Week 11 reading review – Learning management systems

I realize that learning management systems are good for teachers or adminstrators to manage the works on websites, such as the Blackboard in CityU. Students can login to the Blackboard to view everything they want to know about the University or learning. Lecturers can set up websites by courses for their students in learning. They can communicate through the Blackboard. This is good for students to have another platform for communicatation, other than in classrooms. The systems can guide students to learn independantly. I am one of the users in it. I got the first touch about ‘Blackboard’ when I started to be a student in CityU. I had no idea before it. After using for serveral months, I found that it is really useful. If the adminstrators manage well about the systems, students can get benefit in them. I can sure that those systems can provide environments for students learning. However, students must not rely on the system only especially in learning. They should expose more through other channels or environments.

Week 10 reading review – Learner Autonomy and Tandem Learning

Tandem Learning’s concept is good in computer-assisted learning. However, it is not easy to complete as it involved students’ autonomy.
We all know that children like playing. There are a lot of things can attract children’s attention, such as watching TV or videos and playing PSP or NDS. How can they remain their autonomy? We realize that autonomy in learning is very helpful for children so we need to do something to help them to run in a right track. I think we may try Tandem Learning in secondary schools, but it may not in primary schools, just like my students. I agree that we can ask younger students to complete tasks by using computers. The tasks may have levels systems. Students can go to one upper level if they complete one level. Moreover, they have a report which can record their results about the tasks. They will get prizes when they are good enough. I think this system can draw younger students’ attention in autonomy. Some other physical prizes can attract them too, such as token, sweets and stationary.
There is a Reading scheme which can motivate autonomy in reading in my school. It is run in primary 1 and 2. Students need to read storybooks in two lessons a week. The books have different levels. Students can read the whole sets in a level, then they can go up to another level. They need to complete some worksheets. They have their reading records which can show their progress on reading. Therefore, different students have different levels in a class. They have goals on reading. It can motivate them in autonomy.