Liz’s Weblog

There are several things that have come out of this first 6 week PET project:

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF PET:

• developing my working knowledge of Web2 technologies
• exploring the various Web2 technologies and researching what other educators are doing with them (from websites/blogs/twitter/Jisc/Becta)
• deciding which might work best with ESOL  learners and what has already been proven to be effective
• trying out different applications to see how workable they might be (for both sts and teachers after I had set them up in class)
• making contact with teachers who had expressed an interest in getting involved (prior to my official start date) and discussing what they might like to try – finding out what their sts are capable of already

Setting up Web2 technologies in the classroom:

• Initially I stuck to my own area – that of 16-19 ESOL as I had a greater understanding of the sts’ abilities and what would appeal to the learners
• then I worked with EFL Full time learners
• then to Adult ESOL here in Hammersmith
• Then when I had tried (and had achieved some success with) various applications and felt more confident at delivering them I went over to Ealing ESOL YL and Acton ESOL 16-19s

Liaising with teachers:

• Throughout this process I meet teachers prior to the supported lesson and after to discuss how they thought things went and encouarged them to make a Comment on this blog about their reaction to the class and what potential/drawbacks they could see for their learners/the technologies.
• I have found that word spread about how learners have been enjoying their Web2 classes and as a result, this half term I have already been approached by different team members who want to get involved.
• The difficult part is trying to get involved with other Division areas – they don’t know me and it is proving difficult to sell Web2 to them! 
• So slowly but surely Web2 is featuring in (at present) 12 ESOL Hammersmith classes, 2 ESOL Ealing and Acton classes (and will hopefully be included in the CELTA teacher training PT course very soon).
• Often Blog comments from others who were not working on that class proved extremely useful as they could read what was goign on and suggest different ways of doing things (which we – those involved in the teaching of the class – could not see)
• this follow up procedure is essential to the success of the PET project. Teachers need gently nudging to keep on trying new things; and as I am working with several classes now on a variety of different web2 applications, I can see and suggest what has proven to work with diff classes.
• it is easier to show teachers/sts a real example of what you would like them to achieve than to just explain and now the teachers i have been working with are identifying classroom activities that lend themselves to web2.

COLLEGE CONSIDERATIONS:

1. The college needs to design/discuss some kind of  ’Internet Protection’ policy that staff and sts can adopt if they are working on Web2 technologies; especially with the 16-19 cohort. (upcoming Every Child Matters meeting)
2. We need to perhaps design some kind of EHWLC Blog/wiki style software that can be used and ‘tethered’ to our systems if blogs are to be used as couse assessment tools. (e-portfolio, turnitin)