This is Xiao Liu, or Engish name Rachel. I understand it is hard for Americans to pronounce my Chinese name.
I graduated from college and got my bachelor degree in China 2003. My major is Chinese Language and literature Education. After that I had been teaching Chinese language for 5 years in China at a middle school. I came to the States in 2008 through an American College Board program. I taught Chinese language in Brownsburg East Middle School during the school year 2008-2009, and then a Colorado high school during 2009-2010.
Since I have been in education area for 7 years. I saw more and more technology are putting in use in this area. For example, I learned some softwares in college, when I started teaching, I used ppt a whole lot, almost in every class. Also I added some flash or music to the ppts. My students loved my class for they enjoy the colorful and beatiful environment and sometimes the multi-media showed something really funny. As the techology develops fast, I learned how to make Flash and how to make some simple program with computer. Last year when I taught at a high school in Colorado, they use smart board in their classroom. I designed some little games for students to learn Chinese and let them come to the smart board to operate the device. Students were so excited, because teachers don't usually let students use the board often. I have asked students to write a short passege about themselves in Chinese and read it out loud, for I have couple of students, sometimes they need to practice reading it, if we do this in class, it takes very long time . I asked students to practice many times by themselves, when they were ready, call my classroom phone number and record their reading to my voice mail at night, so I can check with everyone's pronounciation when I was free in my classroom. It saved our time, and we will never lose their voice, later I played their voice in class and they felt it was fun. I try to make diiferent ways to make my class fun all the time, because kids are easy to get bored. I realized more and more that technology is one of the most important ways to active kids' interest for learning. So teachers should master a lot of technology resouces and have the ability to find out more appropriate technology to suuport our teaching.
Come on in Technology Times!
You have had wonderful travels so far...and seems like lots of experiences! I enjoyed reading your ideas in technology...at one of my teaching jobs, I was trained for SMART boards, and I thought they were so neat! There are times where I wish I had access to one, because my students love the computer...and I think they would enjoy something like that in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right, Xiao. Students are very much inspired when the mode of instruction involves technology. I admire your awareness of their needs and your ability to utilize your knowledge to enhance the learning of your students. I am truly amazed at the increase in the level of participation when using technology.
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