Reflective writing

When we started ICT courses, I thought it would be the most boring course we have ever had. I supposed that we would learn only theoretical questions. During these five months, I became more advanced ICT user. During our classes, we have learned how useful can be ICT in language learning, I discovered for myself that it is much more efficient to improve language skills using various websites and language assessing sites. While the course took place I have learned about many websites, which provides students, who are learning second language, with essential materials like listening podcasts, grammar, reading and vocabulary tests, videos where there are strategies to study language efficiently and many other things. Besides all mentioned things, we also created our own blogs where we can write and share entries, different podcasts, files and images. Now at the end of the course I am glad to say that I am able to deliver information, projects and all my necessities via ICT.

During the course we were supposed to make the list of projects such as creating our blog, writing several entries based on our Internet researches, ppt presentations via prezi.com and wiki classroom in Wikispaces.com. In my point of view, my biggest achievement until this moment was the blog, as it was the only project, which required personal interest of single student, whereas in presentation we should give only facts. I have not started creating my wiki classroom, but I am in expectation of great job too. In these kind of assignments, we show our own creative, imaginative way of thinking and share our outlook with others, which can be useful in our future career as teachers.

First thing, I improved while making my projects was ability to understand computers better. It may sound strange but it is true, before the course I had some difficulties to deal with computers. These difficulties may appear in working with programs such as Power Point, Internet Explorer, of course I knew how to use them, but after ICT classes I have learnt creating more complicated presentations and use searching engines efficiently. One more development was in my typing abilities, which was not so good, but now I have quite well speed of typing. Besides mentioned below also I improved my language skills as I have passed tests like KET, FCE, which were very useful for my listening, reading and vocabulary skills.

As in every area we have obstacles, I had some problems too. When I created my blog via account in Google+ and wrote my first entry I had difficulties with publishing it, I have tried to publish it couple of times in my laptop, but it was impossible and then I was able to overcome the problem by publishing my entry through my cell phone. Now I have some difficulties in my wiki project, as I cannot consider what sort of information and which of my ready projects to include. I suppose solution of this problem is just consult with my teacher and decide what to choose.

To sum up I want to say that while creating various projects I have learned that we can gain knowledge not only from our teachers, but also by serving the Net and using modern technologies. Furthermore, this course gave me opportunity to improve my ICT abilities and I was able to better my language learning skills.