week we will be exploring various educational blogs and will learn to create a class blog, a project blog, or a teacher blog.

 Task 1: Watch the video below and explain in no less than 300 words how blogs can be used in the classroom. Post your comments below, as a reply to this post.

Task 2: Explore the educational blogs embedded below. Choose 3 you like best and explain why they caught your attention in no less than 300 words. Explain what the function of the blog is, what type of information is placed on the blog, how the teacher communicates with the students, how homework is collected and evaluated and which other online tools are connected to the blogs. 
a) English Teacher's Blog 
b) My Teaching Portfolio
c) Irina's Teacher Portfolio
d) Becoming a Better EFL Teacher
e) Sharing Learning
f) The English Blog
g) English for Everyone Blog
h) EL Civics for EFL Students Blog
i) Student Showcase Blog
j) English is Fun Blog
k) Learning to learn English
A few useful tips for you. Blogs can be used to:

Task 3: You received an invitation by email to create a blog using Weebly. Accept the invitation, create a blog and follow the instructions below:

1. Create your own blog similar to the examples listed in Task 2.
2. Your blog should have at least 3 pages: Lesson Plans, Useful Resources and Student Projects.
3. Post one of your lesson plans on your new blog in the "Lesson Plans" section.
4. Embed a YouTube video and a PDF Book from Google Books (For example: English Grammar) or Scribd (For example: Grammar Games) in the "Useful Resources" section (See examples HERE).
5. Post a slideshow with pictures representing your students on your blog (See examples HERE). 
6. Post the link to your newly created blog below, as a comment to this post.





56 comments:

Assignment 3: Project-based Instruction in English Environment


     Dear Access instructors,
    Using projects in EFL classes requires complex tasks, based on challenging      questions or problems, that give students the opportunity to work relatively         autonomously over extended periods of time and culminate in realistic products   or presentations. This way, project work encourages motivation, fosters group    cohesiveness, and increases expectancy of success in target language, achieving the combination of academic and social goals through language use.
  Let's discover 
an alternative Access teaching method!

Task 1. Study the resources below and give your own definition of what PBL (Project Based Learning) is and what its major advantages are. 

Task 2: Let's analyse how  American Councils Moldova implements Project Based Instruction as part of its Access Microscholarship Program. Analyze the projects listed below, choose 1 project you liked the most, and identify its comprising elements, such as:
  •      Target problems the project addresses;
  •      Project goals from civic and EFL teaching   perspectives
  •      Project beneficiaries and partners;
  •       Project finalities from civic and EFL teaching perspectives;
  •     Project stages. 

Share your findings as a comment to this assignment page.

Picture



 Task 3:  The process of developing a project requires from the teacher to be familiar with all stages of a project preparation, and of course, select appropriate project procedures and expected outcomes.

 a. Consult the following links: 
b. Post your reflections on the following:
  • What project topic(s) and finalities /outcomes would be more appropriate to your students’ level and your teaching style (maximum 2 phrases)?
    • What challenge(s) might come along in developing and implementing Project Based Instruction with your students  (maximum 2 phrases)? 

     Task 4: Study the resources below:
      and create a project assignment for your Access students related to one of the topics you will be   teaching in March:

      Picture
      • Feel free to create your own project following the project assignment template. 
      • Post the your project  task  as a comment to this assignment.  

      Your project should include the following:  
      •   Project Title;
      • Students’ level;
      • Project idea;
      •  Driving question;
      •  EFL Content Skills and Standards;
      • Collaborative Final Products (for e.g. an online newspaper using Print Press representing the impact of the national diversity on culture);
      •  Local & Global Audience ( the national or international partners);
      • Project steps and schedule;
      •  Needed materials and resources for each stage;
      • Students’ outcomes for each stage (for e.g., a 10-question quiz).

      35 comments:

      Assignment 2: Authentic Teaching: Using newspapers in classes

      Dear Access Instructors,

      English language students discover a whole new world through newspapers, new words, new phrases, new ideas and even new faces! They may have read the news in their own language but reading it in English is so much more exciting and puts the English language into context for them. Today e are going to explore together how we could integrate newspapers  into EFL teaching through online and face-to-face interactive activities. 


      Task 1. In groups of 3, analyze the following resources and state in a form of a short written paragraph: 
      a. 2-3 reasons to use Newspapers in English Classrooms; and 
      b. 1-2 challenges the teachers could have while working with authentic press, and ways to overcome these issues. 
      2. Read the following articles that present the instructive strategies of using Newspapers in English teaching: 
      , choose  which 3 activities, strategies you consider most interesting, and most appropriate to your Access students' level, and explain through a written comment  how you could integrate them into your current Access teaching process. 

      3. Scavenge the following Newspaper Lesson Plans:
      and select one you like the most.as an English instructor. Explain in writing ( maximum  3 phrases) your choice, offering 2-3 supporting details and arguments. 


      4. The Internet could serve either a useful informative and methodologic resource to work with Newspapers articles during the English lessons, or an environment of easy and free newspaper generators/creators. 

      a.  Analyzing the online tools presented below:

      b. Select one you feel more comfortable with, 
      c. Create a 50-word newspaper article on "How could Newspapers contribute to my Access students' progress?", and 
      d. share it via email access@americancouncils.md


      Other Newspaper lesson plans resources: 


       Enjoy our list of recommended sites with news:
      News in Levels 
       http://theconnectedclassroom.wikispaces.com/News
      http://www.timeforkids.com/news-archive/entertainment
      http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews
       http://tweentribune.com/
       http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/


      Participants' Assignments on Using Newspapers in EFL Classes: 

      Task 4: Participants' Newspapers: 

      • Daria Prozorovschi. 
      • Emma Matreniuc
      • Margarita Bicec: 



      •  Mihai Soltan:

      • Olga Taran: 

      29 comments:

      Assignment 1: Introduction into" Innovation in the English Language Teaching" Training

      Dear Access Instructors,
      From the very beginning of the training we will offer you a detailed tutorial on training technological background, and work principles and activities supported by each teaching module. 
      Let step together into a new world of education challenges! 


      Task 1: Scavenge the "Innovation in the English Language Teaching" Training  blog page, and working in groups of 3 or individually, write a 2-phrase comment to illustrate the following ideas: 

       a.  what is the  main goal  of the "Innovation in the English Language Teaching" Training, and 

       b. what finalities the training expects  the participants will finally acquire and perform. 

       Task 2. The whole instructional process is based on Blended Learning Model. Analyze the following resources: 
      and working in groups of 3 or individually, express your opinion on : 

      a. Teachers and students' role and responsibilities while providing Blended Learning method;
      b. How could this method be useful for you as a teacher /teacher assistant during Access classes, taking into account your Access students' peculiarities. 

      Share your thoughts in the comment space of this page Assignment in not more than 3 phrases. 

       Task 3. Developing group cohesion represents one of the major training's  objectives. 
       To initiate this process, you will need to complete the following: 

       a. Click on  Participants' page , and  analyze the world's map in order to: 
      • find yourself  marked on  this map, and 
      • identify 2 participants living geographically close to you. 
      • write a short welcoming message to these two people as a comment for the  Assignment 1 Discussion Forum 
      Your message will include: 
      • a welcoming greeting, and your brief presentation  ( maximum 2 phrases), 
      • 1 advantage of using Blended Instruction in your Access classes ( maximum 2 phrases).

       !!!While completing this task on Discussion Forum, read carefully the Discussion Forum Tutorial to learn 3 rules of Discussion Forum participation.
      Task 4: Online instruction and mentorship will be realized by a team of highly specialized experts through a continuous guidance, and support of the assignments each participant will perform weekly. Complete the following activities to learn about your Trainers and Mentors, while working in groups of 3, or individually: 

       4.1.  Scan the Trainers and Mentors page , and  find out who: 

       a.  is the META member?
      b. is Director of the on-line Master of Arts in Education Program?
      c. participated in US exchage programs in 2014?
      d. has created her personal blog (an E-portfolio)?
      e. has scientific titles ( Doctor, Professor)?
      f. works in the institutions/ organizations with identical names?
      g. particpated in EFL Blogging School for Regional Teachers? 

       Write your answers as a comment to this Assignment. 

       4.2. Look through Online Mentorship page  to find out your Mentor's name and the procedures the Online Mentorship will take place. Write a welcoming message to your Mentor using  Ask Your Mentor for Advice... (Online Mentorship Forum).
       Your welcoming message will include: 
      • a welcoming greeting and your brief presentation (maximum 2 phrases), 
      •  1 challenge that you as the Access instructor might meet in Blended Instruction, asking Mentor's support in overcoming this mentioned issue (maximum 2 phrases).

       Task 5.  "My Window, My World!" activity:
      • Make a digital photo of what you can see from your window at work or at home,
      •  Write your own 4-5 phrase description for this photo, and
      • Send them both (photo and description) to access@americancouncils.md . 
      Follow the given example:  "My Window, My World!" . 

      After receiving your "My Window, My World!" picture and description, we will publish them online in Group Work section. 




















      24 comments:

      Thursday, March 5, 2015

      Participants' Discussion Forum

      Dear Access Instructors, 

       The Discussion Forum will serve as an interactive space of socializing and interacting with your colleagues while discussing the Instruction Modules presented on the Assignment page.

       Discussion Forum Tutorial


      To start chatting on one particular Assignment topics,  click on the  appropriate Discussion Forum, presented below: 



      Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)