Sunday 25 January 2009

Tasks-Week 3

Week 3: Jan.26 - Feb.1, 2009

DESIGNING A BLOG-BASED LESSON IN BLOGGER (I)

Tasks

I. Read an article on blogging by Graham Stanley.

Before we start working on the design of our web-based lessons read the following article:

Blogging for ELT

II. Become familiar with the task-based approach.

A task-based lesson is the approach we suggest for the web-based lesson using blogs during this session. One of the reasons is that online lessons should be learner-centered. Also, it focus on meaningful, communicative real-life tasks in much more “natural” environments.

1. Read the following article on the Task- based approach.

2. Read the following article on 6 types of tasks by Jane Willis (1996). Here’s a chart summary for these tasks.

3. You have already thought of a topic for a potential blog-based lesson. Choose one type of task by Willis and describe briefly how you would use it for you lesson in My task- based lesson sample.

4. You read that a task-based lesson has got three clear stages: a pre-task, task and post-task. Have a look at the following videos where the stages are clearly shown:

Intro

Pre task

Task

Post task

III. How to design a web-based lesson:

1. Have a look at the following image depicting the web-based design process.

We have covered each of these stages so far. The next step is to create an account in Blogger and finish our lesson plan.

2. Go to Blogger and create and account.

3. Update your profile (Watch video)

IV. Finish planning your lesson.

So far you have planned:

  • Topic you will like to develop in your lesson
  • Class type (Audience)
  • General objective
  • Specific objectives
  • Time

1. Now you will have to plan the rest of your lesson plan:

  • Assumed knowledge
  • Material/Preparation
  • Web site(s)
  • Procedure (Identify pre-tasks, tasks and pos-tasks)
  • Follow up

Here's a lesson plan sample you can follow to finish yours.

2. Upload your lesson to Files – Web-based lesson plan in our Yahoo Group for the session.

3. Choose one lesson from one of your e-peers and evaluate it in My e-peer’s web-lesson plan.


Troubleshooting

If you have any technical problems you can write your doubts in our forum. You can also Skype tutors or contact them at bblep09@gmail.com


Tutoring sessions

If you would like to clarify doubts about content, tasks or anything related to the session you can contact your tutors in Skype in the following office hours:

Skype Office hours (Venezuelan time / UTC/GMT -4:30 hours ):

Evelyn Izquierdo

ID: evelyn.izquierdo

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 13:30-16:30 (Caracas: 9:am – 12:00)

Thursdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-21:00 (Caracas: 2:30 – 4:30pm)

Teadira Pérez:

ID: teadira

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-19:30 (Caracas: 2:30 – 3:00pm)

Wednesday: UTC/GMT 12:00- 12:30 (Caracas: 7:30 – 8:00am)

Miguel Mendoza

ID: miguel_mendoza97

Mondays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm)

Fridays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm)


Third chat session

Tool: WIZiQ

Date: 03 / 02 / 2009

Time: GMT 17.30 (1:00pm Caracas, Venezuela)

Duration: 45 minutes

Agenda: To discuss blogging, task-based approach, web-based lesson design.

Please go to the World Clock to check exactly what time it will be in your country:

If you are not able to make it, we will post thweb-e script of the session in our blog.


Checklist

Make sure at the end of the week you have:

  1. Read article on blogging
  2. Read articles related to the task based approach
  3. Write a post in My task- based lesson sample
  4. Watch videos on the three stages for a task-based approach
  5. Check image on web-based lesson design process
  6. Upload your lesson to Files – Web-based lesson plan
  7. Create account in blogger and add bio to profile.
  8. Evaluate a web-based lesson

Comments / Insights (Optional)

To write comments or insights about this first week go to: Weekly comments/Insights

Troub

Tasks-Week 2

January 20-26 2009

Understanding and planning a web-based lesson


TASKS

I. Become familiar with search skills to find sites on the net

As you all know Internet is a sea of rich (and not so rich) information. To plan a web-based lesson you need to be able to find sites easily and efficiently. Here are three basic ways to do so. Watch the videos before you do the tasks.

Intro

Search engines

Subjects guides

Real language searches

Task 1

  1. Think of a topic (from your books or class material): (e.g. Restaurants)
  2. Narrow down the topic (e.g. Table manners)
  3. Find Three sites (Use any of the three approaches explained in the videos to find your sites)
  4. Share sites and approaches in My Search Skill Approach.

Task 2

Add the sites you found to one of the following tags in Diigo (Watch this video)

  • Primary school
  • High school
  • College/University
  • Business English
  • ESP
  • EAP

If you want to add another tag, send an email to: bblep09@gmail.com.

II. Evaluate Internet sites

Evaluating sites you choose on the net is as important as being able to find them easily and efficiently. What criteria is the most appropriate to do so?

Task 1

Check the following sites:

Evaluating Internet sources and sites: Tutorial

(You have to click on the left menu to navigate content for this tutorial)

Evaluating Internet sites 101

As you can see there are several aspects (accuracy, audience, among others) you can take into account to evaluate and Internet site. Which ones would you choose? Why? Is this step important before you start designing a web-based lesson? Write your answers in Evaluating Internet sites:

Task 2

Have a look at this Website Evaluation sheet .Click on the "download"download button to save it on your PC or laptop.

  1. Choose one of the sites you tagged in Diigo and use this format to evaluate it.
  2. Upload your evaluation to our Yahoo Group in Files/Website Evaluation Sheet.

Note: Please do not remove the British Council logo from this document. It has been kept in Word format so you can easily fill it in and upload to our group.

III. Understand what a web-based lesson is

You might be wondering by now what a web-based lesson is. Is it any different from what you do in class? To figure out what it is do the following activities:

Task 1

Before you read a definition for a web-based lesson, answer the following questions:

What do you think…?

Now read this definition for a web-based lesson.

Task 2

Based on Tasks 1 and 2 write your comments, doubts or questions in What is a web-based lesson?

IV. Plan a web-based lesson

The way we plan a web-based lesson is similar to a F2F session. We have to consider several aspects and activities to successfully deliver a lesson online or F2F. So before we start designing our web-based lessons in week 3, let’s start thinking on certain key aspects.

Task 1 1. Have a look at this plan format for web-based lessons. 2. Now write in My Preliminary Web-based Lesson Plan:
  1. Topic you will like to develop in your lesson
  2. Class type (Audience)
  3. General objective
  4. Specific objectives
  5. Time

V. Sign up for WIZiQ

WIZiQ is a virtual classroom we will be using for our next synchronous session:
  1. Sign up and take the guided tour

VII. Check Resources

Check the resources session in week 2 there is an interesting article about Blogs in education.


Troubleshooting

If you have any technical problems you can write your doubts in our forum. You can also Skype tutors or contact them at bblep09@gmail.com

Tutoring sessions

If you would like to clarify doubts about content, tasks or anything related to the session you can contact your tutors in Skype in the following office hours:

Skype Office hours (Venezuelan time - UTC/GMT -4:30 hours ):

Evelyn Izquierdo

ID: evelyn.izquierdo

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 13:30-16:30 (Caracas: 9:am - 12:00)

Thursdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-21:00 (Caracas: 2:30 - 4:30pm)

Teadira Pérez:

ID: teadira

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-19:30 (Caracas: 2:30 - 3:00pm)

Wednesday: UTC/GMT 12:00- 12:30 (Caracas: 7:30 - 8:00am)

Miguel Mendoza

ID: miguel_mendoza97

Mondays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm)

Fridays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm) (Schedules subject to changes)


Second chat session

Tool: WIZiQ Date: 24 / 01 / 2008 Time: 12:30 GMT (8:00am Caracas, Venezuela)

Agenda: To discuss search skills, evaluating internet sites, the web-based lesson, planning a web-based lesson Link for the session:

Saturday Text-Voice session


Checklist

Make sure at the end of the week you have:

1. Added post to My Search Skills

2. Added sites to Diigo

3. Read information on Evaluating Internet sites

4. Upload evaluation of a site to Diigo

5. Take the quiz "What do you think about...?"

6. Write a post in the "What is a web-based lesson is'"

7. Check lesson plan and write a post in "My Preliminary web-based lesson plan"

8. Sign up for WIZiQ


Comments / Insights (Optional)

To write comments or insights about this first week go to: Weekly comments/Insights

Tasks-Week 1

January 12-19 2009

Getting started: Tasks

I. Exchange introductions and become familiar with the group environments

Once you have been accepted to join this session in our Yahoo group, you should:

  • Write a brief intro about yourself
  • Upload a picture (Go to Photo/Participants' album)
  • Complete the database (Go to Database/Contact list)

If you have already done so, skip this task.

II. Sign up and try tools for synchronous or asynchronous communication to be used during the session

Please sign up and explore these tools:

  • Twitter
  • Skype
  • Tapped in
  • Diigo
  • Wiziq

To do so, go to Communication Tools. Skip those you have already signed up to. You can check tutorials (Go to Communication tools) to become (more) familiar with these tools.

III. Add your names to the guest map

Go to the main page of our blog, Home, and add your name to the Guest Map1_1. Click and follow instructions.

IV. Answer a survey to determine their previous experience with blogging

Take this quick survey to check your knowledge on blogs, e-portfolios and communication tools.

V. Record or write about their expectations to the course in voicethread

You will record / write your expectations about this session using Voicethread. Go to Blog-based Lessons and e-portfolios session to do so. You only have to click on "Comment" to record and/or type your expectations.

Note: You may need to download Adobe Flashplayer

VI. Check Resources

In Resources you will a couple of articles related to blogs. They will serve as the starting point to start discussing our views on blogs and its potential educational use. You will write your comments or reflections in our Yahoo group.


TroubleshootingIf you have any technical problems you can write your doubts in our forum. You can also Skype tutors or contact them at bblep09@gmail.com 


III. Tutoring sessions

If you would like to clarify doubts about content, tasks or anything related to the session you can contact your tutors in Skype in the following office hours:

Skype Office hours (Venezuelan time - UTC/GMT -4:30 hours ):

Evelyn Izquierdo

ID: evelyn.izquierdo

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 13:30-16:30 (Caracas: 9:am - 12:00) Thursdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-21:00 (Caracas: 2:30 - 4:30pm)

Teadira Pérez:

ID: teadira

Tuesdays: UTC/GMT 19:00-19:30 (Caracas: 2:30 - 3:00pm) Wednesday: UTC/GMT 12:00- 12:30 (Caracas: 7:30 - 8:00am)

Miguel Mendoza

ID: miguel_mendoza97

Mondays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm) Fridays: UTC/GMT 18:00- 18:30 (Caracas: 1:00-1:30pm) (Schedules subject to changes)


IV. First chat session

Tool: Tapped in Date: Saturday , 17 January, 2009

Time: UTC/GMT 13:30 (Caracas, La Paz)

Agenda: Getting to know each other (Synchronous Welcome session)

Please go to the World Clock to check exactly what time it will be in your country: If you are not able to make it, we will post the script of the session in our blog.


V. ChecklistMake sure at the end of the week you have:

1. Posted info about yourself, uploaded picture and completed database

2. Signed up and explored communication tools

3. Added you name to guest map

4. Completed survey

5. Recorded/written expectations to Voicethread

6. Read articles suggested in Resources

7. Participated in chat session (Not compulsory. Depending on availability)


VI. Comments / Insights (Optional)

To write comments or insights about this first week go to: Weekly comments/Insights