“Yes I can!” Empowering Student Learning #Activity 5

MODULE 1

Reflect and share

Try to think of your own students: Can you share the story of one student who struggled to get good grades, but succeeded in another field? How did you / could you help the student?

Tatiana was 13 at the time. She was the typical shy, introverted girl that would be invisible in most classes. She spoke in a low tone of voice and her grades were barely satisfactory. One day I had to start preparing for the School Xmas party which involved DECISION MAKING, ORGANIZATION, ICT SKILLS. I then had the opportunity to see another Tatiana. She was definitely holding herself back until the chance came to step into her comfort zone. She excelled in all tasks that had to be performed. At a point the whole class was relying on her decisions and taste. The soundtrack for the show was all her do: she chose the songs remixed them and set the timings. No one in that class did ever look at her the same way. Ahh, her voice was sound and clear all the way through the process! 
This was the opportunity she had probably been waiting for. Her chance to shine. She got the class’ respect which helped shape her change of attitude as well.
Tatiana later became a Fashion Designer. 

As a teacher I did nothing but allow her to explore new areas. That was all.

“Yes I can!” Empowering Student Learning #Activity 4

MODULE 1

Reflect, share and respond

Both videos mention some concrete ideas such as the slogan “consumption, production, participation”, the importance of (online) communities, and moving from the teacher asking all the questions to the students asking their own questions. Starting from those ideas, what would you like to do to empower your students to learn? Try to describe 1 or 2 concrete ideas that you could implement in your own classroom.

1. I always use PBL in my classes. Despite teaching a foreign language there’s always room for them to work collaboratively and interdependantly
2. I sometimes flip the classroom and let them learn by themselves adn bring their questions into the classroom later. I record videos explaining a grammatical item, for instance, they watch at home and we do some practice in class. That’s the moment when all questions come up

“Yes I can!” Empowering Student Learning #Activity 3

MODULE 1

Reflect & share

Think again about the examples of your own learning that you provided. How do you think different learning settings could be linked better, generally speaking and specifically for your students?

1. Linking formal with non-formal: students can learn specific content in class and then the tutor provides extra activities that can be performed at home, at their own pace. Eg: in a web platform students watch an ‘assigned’ video and comment/ answer questions interacting with their peers. As long as it it is not made (too…) compulsory or liable to be assessed otherwise it turns into a formal activity

“Yes I can!” Empowering Student Learning #Activity 2

MODULE 1

Reflect and share

Think of three instances when you learned something in a formal, non-formal or informal way

Formal:

In a language school where I learned a foreign language

Informal:

Tutorials I watch to tackle webtools I like to use in class

Non-Formal:

Workshops for teachers abroad

“Yes I can!” Empowering Student Learning #Activity 1

by European Schoolnet Academy

MODULE 1

#ACTIVITY 1

I would say my students like to be challenged.
With long syllabus and exam oriented systems as we have here in Portugal, having time to actually KNOW our students proves to be a hard task. 5 years ago I started doing  exchanges with other schools and english courses abroad. I then realised how important those moments out of school were. Train, plane trips were the perfect spot for long, fruitful conversations and thereafter I haven’t stopped engaging my students in these exchanges , be it private or Erasmus. This is the kind of informal learning no  classroom is able to provide. This is the kind of experience that is never forgotten and most times sets a mark in their lives. This is the kind of opportunity I can get to see the other side of my students: some are quiet, shy and insecure inside a classroom but in this context, show a lot of maturity and skills I wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see. It is unbelievably enriching and fulfilling and really life changing