Un groupe très utile! (Mod 4, Post #2)

I found a group called Franco-American Educational Exchange Network on the social networking site Ning. This group was created for teachers of French and English in America and France to make connections with each other. The teachers can exchange communication and ideas on the subject of teaching or studying abroad, as well as connect their students with the students in the other country. I think this website is great because it facilitates communication between students in two different cultures who are learning about each other. The website offers links to other outlets such as Twitter and Facebook. Members also post links to various exchange programs and study grants for teachers. Once I have a classroom of students, I would love to set up an partnership with a French class where we could exchange information over the internet. This site would make that a reality quite easily.

Le chemin de fer (Mod 4, Post #1)

A learner is like a railroad tie.

Ok so this may sound weird but hear me out... In today's society where new tools are constantly being introduced into the educational sector, students are becoming more and more connected with each other and the outside world. Students become individual pieces (railroad ties) that are connected through a network of learning (railroad track). I think this analogy is especially appropriate when used with regard to the social networking craze that is so present in our student's lives. They love connecting with each other by "friending" and interact with each other in a whole new way online. This change can be seen in the classroom as well, with the addition of blogging and other new tools. In this article by George Siemens, the author points out that learning is no longer individually and internally based. Rather, learners are connected in a network where information is constantly being shared and altered by each learner. Siemens says, "Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements - not entirely under the control of the individual." The influence of others affects the learning process in a new way.

In this video, also by George Siemens, Siemens discusses the ways in which social media allows us to connect easily and effortlessly with each other. He describes how by having dialogues with others, "We ourselves grow in our knowledge. We grow in our own understanding of our own ideas sometimes." I completely agree with his philosophy of connectivism. I think that by interacting with others in the form of social media, learners are able to grow in their own understanding of concepts more than they would by learning in isolation. As a new railroad is being built and growing with each tie added to the line, new learners continue to alter and grow their networks when they interact together online. Being aware of this phenomenon and taking full advantage of its benefits is something that all educators should partake in.

L'Évolution du Temps (Mod 3)

Check out this cool video

While watching this video, one of the things that really stuck out to me was the number of Google searches this month: 2.7 billion! Google is always my first stop when I have a question and I use it frequently as an easy way to find websites when I do not know the exact address. The video asks where did we go for answers before Google? Although I had access to a computer and the Internet for most of my school career, I do remember being in grade school and using an encyclopedia to find information on various subjects. Do people still buy sets of encyclopedias? I would think not so much.

I like that the video focuses on global connectivity and the importance of evolving with the times. In a foreign language classroom this is especially appropriate as there are so many resources on the web that can be used to help connect a class with authentic culture of the target language. During one of my student teaching placements last year, I was able to do many Internet-based activities in class with the students because we had access to laptops. This completely changed the way I taught certain topics as compared with the way I taught in a school that did not have technology readily available in the classroom. This video has a great message in that we need to focus on how we are preparing our students to learn and be successful in the 21st century.

Soyez intelligent! (Mod 2, Blog post #2)

Il y a beaucoup de gens sur l'internet. Il est important que vous soyez prudent. Lisez et suivez ces regles de Mademoiselle! (There are a lot of people on the internet. It is important that you are cautious. Read and follow these rules from Mademoiselle!)

1. Utilisez seulement votre prénom. Use only your first name.
2. Ne donnez pas votre addresse, numéro de téléphone, ou date de naissance. Do not give your address, phone number, or date of birth.
3. Si quelqu'un vous demande à rencontrer, dites une adulte immédiatement. If someone asks to meet with you tell an adult immediately.
4. Soyez poli s'il vous plait et n'écrivez pas les choses insultant. Be polite please and do not write things that are offensive.
5. N'oubliez pas que toutes les choses que vous publiez sont publiques. Vous ne pouvez pas les reprendre! Do not forget that everything you post is public. You cannot take it back!

Amusez-vous et soyez prudent!

Blogging en français (Mod 2, Blog post #1)

I've decided to step up my game and run a more technologically advanced classe de français when I begin teaching next fall. This means I will be using student blogs as a form of journaling in the classroom. In the old days when I was in school, I wrote in a weekly journal to practice writing in French which I would then turn in to my teacher each Friday. She would read the newest entry, write a few comments, and return the journals on Monday. Now, in the year 2010, it's time to put that exercise into practice on the web!

I would start by having my students visit this blog to comment on one of my posts. This will get their feet wet with posting without asking them to create their own blog right at the start. I have created some sample questions in my previous posts. By asking students to analyze a song, picture, or text, I am ensuring that they use critical thinking and make connections between the content and their own lives. After students had a chance to explore my blog, I would ask them to create their own space where they could record their ideas and thoughts in a journal. This project could be used in the upper levels with a concentration on utilizing the target language, or in the lower levels with more of a cultural focus in English. For example, I would assign the students in French IV to choose a text that we had studied in class and analyze an aspect of the text in French. Students could write about the motivation of a character or the message of the author and comment on each other's posts. Lastly, I would also use the blogs as a way for students to create and publish their own content. By creating their own poems, stories, or songs and posting them online, students will be taking ownership for the content they create and share. A blog is also a great way to differentiate instruction by giving students a choice and some freedom in the way they choose to complete the assignment.

The National Standards for Foreign Language Learning advocate the use of the 5 C's in the classroom: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. A classroom community where we share content, comment on each other's posts, and make connections between the French culture and our own fulfills each of the 5 C's. Students will be communicating with me and each other in the target language. By responding to my posts that focus on the pop culture of France, students are making comparisons and connections between their culture and the target culture. Students are also utilizing the New York State Standards: 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication, and 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

Bienvenue au nouveau monde technologique de Mademoiselle J!