As you are learning new teaching strategies and different ways to use technology in the classroom, some if not all of us (including me) say it's challenging.
As a group, let's come up with some challenges we might encounter when returning to our classrooms. If you respond to someone's challenge, give them some possible solutions for overcoming the challenges.
I really believe that we can apply most of the strategies we have learned in our classes. However, we can face some challenges in the process. I will mention some of them:
ReplyDelete1. We don't have access to technology in our classes in Ecuador so easily.
2. In all the activities we ave done here in KSU, we have used a lot of materials provided by the university; however, it is difficult to get all those materials in our day-to-day classes in Ecuador.
3. Our educational society in Ecuador is very traditional and conventional. In consequence, if we want to make a change in our methodology and assessment practices, we have to go against the whole school system.
Nevertheless, I truly believe it is possible to make a change! We can do it!
I agree with Fernanda, but it is also possible for students to make research, e-mail homework, or print pages by using Ecuadorian cabins, which are located in every place.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the biggest challenge we can face with respect to technology has to do with the fact that our high schools are not well equipped yet. Particularly, in my case our classrooms do not have any projectors and the access to internet is too slow. What we have is a computer lab, but there are few computers there and it is impossible to go there with 45 students.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I think that there are some teachers in my high school who are against the use of technology. They refuse it because they do not how to use it in class.
As far as I know Tech resources in public schools are limited. However, if the activities are carefully planned in advance this inconvenient might be worked out. Regarding tech projects, they are time-consuming. In public schools there are around 5 periods a week for teaching English. This is not enough to deliver a lesson. Therefore, having a project at least once a year would be fun and meaningful for students.
ReplyDeleteI think almost everything we have learned so far is doable, except for the access to technology in the classroom. I have been told that usually, each public high school has just one Data Show Projector available, but I guess, that if the coordinators organize schedules for the use of the equipment, I could have the chance to work with my students at least twice a month.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we will be able to apply the strategies and techniques that we have learned during this summer in our classrooms. Yes, it might be difficult to find the technological support to do it but it is all on us. It is our responsibility, as teachers to find ways of applying the wonderful ideas our instructors have shared with us. For this reason, I believe the biggest challenge we are going to encounter is our own personal biases as educators.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gaby. I also consider that the biggest wall we will encounter will be our personal biases, those that are so deep in our mind that becomes difficult to identify. Anyway, I know the economical resource is a major problem as well as the lack of technology. No matter what, I am sure that the willingness joined to the creativity teachers have are the basic aspects to introduce changes wherever we go. May God Bless us in this effort of contributing to make a better education in Ecuador
DeleteI believe throughout this entire experience we have learned about a lot of educational resources in order to be able to motivate and engage our students in class. Unfortunately intellectual resources are not enough, therefore I would love to call upon the people that control economical resources in our schools in order to balance what incredible results their students will obtain by using and exploiting what we can give them as teachers. Furthermore encourage teachers not to give up when restrains appear but to use their creativity to adapt our learnings into our given practical environments, since our immediate responsibility is to our students.
ReplyDeleteI´ve learned very interesting and useful strategies in this program.I expect to put them into practice in my day-to- day teaching in Quito. As usual, I will have to face important challenges such as the lack of technological aids in the classrooms, as well as the very large classes. Therefore,I will have to be creative to solve at least some of the problems. Another challenge is the lack of economical resources necessary to get the stationery necessary to carry out some strategies for my lessons. Additionally,careful planning will be necessary to be productive and effective as long as our period classes are 40'and the schedule has just 5 periods of English per week. It would be great if there were at least a projector and a computer in each classroom.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all the strategies we have learned here can be used in our classes. At the begining is not going to be so easy, but our real challenge is to convince ourself that we can do it, that we can make the difference. Teaching is my passion, so I'll do my best effort to offer my students a funny learning environment.
ReplyDeleteEverything is possible, if we want to do it. All the strategies that we learned during this program are going to be very useful in our classes in Ecuador. It is for sure that we have to make some adaptations according to our reality. For example:
ReplyDelete- We have many students in our classrooms
- We have limited resources
- We do not have good technological resources
- People do not like changes
I know that applying new strategies, it is going to be hard but we have to start now and I am sure that this group is going to be the seed for a great change in our educational system.
We have learned a lot of new teaching strategies and most of them could be applied back in our classroom if we make some adaptations. Our public schools don't have technology available in the classrooms. We could use technology available for the whole school but that would be possible twice a month because all the other Study Areas use that technology. The best we can do is to use strategies with hand made or computer made materials to be posted on the walls or handed in to students in class.
ReplyDeleteHey everybody…….
ReplyDeleteDuring my time in my digital classes I realized how technology can make my life in my school easier. I will definitely start blogging with my students. Creating digital stories is something that I will also try.
And yeah!!! Delia…. I do want to skype with you or Amy’s students. That would be great.
Challenges?? My biggest one is having easy access to the technological equipment. It is a nightmare. There are solutions though. I just decided to purchase my own projector; together with my computer and speakers I am ready to jump into the amazing world of technology.
Being a teacher is the most challenging profession. Don't you like challenges? Well, there are challenges everywhere; however, each challenge is rewarded ten times plus. That's what I have seen in my own experience as a teacher. Being here was one of the rewards I have received in my life. There were many innovative, creative, and interesting strategies. I enjoyed learning all of them a lot. In my opinion everything I learned can be applied in the classroom. Everything will depend on how, when, and why you want to used it. Thank you for this wonderful summer.
ReplyDeleteWell, A big challenge would be that we as teacher have to be patient and persistent. Technology is great for everything and it is nice for fun and it is a kind of difficult when using for academic purposes. the challenge for us is finding ways to motivate our students for doing all what we learned here. Thanks a lot...You won a challenge...You motivated me for using technology in class appart from presenting a topic.
ReplyDeleteTeachers from Ecuador face a lot of obstacles to overcome. However, attitude is what can make the difference when we come back. It´s totally true that resources in public schools are limited, but nothing that is really worth is easy either. That is why we should go with a positive mind and ready to apply all the strategies learned, additionally "creativity" is one of the most important characteristics of English Ecuadorian Teachers.
ReplyDelete