Last week my Spanish 3 students utilized the Smart Recorder app to record their 5 minute conversations on a variety of topics in the target language. Afterwards, they listened to the recording and reflected individually on their oral proficiency, using a proficiency rubric that was created by our world language department. (The rubric was developed by using the ACTFL guidelines for oral proficiency.)
The great thing about this activity is that it allowed students to really focus on their speaking abilities and reflect with greater precision. I will be implementing this activity more in the future to allow students to become more comfortable speaking in the target language, to help them improve their oral proficiency, and to become better at self reflecting and self correcting.
This school year had both it's challenges and amazing moments! The beginning of the year was a little rocky as we spent time figuring out the devices, glitches, procedures and other surprises that came our way. However, the benefits and high points of implementing a 1:1 Pulaski Community School District 21st Model Classroom most definitely outnumbered the obstacles! I have laid out some of the new 'tools' implemented in my classroom this year, student favorites (based on their informal feedback), and goal/ideas for next year....
New tools implemented this year:
Class Blogs - A daily post was made each day to each blog that included the lesson, videos, links, activities, and any other resources needed by students.
Class Dojo - Used to track student participation in the target language
A SmartBoard and SMART software
Video Documentation of new tools used in the classroom
Youtube - used to upload all of the videos created throughout the year
New Performance Based Assessments
Google Forms to assess listening
Google Voice - Used for speaking assessments
Google Docs for collaborative writing assignments/projects
Gmail - Used with students for 24/7 communication and for assessment purposes.
Quizlet for online vocabulary activities
Student Favorites:
Class Blog!
Their own individual blogs
Video Lessons
Interactive Reading Activities
Online discussions via TodaysMeet and Soapbox
Google Forms
Google Docs
Google Voice
Quizlet
Choice in Learning/Individualized Learning!
Goals/Ideas for Next year:
Re-design the classroom setup and create a more collaborative learning environment!
Twitter Accounts for Students - Class created hashtags for discussion. / Open class walls to have discussions with other Spanish Classes & Spanish speakers. / Create an additional opportunity to teach about digital citizenship / Provide discussions in target language outside of the designated class period
Enhance Individual Student Blogs and create more student discussion between each other's blogs.
Increase Problem Based Learning Units
Increase Performance Based Assessments
More meaningful cultural lessons
Tie other curricular areas into lessons to create deeper understanding and meaning
TPR Storytelling Activities for each unit
Increase use of Google Apps for assessments and activities
I have used Google Forms many times in the past for checking understanding of a concept, surveys, etc. Today, I used them for a different reason.... to pre-check knowledge and transition into the next lesson. I created a form with various multiple choice questions, open answer questions and a reflection piece to see how well students felt they knew the information related to the lesson we would be starting. Then, I analyzed the information collected by the Google Form and analyzed it to help me plan instruction to better fit student needs.
Here is a video of students completing the form.
My Google Form - This particular form was used to obtain info. on how well students knew and thought they knew the meanings of different conjunctions before starting a lesson on the subjunctive with adverb clauses.
