aljasmi’s blog

Today I was very excited to teach grade 7 girls about PowerPoint (hyperlink and recording sound). When I arrived I printed the work sheet for the students and asked the reception to photocopy for me. Three people attended to my lesson Miss Carole, Manal and Nada. I used different tools to assist me teaching the lesson. I created a video using Camtasia of the steps to hyperlink to (slide, presentation, file, web page and e-mail address). Students focused with me and they were engaged.

I noticed that Miss Manal did not apply a team work or pair work during class time. So in computer activity stage I let students work in pairs to solve the worksheet and create the presentation. I noticed how they collaborate together, this effectively let students work quietly and focus in the process. When I finished the first lesson the teacher asked me to teach for second time for same topics with boys.

When I finished teaching I attended to two classes and arrange with my monitor a meeting for next day with the computer teacher to discus about my action research project.

^_^ Happy Day For Me

Today I asked Miss Carole to give me time to prepare for the lesson I am going to teach. I created tutorial video about creating hyperlinks in PowerPoint. I was thinking about letting students to work in groups because I noticed that the teacher did not apply this in her lesson a lot.

Wish me luck Girls ^_^

Today I observed classes with integrating laptops. The fist class was English class with grade 10. I was observing how students use their laptops to follow the teacher through PowerPoint presentation and solve the activities in their book. Developing a PowerPoint presentation for students help the teacher to explain the lesson and helped her to save her time rather than writing on the board.

Moreover the Chemistry followed the same way to explain her lesson and then she dictated students to write important notes for the exam. I noted that students most of students used their tablets to write the notes and other using pen and papers. I am really course to know the reason of not all students use their tablet. I understand that not all students have the same learning style and inelegances. I will try to ask both teachers and students to help me understand more about this.

Also, I met Miss Carol and decided what I am going to do on Sunday. On Sunday I asked her to give me time to prepare for my lesson on Monday and I will try to develop another survey to help me to reach and diced on my topic. Finally, I attended with Miss Nada the selective computer teacher for high school to ICDL class. It consisted of 10 students only and the school brought an ICDL instructor to train them for ICDL exams.

Today I was planning to attend with different teachers to help me to think about what I will choose for my action research. But three teachers were absented and the computer teacher had no lessons she was busy with exams and tests. So, I asked the computer teacher to give me the objectives of the PowerPoint lesson I am going to teach for grade 7. I started to think about the possible materials and activities to use for grade 7. Furthermore, I asked the teacher to tell me about students’ previous knowledge to know their level and the activity I will give them.

I attended to chemistry class with grade 10. I was observing student while they were using their tablet laptops and the digital pen to solve the activity with teacher. During my observation I noticed that boys use their laptops more than girls when writing down their notes and the answers.

No observation Task for me today Only One L

Today I set up my schedule to attend to 6 classes. The fist class was with Miss Asma the chemistry teacher. She integrated technology in her class and the student used their laptops to write down their notes and solve the activities in PowerPoint. I noticed that some students used their notebook instead of the digital pen to write their notes and the answer to questions. This showed me the different learning styles in the class and it will help students to create a back up of their work, if they lost or face any technical problem with their laptops. I released that using technology has some disadvantage and we cannot depend on it all the time. Students were using Windows Journal to write their notes while teacher explain or solve the activity. (See Below)

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Later on I observed a computer class with grade 11. They had HTML lesson about creating links. Furthermore, I observed computer class with class 9, they had exam on papers about Excel. Furthermore, I met Mis Kathren the Math teacher to give her some materials I created last semester for same subject and grade in Al Marifa School.  She was very happy and liked the activities and the game I created. At the end I observed grade 10 they learn about Microsoft Office Visio 2007.

I enjoyed my day by helping and giving teacher ideas to deliver their lesson to students. They really want to learn interactive and educational software to help their students and motivate them.

My second day I prepared for myself a schedule I decided to attended to different classes with integrating technology and using laptops. I attended to five classes Computer grade 6, 7, 10, 12 and English grade 10.

I really benefits from those observations, in grade 7 computer class the teacher used CMS tool to deliver the lesson for students. The teacher used learning.com to select the module for the students from the website and put it in page students. The teacher page included home, classes, curriculum, students and report tab. The teacher log in for me with her user name and I look around the website. The home page showed the news and events and the account information with editing option. The teacher has to enter all students in the system and their classes.

Moreover, the website provides teacher with materials under curriculum tab. The teacher can type on the search any topic that she needs and it will show her a list of results include quizzes, e- learning lesson and presentations. Also, the website provides teacher with lesson plan to follow and ideas how to deliver the lesson. I think it is a really effective tool to use for students to engage and teach them. Furthermore, the teacher can keep track of students’ progress and work. I realized that the website do not allow teacher to upload their own materials for students they have to use the materials provided in the website.

Today I planed to distribute the surveys for both teachers and students. Before, distributing the surveys I showed my MST the surveys to approve on them. Then I went to ask the reception to make photocopies. After that, I went to the teacher room and asked them politely if they want to complete a survey about using technology. I gave the survey to teachers wanted to do the survey.

After that, I gave grade 12 students surveys to complete for me and they were happy to do it. I received all the surveys from grade 12, but unfortunately I got only two surveys from teachers. Tomorrow I will to ask them to give the surveys back to me or I will give or teachers. Also, I will ask some teachers to let students to do the survey at the last 10 minutes of their lesson to ensure I got all the surveys back.

I attended to grade 4 computer class with Miss Nour. They had an exam at the first 10 minutes about the computer parts and their jobs. After that, she asked students to switch on their computers and enter learning.com website to do module 2 about scanner. I was very happy to see students focusing in their task and going through the steps. It showed me how computers as Mindtools engage learners in the learning process.

Moreover, I sat with Miss Carole to set for me a schedule for Monday. I told her the name of the teachers I want to observe and attend to their classes. So, on Monday I will attend to Physics and Computer (HTML, Photoshop, PowerPoint, and Learning.com).

Today I interviewed some stuff in the school to get information to help me to think about more questions for my survey. Also, it helps me to know about the facilities provided for both teachers and students in the school. When I finished the interviews to got data related to the list of the classes and the number of students (1625 students). When I finished interviewing and collecting data, I realized the important of asking other stuff to provide me with the required information for my research project. I was very happy went I finished because the stuff were very helpful.

Also, I attended to grade 4 computer class. I liked the class very much the teacher was very organized and calm. This effected the students and create an effective quite environment form them to do their work and tasks. The students listen to the teacher instructions and pay attention to her went explaining. Attending to this class showed how the teacher calmness affected students and reduced the amount of noise in the class. Next week I managed with the teacher to attend one of her classes.

During the last day in the first week I had to follow a student for all the day and attend with her the classes. She had two quizzes at the first two periods. I was busy to follow her and attend with her the different classes. She was very helpful and friendly with her classmate. I noticed how she study with her classmate for the quiz and explain for them.

My third day at SAIS, today I followed the Computer Teacher Miss Karma and attended with her to all of her classes. She had six classes with different grades 10 and 11. Miss Karma tough different topics such as HTML, Photoshop and showed students the steps to connect the network for the exam. Grade 11 took about HTLM and grade 10 learned about Photoshop.

Through my observation I noticed how Miss Karma was very organized. Before starting the lesson she greeted the students and this gave the students signal to start the lesson and switch on their laptops. Also, in my opinion, greeting the students helps to settle them down to start the lesson and this helps to reduce the amount of noise. When the lesson started she immediately connected her laptop to the multimedia and took attendance and checked the homework.

During the lesson she was helping and demonstrating for students the steps. She let student imitate her and then let them to create something different from their imagination. I liked her way of teaching and giving competent students to explain and teach other students. She let two students to teach about quotation code in HTLM class. I enjoyed my time with Miss Karma she is really an effective teacher.

My second day at SAIS, today I had eight classes to observe. The first class I attended was physics and the teacher used technology. Before starting the lesson the teacher wrote the objectives on the white board and asked student to switch on their laptops. I think that writing the objectives are very effective idea to ensure students understanding and create for them an effective learning environment and students will know the reason and the purpose of their learning. After explaining about acceleration formula the teacher used Crocodile Physics Simulation Software to give students an example. I believe that connecting teaching and learning with something real or a 3D presentation will help students to understand more and this will suit different learning styles.

Today I was very happy to attend a lesson about PhotoShop with grad 10. The lesson was about inserting, copying and pasting layers. Also, students learn how to select an object on a picture. I enjoyed attending to this class it was helpful for me to recall my previous knowledge about these important steps. Later on, I decided with my MST to follow the Computer teacher on Tuesday, I am really excited to know more about a teacher life and duties.

During my break time I was wandering around and I was taking some pictures of students’ work. I was very surprised to see that students were practicing their drawing skills by completing the picture using small squares in order to help them with measurements. (see below)

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