REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTION PAPER 1

What does this information mean to you?

The chapters and articles I have read so far on the subject of technology for the teaching of English have attracted my attention and made me reflect on the way in which I have been teaching my English classes until now. By this I do not mean that I am a traditional teacher and that I only use the board and a chalk to teach. But because of lack of knowledge I have missed many technological tools that are on the internet totally available and free to use and that can greatly help in the learning of our students today. Especially to those students who have learning difficult or who feel shy to participate in the classroom. I feel that this information means to me, a new beginning in the way to carry out the process of teaching and learning for my students. I have reflected and I have realized that sometimes we spend time trying to teach a subject making use of the same tools as always and this bores the student. As innovative teachers we must make more use of all these tools offered by the internet and that in most cases are free.

What new things have you learned and how have they affected preconceptions or misconceptions you brought with you into class?

I have learned many new things about various technological tools. However, what I learned the most was how to make and use the blog in teaching. I remember that in my university days I had the opportunity to create blogs, however our teacher only taught us with the aim of knowing the technological tool itself. We were not motivated to use it as a teaching tool.

Now that I come to read about it, I realize how important it is for students in their learning and I will use it to teach many English language topics. Reading about this allowed me to change my preconception that the blog only worked to present a single topic on the internet and that your classmates commented on it. However, now I know that there are different ways to use it and that you can be connected with people worldwide and not only that, but also allows the use of voice and videos to communicate. It can also be used as a photo portal, portfolio, journal, etc. The truth my misconception of what the blog was, has been totally modified by the articles I read about it.

How could the information impact your particular teaching experience or situation? 

Knowing the blog as a teaching tool, I am absolutely sure that I will be able to achieve all my short-term goals, because not only I will stay with what I have read so far, but I will continue to practice and use it with my students so that they as I can benefit from this important tool that allows us to have a journal and many other things about we are learning daily and that allows us to be connected with learning.

In addition, I will not only use this technological tool in the teaching-learning process, but I will also use all those I have been reading and knowing so far, because it is the opportunity to make the change and adapt more closely to the technological world that surrounds us and the present and future generations of students. Teaching them effectively and achieving lasting and quality learning.

REFLECTION PAPER 2

What does this information mean to you?

The information I read was about Graham Stanley's Online Digital Games and Gamification. This information has a great meaning for me because through reading it I have realized that I do not need to be an expert in online digital games to teach my students English with them. Only by asking them about the games they play on their electronic devices we can foment an excellent discussion in English in our classroom and they can also learn different kind of content by using games.

After reading this document I have been surprised with the great profits that can be gotten through online games in the teaching process of our students, it is incredible and we should try to use all these tools in our classrooms. We should become involved in the world of gamification and turn the teachings into something simple, not something complex that can bore our students in any learning moment.

What new things have you learned and how have they affected preconceptions or misconceptions you brought with you into class?

I have learned about various websites to play with my students and I also noticed that there are different levels of games, depending on the domain of the language that the students have. On the other hand, I was confused thinking that the games would only allow to develop the reading ability and the learning of vocabulary. However, by reading the document I realize that it also allows students to improve the listening skill and grammar of the language they are learning.

In addition, we do not need preparation time to use the online digital games, because on the website are all the instructions and steps that the student can follow by himself to play and even the student can listen to the instructions as if the teacher was saying to him. It is a great advantage that these digital games give us the teachers that we are always busy, since they make everything easier for the student.

How could the information impact your particular teaching experience or situation? 

This information will greatly impact my teaching-learning process since I already have the best websites to play online digital games and allow my students more learning.

In addition, I have certain students with learning difficulties and sometimes it becomes difficult to achieve the learning objectives with them. However, with these digital games, I am sure they will be able to learn faster because they will be more motivated and enjoy learning, using their critical thinking and seeing the different activities not as a heavy work but as a fun and worthwhile moment.