Week 2: Learning objectives framework and effective web seraches

I welcome all my fellow participants to my blog once again. The second week is about to get over. I would like to note my reflections here.

I found the second week of the course more hectic but very enriching. Let me admit that I was not an internet friendly person so far. There was always ‘a fear of unknown’. Thanks to this course that I am getting confident now for using it for a serious purpose. Now I have visited a couple of search engines, made an appraisal and have added the useful websites to my list of ‘favorites’. I am more resourceful now. I know, it will help me to prepare for a class, actual teaching in the class and even for having guidance for evaluation criteria. I was reminded of the lines from a Hindi poet Kabir.

I searched and found the lines on http://members.shaw.ca/kabirweb/sakhis.htm The paraphrase in English is

Those who searched by diving into the deep water, found the treasure

 I foolishly feared drowning and remained sitting on the shore.

I did visit http://www.twurdy.com but  I still have to find out the positive points of this site. 

I have always felt that teaching is a planned, purposeful collaborative activity. Teacher performs multiple roles such as the decision maker, facilitator, researcher etc. The goal of teaching/learning is realized as a result of teacher and learner’s interaction and negotiation in the class. Today we aim at developing communicative competence through language teaching and learning. We prefer task based teaching. It is required that the objective of each task is planned well so that the whole exercise contributes to the main goal. Ideally this practice should go on on a continuous basis. I feel that although it is difficult in the beginning it is a matter of habit formation. It is a behavioral aspect of teacher’s professional life.

Now I realize that a teacher’s arena extends beyond class room. It is necessary for a teacher to know the complete background of the learner that is the sociocultural environment, individual strengths, educational trends, local teaching conditions etc. Needs analysis is the first stage in teaching process. It gives a sense of direction. I have just been initiated in the direction. I am enjoying my task. I know there is a long way to go. The suggestions from my course teacher Robert and all others help me keep up my enthusiasm.

 

Thanks

 Kinnari