Message Board

There are an ever-increasing number of tools available online that have the potential to enhance both language learning and teaching.  The challenge is to find those tools and to figure out how to use them. I created an online forum in 2003 called the CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication) Forum as a place where language teachers could share sites and/or online tools AND describe ways in which they might use them. The TESL Reading & Writing Forum: http://www.eslweb.org/cmcforum  It currently has over 350 members and over 2,000 posts. So far, pages from the forum have been viewed by over 1.4 million people from around the world, so the posts you make there will not just help you but many other teachers as well. Over the course of the semester, you will need to post your own ideas and/or lessons to the Forum AND also respond to some of the posts by your fellow teachers.  What should your posts be about? On many weeks the topic for the post might follow the theme for the week.  For example, if we are discussing ways that you might use something like QR codes, then you could brainstorm your own ideas, look online to find websites that already have ideas, or see if you can find some related technology that would be useful..  However, your posts do not need to follow the topic for the week.  Indeed, I would expect that many will not.  If you find or think of something that relates to CMC and language learning, but it does not fit with the theme for the week, post it. What can you post? As noted above, you may post materials you either find or come up with on your own.  However, DON’T ONLY post things you find.  Some of your posts must also be your own original ideas (just try for some balance—I won’t require a specific percentage of “found versus original”).  Also, if you do post something you find, you MUST provide an accurate bibliographic citation for the source of your materials. As far as specifics regarding “what” you can post, that is difficult!  Think about any topic you’ve seen in any technology book, heard mentioned in a news story or website, or just stumbled across.  It might be a new phone App that might be good for language learners, some great podcast you found that would apply, a new CALL program (e.g. Rosetta Stone type program), a cool new social network, etc.  Anything that "could" be useful for language learners or teachers!!!  I can say this—your posts could range anywhere from a single simple idea to full lesson plans.  Again, try for some balance in terms of post length. How many posts should you make?  You should make a minimum total of 7 “original” posts to the forum over the course of the semester.    These original posts are expected to be “substantial.”  In addition, you should respond to posts made by some of your fellow teachers each week. Note:  Posts to the forum should be written for a General Audience.  Remember-the majority of users are not from UIUC, so avoid saying things like “..as we talked about in class….” What is it worth?  200 points, or 20% of your course total  (consider this percentage when making your posts  ;-) When are they due?  Your posts will be done over the course of the semester—DO NOT wait until the end of the semester to do them all!!!  You MUST make at least 40% of your posts by the midpoint of the semester.  Also, I won’t grade any posts put up after the last day of the course—Tuesday, May 1st