Week 6 Echo

Dear Colleagues,

The week's topics and tasks add new facets to my ever going experience. Studying multiple intelligences and learning styles put me a step closer to the students' needs. Once being addressed, careful planning turns them into advantages, Like in Susan Gaer's story. In my situation, where I teach young learners of which most are of bodily/ Kinesthetic style, I am in a continuous pursuit of new equivalents to traditional class TPRs; "Total Physical Response," to work in technology enhanced classes.

Virtual trips to exotic places around the world are excellent employments that I find extremely exciting. I imagine integrating them into my lesson through creating creative contexts making use of the most recent online technologies. Google Earth can be used to satisfy the bodily/ Kinesthetic learner's eagerness for exploration. The free software not only provides information of maps and measurements, but also, thanks to Earth's forums, it provides lots of photos, videos, and interactive information as well. Incorporating 24/7 international webcams will make language learning a unforgettable experience.

In addition to learning styles, I read with pleasure about engaging all learners in large classes. "Because it is a fact and hard challenge that is unlikely to change in the near future, the teacher needs to be well prepared for taking it up." Mere knowledge is no longer enough to face this situation. Rather than that, students' involvement in the different stages of the lesson is what makes active learning and learners. In addition to saving time shortening lengthy tiring instruction/lecturing time, it helps the student remember and understand much better. A minute paper, mind maps, and thin-pair-share are all creative, collaborative, to the point, and fun ways of involving all learners in class.

Best wishes,

Amjad

Links:
Virutal Trip to Karnak

http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Karnak/google_earth