Reflection: LanguageArt Course Online Sept. 2009

Reflection Paper
Abdesalam Zouita, Morocco
Language art course online September 2009.
Moderators: Farah Kamal Pakistan, Maria Luisa H. Larcena Philippine, and Diane Midness USA

In addition to your final project plan, you will need to write a final reflection paper. The topic for your paper is to be a reflection of your online learning experience and the process of developing a project plan. The paper is required to be at least two pages long. Format: 12 Times New Roman. Double Spaced.
You will also include a copy of your project action plan.

As part of your 2-page Final Reflection Paper, please include responses to the following questions:

 What are some of the assumptions you had about online learning and international collaboration project work before this course?

Before engaging in any given activity, many thoughts tiptoed to my mind. How I am dealing with these elite of teachers around the world. They must be highly motivated and high-ranking leaders in the field of teaching. Therefore, what is the suitable interaction I should cater for, despite the netiquettes I have learned via my various virtual interactions? For very setting, there are very special people. I was wondering of my skills, and knowledge would be of good help to me during the course. I have also thought of the amount of time I should devote to this course online, bearing in mind the documents and articles I have to read besides the overload of my national syllabus and the family engagement. For a moment, I speculated how many grades I should get to be awarded to an accomplishment certificate.
The experience of the 19th iEARN conference in Ifrane, in Morocco, was awesome. It paved me the way to undergo this exceptional experience. I have already met one of the distinguished and intrepid, animated moderators; she was Farah Kamal from Pakistan. Moreover, I have capitalized on my previous experiences of online courses, including Oregon University, Kent State University, and MUVEnation (Multiple use of virtual environment), and on the experience of integrating ICT in my classroom through the use of Yahoo Groups, PBwikis, Google groups with my students. Therefore, I was highly motivated to learn and make others learn, or aspire for learning.


 What aspects of this course did you find most useful?
The course has been a plus in my professional development. I have learned a lot through the full of life, and ongoing interaction. All the colleagues were involved in fruitful debates over the course issues. There have been inspiring questions. These were the key elements of the success of the course. Colleagues provide prompts to make reluctant contributors to intervene and express their views. The course has made me review my local, national and some other international standards. It was a notable experience to know about Algeria, Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, Bangladesh, Ghana, Liberia, United States, to name but a few countries. What is exciting is that there is an unbroken communication from the beginning to the end of the weekly activities. For every stop of the course online, there is something new, which a calls for pedagogical and instructional data.



 What were some challenges and successes?

Certainly, there are some challenges, especially when you have to submit your assignments in a due time, after reading the diverse weekly documents. Some tasks are very challenging, when the articles are too long and you have some school requirements to carry out on time. Another challenge task is to read all the new messages, after being away for more than two days, to meet my colleagues’ needs or provide an adequate response. The successes are numerous. There is a remarkable socialization within the whole group. I have made connection with the participants. I have learned about the other nations: system of education, culture, their conceptions of learning and sharing skills and knowledge. I have travelled virtually to these countries to live nice moments. For updating my expertise and engaging in a fruitful social and learning milieu, I have stayed up late and endure extra work. I was so lucky to make successful connections, which I will develop in the near future. I have learned scores of things during this iEARN virtual educational forum. After all, my skills and knowledge grow remarkably in handling question



 How will you use what you have learned in the classroom?

After this enriching experience, I will cascade what I have learned starting by my school. As a have the RRCE (Regional resource center of English) and I am the coordinator of this center. I will attach to the RRCE wall magazine some information related learning circles, inviting both teachers and students to take part and explore iEARN websites and make use of its benefits. In addition, with the coordination of our supervisor, and Local branch of Mate (Moroccan Association of teachers of English), I will have some workshops and study days to promote iEARN project work and persuade the locally and nationally English community of teachers to combine between the iEARN objectives and those of national standards to promote.

Abdesalam

Summer Course

It is worth mentioning that I tried to become a Pbwikian this summer. It is our fifth week instruction, now. We hope to finish by next week. There have been great fun and much learning have been taking place. There are a lot of gifts and much food for thought to be taken back to our classes and share with our colleagues.

Still, there is a competion you can partcipate in:

Back to School Challenge!

This is the best way for your friends to score a free gold wiki -- plus the chance to win classroom resources -- books, legos, software discounts, and more.

Learn more and send your friends to http://www.backtoschoolchallenge.com/

Nostalgia

Dear colleagues,

It is true that being away makes it difficult to stay in touch.
We have been together more than five months. Maybe we get bored for being together.
Why do not you write or just leave a message?

Back home

It has taken a considerable time to adjust to the conditions at home. In fact, I was so tired when the program was over. The program for me has been a great success for the amount of information and skills I have learned.

Therefore, there was a need to get enough rest and entertain the family, by forgetting all the connections related to deep thinking.

I felt so sleepy despite sleeping more than ten hours a day. What made it worse was that our school is getting ready for the summer vocation. Students, teachers, and all the staff are fully engaged to get the final result of the bacalaureate exams.

The picture above was built in 1882 in the atlantic ocean. It is visited by many people, especially when the tide is withdraw and people can get isside the building.

Creswood High School

Inside Mrs Finn's classroom.

It has been a terrific experience to be in Crestwood High School. Visiting classes, presenting about my countrey, helping the teacher in the classroom and teaching students. I have the opportunity to conduct action research , interviewing the staff and students, and explore all the building equipments and facilities.

T-shirt gift from Creewood School

The main gate of Crestwood High School