Unit 3 - Developing the project

My idea is to implement a project that is in some ways similar to the one I shared with teachers and pupils form a Madrid school a few years ago. This is, once again, the link to the project.

This post will address the challenges of this unit: I will introduce

a. my assessment of the most common strengths and weaknesses I have seen in the project, and

b.the extent to which I  think that all this activity will be useful to prepare the final version of the project.

a. Strenghths

1. As I see it, the project objectives are clear:

The idea is to foster communication IN ENGLISH among teachers and pupils from Spain (schools from other countries might want to join, too) and Israel. This collaboration will surely help pupils improve their command of English and, no less important, use ITC.

The following images, which have been captured from the original project, may further  illustrate my points:

The following are motivating topics that engage those who participate in the project: 

Teachers involved in developing and bringing the new project about may decide to add new possibilities. 

The possible outcome is quite positive:

As teachers of English as \foreign language, those of us involved may agrre on ways to help our pupils both communicate and improve their English. We can work along the pattern followed in the original project so as to keep communication fluid:

Eloisa herrero has revied the original project and come out with rather positive conclusions - Link

2. I find using (and teaching) ITC easy, and that is a strenghth.

Weaknesses

1. The choice of a platform

We need  a platform that is more suitable than Facebook. While Edmodo might do, I would rather use a platform provided by E-Tweening because it offers more possibilities.

2. The choice of pupils from my school

This is a problem I have but can solve: During next school year, I will not be teaching those pupils from my school who might join the project. In other words, I will not be their English teacher. This means that I will involve at least one ore teacher from my school, and pupils who will be studying with different English teachers. This problem, however, can be turned into an opportunity: pupils participating in this project will have it as an "extra" activity. I have received approval from the school to try to turn this project into a reality. 

When i know there are partners, things will be clearer and i will be able to act at school accordingly. At Kugel High School, we are open to this new experience.

b. I think this activit, namely assessing strenghths and weaknesses,  will be useful to prepare the final version of the project.