5th sesh

Here I am. Writing from the Computers classroom in the school. The class is doing an ICT activity -in concrete a Wikispace- to learn the irregular verbs. It is quite impressive the fact that a week ago I was sort of complaining of how nervous the students were during this class and the little attention they paid to the lesson. However, today at the computers lab they are working for the whole session without complains and, I'd say, enjoying while they do the exercises.

The wiki consists in different kinds of activities that revolve around the same: irregular verbs. You can find the typical fill the gaps, memo games, versus mode and so on. They can use the books and other materials because what is important here is that they are learning. The vast majority of the students learn better by doing visual exercises and having some sort of kinestetic motivation. While this wiki engages all what I've just said.

By doing the same but in different ways they come to internalize the verbs and the "sona bé o no sona bé" thing with them.

Seriously, comparing with last week lesson, you would think you are dealing with a whole different group. My tutor pointed out the importance of combining diverse types of exercises since there are diverse ways of learning: some students may be more visual, others by studing, repetition...And to do things like this Wiki in class (they can also check it at home) you are adressing various skills at once while they are having fun.

I am definetely trying my wiki (collective writing) when I'm implementing my unit. Will see.

I'm stoked of their behaviour and today's class made me really think about motivation and how to engage in activities they will be interested in.

That's it!