drop into my deep blue yonder... » autonomous learning http://words.edublogs.org English for non-native speakers, learning for the 'very able' and e-learning Sun, 16 Sep 2007 09:09:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 aids to meaningful learning http://words.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/learning-helpful-or-pointless/ http://words.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/learning-helpful-or-pointless/#comments Sat, 15 Sep 2007 04:36:42 +0000 words http://words.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/learning-helpful-or-pointless/ I visited a workshop led by Rüdiger Iwan the day before yesterday. What I took away from that workshop was a re-examination of several key issues in school education: the role of homework, the nature of correction of pupil’s work and the link between the concept of portfolio and apprenticeship.
Homework
I think that homework can successfully fulfil its purpose only if the following criteria are met:
- the day in school (including travelling time) is short enough for the pupil to have a healthy balance of exercise, rest and fun as well as doing the homework
- the homework has a clearly defined purpose perhaps initiated by the teacher but negotiated with the pupil – that is to say the pupil ‘owns’ the reason for that homework
- it clearly advances the preparation for what is coming or rounds up what has been a successful learning experience thus far
- it reflects or extends an interest base the pupil already ‘owns’
Teacher’s correction of pupils’ work
There is little to be gained from correcting all of the errors in a long text written by a pupil. Far better to focus on one, two or three specific errors and agree in a dialogue with the pupil a path towards eradicating those errors. There needs to be a path forward linked to a sense of achievement for the pupil. The nature of the correction is important too. I favour marking the language errors with text marker and allowing the pupil to reflect on what is wrong. First of all alone, then, as one of a pair or a small group. In my experience 90% of errors can be corrected in this way in EFL work.
Pupils’ correction of their own work
When pupils have written a text which has been corrected by whatever means then the rewriting of that text is a cause for satisfaction and achievement because it mirrors the creation proves itself in which amendment follows amendment until satisfaction is achieved. It is the iterative process of the creative artist.
Portfolio
If the pupil maintains a portfolio of his/her quality work then this is a powerful card to play in succeeding at interview. A much more powerful card than any piece of paper containing exam results. portfolioIt demonstrates clearly, visibly and powerfully what a person can do. The exam results open the door and get you an interview; the quality portfolio clinches the job as artists have always known.

]]> http://words.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/learning-helpful-or-pointless/feed/ 0 autonomous learning workshop http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/autonomous-learning-workshop/ http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/autonomous-learning-workshop/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:32:36 +0000 words http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/autonomous-learning-workshop/ We started off with seventy different themes posted on a display board. They were what we considered to be our first thoughts about necessary prerequisite skills for effective autonomous learning. Our goal over the coming weeks is to group them effectively, decide when they should be taught (and later reinforced) and by whom in which area of the curriculum. After brainstorming the categories were as follows:Personal Management, Work Organization, Learning Techniques, Presentation Skills, Learning Types, The Role of Reflection in the Learning Process and Balanced, Healthy Learning.

We assigned these as preparation tasks to individuals (or pairs) to present. Our overall aim is to assure the quality of the learning skills which the pupils are taught, embed them transparently in the curriculum and use the whole as a refreshment learning workshop for our staff.

]]> http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/19/autonomous-learning-workshop/feed/ 0 autonomous learning http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/autonomous-learning/ http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/autonomous-learning/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:21:54 +0000 words http://words.edublogs.org/2007/08/10/autonomous-learning/ Having worked hard to ensure that we have popular functioning libraries and a computer room in our school (6-19 years) comprehensive, the next stage is to ensure that the students are properly equipped to make the most of their learning activities. Re-focusing on the topic of learning skills particularly those related to autonomous learning I realised that there is a wealth of information available. The most useful for my purposes are Hacking Knowledge in the online database library and Study Guides and Strategies from Joe Landsberger. So I had better get on and prepare our autonomous learning workshop for our staff for next Thursday.

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