Technology Diary # 3

Well, today we had our first formal MATSL presentation, and it was in the technology class. We all had to present our webquests and our rationale behind it. I have to say that I was very impressed by all webquests. It's amazing how all of us were able to do such an amazing job. I remember three weeks ago we were looking at other people webquests and were startled by them. I remember thinking: I will never be able to create something like this within tow weeks, specially with everything else that's going on. But I did it, and everyone else did a magnificent job. I am so proud of us.....

My technology diary #2

We had an interesting information about using Podcasts in our classrooms. I have to say that I developed a new appreciation for this new technology that I discovered in the MATSL program. Podcasts can be used in many ways in the classroom such as allow students to stay current with events taking place around the world in the target language, they can also be used to practice listening and writing skills by asking students to write a response to a podcast, and the list goes on...

I am still in the process of creating my webquest. Tomorrow I have my first presentation in class. I'll keep you posted...

My technology diary # 1

I don't necessarily feel comfortable talking in public about my issues, but I have to say that I have been sharing a lot in the MATSL program. My adventure with technology started with creating this same blog. I have been posting only to respond to my assignments, not to share other personal thoughts. But I found myself going into my classmate's blog, and reading them. It gives me a sense of community and it makes me feel better to know that there are other people going through the same journey. I should try to share more...

The more I think about it, The more I see the blog as a great tool for my students to express themselves and share thoughts and ideas...

IM Experience

I just left our private chat room with MATSL students. It was an interesting experiencing. I felt lost and confused at first, but after a little while I was able to follow and participate in the conversation... It could be a good tool with the students, but it's going to require a lot of planning and very clear instructions. I will not do it with all my students in the same room, however, as I feel that it could become chaotic.

Hitting the....

This past week and a half has been a great adventure, and resulted in many things. I have my own website, I have a blog ( and actually know what that means), and I am a regular contributor on a WIKI with administrator benefits (I even moved a page in the WIKI without bringing it down...)

It has not been an easy process. I hit the wall many times, and thought that I couldn't do it. I also have a feeling that I will encounter more difficulties while creating the Webquest...

But with perseverance, patience, and other classmates help I was able to do it. I always thought that if you speak more than one language, you should be able to easily learn as many languages as you want. But I was wrong. It wasn't easy for me to learn the computer/ Internet language. I was frustrated and overwhelmed at times. It made me think about my students, and how they felt overwhelmed while learning Passe compose VS. Imparfait. I can say NOW that I can relate. But at the same time I can say that anything is possible as long as I put in the necessary time and effort, and the needed support is provided.

Penser ou ne pas Penser?

Dans son article, Daniel Willingham a reinforcé l’idée de savoir sans comprendre et ses conséquences (un apprentissage peu profond), ce qu’on avait d’ailleurs discuté dans notre classe cette semaine. La majorité des élèves se soucient de mémoriser et de régurgiter les faits au lieu de les analyser et de les comprendre (ils ne veulent pas prendre de risques). Ce grand défaut de notre éducation est dûe, d’une grande partie, à nos programmes et administrtions qui se soucient plus de la performance des élèves dans des examens (qui ne les obligent pas à analyser et synthétiser) que de la qualité de leurs connaissances.
L’expérience de Thomas Hyde et James Jenkins a démontré qu’à quoi on pense durant l’apprentissage influence la quantité et la qualité de ce dont on se rappelle. C’était aussi en paralle avec les résultats de l’activité de vocabulaire qu’on avait faite en classe aujourd’hui. En lisant l’article, j’ai aussi pensé à mes élèves et aux discussions que j’ai eu avec des collègues : On a appris (par expérience et/ou dans notre formation professionelle) que engager les élèves physiquement durant nos classes était très important pour aboutir à un apprentissage actif. Cependant, je me suis rendue compte (après avoir lu l’article) que cétait une idée fausse et que les élèves pourraient comprendre et être mentalement actif même s’ils sont assis et sans activité physique.
Anticiper ce que les élèves penseront durant les activités de la leçon, fournir un environement structuré, donner des opportunités de connexion sont aussi importants pour aider les élèves à acquérir une compréhension globale et réelle.Daniel Willingham a présenté un argument convaicant sur le fait que ce dont on se rappelle est largement influencé par à quoi on pense durant l’apprentissage qui se développe à travers le temps. Mais je me demande comment ou pourrait mesurer ce temps pour savoir quand nos élèves sont prêts pour des connaissances plus profondes ?

The Blog invasion of Foreign Language classes

I have to admit that I never truly understood the term blog or blogging until after I created my own, and read some posting made by my classmates in the technology class in the MATSL program. I’ve heard my students talk bout it, and I know how popular it is among them. As teachers, we can take advantage of this popularity effect to incorporate it in our classrooms to support reading comprehension and writing. Here are some ideas that could allow us to do that:
1. Create a classblog and ask students to enter responses/reactions to posted questions (by the teacher).
2. Blog with students from different countries/schools in a joint blog (blog pal)
3. Have students write reflections/ questions to initiate blog discussion.

One of the five C's in Internet Research

I just finished reading the online tutorial of The Internet Detective, and I loved it! I plan on using it toward the beginning of the year, before I assign my first research/presentation project about the francophone countries. I thought that it provided useful information (using an appealing language and style also!) to bring our attention to the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. It shows the different steps that the students could use to apply critical thinking while selecting information through the 3W (who, where, what). I would definitely use the Martin Luther King website as an introduction to this topic in the classroom to demonstrate the importance of questioning and connections (Include one of the five Cs in their thinking :)

Bienvenue!!!

Hello everyone and Welcome!!

This is the first posting in my blog, and there is more to come.... So stay tuned!!!

A bientot!