Saturday, December 8, 2007
ARW set up: Register for Open Learning Network
To follow the screens you see when you register for the Open Learning Network (OLN) please watch this slideshow. The slideshow will move from your ICU email inbox, to the two registration pages in OLN, and then on to posting an assignment to your ARW e-portfolio (blog) in the OLN.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
ARW Information: Class Discussion - Instructions for Students
ARW Class Discussions
Class Discussions sessions are a central feature of ARW this semester. Most classes will include Class Discussions sessions. A few times during the semester you will lead a small group discussion on a text, part of a text, or the topic in general. We will organise exactly what text what you will do later.
What are the language and learning benefits for you?
You will read, interpret, analyse, and react to an English academic text.
You will increase your vocabulary to talk about ideas and issues in the text and how such issues might affect people.
You will improve your understanding of the text by learning to consider the writer's implications, intentions, attitudes, and explicit meanings.
You will improve your ability to visually represent ideas, as well as the connections that exist between ideas (no idea exists by itself in isolation)
You will improve your spoken English skills by presenting and discussing the text with your class.
What do you have to do?
1. Read the section of the text you have chosen or been assigned by your teacher.
2. Make a glossary. Review the vocabulary that is essential to understanding the text. Make a list. Write an explanation for each word that relates to how the word is used in the text. Words often have multiple meanings, which means you must always consider the context in which words appear.
3. Summarise the section. Your summary will include a blended mix of illustrations and text. Illustrations might include a mind map, charts, diagrams, images, blended together with text. Your summary should be clear, interesting, and effective for you and your classmates. An an effective summary will clearly identify and define the main points raised in the text, as well make it clear how the ideas connect or relate to one another; this is why visual aids are required in your summary.
4. Write three relevant, clear, controversial discussion questions and your own sample answers.
5. Type up the text parts of your work using the Class Discussions Form.
How do I prepare?
Organise a 15-minute discussion session based on the following structure:
On the day of your session
Bring these things to class:
The text
Your complete, typed Class Discussions Form
Visual aids
During the session
Be energetic, confident, interesting, loud enough, and clear.
After the session
Complete your self evaluation
Hand in your Class Discussions Form
Post your Class Discussions Form to your ARW e-Portfolio (your blog), so that classmates can refer to it when reviewing the text for their essay and the PWT.
Your name: Section:
1. Summary
Author & Title of text:
Section or page numbers:
Main points:
You will decide what the main points are. How many points you include will be informed by your understanding of the text. Here, please also identify clearly which points you will explain using visual aids. Do your best.
2. Essential Vocabulary
Make a list of words and write an explanation for each word that relates to how the word is used in the text (context).
Write questions that ask classmates to reflect on the ideas/issues in new ways and make connections to other ideas and to their own lives. Write your own sample answers. The discussion is the most important part. My basic advice is: Always avoid yes/no questions. Avoid questions that test memory of specific facts, like dates or names. Never ask questions that you cannot answer yourself (which is why preparation calls for you to write sample answers). Writing good questions takes time, so you take your time on this part.
Class Discussions sessions are a central feature of ARW this semester. Most classes will include Class Discussions sessions. A few times during the semester you will lead a small group discussion on a text, part of a text, or the topic in general. We will organise exactly what text what you will do later.
What are the language and learning benefits for you?
You will read, interpret, analyse, and react to an English academic text.
You will increase your vocabulary to talk about ideas and issues in the text and how such issues might affect people.
You will improve your understanding of the text by learning to consider the writer's implications, intentions, attitudes, and explicit meanings.
You will improve your ability to visually represent ideas, as well as the connections that exist between ideas (no idea exists by itself in isolation)
You will improve your spoken English skills by presenting and discussing the text with your class.
What do you have to do?
1. Read the section of the text you have chosen or been assigned by your teacher.
2. Make a glossary. Review the vocabulary that is essential to understanding the text. Make a list. Write an explanation for each word that relates to how the word is used in the text. Words often have multiple meanings, which means you must always consider the context in which words appear.
3. Summarise the section. Your summary will include a blended mix of illustrations and text. Illustrations might include a mind map, charts, diagrams, images, blended together with text. Your summary should be clear, interesting, and effective for you and your classmates. An an effective summary will clearly identify and define the main points raised in the text, as well make it clear how the ideas connect or relate to one another; this is why visual aids are required in your summary.
4. Write three relevant, clear, controversial discussion questions and your own sample answers.
5. Type up the text parts of your work using the Class Discussions Form.
How do I prepare?
Organise a 15-minute discussion session based on the following structure:
1. Introduction: Summarise the text (5 mins)
Briefly explain about the main points in your own words. Your classmates need you to help them understand what you know, usually they will not understand the text as well as you, and sometimes they will not have understood it all. Therefore, it is extremely important that you avoid simply repeating what the text says; this is why you have prepared your visual aids. Include your own feelings, judgements, and predictions about the ideas and issues in the text. For example: What are the author's implications, intentions, and attitudes? What do you agree/disagree with? What is especially interesting to you? What did you learn? Talk about the essential vocabulary as each word arises in your summary, in context - not all at once at the start.
2. Body: Small Group Discussion (8-9 minutes). This is the most important part. Through discussion you want to consolidate and extend your classmates' understanding of the ideas and issues and connections in the text. Divide the class into groups however you want. Explain one discussion question and lead the discussion. Involve yourself in the discussion, but as session leader your main task is to encourage active, purposeful, and enriching discussion. You want your classmates to help themselves learn through discussion; this is why the quality of your discussion questions is so important and why your preparation includes your own sample answers. Repeat for questions two and three. Always have fun, and enjoy the experience of helping yourself and others.
3. Conclusion: Wrap up the discussion (1-2 minutes).
Very briefly restate the main points. Give your opinion on the discussion questions. Always do your best to try to refer to points classmates made as well. This last is important because it recognises and rewards the participation of your group members.
Briefly explain about the main points in your own words. Your classmates need you to help them understand what you know, usually they will not understand the text as well as you, and sometimes they will not have understood it all. Therefore, it is extremely important that you avoid simply repeating what the text says; this is why you have prepared your visual aids. Include your own feelings, judgements, and predictions about the ideas and issues in the text. For example: What are the author's implications, intentions, and attitudes? What do you agree/disagree with? What is especially interesting to you? What did you learn? Talk about the essential vocabulary as each word arises in your summary, in context - not all at once at the start.
2. Body: Small Group Discussion (8-9 minutes). This is the most important part. Through discussion you want to consolidate and extend your classmates' understanding of the ideas and issues and connections in the text. Divide the class into groups however you want. Explain one discussion question and lead the discussion. Involve yourself in the discussion, but as session leader your main task is to encourage active, purposeful, and enriching discussion. You want your classmates to help themselves learn through discussion; this is why the quality of your discussion questions is so important and why your preparation includes your own sample answers. Repeat for questions two and three. Always have fun, and enjoy the experience of helping yourself and others.
3. Conclusion: Wrap up the discussion (1-2 minutes).
Very briefly restate the main points. Give your opinion on the discussion questions. Always do your best to try to refer to points classmates made as well. This last is important because it recognises and rewards the participation of your group members.
On the day of your session
Bring these things to class:
The text
Your complete, typed Class Discussions Form
Visual aids
During the session
Be energetic, confident, interesting, loud enough, and clear.
After the session
Complete your self evaluation
Hand in your Class Discussions Form
Post your Class Discussions Form to your ARW e-Portfolio (your blog), so that classmates can refer to it when reviewing the text for their essay and the PWT.
Do not be absent on the day of your session - otherwise you need to submit this work as an essay. Eeeks!
Copy and paste this form into your word processor, then type up your work. For your own safety, always save your work to two different places.
Final reminder: Do the basics well. Prepare fully. Type. Keep to time. Lead actively. Have fun!
Your name: Section:
1. Summary
Section or page numbers:
Main points:
You will decide what the main points are. How many points you include will be informed by your understanding of the text. Here, please also identify clearly which points you will explain using visual aids. Do your best.
2. Essential Vocabulary
Make a list of words and write an explanation for each word that relates to how the word is used in the text (context).
Write questions that ask classmates to reflect on the ideas/issues in new ways and make connections to other ideas and to their own lives. Write your own sample answers. The discussion is the most important part. My basic advice is: Always avoid yes/no questions. Avoid questions that test memory of specific facts, like dates or names. Never ask questions that you cannot answer yourself (which is why preparation calls for you to write sample answers). Writing good questions takes time, so you take your time on this part.
Question 1.
Sample answer:
Question 2.
Sample answer:
Question 3.
Sample answer:
4. Self evaluation: Satisfactory/Not satisfactory. Please complete your self-evaluation accurately.Sample answer:
Question 2.
Sample answer:
Question 3.
Sample answer:
| Me (tick) | Grading protocol | OJ |
| Satisfactory (S): All of the following: 1) Complete preparation 2) Typed 3) Organised timekeeper 4) Lead active discussion 5) Kept to time for each part | ||
| Not satisfactory (NS): Any of the above incomplete or missing. | ||
| Absent/NS/Late: For grading purposes there are two (2) actions you can take: 1) Accept NS. Not satisfactory will be recorded as your grade for that session. 2) Write an essay. Write up your preparation as an essay. You have one (1) week to submit your essay. 1 x A4 page. Typed. 1.5 spacing. Student information. Title. Structure: Introduction-body-conclusion. Content: Your summary, vocabulary and meanings, and discussion questions. Attach your visual aids. Your aim should always be to never let a small problem grow into a big problem, so please talk to me early if you foresee any difficulty. |
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