Hello, Donna and classmates
This week’s topics have been very inspiring
because we are learning new ways to use the internet effectively while we are
also discussing evident classroom problems which are common around the world.
The first topic was “Learner Autonomy”. We might
believe this is something that implies “to be able to learn by oneself”, but in
fact it is a whole process in which teachers and learners are closely involved.
The first stage starts in the classroom and definitely
the most important step is taken by the teacher. Student-centered classes are a
must if we want our students to get learner autonomy. How can we reach this
goal? Teacher should be willing to change their roles from lecturers to
facilitator and motivators. Sometimes this is a bit scary because we are used
to having control of our classes, but it is necessary to give our students some
responsibility during their learning process so that they will be able to
become more autonomous and be aware of self-improvement. In this stage,
teachers should have clear objectives focused on this goal and also plan
activities that promote learners’ interaction and autonomy such as: pair or
group work, discussion topics, self-evaluations, oral presentations, reflective
logs, problem-solving tasks, etc.
The second stage refers to motivation, encouragement
and use of technology. In class, teachers should encourage their students to
improve every day and learn something new outside the classroom. In this stage,
it is important for students to put into practice what they have learnt in
class and technology must be our best friend. It is necessary to plan activities
that include the PRE-, DURING- and AFTER learning process. Technology can help
us a lot to maximize our students’ performance and commitment to develop their learner
autonomy. We can use: blogs, interactive PowerPoint presentations, Webquests, discussion
forums after watching videos or listening to podcasts, projects, discussions
through chat rooms, etc.
Sincerely,
JC
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