Week 8 ;Task: Create an online course site or an exercise to use online or offline

This week I applied my project plan into something real: a class blog at http://7thfclassblog.blogspot.com/.

The fact that I had to think ahead about how the really apply what I had learned so far was a thoughtful approach according to the Chinese proverb “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”

Why have I chosen the blog as a tool?

Firstly, blogs are publicly accessible and can help students to develop a sense of audience awareness (Ward, 2004; Palfreyman, 2005b). They have also been reported to help to promote a collaborative class environment (Barrios, 2003; Huffaker, 2004). Another reported benefit is that comments posted by readers can spark an online debate (Godwin-Jones, 2006). In addition, writers receive feedback, sympathy and encouragement (Lowe & Williams, 2004), which may increase motivation (Palfreyman, 2005b). Finally, blogs allow students to post pictures and links which support their ideas and help them to express themselves more clearly.

Learner autonomy and blogging ?

I believe that if students created their own blogs as ESL learners and added them to the class blog , another step towards autonomy would be taken .Why ? Because being in the position of directing and controlling their own blogs creates autonomy .Maybe this sort of reflective ( at their level of 12-13 years old ) blog that we are keeping for this course would be good even at their level because , having to decide what to post , when to post , choosing the appropriate way of expressing themselves , they actually turn a critical eye on the entire work, mine as a teacher, and in the same time theirs , as learners . Their HOT would be challenged and they will discover, little by little, which is the best way of becoming better learners.

Moreover, their posts give them the sense of responsibility because so many people can see and judge their thoughts and ideas .Reflecting on their activity over a week , for example , they could use the new knowledge in their personal way . At some point I hope they will feel free to add their own multi-media materials they believe are good for improving a certain approach or their own research results on a certain theme .

My issue stated in the project plan was that I have not addressed to all learning styles .As you could see in the class blog I considered necessary to introduce the learners to Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory .I thought my students would have nothing to lose if they are aware of their learning styles. This way they will be more attentive at the way they aquire the language and their awareness on the subject would lead them to autonomy in learning.