Creating a killer ESL Blog!

I have created this webquest for my ESL Lab class and it is a perfect activity for any Intermediate to Advanced ESL students who need to get familiar with the concept of blogging and start sharing their own work through ESL personal blogs. While designing the lesson plan to go with this webquest, I was following the latest 2007 TESOL and NETS standards:

According to the new, 2007 TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Technology Standards for Students and Teachers , ESL students should:
o   be able to use basic operating system and browser functions and use available input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, printer, headset, microphone, media player)
o   demonstrate strategic competence as users of technology.
o   understand that communication conventions differ across cultures, communities, and contexts.
o   appropriately use available technology-based language skill-building tools
o   appropriately use available technology-based tools for communication and collaboration
o   recognize the value of technology to support autonomy, lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

While planning and designing their activities, ESL teachers should:
·         demonstrate knowledge and skills in basic technological concepts and operational competence, meeting or exceeding TESOL technology standards for students in whatever situation they teach.
·         identify and evaluate technological resources and environments for suitability to their teaching context.
·         design and manage language learning activities and tasks using technology appropriately to meet curricular goals and objectives.
·         evaluate and implement relevant technology to aid in effective learner assessment.
·         use communication technologies to maintain effective contact and collaboration with peers, students, administration, and other stakeholders.
 

NETS standards
According to NETS Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences, teachers should:

1. design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.
   
2. apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.
   
3. identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.
   
4. plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.
   
5. plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.

To get started, you can read the powerpoint presentation I created to put together the most important tips on teaching ESL students how to create a blog on Slideshare :

 http://www.slideshare.net/daniMD/creating-a-blog-activity-for-esl-students 

If you are curious to see my students' work, you can read our ESL Class Blog:

http://dvmunca.blogspot.com/

or check on each of my students' individual ESL Blog they had to create as a final project for the 2006-2007 Fall semester in the ESL program at the University of Mississippi: 

Mohannad   http://mohannadsblog.blogspot.com/

Keizo      http://keizo-trivia.blogspot.com/

Nadera     http://alkoor.blogspot.com/ 
                  
Pauline    http://po-esl-usa.blogspot.com/ 

Alex       http://kakacaoz.blogspot.com/ 
              
Kelly      http://kellylab.blogspot.com/ 
Gabi       http://gabilupocketsize.blogspot.com/ 
               
Ji-Hee     http://jihee-jun.blogspot.com/

 Video-Interview "Using Blogs in the ESL Classroom"

This is a short video interview of my students sharing their ideas related to how they used their blogs to improve their English skills and share their culture with the rest of the world.

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3063e419773b4f310fc2