Saturday, January 18, 2014



Webskills Week 2 Reflections : ABCD Learning Objectives, Websearching Tools, Technology used in Class.





Monday Jannuary 13th to Sunday January 19, 2014

Again Sean's emails , which we now eagerly wait for, have given the kick off. There  have been fewer of them this week certainly because he feels  we are beginning to get used to the system. That is right, Sean!!! Nevertheless the workload is gettng heavier... readings, carrying out tasks in nicenet, starting the final project and feeding the blogpost....Besides, I have a presentation to make at the American Corner next! I devote so much time on the webskills activities to the risk of neglecting or putting on hold some of my other teaching and family tasks. Sleeping time is shrinking dramatically. The stress level is rising up! I have had to meet my doctor who prescribed some food supplements like vitamines / minerals, more sleep and some physical exercise to keep fit. I imagine you, other webskills colleagues, are managing things quite well. Anyway we have set off for the journey together. Together we shall reach the destination.

In week 2, we should work out the following 6 points :

-  Vist the Google website and explore the materials to read
-  Log in to the ncenet discussion thread and make at least two posts : one due on Wednesday and the second on Sunday about Websearching.
- Describe one of the classes we teach, share an ABCD learning objective for  that class, give a substantive feedback on a colleague's shared ABCD learning objective,
- Start the Project Task i.e. describe a class, the class setting, the students and discuss the technology my students and I have access to now inside and outside class.
- Post a reflection on the blog about our course,  what I have been doing and add a comment to at least a coursemate's blog.

I have special appreciation for the following points :

1. Sean's proposed checklist for  week 2 has helped much in organizing my week.
2. In the websearching activities, Sean has acquainted us to the wonderworld of websearch technology called the Noodle Tools. The Noodle Tools are  a journey  in the web world for a starter like me. I will make good use of them.
3. The ABCD Learning Objectives Design is an evolved form of the SMART objectives Design. The learners (Audience),  what they will be able to do as a result of completing the instruction (Behavior), the required resouces the students will need to access to (Condition), the level of mastery students must demonstrate to indicate they successfully mastered the objective (Degree) should be taken into account. The ABCD learning objective appears to be the backbone of an effective lesson planning and a result-oriented teaching.
5. The week 2 Project task is rather approachable now but I feel a little shaky about it in the near future. I feel it will require a lot of time and investment to carry out but I remain positive and confident about it.
6. As for the blog, I think there is enough to feed now.

All told, the week has been very busy in webwork and rich in discoveries. Learning is going on at a full speed now. All I wish is peace around me and keeping fit for each week ahead.


Foli.