Importance of learning foreign languages

 our native language will be forever our pride and it is the language that we use among each other. however, learning a foreign language will increase our ability to communicate with one from culture different from ours. it is really important to have such knowledge and learn a new language you can use later on in your life, you might travel abroad and this would be extremely helpful for you being able to talk with the locals using their language so you won't feel any difference. they will accept as you are and even feel proud that you speak many languages. 

Now vs a year ago

As for teaching , a year ago , if I went to the university to attend a class, I had to depend on the notes i take. as for now, I can watch a lecture many times til i get the idea. as a teacher,  I can send my students any activity at any time . A year ago, before virtual learning and the tools that I learned about in this course, the students' presence was mandatory in order to complete a certain task or activity while now you prepare it online and send it online and grade it . that is the difference between now and a year ago , alot of things changed and i believe we are still coming on a bigger changes. 

Teaching online challenges

 teaching online was never an easy task for any teacher, specially in Lebanon, since we are all new to this experience, there are many challenges we might face while teaching online. calling a student name to get him on doing a certain activity or task and getting no reply is one of the major problems teachers might face . you can never make sure if these students are actually on task with the teacher or not because you are not physically there. on top of that,  the internet connection is so bad in Lebanon and we get a lot of complaints from students and their parents about the sound lagging and that the students didn;t hear my voice well and thats a major problem we face. 

Avoid problems when working online

Many students are very new to the idea of virtual learning , therefore they need some sort of mentor and training before they can start from their own. for instance , some students can t help it but to mess with the white board online until the teacher had to remove this option for everybody. i personally think students must be taught order as if they are in a regular class,  and they must commit to their turn and they will be fine. on top of that as i mentionned above, some training sessions must be taking into consideration as a guide so these students learn how to use such apps online. 

How to be a digital citizen

Each individual has his own personal life , however, nowadays each individual has a digital life other than his real life or what we can call virtual life. which is basically his life on social media , his personal accounts on the internet. being a digital citizen means sustaining ethical background whether when posting something on facebook or using the internet in general ..being a digital citizen means knowing whats right and whats wrong to do on the internet, knowing your own space, protecting your privacy and use internet for learning goals with an extended limit. 

Tools

many tools could be used in the learning process. mentimeter, pollseverywhere, and many other tools can form a great way to assess students and to get their attention in the beginning of each session. These tools could also be a way to make sure what each student understood from the lesson. These tools represent a statistical way which can view what students like andd dislikes about a certain lesson, also they could be used to revise or to do a brainstorming at the beginning of the session.

                       

   

Integrating technology in education

I believe integrating technology in education is essential these days. we should let the old traditional ways of teaching go and move forward to a technological experience where students feel free to choose their topics and work with passion without feeling bored about the process. therefore, integrating technology in education is very important, with one button ,the teacher or instructor is able to send his leaarners any link to read about soemthing or can assig a homework so they can work on. 

Educ 561

 What i enjoy?

This course is full pf new experiences, everytime i join a meeting, it is different from the previous. Besides, it is realy helful getting to know how to handle technology in teaching. this course is a wide door that enriches our knowledge about using media and technology i the learning process, it is really helpful to avoid frustration with students by using apps and tools that are easy and functional at the same time and serve the goal of teaching. 

What i wish would be different 

The only thing that bothers me the electricity problem, i wish the timing of this course was a bit late so i can watch the session from the begenning . it is just not me , many students are facing the same problem ,electricity nowadays became more like a dream to the lebanese people , besides , many students work at the same time the course is given , i salute everyone who is working hard and following up with this course and every other course to get his degree.