Week 4 Reflection

4 Weeks have passed. Luckily, for the last one month, I could manage to finish all the assignments on time thanks to winter vacation. However, vacation is over in a couple of days, so I think it will be tough for me to work and study at the same time. Fortunately, web-skill is what I have been interested, so hopefully I will manage both of them even after the semester begins.

This week, there were four assignments.
1. Describing the classroom issues.
2. Create a technology enhanced lesson plan
3. Posting the specific web address (URL) of the page which can enhance reading, writing, vocabulary class and write why I find it useful.
4. Writing a reflection on my blog.

First assignment was to describe the classroom issues that I had in my classroom. I began to think in what aspect in my class technology can be helpful. For me, the number of students and lack of individual feedback were some of the biggest problems that I had in my class, and those problems could get better with the help of technology. Since there are 40 students in my class, it takes too much time only to elicit students' ideas or collect students' work. Using technology,students could log in a certain website and work at the same time. Also, when I had to give some comments on students' work before, I had to carry the paper all the way back home and bring it back to school. Instead, when I use Google Drive, all I had to do was to log in to the website at home without bringing anything home. In these ways I could lessen the workload. In these ways , I could manage my class more effectively and efficiently.

The most challenging task this week was to create a technology enhanced lesson plan. Like other teachers at this course, it is not obligatory to submit lesson plan for each class. Instead, I have to hand it in just before I am observed. I chose a lesson about dream jobs and decided to get students to make a virtual(fake) interview about their dream jobs. Using Padlet.com and Youtube, students share their ideas and post the video interview, and by doing these activities the number issue of my class could be solved. 
Last tasks were reading articles about using technology for reading, writing and vocabulary class and posting interesting webpages and introducing them. I chose 
http://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/celebrate-holidays-usa and Magickeys.com. First webpage introduces some of the famous holidays in USA which can be useful for teaching culture with new vocabulary words in boldface. The second website provides children with various storybooks by age and proficiency. Besides, it contains a number of different activities such as riddles, maze, coloring pages, jigsaw puzzles, etc. so it may get students' attention when not reading books. 

As I have felt, having opportunities to share useful resources is a wise way not to burn out in a hectic life as a teacher. I am so happy that I could get to know many teachers who are willingly share their thoughts, resources with others for better education.