ESOL

Set out on a new dynamic of teaching using the laptops to counter the logistical issues concerning their use. Moved all the tables so that they were around the walls and the chairs in the middle facing the board. Then students got the laptops out, put them on the tables, switched them on and logged in. Then I asked all the students to turn round and arrange the cahisrs so they could focus on the IWB. I did this so that we could do some constructive work during the time that they were were booting up (which takes up to 40 minutes for them all to do so successfully - this is because 16 laptops are having to access one wireless point and have software and settings distributed to them). This arrangement worked much better. The students forgot about the laptops and focussed on the lesson and the preparation for the computer based tasks ahead. When the presentation had finished all the laptops were ready and I set the students on-task.

Hi

It’s Friday. I’m still ill and I am trying to do my essay with a thick head and heavy limbs.

I am also linking in to technorati.

E2A really got into Moodle. We did Bebo vocab which was very useful and showed how much they don’t know and then we talked about moblog:uk - they were very interested in that. Anyway Moodle and laptops. Treacle like connexions didn’t dampen spirits as they sat and played and music and youtube’d up we ventured forth - so what good I like music online lets use the environment that’s what it’s all about they did the ‘task’. They posted a blog entry. What I think I will ask them to do tomorrow is refect on what they did. I think I may have to create a reflection form to assist guided reflection. And this will have to be paper based. I don’t think the laptops will be available or have battery life tomorrow.

Just used the laptops with E3A for the first time today. Took a lot of setting up. They come in a very heay cabinet on wheels that has to be exticated from a small cubby room inside another room with a key pad on it and then they haveto be brought upstairs using the lift (which is also operated by a key). Once in the classroom they have to be distributed, boted up and logged into - all of which can take about 30 minutes cos of bottle neck and 54MB connection…

Anyway got them up and running and introduced the class (17 students) to Moodle. It is not as intuitive as the Moodle people would have you believe (suuurpriiiiise!). Somehow we made it through the hour  and got everyone signed up to the course at least although many didn’t write anything.

How could it be done better? Handouts documenting every click of the way (vvv time consuming) Lock step teaching with the slowest student on the computer attached to the IWB) - painfully tedious for some students maybe but a lot less running around from me. If I can judge ’success’ on how little I hear ‘teacher’ todays session was not good.

My time is precious and I have to work out how to encourage self discovery and independent learning.