anna_mamykina

06:12 pm: My own Wiki:)
So, what can I say?I really liked creating my own Wiki.It wasn't only interesting but useful as well I think.You are welcome to http://mamykina.wikispaces.com
I've visited Ann's wiki http://solnywka.wikispaces.com/ and I've added some information.My colour is green.

05:16 pm: What is a Wiki?
What is a Wiki?
A wiki is a website where users can add, remove, and edit every page using a web browser. It's so terrifically easy for people to jump in and revise pages that wikis are becoming known as the tool of choice for large, multiple-participant projects.
Some information about its history
WikiWikiWeb was the first site to be called a wiki. Ward Cunningham started developing WikiWikiWeb in 1994, and installed it on the Internet domain c2.com on March 25, 1995. It was named by Cunningham, who remembered a Honolulu International Airport counter employee telling him to take the "Wiki Wiki" shuttle bus that runs between the airport's terminals. According to Cunningham, "I chose wiki-wiki as an alliterative substitute for 'quick' and thereby avoided naming this stuff quick-web."
How do Wikis work?
The most famous wiki is called Wikipedia, a massive online encyclopedia. Wikipedia has become so large (more than a million articles) that you run across it all the time in Google. It is so popular that it is now one of the Top 100 web sites in the world!
Wikis are growing because, at their core, they are about as simple as can be. That simplicity means that people find them easy to use, just like e-mail and blogs. Like e-mail and blogs, wikis also perform a very useful service in a simple way. A wiki allows a group of people to enter and communally edit bits of text. These bits of text can be viewed and edited by anyone who visits the wiki.
That'sit. What it means is that, when you come to a wiki, you are able to read what the wiki's community has written. By clicking an "edit" button on an article, you are able to edit the article's text. You can add or change anything you like in the article you are reading.

I think that Wikis can be very useful in English language teaching. It is really cool that we have a chance to get information, share our ideas, add our own material, ask for advice, etc.

04:48 pm: Webquest
Hello!The webquest I worked with is called "Discover London." http://www.geocities.com/eimarjke/webquest/index.htm I think it's a mixture of design,retelling and persuasion webquest.It is for students of High school.The purpose is to plan a week's student excursion to London.Using the Internet students will discover what London has to offer to a student of English keen to absorb the culture, history and tourist attractions of the city. The planning work is done in pairs where both of students have their own roles although they are jointly responsible for the successful completion of the webquest.
*There are two main roles:
1) The web expert is responsible for searching the links and finding material for the language expert.
2) The language expert is responsible for word processing and the language of your finished programme.
*Tasks:
1. To plan a day-to-day programme for a week's student excursion to London with information about the places they would like to visit each day as well as their reasons for choosing these particular attractions.Students should make the programme both informative and interesting.
2.Using Word or Frontpage,students must write a finished, attractive 2-3 -page brochure of their plan for the trip to London.Students include text, graphics, pictures as well as sound but copied and pasted text won't do. All texts must be processed by students to demonstrate their personal involvement!
3.The jury will award extra points for a colourful powerpoint presentation of the planned trip.
The process includes pair work.
The class is divided into 9 teams consisting of two students each. The team as a whole will be responsible for the project but both members will have their own roles.
There are five steps of the process.
1)Students choose their partners.They click on the job they've selected and read about their roles.
2)Students should start from London's main sights and attractions to get a general picture of what choice they have.They bookmark or copy,paste and save material in a folder on their computer for study and editing.Students take notes.
3)Students practise travel English.Click at their service in Ylen Opinportti.
4)Including text and images,they prepare a 2-3 -page presentation of their planned visit to London.Attention must be paid to language and page design.Students should remember to credit the
sources they used.
!!!Students print three copies of their brochure, one to each member of the team and one to their teacher.
In my opinion,this task is very useful.During this virtual visit students have gathered a lot of useful and interesting new information on London.They have used the resources available on the Internet.While creating their London brochure and powerpoint presentation they have practised such computer skills such as word processing,picture manipulation and page design.
Students had to read authentic English texts,so it's good practice in reading comprehension,summary and rewriting.
Working in teams and pairs gives a good chance to improve communicative skills.Students take an active part in discussion,argue,share ideas,make suggestions.I think it's really cool!!!
Yours,Anna Mamykina

10:45 am: Blogs
Nowadays weblogs or blogs are widely spread all over the Internet!Generally,blogs have been considered as a personal online journal where outside users can give their comments on an individual's postings.But blogs are also used in educational purposes.Students have a chance not only to communicate with each other,but to build deeper understanding across the curriculum.
This technology truly motivates students to learn.
There are different types of blogs such as individual blogs,classroom blogs,collaborative blogs and staff development blogs.
*Individual blogs
Users set up their blogs as a place to journal.They can respond to others or post resources.Users can produce daily reflections and make them available on the Internet.
*Classroom blogs
This model of blogging helps to build communication and collaboration among students.It can be used in a lab setting or on classroom computers.Students share their ideas on this or that topic,respond to the messages as well as to one another.
Handwritten reading response journals allow students to communicate only with the instructor.
Not only this new technology motivates students,but also the ability to type rather than use pencil and paper,make connections,ask questions,challenge each other's thinking and draw conclusions while blogging.They are able to delve further into topics discussed in class and then talk to each other to share ideas and grow as learners during a time of day where they normally work quietly and independently.
*Collaborative blogs
Students from one class work with students from another class of their school of from another one.Students of different grades can be paired,where the older children can act as mentors or coaches for the younger children.This model can consist of face-to-face and online meetings between students.Then they post their reflections on what they have experienced.
*Staff development blogs
This model helps to bring educators isolated from each other together.Though this typical workshop model doesn't meet the needs of most teachers.
But many teachers find this technology very useful,they even begin sharing materials.
As a facilitator of a blog,it is very important to summarize main ideas and themes and pose probing questions to keep the dialogue flowing.
So,the concept of blogging as ongoing support is extremely beneficial as the staff tries to make long-term change in instruction.