WEEK 8
This week we have done some research on different web resources, I have learned how to create a survey with Google drive, for instance. Something I find quite interesting. There are a lot of good resources, which are visually very appealing for both, teachers and students; and which can make a difference to the way I do my job. I practiced with crosswords made up of words which are part of the vocabulary of the lessons: one of my students' favorite activity. I usually tell the students to work in pairs, and then I give them half of a crossword each. My students have a lot of fun defining and guessing words. These tools are going to be very useful for me in the future.

Then I went ahead with my final project, which I think it is getting more and more complex. I designed a whole year plan to implement new technology in my classroom. I will work technology as part of three collaborative projects to be done for each term. I will start with a very guided project where students have to post a recording of a one-minute story based on an Edward Hopper's painting, connected with the first unit of work, which is developed around narrative tenses and the parts of a story. The students will be working for several weeks until they hand in the final draft of their project by the end of the first term. The second project will be a 2-minute recording of a holiday itinerary around our city, connected to the unit of work "Holidays." to be handed in by the end of the second term. As to the third project, since students at the end of the year have to sit a B1 certificate exam; and there is an oral part with a three-minute monologue in it, the third project won't be guided, students will choose a topic covered in the academic year, and they will prepare a three-minute talk, similar to the monologue which is asked in the exam, about the topic. The students will be in charge of reviewing the first drafts of their peers, to later hand in the final recording of a three minute oral presentation. Every student will be able to access the others' projects, because they will be posted on the virtual classroom.

I have also checked my partner's project, and I have received Megumi's comments about mine. Thank you very much, Megumi; your review has been of a great help to improve my final report.

As we get closer to the end of the course, I think I have a clearer idea of what I want to do in my lessons regarding technology from now on. I have always worked with technology in my lessons, though my class has always been a one-computer classroom. I have always used moodle or edmodo to have virtual classrooms where students can post or interact, and improve their language skills with extra materials related to the topics of work in the course units. However, the idea of working speaking outside the lessons, with the aid of vocaroo is new to me, and I think I can be successful with my students in helping them speak more. Just the fact that they have to record and listen to their voices is very good for them, and would be enough; but they even have plenty of time to edit and revise the contents of their recordings. I think my students are going to enjoy this new form of work.

Begoña
Spain