Revision and needs assessment

So, this week was about revision of my topic paper.  I had to do a lot of reading to find articles that will be useful to substantiate my research on pronunciation enhancement in my Spanish 7 cycle classes.  I found some that will be useful but must have spent about 8 hours just looking through a lot of articles! I am glad that we did that assignment in class to learn about article evaluation, that was really helpful as I was going through all of my readings this week.

So I have submitted a revision, and also a needs assessment (twice) since my first one didn't work out right, I hope the second one is better but, I'm not sure yet.  I am greatly helped by Amy's comments in the topic paper....They were quite helpful in creating my revision. I hope that it is better now!!!!

I am happy that I knew what topic I wanted to pursue since last year, that was really helpful in knowing some background information and already having some data collection from previous classes and online survey data from my edmodo Spanish teacher share learning network.  Now to keep moving forward. 

I hope I am in the right direction!!! I am a little nervous!

So I have finished the rough or first draft of my opening proposal.  I think I have a good grasp of the topic that I am choosing but I am sure that Amy will guide me if I am too big or off track! I think I spent about 2 hours writing the two pages, luckily I did this topic for IDD and had already had some information for my Spanish pronunciation topic.  I am not altogether sure that I did the right thing with my definitions section but, luckily it is a rough draft and I will have the opportunity to make it solid!

Hold on to your hats folks.....It's research time!

Wrap it up!

Wow, are we really at the end of another MAIT class?  I can't believe how fast this class has flown by!  I really learned a lot this semester about implementing different learning theories and especially Connectivism and even created a podcast with a true founder of Connectivism, Stephen Downes!  That was truely a highlight to our collaborative learning presentation. Thank you Vicky and Shawn for being such great partners to work with!

I am also really happy with my new global connections and am so excited to work with my partner, Tricia, after Easter break with our new group online classroom!  YAY!  Our group classroom is through http://www.edmodo.com/, a resource that is so user friendly!

Now it is time for some ribs and other goodies at our last class night of the semester where we will get to share our portfolio.

My Global connections quest

So, I have joined several groups to connect to other language teachers worldwide and have had some wonderful results!  Since joining a Spanish Teachers and World Language group on edmodo.com I have gotten to share ideas, discuss evaluation practice and other info.  Today my edmodo.com led me to a fantastic blog created by another Spanish teacher that is full of music resources for me to share with my students. I have also joined linked-in and met another Spanish teacher who also wants her classes to collaborate and communicate and connect with other Spanish learners.  Through this connection her and I are now working on a collaborative edmodo page where our students will get to communicate with other students and practice their newly aquired language skills.  I really am enjoying the journey and have gotten so much out of connections with my global PLN. 

Happy Leap Day!!!!

Today I collaborated on a world-wide group blog thanks to Sue S. and her email with the link to http://feb29th.net/.  I am excited to be a part of today's Leap year blog project!  You should go be a part of this fun collaboration of using technology, but you better hurry  and participate because the project starts and ends today, February 29th, 2012! What are you waiting for?

February 27th, 2012

 Wow, I can't believe that I get to present with Shawn and Vicky next week on Connectivism.  I am really excited to present our lesson and share our podcast interview that we conducted with Stephen Downes on February 14th! It was such a great experience to be able to personally talk with Stephen about his thoughts on connectivism and how we can use it in education and in the business world. 

"Moving right along in search of good times and good news!" Kermit and Fozzie Bear.