Hi all,
For this weeks blog assignment I created a Wiki called Wildcat Language Exchange. It is a wiki created for a proposed 8 week class project that drives to create a language exchange group in Manhattan. You can find the lesson plan on the right as a page called "Lesson plan." To create this idea I used as a reference the Kansaswic.org site recommended by Dr. K to create the lesson plan. The plan posted was also influenced ARDP 7-0, "Training Units and Developing Leaders," an Army publication for training development and conduct. Specifically I used a a guide the Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) that "provides small-unit leaders a framework for planning and preparing operations." (p. 3-7) The eight steps in the TLP are:
- Receive the mission
- Issue a warning order
- Make a tentative plan
- Initiate movement
- Conduct reconnaissance
- Complete the plan
- Issue the order
- Supervise and refine
If you compare these eight steps to the eight week lesson plan I provided in the Wiki you will see the obvious correlation.
I also researched for sources that would tell me how to start a language exchange. I found several recommendations for how to run the language exchange better that I felt useful to a class. Other were informative but also promoted a drinking culture I want to leave out of the classroom. The best source was through www.mylanguageexchange.com which did provide the necessary steps to set up a language exchange. I include this in the class as a resource for the students to access. though it requires a user to create an account, it is free and does not require any personal information.
Your feedback is always welcome.
Dom.
Members of the Good Neighbors cultural exchange program in Daegu, South Korea
Korean Drum team as the Military Police Ball, Seoul, South Korea
Using wiki to teach wiki, what a great idea! Your wiki assignments definitely fall into Contextual Application domain. For those of you who don’t know how to get to his lesson plan, click on that “Wildcat Language Exchange” green link at the top of this blog entry. You will be brought to Dom’s course wiki site. Once on his course wiki site, look to the right, it’s there – Lesson Plan.
ReplyDeleteMost information was bulleted – simple and easy to read. I think it works well on this particular subject. I also like that you developed your schedule based on the eight steps in the TLP and that you included one image and one video as example activities. One thing that would make this plan better is to make it clear when students should start to work on their wiki projects. My understanding is that students need to begin working on their wiki starting from Week 2 because they need to share their plan, contacts, etc. on wiki. Also, considering that technology levels of those ESL learners vary greatly, it would be nice to spend some time in Week 1 to acquaint them with wiki. What do you think? Just my one cent.
Overall, well done!
Kang
Thanks. Yes. I realize now my lesson plan needs to be fleshed out and embedded within the class better so there is a better understanding of the overall purpose of the project.
DeleteHi Dom. It may just be the way your blog appears on my MAC but I don't see the "page" to the right with your lesson plan. Please advise.
ReplyDeleteHolly
Hi Holly,
DeleteI put the link to the Lesson plan to the far right on the page. Further development of the Wiki would make the link more obvious and cantered for different platforms.
Hi Dom. I really enjoyed your blog. It is so nicely set up and esthetically pleasing. It's easy for the reader to follow. I like the way you use the Wiki in your project as a hands on development toward learning. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Thanks
DeleteAwesome layout Dom! I admit I was very confused at first, but that probably illustrates the best part about getting to know and use Wiki. Some people that might be new to the technology will certainly have a learning curve before becoming familiar with how to use the technology. However, once I found the site, found the lesson plan and learned the layout of the site, it became very easy to use. I agree too that it was esthetically pleasing. I, too, must say how clever to create a Wiki for the Wiki-in-the-Classroom assignment. Embedding the video also made a nice tough. Excellent use of multimedia within your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I think the Wiki could be more intuitive and easier to navigate. Somehow all my calendar dates ended up backwards. I should fix this and maybe redesign the page layout.
DeleteYes, I was surprised when all the calendar dates I created listed backwards! Lesson learned on my part!
ReplyDeleteDom,
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea to create a wiki space in order to introduce your students to the lesson. By providing them with the tool, they will probably be more apt to use it appropriately. I enjoyed the way you guided them through the process and gave them a week-to-week breakdown of what they needed to get done. Did you have a specific language in mind for them to exchange or were you just trying to get them to interact outside of their native language?
My idea is to bring all language practice together. ESL students and foreign language students are a natural mix. They can learn from each other by simply using their native languages. some mixing of different types of language learners can also build a community of practice where HOTS can come into play, specifically discussing language learning theories and pedagogical practices.
ReplyDelete