... Syllabus

Before to know more about materials, we saw the topic "syllabus" and now I try to explain this in simple words.

A syllabus is a document which consists of a list. In this list you see different things like: topics, words, structures, methods, etc.

Also, the syllabus generally has explicit objectives.  And that is very important, because for the teacher and students is necessary to know what is the focus to different units.

One important characteristic of syllabus is that it is a public document. Thus, not only the teachers see the syllabus available, also the learners and their parents. Or maybe the inspectors, school boards, etc.

Now, I show you characteristics of a syllabus:

1. Consists of a comprehensive list of:

• Content items ( words, structures, topics)
• Process items (tasks, methods)

2. ls ordered (easier, more essential items first)

3. Has explicit objectives (usually expressed n the introduction)

4. ls a public document

5. May indicate a time schedule

6. May indicate a preferred methodology o r approach

7. May recommend materials

And different types of language syllabus: 

Well, you can see more about this topic in module 12 (A course in Language Teaching)... is very interesting, no?

See you :)

:)

Then... I talk about the Syllabus!!

See you later... :)

¡ Supplementary materials !

I think that always in class is neccessary to use different types of tools for to teach something new. But now, I think that the internet is neccessary all the time because the students are connected and they enjoy to make activities in the computer.
In this post, I describe various types of supplementary materials and maybe you can select one for your class (what is more useful or important for you).

Also, you can see two links in each comment  in order to know real examples about the topic.

1.-  Podcast: A “podcast” is a buzzword to describe a very simple concept: an audio or video file available on the Internet for you to listen to and/or watch. A podcast can also refer to a series of these audio or video files (similar to how a TV or radio “show” can be a series of shows or just one show). When using the word “podcast”, most people refer to the entire series and not just one audio or video file (http://blog.podcast.com/podcastcom-faq/what-is-a-podcast/) 

This material is in the web like an example of educational podcast that are very popular:

• http://www.history.org/Media/podcasts.cfm
• http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/make_podcast/

2.- Wiki: A wiki is a server program that allows users to collaborate in forming the content of a Web site. With a wiki, any user can edit the site content, including other users' contributions, using a regular Web browser. Basically, a wiki Web site operates on a principle of collaborative trust. The term comes from the word "wikiwiki," which means "fast" in the Hawaiian language. 

A wiki allows a visitor to the "wikified" Web site to edit the content of the site from their own computer. Visitors can also create new content and change the organization of existing content. The simplest wiki programs allow editing of text and hyperlinks only. More advanced wikis make it possible to add or change images, tables, and certain interactive components such as games. (http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/wiki) 

Examples of educational wikis:

• http://21stcenturyskillsnmteachercourse.wikispaces.com/home

• http://kkps-r25.wikispaces.com/home  

3.- Webquest: A Webquest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning. This means it is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web. Beyond that, Webquest: can be as short as a single class period or as long as a month-long unit, usually (though not always) involve group work, with division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives and are built around resources that are preselected by the teacher. Students spend their time using information, not looking for it. (http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/) 

And the links are:

• http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/kimbrough/desert/
• http://www.education.umd.edu/Depts/EDCI/edci385/webquests3/Webquest1/webquest1.html

4.- Youtube videos: YouTube is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos. Unregistered users may watch videos, and registered users may upload an unlimited number of videos. Videos that are considered to contain potentially offensive content are available only to registered users 18 and older. In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google Inc. for $1.65 billion, and now operates as a subsidiary of Google. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube) 

Links:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_barTKxikvA
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQw3bUEvYLg&feature=related

 5.- Hot potatoes: The Hot Potatoes suite includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the World Wide Web. Hot Potatoes is freeware, and you may use it for any purpose or project you like. It is not open-source. (http://hotpot.uvic.ca/) 

Links:

• http://hotpot.uvic.ca/wintutor6/jquiz1.htm 
• http://www.iq.poquoson.org/hotpotatoes/famousvirginians.html

 6.- Audio-books: Audio books are, of course, books read aloud and recorded to be listened to on some kind of player. As sound technology has changed, audio books have changed, as well. No longer are they available only on volumes consisting of 14 or 15 vinyl LPs. Now, books are available on audio cassette or CD. 

 

Talking books are books created for the use of the visually impaired. They are produced in a variety of formats, and some need a special player to be used. Many visually impaired people are able to receive players free, and these machines enable them to play their talking books independently, without the help of a sighted person. CD technology has revolutionized the talking book industry, since data can be compressed to fit much more information on a single disc. Many talking book players will also play music CDs, so the visually impaired person has a multi-use machine. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-audio-books.htm)

The links are:

• http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video
• http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

7.- E-books: An eBook is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer or by using an eBook reader. (An eBook reader can be a software application for use on a computer, such as Microsoft's free Reader application, or a book-sized computer that is used solely as a reading device, such as Nuvomedia's Rocket eBook.) Users can purchase an eBook on diskette or CD, but the most popular method of getting an eBook is to purchase a downloadable file of the eBook (or other reading material) from a Web site (such as Barnes and Noble) to be read from the user's computer or reading device. Generally, an eBook can be downloaded in five minutes or less. (http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/eBook)

 

Links:

• http://www.ebooks.com/
• http://www.ebookdirectory.com/

8.- Forums: An online discussion group. Online services and bulletin board services (BBS's) provide a variety of forums, in which participants with common interests can exchange open messages. Forums are sometimes called newsgroups (in the Internet world) or conferences. (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/forum.html) 

And the links:

• http://www.managingonlineforums.com/exampleforums/ 

• http://www.trichview.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3

9.- Online newspaper/magazines:

Newspaper: an electronic newspaper is a self-contained, reusable, and refreshable version of a traditional newspaper that acquires and holds information electronically. (The electronic newspaper should not be confused with newspapers that offer an online version at a Web site.) (http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/electronic-newspaper)

Magazine:

An electronic version of a conventional magazine. Typically the content of an online magazine is the same as its conventional counterpart. However, it is often supplemented by devices such as MAILING LISTS, ONLINE CHAT, and DYNAMIC CONTENT. Such magazines are often known as EZINES (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-onlinemagazine.html) 

The links are:

• http://www.allyoucanread.com/education-magazines/ 
• http://www.amsterdamnews.com/ 
• http://www.time.com/time/

Well... that's all about this topic. Enjoy it !

See you :)

Materials (coursebook)

In class we talk about the materials and is important to know something about that. The term “coursebook” is used like a textbook, where the teacher and student have a copy and this element is like a base systematically for a language course.

Now I'm interested examining a real coursebook in accordance to criteria for coursebook assessment. The name of book is "Time for English" and it is used in 5th grade.

The examination has a list and I put note (scale from 0 to 7), where the 7 is a good result and the information is totally included in the coursebook and 0, where the result is null and the information is not included.

Criteria for coursebook assessment

Importance	Criterion
0	Objectives explicitly laid out in an introduction, and implemented in the material
6	Approach educationally and socially acceptable to target community.
7	Clear attractive layout; print  easy to read
7	Appropriate visual materials available.
7	Interesting topics and tasks.
7	Varied topics and tasks, so as to provide for different learner levels, learning styles, interests, etc.
7	Clear instructions.
5	Systematic coverage of syllabus.
7	Content clearly organized and graded (sequenced by difficulty)
0	Periodic review and test sections.
7	Plenty of authentic language.
5	Good pronunciation explanation and practice.
5	Good vocabulary explanation and practice.
5	Good grammar presentation and practice
5	Fluency practice in all four skills.
4	Encourages learners to develop own learning strategies and to become independent in their learning.
7	Adequate guidance for the teacher; not too heavy preparation load.
5	Audio cassettes.
7	Readily available locally.

 

Well, when we applying criteria with a this type of box, we learn more about what type of information is necessary for to understand clearly the topics... In this case, the textbook is worried in visuals elements, in grammar, that the content to be clear and organized. But in terms of objectives the book is not good, because this element is not explicitly laid and we know that this information is relevant for teacher and students.

Then, we think what important is the coursebook and the answer depends of the teacher and his teaching style. I think that the coursebook is necessary because thus we can have help in the case of programme (regulate and time the programme) and is important to have clear the aspects of the textbook that I work.

Then... I show you "supplementary materials"... see you!!

:)