An Webquest is an inquiry-oriented activity or lesson in which all or most of the information that learners use comes from resources on the internet. Teachers can create Webquests using different programs.

An Webquest is an introduction that sets the stage of the activity, an interesting task, a set of information resources, a process and a conclusion that provides reflection from students learning. 

An Webquest promotes student motivation and authenticity, develops thinking skills since it focuses on real world situations and encourages cooperative learning.

 In other words, Webquests include group work, prior knowledge and learning. Students use what they know before the lesson and will work together to figure out the overall goal of the lesson, which include collaboration and prior knowledge.

In addition, I will share with you something interesting about cooperative learning because webquests are included in Project Based Learning and Cooperative Learning.

Cooperative learning

It is all about the student at the center of learning process. Cooperative learning enhances collaboration, interaction, engagement, no competition, team building and the development of thinking skills. Another aspect of this way of teaching is about avoiding bullying situations and improving race relations. 

A simple way to start Cooperative Learning is to begin with pairs instead of whole teams.

Two students can learn to work effectively on activities such as:

1. Assign a math worksheet and ask students to work in pairs.
2. One of the students does the first problem while the second acts as a coach
3. Then, students switch roles for the second problem.
4. when they finish the second problem, they get together with another pair and check answers.
5. When both pairs have agreed on the answers, ask them to shake hands and continue working in pairs on the next two problems.

This is a Cooperative Learning Strategy taken from http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/cooperative-learning-strategies

I want to share with you how I have applied it in my class. It is similar to Project Based Learning method but the main difference between these two theories is that PBL always ends with a final product. In addition, students in PBL activities have the option to work alone when they want to study a problem other groups are not interested in. But despite their differencies, both theories are referred to as best practices.

An activity would be:

Divide students into groups and give them the assignments. They have to work in collaboration with others, to work even with those they do not know and to share their opinions about the topic.

If the topic is family, they are going to be divided into four groups and each group has a task to complete for the final result. 

Hope it helps!

The quote of the week: Cooperative learning is not simple, but the rewards can be great!

PROJECT BASED LEARNING 

How to apply PBL in the class

Project Based Learning is a great way to put students together and to collaborate with each other. I will share with you something special in relation to Project Based Learning. I am taking part in a project and the way my students collaborate with each other is great. We as teachers give them some ideas and tips about the topic. The topic is ''It is spring again''.
They are divided into three groups: the little painters, the little actors and the recycle group. The recycle group starts the project by creating flowers, fruits, trees and other useful things using objects which pollute the environment. The second group has to draw everything they see, flowers, trees etc in relation to the topic, than the last group has to act like they are three months of the spring season. This way they share a message. Their drawings, their creations are amazing. As part of the project the whole class with us went to the Botanic Garden the day before in order to see nature and to draw flowers on their T-shirts.  
                                                                                                                             

Here they are going to create flowers, trees, and other things in relation to the topic. They give opinions and help each other as well. I have to help them by giving instructions how to create them.

Padlet, the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world

 

Hello everyone

This week's topic is about Padlet. I find it really interesting. It is a blank page you can dress it up or dress it down. Padlets help organize your life. It is like a portfolio where you can post everything:  a photo, a document, your hobby, your classnotes etc but most importantly,it is a useful way to share and to collaborate with one another. Collaboration is what makes padlet special. It is useful not only for students but for teachers as well. 

Everyone can collect photos there in relation to the topic, can list facts and opinion about a topic, a story etc, post a video and have everyone post comments, post a problem and ask for solutions, this way students are going to collaborate with each other, give a vocabulary word and have students write sentences etc . 

click on the link and you will find how to use padlet as a teaching tool: https://portal.uea.ac.uk/documents/6207125/17216872/Padlet/0230a983-2f83-4823-bc94-257c3afad953
Here you may find information about using padlet in higher education, have  alook at it :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYxGGHBfeAI  

Quote of the week: Competition makes us faster, collaboration makes us better!

Using games as a tool in teaching language to young learners

Hello everyone!

Have you ever heard about using games in teaching a foreign language to young learners? How effective is it? 
Games are used to assist young learners during their language learning. They create an atmosphere of meaningful communication where young learners communicate before, during, and after the game  This atmosphere help in forming comprehensible input including what they understood as they listen and read  and comprehensible output including writing and speaking. In other words, using a game is considered as a new and effective way of teaching a foreign language. It can help learners develop speaking skill. They interact with others, exchange ideas, discover new things etc.

There is a strong relationship between games and technology

Using mobile devices like iPads and tablets you can keep students involved with all sorts of educational games for just about any subject. Students can keep track of their progress and work to compete with other students to advance to the next level.

There are five games that can be used in teaching a foreign language, especially teaching vocabulary to young learners.

Hot Potatoes, Memory Challenge, Last One Standing, Pictionary, and Bingo. 
I am going to give you some information for the first game: Hot Potatoes
The class is divided into group A and B with both teams sitting on the opposite sides of the classrooms. Two chairs will be placed in the middle of the class so that whoever sits on the chair will face her/his team and the board must be behind the them. Then, their teacher writes a word on the board, but the student on the chair will not see it. Each team will have one minute after signaling the beginning of the game. The other students are allowed to use verbs so that their seated teammate can guess the word written on the board. They should not say the exact word written on the board. 

To answer the questions above check the link https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1101751.pdf 
 Here you may find information for the other games too.
Hope it helps! 

Quote of the week: Technology is best when it brings people together!

MY FIRST BLOG POST
_

I am a new blogger.
Firstly, I really appreciate that part of opening the blog. I think that blogs are not just for socializing with others but it can also give us useful information. You have to appreciate what others have to say, or disagree respectfully. In this way, comments and blogs can expand everyone's worldview.
Secondly, I am going to say something about this new subject we are going to deal with. Based on the research literature throughout the past decade, reviews and studies about the impact of technology on language acquisition, I think that technology has had positive effects on the process of learning a second language. The use of multimedia technology can enhance students' information gathering and writing skills. In addition, it helps to enhance access efficiency and create stronger memory links than text alone. It also can provide meaningful and authentic communication opportunities. Students can engage in authentic types of communication through e-mail, chat rooms and other digital means.
It is better to mention here that we are learning how to become good teachers and being a good teacher is being a good learner.

Quote of the day: Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers is transformational!
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