The First Week Reflection

The letter regarding Class Opening information of the Interactive Web online course Winter 2012  was received on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 4.30 in the morning, Indonesian time from the UO AEI (University of Oregon - Linguistic Department American English Institute).This online course has been rewarded by RELO (Regional English Language Office) under the American Embassy in the country. I am so grateful for this acceptance from this university so there will be wide opened opportunity for me and English teachers around the globe who have been previously registered  to build their skill through the Interactive Web. On top of that the improvement in English teaching approach is going to be relatively equal in almost all countries.
 
I considered that from Monday until the end of this week as a wake-up call, which gives some self evaluations and self-assessments to what have been done in my class. I also learned a lot from the tutor who has explained every problem that the students face in a supporting and respectful way so that participants are somehow motivated to study on their own phase. The reading resources provided by UO AEI during this orientation week ease the process in comprehending a lot of tasks which actually stated clearly in ample explanations. At the time, we did not understand even a basic term like Blog, the UO provided  us with Word document  (rules and rubrics), PDF files on know how and websites of practical examples to solve our curiosity.The communication between tutor to participants and participant to participant are accommodated by nicenet where the topic of discussions has been assigned prior to the conferencing session.


The awareness of using tools such as Nicenet, Wiki page and Blog like this one believed to be a good initial route toward a well developed online course. It is surprising that we could make comments to a real stranger a week ago as easy as giving comments to our classmate. That is unconsciously said on the second point of the ground rules for our discussion that  everyone should feel safe here because we respect each other.

The first week assignment has also made it possible for browsing and visiting some  inspiring sites to facilitate English teachers in delivering their material to student in a better interaction. Now, many ideas come around from the vast provision of the English resources easily accessed by English teachers including the one in the remote areas. Colorful pictures, videos, sounds have given Web novice teachers a space to imagine how a modern virtual classroom teaching in front of them.

 I have expectation that I will be able to achieve my objective which is relatively in line with the learning goal of this program. I rest my mind with my anonymous quote as "Hope make things work and Love make things beautiful".

I look forward to welcoming you and your comments soon.