Actually, I tried Nicenet and my University Forum as an exploring step to my students a couple of weeks ago. I also intended to try www.sties.google.com to have the class schedule. However, I thought it could be a bit too much for the first time and Robert also suggested focusing on 1 tool to perfect it.
I spent an hour introducing Nicenet to them with some of demo topic discussions. It seemed the students were still very confusing doing home assignment online. Some minor problems arising as some of the students were not wired at home. Some had problems with time management as they are now in their last year and there are too much work to be done. So far, there have been about 15 out of 25 students joining Nicenet class. (others asked for paper homework).
To start something very easy at first, I tried not to make anything complicated and not to asked them to speak pages. The purpose of the first week was to let them introduce to get to know one another. I did a small introduction face to face of what needs to be done in the first week with some clear guidance. I also encouraged them to join even with their nick name if they do not want to be known by others.
I focused on 2 pieces of information: Personal Information, Likes and Dislikes.
Look at the log of the below conversations:
FROM: The Pham (02/09/12 8:00 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]
SUBJECT: Self Introduction
[Reply]
Briefly Introduce yourself to the class with:
+ Some personal information
+ Likes and Dislikes
- FROM: van anh nguyen (02/15/12 6:30 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to van anh nguyen]SUBJECT: RE: Self Introduction
You don't reply my messeage.Why???
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Vu Duong (02/09/12 8:14 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to Vu Duong]
SUBJECT: Introduction
[Reply]
Hi,
My name is Vu Duong.
I am currently a student of HPU majoring Tourism.
I am at my 3rd year and i found my studies very interesting.
I love traveling and making friends with all kinds of people. This is also the reason why I chose my major "Tourism". I hope that I could have a good job as a tourist guide and I would have opportunities to travel to many places around the world. I also did expect to introduce Vietnam to the rest of the world.
My bad habit is biting my nails
Thank you for your reading and hope to to "see" you online.
regards,
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 5:55 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: Introduction
Hi Duong,
Great job.
I love the way you did your intruduction.
Keep doing good work.
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: yen nguyen (02/12/12 6:20 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to yen nguyen]
SUBJECT: FBI
[Reply]
hi beautyful girls and handsome boys ^^!
my name is Hai Yen. i very nervous... ^0^
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 5:58 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: FBI
Hi Yen,
It is scary to start a talk in a big group. I did English badly when I was in grade 10. Then I noticed one thing: If I dont try then I will be soon left behind.
So, try your best and good luck.
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: LienLili (02/12/12 7:46 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to LienLili ]
SUBJECT: About me
[Reply]
Hi my newfriends. Today I'm very happy when to talk to you about myself
I'm Lien, I'm come from HP. I'm 23years old and I learn culture and tourism department at HPU
I like travel and discovery culture and special things in country when I come. I like take photographes in that and eat special food
Everyday I go to school. I often listen to music or reading book at free time. Sometime I go out with my friend to go to the cinema or go to coffe shop to talk about our life
I dislike cook because I'm a bad cooker. But I like eat
I sing bored so I don't sing with crowd. I only sing when only I here
It's too late. I'm going to sleeping and I hope see you soon. Goodbye
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:03 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: About me
Hi Lien,
A very good start.
It's good to share your interests to the rest of the class.
Keep moving all the time
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Binh Luu (02/12/12 8:09 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to Binh Luu]
SUBJECT: No.4
[Reply]
Hi!
I'm Binh . I'm from HP , i like living in HP .
I'm 23 years old and I learn accountancy .
I like eat , sleep , playgames , meet my friends.
to see football , I'm very like Manchester United.
Thank you for your reading
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:05 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: No.4
Hi Binh,
Thank you for sharing.
Your introduction could tell much about you. Let's share and to be shared.
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Linh Vu (02/12/12 9:09 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to Linh Vu]
SUBJECT: 123
[Reply]
Hi everybody
I'm Linh , one of some students are ALWAYS late for class haha.
I like nothing and i don't like everything.
My life is so boring and empty .
So, that's all of me
I'll try writing longer about by myself again .
See U !
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:13 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: 123
Hello Linh,
Life is not an easy thing to define. There are 3 factors that make you happy. Let's see what they are:
1. Satisfy with what you have2. Optimistic3. Having Good relationships
So, be happy with what you have and think about making it better.
Joining a group learning together will bring you more fun.
Cheers,
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: dao lien (02/13/12 1:36 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to dao lien]
SUBJECT: introduction
[Reply]
hello!!! lady and gentleman .
I'm Lien , come from HP city . I'm 23 year old. I'm currently a student studing in HP Private University , majoring accounting and auditing .
I like making friends with everybody, shopping , watch TV and eat . I always listen to music ,cook ( although I'm a bad cooker), sing , reading book at freetime . Weekend ,I sometime walking the park , meet my friend , cinema , play a joker.
I dislike liar ,I hate betray because it's make me sad .
Until , my english still very very bad . I hope you help me better.
Thanks for you reading !
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:16 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: introduction
Hello Lien,
You are doing good job of introducing yourself.
Yes, the reason of setting up this class is to help each other and to build up stronger relatioship between students.
Keep moving together.
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: van anh nguyen (02/13/12 3:34 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to van anh nguyen]
SUBJECT: Introduce myself
[Reply]
Hi everyones!!!Nice to meet you^^
My name is Vân Anh.I live in Hai Phong.I'm 22 yearsold.Now, i learn culture and tourism dpartment in HPU.
I have so many hobbies.I like listening to music everyday.My favourite music is pop.Beside, i like reading books, shopping, watching TV,traveling and many many...
At weekend, i often go to Hàng market with my father and cook my forte food for my family.
I like going to every places in Vietnam and in the world.My dream is going to the Paris.And i hope my dream comes true.
I hate rain and winter.Beacause, i feel sad and lonely in rainny day.
And now, i have dinner.Enjoy your meal.
See you soon:))
- FROM: LienLili (02/13/12 4:38 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to LienLili ]SUBJECT: RE: Introduce myself
I like rain because it't very romantic :) and I wish come to Paris, too - FROM: The Pham (02/17/12 11:50 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: Introduce myself
Hi Van Anh,
You had a very nice post.
Sorry for my going past you.
Yes, I also like going to Hang Market. It's some kind of fun to see all kinds of things are sold in the market.I am also raising some singing birds, a simple hobby to keep me close to the Nature in my free time.
Cheers.The
REPLIES (2): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Vu Trang (02/13/12 5:41 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to Vu Trang]
SUBJECT: Introduction
[Reply]
Hi everyones!!!
My name is Trang. I'm 21 yearsold. I'm currently a student in HPU, majoring acouting and aditing
I want to make friends with everybody.
I like everything make me feel comfortable, exemple: read book, listen to music,sometime I cook a new dishes, maybe it is good or bad, but i'm very interesting when i make it by myself.
I diskie peoples who not keeping their word and lair
I hope you hepl me learn english better, because i feel my english not good
there is some information about me.
Will you be my friend!!!!
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:08 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: Introduction
Hi Trang,
It's good to know more people. Yes, we are here to learn, to share and to exchange.
I strongly believe that we will make our learning more effective. And we also set up good relationship with others.
Cheers
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Nguyen Thuy (02/13/12 6:03 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to Nguyen Thuy]
SUBJECT: Introduction
[Reply]
Hi everybody!!!
I'm Thuy, I learn acounting and auditing.
My english not good ,i can't talk no more about me. I want to make freind with everyones and hope you hepl me learn english well.
I'll try takl about my self more in the next time.
See you soon !!!
- FROM: The Pham (02/15/12 8:03 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: Introduction
Hello Thuy,
It is a good start.
I believe that we will together make a strong class community.
Cheers,
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Vanilla (02/13/12 6:53 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to Vanilla ]
SUBJECT: REP
[Reply]
Hi everybody.
I'm Quyen. Like everyone in this class I'm currently a student studing in HP Private University, majoring accounting and auditing .
I love listening music and watching movie in my free time because it's make me reduce stress after a tiring day.
I hate wake up early on Sunday
I've used all English skill of myself so thanks for reading . See you soon in our class. ^_^!
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:19 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: REP
Hello Quyen,
Your English is good.
I also like lying lazily in bed on Sundays.
Keep on sharing more. Come and make friend with others in this topic.
Cheers.
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
FROM: Anonymous2752263 (02/13/12 7:15 AM PST) [ Send a personal message to Anonymous2752263 ]
SUBJECT: introduction
[Reply]
hello !!
my name is Thuong.I from Thai Binh.I like watching TV, listen to mussic and play game.I lean acouting and aditing.I have leant E for 10 year but I fell very hate E.Now, my english very very bad. I hope everybody in class will lean E better. .see you again in our class
- FROM: The Pham (02/13/12 6:21 PM PST) [ Send a personal message to The Pham]SUBJECT: RE: introduction
Hello Thuong,
It is a common picture that people learning English for 10 years and more do not satisfy with their result.
So, now we try out something new to see if your situation will be different or not.
Keep moving,
The
REPLIES (1): [ Hide Replies ]
The students are now doing their second week assignment and I am doing some correction and giving some suggestions to their INTRODUCTION. Basically, words of praise are tool to encourage them. I tried not to focus on their grammar errors but on the styles instead. Giving some suggestions of developing their ideas with more information.
Looking at the conversations, I could see the differences between them in terms of language proficiency and psychological manifestations.
I already prepare 8 week assignments and I am trying to offer them simple materials for further reading helping them to have more tools to understand and carry out their tasks.
Hope you to share me on how to make my Nicenet more effective.
Very nice what you're doing with your students, The.
ReplyDeleteI am also working on writing using Penzu, Wallwisher and a chat. Some students are very enthusiastic, others a bit less. But everything takes time, so... let's wait and see what happens.
Keep on the good work.
Luísa
Thank You Luisa,
ReplyDeleteI tried to get their participation and somehow encouraged them to manage their study on their own. I am thinking of how to provide students good tools to do their assignments.
The
Hi The,
ReplyDeleteGreat job indeed!!! I really appreciate you for your success in getting the students on board and take part in the Nicenet thread.. Wonderful!! Wishing you luck in all your future endeavors..
Nizara
Thank you Nizara,
ReplyDeleteI do believe that more or less what we are trying to do for the sake of the students will be sooner or later recognized by them and they, therefore, will love their classes. Since they love their classes, nothing can stop them from success. And what do teachers expect more than to see their students' successes?
It is the same way I love to join this class, and I love to have friends around to share.
The
Hi The
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for introducing Nicenet to your students. Its a great start with 15 out of 25 students already joining Nicenet. How thoughtful of you to not complicate matters and keep things simple in the beginning. The secret as followed in our Webskills course is to take 'baby steps' and gradually move towards complexity.
Good luck !!
Shaila
Thank you Shaila,
ReplyDeleteI am trying to become an Ice breaker to my reluctant class. Yes, it was a good sign to see they join Nicenet.
The