Week 5

Straight to the point

During this week, we were required to do some reading and posting on PBL (Project-Based Learning), Webquests, Rubrics and on the possible solutions for our class problems using technology.

To be honest, I have not had designed and/or used a rubric before. This was my first attempt and I still need to adapt them to my teaching context and the kind of evaluation I apply in my courses.
With my class, I have been doing home PBL using the web. They are called Web Watch but they are not that very well structured as a webquest. I provide them with links and they bring me some information back. Most of my students love it, some others do not as they are not very into technology which I find extremely weird.

I can tell this week has been very productive as I could see my classmates commenting on each other's posts. Websites were exchanged, ideas on how to use them and what skills or sub-skills to address for our final projects. In my case, I find it very hard to get my students to do extensive and intensive reading. Now I know, I have got to engage them even more by preparing pre and post reading activities to make it more enjoyable and pleasing, maybe. Plus, I need to dig out their interests in reading.

I am going to be using a Speaking Test rubric this week to evaluate my students (I will rewrite the one I have put together and make it fit my type of evaluations). I need to create written and oral rubrics for assignments as well, so my students know very well what they are expected to do and how they are expected to perform.

As I usually have them doing the Web Watch exercises which I will turn into webquests, I have come up with the idea of designing an end of level webquest which will be focused on promoting our culture and customs. This topic might not be of their interest but it is something I have to bring back to the classroom as well. I am going to invest more time making readings and lessons quite more appealing to my students.