EDUC 561

 EDUC 561, Educational media and technology

This course is and expensive treasure in our days. This course helped me a lot in my work as a teacher since our instructor is giving us many apps and tools to use in our classes as she asks us to practice and do some work and assignments to see if we can apply these lessons in our classes.

 As a teacher I think that this course will stay with me through covid-19 and after this pandemic ends...

 I learned many things that are considered from the useful and main issues in technology as I can now save all my work in different ways for next years or to return back for when needed. 

This semester was full of obstacle because of corona, but our dr. encouraged us and keep on smiling even of all our questions and mistakes. 

Big thanks for you dr. Amal :)

My best application in online teaching

  Many applications are used in online teaching. These apps have many differences, but from my own experience I think that the best app to use during online teaching is zoom. 

  Using zoom helps a lot in sending the information  and explaining the lessons for all students in different ages. From my point of view, students need to see their teacher during her explanation as this will make it easier for them and for the teacher as well. 

 Students can annotate, send messages and record sessions. Teachers also can send these recordings later for them before exams. She can use many classroom tools which will make the session funny and active as students will interact with the teacher when she asks them to do an activity or anything else.... Many other beneficial features are available on this app. 

                                       

How to be a good teacher?

  In my point of view  good teacher should love her work at the first place, she has to consider that teaching is a holly message and she has to deliver this message safely and be sure that her students are alright...

  When I was a child, I used to play the role of a teacher and I taught my dolls nd toys as I pretend to be my school's teacher.. Yes, it was funny but I like that moments.

  Now, after I finished my BA, I recognized that teaching is not easy as a piece of cake, it's hard as a rock.. I mean that if you don't know how to deal with students who come from different cultures and backgrounds...

  My rules to  succeed as a teacher:

• to be patient
• to have passion
• has the ability to solve problems
• deal with different cases
• help students
• build important relationships
• integrate with parents
• be interesting
• know your pedagogy
• be concise
• be wise
  

These are the main point for me to succeed and be a great teacher....

Teachers are superheroes... they are mind makers.

Private VS Public schools

 Why did the private schools got over public schools in Lebanon?

Corona pandemic in Lebanon showed the weakness of the Lebanese public schools concerning online and internet uses. Lebanon is a poor country that faced many problems on all levels and stages. 

 Economical issues and bad political management caused different problems in schools, students were the victims! Many teachers from those who are teaching now in public school are not qualified as others should retire and keep the way for new faces who can deal with this generations and know the importance of using technology in teaching/learning procedures.

  On the other hand, private schools are fighting just to be in the first place in online teaching all over Lebanon, not because of their responsibilities and duties toward their students, they are doing all this for financial concerns. Each school is seeking for the best platform to work on during Covid-19 for the sake of their selves only...…

English is my passion.

 When I was a little girl I used to say that I will be an English teacher. My parents said that all children say something and change their minds on the next day. From my early childhood until now, I love English teachers. 

 I remember that, when I return back home, I used to repeat the lessons in my own way as I act that I'm a teacher. Years passed quickly, and now I'm a linguistic English teacher. Teaching is my passion, or it's better to say that English is my passion! 

 I like to read everything about this language and discover more and more.. I feel excited when I learn a new word or term that I can use in my teaching career. Yes, many times I act as a little child who gets a reward because he is smart.

 I can write a book about English and my long adventure with this language. but the main thing that I believe in that I will not stop until I feel that there is nothing more to learn more in this language.

 I teach with passion, love and faith since teaching is a holly message...                                    

        

Methods used in learning/teaching online

 This year was full of obstacles. 2020 was the worst year the world has witnessed. we faced many problems and diseases. Online teaching/learning is taking all people's attention.

 As a teacher, I recognized the importance of being at school with my students to explain and understand their ideas or behaviors. I used many kinds of methods and procedures to deliver my idea or point. I asked for help from other teachers, I search online and I used all the available tools to finish my lesson.

 Many apps were beneficial,  zoom for example is from the best apps I have ever used, it helps a lot in explanation as I can show my students what I'm doing on my screen as they can annotate as well when I ask them to do. 

 

  

parents misunderstanding for online teaching

Online teaching and parents interaction with the school.

 

  After the pandemic of corona virus, students were obliged to stay home and follow up with their teachers through online teaching. Teachers, parents and students are not familiar with these new procedures and because of that many problems were obtained.

  Parents at the first place are not happy with this situation, many of them keep on nagging and criticizing teacher's work and that what drives me crazy most of the times. They think that the lesson video takes less than and hour, then the teacher relax the rest of her day and they face troubles with their children. The truth is that and from my own experience in creating online videos or by preparing these videos I recognized that teaching 10 classes is much more easier than creating and online video to explain for students and be sure that they understand my point.

   Schools and teachers are fighting to protect the school year and student's future, but many of the children's parents don't understand this issue. 

  Moving from traditional learning methods to online was very hard on all sides but the important point is that parents have to understand that it's very hard for teachers to search everyday for new methods in order to introduce their lessons. 

   It is a big fight and a strong challenge but we have to work together to arrive safely. Yes, teachers are the facilitators for learning but parents are also the first step for their kids.

     

  

  

covid-19 and teaching

 How Covid-19 makes teaching reading harder?

Covid-19, reading, and books are not friends. 

Wearing masks at school, social distancing and million of young children are learning online at home, teachers have to find new ways and new methods to tackle literacy and teach reading. 

I used to send my students videos with my sound and picture to pronounce the words correctly. for example, for first graders, they practiced on reading words with short o sound were words as mop, top and hop are displayed on a Microsoft sheet or document as I read the words sound by sound.

YouTube helped me a lot in finding simple videos that help me in encouraging students to read and pronounce. 

I keep on saying " Look at me", I'm reading for you , please focus..... 

Corona virus pandemic has brought a host of many new challenges in teaching procedures and skills especially reading. i Can't roam in the class anymore, I can't keep and eye on their fingers pointing on the word I'm reading for them.  I really miss these moments and Covid-19 keeps on going and killing as an expert.... 

Reading is considered from the most important skills for students to get.  I'm fighting to send my skills and my points for them, I feel very bad for them and I wish to be next to each one of them......

Laptop screens are not enough for teachers to teach Reading... Corona is killing our minds but we have to fight and work together all over the world to end up this disaster!

  

  

my experience with online teaching

My experience with online teaching.

  This year was full of obstacles. if I want to talk about last year, I can say that it was a surprise to know that we are facing a strong enemy.. we can't fight with a weapon or with a word... this enemy is killing us and affecting our health.

These kinds of fights need mind and protection. yes, we have to protect ourselves with sanitizers and masks. Moreover, it was a new experience for us to teach using online methods especially in Lebanon. Lebanon is one from the poor countries which without any disease or worldwide problem, faces many obstacles and problems due to it's bad politicians. 

My students were annoyed because of our online classes since they can't be together in the class and drive me crazy :P it was really very bad start, also not all students can access our class or even has a phone or a laptop to keep with us.

Online teaching is a good experience but it should be with high and professional skills and instruments that should be available for all the Lebanese students.

I feel bad to see my students far from me.. I love being at class with them and share ideas as they play and laugh together. Covid-19 is killing us but we have to fight and stay safe...