Week 10: Overall Reflection of the Course

Dear Donna and e-participants,

This week is about over! The course is also about over! I remember how I spent past ten weeks. It is very hard to describe using a few words. I say it is PRECIOUS.

What was my curiosity with this course?
When I was informed that I was selected for this course ‘Building Teacher Skills through Interactive Web’, I jumped with joy because it was my first opportunity to have online course from American University. I thanked to all the concerned who provided me this opportunity. I was very much curious and was waiting for the day when the class would formally start. Firstly I was curious about the nature of the course, instructors and the learning environment and tasks I had to carry out since it was my first experience with the online course.

What anxiety I had when I got informed to have been selected for the course?
I was equally anxious about the course. The condition that the participant wouldn’t get any further chance if he or she couldn’t complete the course, made me very serious and devoted to the course. I was anxious because of technical problems like daily load shedding, unreliable internet facility and other possible problems. Especially, my whole anxiety was related to the nature of the course and the tasks I had to do during the course.

What I learned during the course?
The course was the ten weeks training package. It is really difficult to measure its worth with the help of simple words. Just I claim it is precious for all teachers. I had only known power point presentation in the name of technology and it was also not interactive enough. During the course, I learnt many more things about the use of technology to make the classroom dynamic and bring learner autonomy. The most important thing I learnt through this course is – LANGUAGE CLASSROOM IS HANDICAPPED IN THE ABSENCE OF TECHNOLOGY; LEARNER AUTONOMY CAN BE MATERIALIZED SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE HELP OF TECHNOLOGY; LEARNERS THEMSELVES ARE THE MAKERS OF THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE.

More specifically, during this week I leant how to create ELT blog, nicenet, rubrics, interactive powerpoint presentation, webQuest, online course site, ANVIL and so on. We were given clear instruction for creating and using them in our class. I found every single week more informative. I got the exposure of more and more reading materials.

The discussion issues during the course were writing objectives following ABCD model, learner autonomy, incorporating technology for teaching aural/oral skills, technology enhanced lesson plan, CALL, project based learning, technology for interactive classes, one computer classroom, online tools for enhancing learning, learning styles and multiple intelligences and assessing the Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi). Every issue was supported with abundant reading materials.

Project work was another demanding task that every participant had to carry out during the course. We were given a lot of sample projects carried out by our senior colleagues. Most of us prepared project plan since we had just started to use technology in our class. I prepared a project plan and will definitely carry out the project report.

Rapport with the instructors and other e-participants
There was a very good rapport with the instructors and e-participants. I realized what teacher is after attending this course. We were lucky because Donna was the main instructor for this course. She always encouraged and motivated for carrying out the tasks. She was quite busy with commenting and encouraging us during the course. She provided us clear instructions for every task. I think she had to handle the participants form different cultures and different background. She never felt tired and always encouraged us with beautiful words – ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ ‘nice’ and so on. I am proud of her. I wish I could take one more session from her. Similarly, Jeff Magoto, director of the University of Oregon’s Yamada Language Center, and other instructors also facilitated us with different issues. I would also like to thank them.

We were twenty participants in our group. All were free and frank and enthusiastic to learn. Some friends were familiar with the online course whereas others were like me. Some friends had very good knowledge in technology and some were like me. We were all the teachers from school level to university level. I found all curious and helpful. We all received each other very well. We never broke the rules that we ourselves determined just before the course started. The rapport among the participants was really good and will remain forever because we are in the same field no matter wherever we are.

How I apply this in our class?
As mentioned above, this course provided us more and more insights in using technology in the language classroom. The course has been successful to change my attitude towards teaching profession. In the past I might not be learner centered but now I can claim that I am trying to be learner centered. In the light of the knowledge I got from the course ‘Building Teacher Skills through Interactive Web’, I have started to carry out technology integrated and learner centered activities and I will keep it on during my whole teaching career. My aim of teaching now and for future is to bring learner autonomy through the use of technology.

Finally I would like to conclude my reflection with the statement Margaret Fuller, ‘If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.’ I will definitely disseminate the knowledge I acquired and let my colleagues be familiar with this. I will share it with the teachers who are In NELTA and working different parts of Gorkha. I am also planning to share this in the international conference of NELTA. I am still thirsty and will always run for quenching the thirst. My respected TEACHER DONNA has opened the door for me to enter the field of vast knowledge and practice related to the use of technology in the language class. I will try my best. I would like to thank Donna and other concerned who provided me this opportunity. I always remember Evan Esar for the statement, ‘success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration’. Though it is the end of this course, I will always be in contact with our GURUAAMA Donna (in Nepali - female teacher who is always respectable like mother) and learn more getting more suggestions and guidance from her in the future too. I will always be in contact with my lovely e-colleagues and share our ideas in the future too.

With warm Greetings!
Kamal

email: kamal_busy2022@yahoo.com