The lesson I found in the SMART created library was “Christmas Word Fun”. I like this lesson because of the following reasons:

Firstly, the background of “Christmas Word Fun” is very proper, vivid, creative, and attractive. It is easy to engage students’ mind. Secondly, the content is very complete and organized; students can follow the lesson step by step. For example, students can not only learn the words by searching the on-line dictionary, but also take various practices to solidify their knowledge by themselves. In other words, students can learn by themselves and review instantly. I think this teaching method can enhance learning efficiency quickly and immensely. At last but not least, my favorite part in “Christmas Word Fun” is writing part. Teacher asked students to write a paragraph that used at least six words from the Christmas vocabulary list. By this method, students can know how to implement these words, how to relate these words to their real life, and remember them much better and longer.

    The two articles I read are “Teens, Video Games and Civics” and “Escape from Planet Jar-Gon, or What Video Games Have to Teach Academics about Teaching and Writing.” Though these two articles are related to games facially, both of them reflect the true meaning of education. I generalize it as education is enjoyable and engaged, rather than boring and horrible. Usually, people think learning only happening in the school. However, learning is ubiquitous; students can learn from various channels, such as games. Additionally, education is not just about teaching and learning the content. Students also need to learn learning skills, thinking patterns, exploration, and social reactions. All of these parts are essential for real education.

    Learning is a long journey. On this trip, students should try new things, persevere, take risks, and practice constantly. Simultaneously, the useful education can help students to form their beliefs, stimulate them to test and revise their beliefs continually. Except students’ own efforts, meaningful education can offer students the clear guidance, opportunities of making decision, specific goals, alternate paths, and rewards. Students should know where they are, where their destination (goal) is, how to reach the goals, and what paths they need to pass on the journey. Finally, I believe the real meaning of learning requires students can relate their experience to the real world. These are the implications for education in my eyes-engaged, explorative, and practical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6n3ca-Twjw

I have inserted my mini lesson into YouTube. Enjoy it. Thanks.

Personally, I think both Wiki projects and Webquests have their own merits. One is a “teacher-guide” on-line classroom; the other one is “everyone-involved actively” on-line classroom. But if I were asked to choose only one of them in my classroom, I think I would choose Wiki projects.

Wiki project offers everyone, including teachers and students, a platform to participate. Though it has not had a structure like Webquest, it can let everyone brainstorm; even teacher can join students’ groups, which stimulates active interaction between teacher and students. In this big community, plentiful communication is guaranteed. Furthermore, instead of the resources are preselected by teachers, students can look for any resources they think are useful for them. This method can encourage students to learn more actively and deeply. By using Wiki in the classroom, all of people can not only access the website, but also edit the content on the website. Therefore, every students has chance to speak their mind out, no matter he/she is shy or not. Of course, the most attractive thing of Wiki for me is everyone can check history. This function is very convenient for everyone to see what happened in the whole process. With Wiki, teacher can track students’ mind whenever, wherever.

In a word, I prefer Wiki to Webquest. Accordingly, in my PBL project, I combine both Webquest and Wiki. Except offering students some guidance and pre-selected materials, I also ask students to create a Wiki space that belong to them.

Guang is me.

The first article: http://growchangelearn.blogspot.com/2007/09/if-this-is-your-first-ple.html

The second article: http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/2007/03/why-i-love-ples-and-hate-vles-or-lmss.html

VirtualDub was developed by Avery Lee as a general purpose tool to access Video for Windows in order to capture, encode and decode video footage. Its quality, simplicity and efficiency make it invaluable for both capture and encoding video footage in Windows. I have downloaded VirtualDub and tried it carefully. It is a real practical and multi-functional tool.

I believe VirtualDub can incorporate into classroom perfectly. Using video in the classroom can not only offer convenience for both teachers and students, but also change the traditional learning style. For example, in the science class, teacher can use a short video to introduce content for students since teaching with vision, sound and words can impress students more deeply. In addition, students can capture video, pictures or sounds when they have fieldtrip, which can stimulate students’ interests and improve their observe abilities. After fieldtrip, students can conclude the knowledge by using VirtualDub to edit anything they like. They can show what they have learnt, what their reflections are, and what their doubts are by showing their videos or pictures.

In my PBL project, I will ask students to introduce Chinese culture for foreigners. In the activity, students could go to Chinatown to capture and edit a short video about anything they like to introduce, and then post it on the public website. No matter learners or readers, they can know the information from multi-facet.

My PBL is designed for 8^th grade students, named “Live in China”. In this class, I wish my students could discover China by themselves. This PBL’s purposes are developing students’ interests in the study of China, using various technologies for advanced exploration of China and learning information about Chinese culture. My driving questions for students are: 1. How about living in China? 2. What would be the best part about being a Chinese? 3. How to make a foreigner comfortable to live in China? At the end of this class, I will ask students to imagine all of them are Chinese who work in China International Culture Exchange Center and they have to create a brochure called “The Life in China” to introduce China for foreigners. This whole process will cost students one month to finish.

Blogging changes the traditional teaching and learning model.

Firstly, blogging builds a learning network. By this network, students can access learning materials whenever and learn from each other. The knowledge is never limited in the classroom and the books. Secondly, blogging creates a discuss platform for both teachers and students. Everyone can offer their comments for other people whenever, wherever. Not only students can express their own opinions, but also teachers can master students’ mind at any time. At last but not least, blogging establishes a community for everybody. In this big community, students have equal chances to involve in discussion no matter he/she is shy. They have enough opportunities to express themselves. In a word, blogging really changes the traditional classroom, which is important and essential.

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