Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Blog Designing & Maintenance: from A to Z

Dear EFL Blogging School Participants, 


Now you all are at the final stage of our project when each of you successfully passed the instructive Modules and enthusiastically started integrating the own designed EFL blogs into the English classes. 
For this reason, at this point, we would like to offer you a set of final recommendations on how to efficiently design and actively maintain your blogs as a teaching-learning-assessment tool. 

In addition to to this, each of you will get a feedback from your mentor and an EFL blog expert in the Comment space on how to improve your blog, particularly.


Enjoy reading the posts and maintaining your blogs alive! 

A Good Teacher’s Blog
Recommendations and Descriptions:

   A good blog – is a network, a journal or an evidence of events. It should look as a journal with notes. And these notes are permanently updated, information is added, images  and multimedia are here as well; you regularly add some  new  commentaries, pictures  and opinions.
Blogging  (web log, a journal of events) as well – is a 21st-century approach to teaching a foreign language. 
           
       Blog’s general purposes:
·       Communicative (to share, to talk)
·       For self-presentation (as a diary)
·       Entertainment (mothers, housekeepers)
·       For getting together and keep social network (to support each other, to keep friendship, be  better colleagues)
·       For memoirs (like paper diary/self-communication)
·       For self-development and reflection  (one can create his/her own image and structure personal thoughts.

2    Blogs dedicated to education are:
·       Blogs of certain institutions (schools), where participants discuss the Process of Studying and Educational Problems.
·       It stands between:
-Objective & Subjective Opinions,
-Rational & Sensitive Attitudes,
-Scientific & Devine Involvement,
-Mathematics & Literature Approach.
·       The interaction on the blog can be a tool we use to facilitate the teaching of students' skills

3    Pedagogical Purposes  of Teacher’s Blog are:

   - to make the process of acquiring the subject easier, more comprehensive for children/students
           -to get together Teachers and Students/ Teachers and Parents;
·       -to share positive experiences of other teachers;
·       - to ease the process of communication;
·      - to get new information;
·      -to give additional materials to students;
·      - Blog incorporates several subjects and makes English an interdisciplinary lesson.


Blog’s  benefits for students:
  •  they can read, write, watch, listen, post, reply and communicate with teachers and peers;
  • get and prepare for the assignments/tasks;
  • get the results on-line from Teachers;
  • use dictionary on-line;
  •  to listen to native speakers.

There are the links to examples of good and living Teacher’s Blogs:


Standard 2 of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards for the 21st-Century Learner states that Learners use skills, resources, and tools to draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.” 
As members of a democratic society, it is essential that our students know how to think critically and make informed decisions. It is also important to teach them how to participate ethically and productively (AASL standard 3).

Teacher’s Blog should:

      1. Be very clear from the very first sight when  one accesses or opens  it  (be it your student, 
            colleague or  any other  visitor);
2.      The pages and rubrics you form should look comprehensively and structured;
3.      The words that you use to entitle one or another page should reflect exactly what it comprises;
4.       Each Blog should have a design that will be pleasant for the reader’s eye and correspond the 
             teaching aims;
5.       The words, phrases, and images  you use should be eye-catchy and inspiring;
6.       Blog Etiquette Tips:
-Be polite and respectful always and with everybody;
-Remind participants several days to a week prior (people forget stuff);
-Have a back-up plan in case they forget or for some reason;
-React to the blog you visit when you are in a role of a guest;
-Write something you would publish on your own blog;
-Help promote your guest post and respond to comments; and 
 -Be respectful to those who disagree with you.
7.       Your Teacher’s  blog should have all the facilities for your students  ( a dictionary on your page, 
             a calendar, an additional tutorial if needed, data of the task, a simple and detailed explanation for 
            students with special needs);
8.       The Assignments that you create should be clearly structured so that your students could
              understand the Task, especially those who missed the class;
9.       Each Instruction should be explained simply and consequently;
      10.   Provide the examples and enough facility information for the topics you consider to be the most 
           difficult ones;
11.   Use the  information (audio, video, any on-line techniques) that is relevant for your students’
             language level and development;
12.   Mind the aims of the Teacher’s Blog when you create a Task or organize an activity: to develop 
              certain skills and abilities;
13.   Involve all the students from your classes through the tasks you create, so that they could share
             the experience with each other and peer educate themselves;
14.   Be open to reflect and respond to all their questions;
15.   Be aware of the anxiety your students might have referring to using new on-line methods, show
             them you are there to explain and assist, if necessary;
16.   Appreciate all the work that they do, each assignment, task and even a little try—that will inspire
             them for further participation;
17.   Keep in mind that evaluation of students work should be present as well, as it reflects their 
             involvement and shows learning results (both short-time and long-time ones);
18.   Include into your Blog’s  pages  all the extra-curriculum  activities you do with your students or 
             at school and some other things your students are interested in. That will encourage them to do 
            both what they like and the assignments as well;
19.   To show that your Teacher’s Blog is an active one, be sure to use most of the on-line techniques
             and tools you learned and acquired during the study course;
20.   Each blog post or assignment should also provoke communication and a desire for knowledge 
             from your students. Try to present  fresh  news, events, activities that will prove your connection
             between modern life, your students and you.
 

37 comments:

  1. Dear EFL Teachers! Welcome to our new page on Blog Designing and Maintenance! We wish you a fantastic experience and the best of luck in all your nice work and this marvelous emotions from collaboration on your teacher's Blogs!!!

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  2. Diana Jelihovschii
    EFL Teacher
    Theoretical Lyceum ,,Mesterul Manole”, Village Salcuta, district Caușeni
    http://dariajelihovschii.weebly.com/
    Dear Diana!!! Your Blog looks very nice. The first thing that attracts the eye is the main picture in a dark-green colour of a plant. it seesms to calm the spirits down and tune the desire to read more. The pictures of your students and their short quotes are also fantastic--it is inspiring for them to see themselves pn their Teacher's Blog. They became popular !!!! A detail to be added is to have more assignments fulfilled by the students. For this they must be more engaged and motivated by different issues, like involvement, grades, participation or sharing. Let's think about it together.
    One more nice thing is a quote in LAtin that provokes an interest of the reader.
    Good luck, Diana in your work!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Emma, i'll try to make students to full fill the task, it's just this month is very busy for them...but i'll make all the possible to improve my blog. Thank you again.

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  3. Tatiana Sclifos
    EFL Teacher
    Teacher of English Lyceum "Boris Dînga", Criuleni
    http://tatianasclifos.weebly.com/
    Tatiana, your blog looks nice in terms of its colors and structure. It has a bright intorduciton note, beautiful pictures that perform your work and your students' participation,dictionary and an assignment that is easily understood. What it demands--is a bit more assignments on the topics you cover in classes, and what is more important is the issue of a Blog to be alive. That means more comments and more fulfillment of the assignments, more materials to be mosted and more encouragments for both students and your colleagues. I assume that the local workshop you will have can contribute to a good continuation to help and suport your wonderful work. Good luck!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Emma for your appreciation and your feedback.I would like to mention that some technical problems appeared with the my first blog:tatianasclifos.weebly.com ,that's why I designed another one:educationforpupils.weebly.com.I would like to ask you to give your feedback to the last one.Thanks a lot in advance,my warm regards.

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  4. Luminița Tiuliuliuc
    EFL Teacher
    Mihai Eminescu” High School, Edineț
    http://themodernscholar.weebly.com/
    Luminita, what a wonderful teacher's Blog!!! The colors and pictures are good, but what is the best -- it is the applicaiton of the on-line tools and techiques and approaches. It is seen how well the new methods are incorporated with those traditional ones. Video resourses seem to be implemented very appropriately and this is proved by the comments and feed bask of your students. You can definetely add a dictionary ,so that they could feel it easier to utillize it when they get ready for their assignments. Nice to see that you gave them instructions on fulfilling the tasks, there one can see the dates--what is an important element for those who missed the class.
    So now we can attract the other teachers and colleagues to access your Blog, share your experience and learn from it. Enjoy the process !!!

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    Replies
    1. Luminita Tiuliuliuc
      Dear Emma, thanks a lot for being supportive! In fact there's still much work to do to improve the blog itself. The only thing I do feel proud about is that the blog is WORKING and my students like the assignments and the options on-line tools can offer. I have already spoken to my colleagues at school about the blog and they understand its value though they say "How about time? You do not anly give the assignments , you should also evaluate them???". So, as you can see opinions differ but what I am sure about is that I will try to maintain my blog on the "ON" button so that it can contribute to the my professional sussess and that of my students. Thanks for recommendations! I'll try to take them into consideration! Have a nice day, Emma.

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  5. Maria Ionesi
    EFL Teacher
    TL "Gaudeamus", Donduseni
    http://mariaionesi.weebly.com/

    Maria, your blog is very attractive and nice in terms of using pictures and colors. The teacher's portfoio--it would be better to include more rubriques,that you studied during your EFL Assignments, so that there should be really Your Portfolio information on al your achievements and work, because now there are only tips on improving a class mood and atmosphere.
    Using grammar page is nice in terms of a lot of useful material, and it is great for teachers to share and use. However, we have no comments at all. We need the involvment of the visitors as well.
    Comments on students' tasks are still to be worked out. They might probably need more inspiraiton to comment on their assignments and fulfill them as well.
    You can fiind additional tips on this page on maintanance the Blog. Hope it is useful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emma, I'll try to be attentive at your suggestions. I'll work on those pages you advised me.
      For my students is very new this kind of online homework, and many of them are shy. They don't want that other students read their answers and very often they complete their homework in the copybooks. Generally, we only begin this travelling in the online world of tools and hometasks, but I hope they will enjoy it very quickly. Thank you :)

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  6. Eugenia Man
    EFL Teacher
    Magdacești High School, Criuleni Region
    http://englishandwe.weebly.com/
    Hello,Eugenia, your blog is nice and there are plenty of various activities to do. However, each assignments should have a kind of note to What grade it refers and the topic and the pointed tasks, so that students could easily understand what they need to fulfill. For that you can use a different font or color,, so that it could be more evident. And Teachers are better to leave a comment on each student's answer ,comment or fulfilling the task.Thus they feel more engaged and see their work and effort is appreciated. For that we need a bit more time, we can include rubriques. But the on-line tools you impement are great and varied. other teachers could also take it as an example and help.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Emma, thank you for your suggestions. Assignments are given to each grade separatelly, for this the page ASSIGNMENT has subpages for each grade 6th, 8th, 11th and 12th.In future, I am going to be more specific about the topic and leave more comments about the students'task. Thank you.

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  7. Nadia Crușnevschi
    EFL Teacher
    College "Mihai Eminescu", Soroca
    http://follownadia.weebly.com/
    Dear Nadia, your Blog looks wonderful and you have so many interesting tasks and on-line tools in it!!! Your students might be happy to have such homeworks to do, however there should be more comments on the assignments form both sides--students' and teache's. It might be an aim to achieve. Another imortant issue is the comment of the teacher him/herself on each student's try. And spme activities and tasks are very useful and important,as they incorporate both traditional and modern approach, together with new on-line tools. Everybody could participate. it is also important to see how they are evaluated--this is important for them and for teacher as well, as you correspond the rules and can easily use the rubriques.Access students' pages are alos great !!! Good luck!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Emma for your feedback. I will leave more comments as now I feel more comfortable with the online tools and publishing the assignments on my blog.Thank you a lot.

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  8. Aliona Zlatov
    EFL Teacher
    Lyceum „M. Tarlev” Basarabeasca district, Bașcalia village
    http://englishforbascalia.weebly.com/
    Aliona, your Blog is very informative indeed and it looks like one that incorporates both School and Teacher's Blog together. It has lots of different activities for othe rcolleagues to take and to share. it would be also nice if students would be more engaged into fulfilling their assignemnts and writiing their comments, so that we could see that they work and that on-line tools in our flipped classes are introduced and give its results.It would also be nice to rearrange a little bit the words on the upper bar of your blog, so that, for example the word "contacts" to be the last,and the rubrique "assignment" to be in the middle -- that will be easier for the students to find what they need to accomplish and will save your time as well. So, good luck ii your next assignments.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maria Terzi
    EFL Teacher
    “Olimpii Panov” gymnasium, Taraclia
    http://mariaterziclassblog.weebly.com/
    Maria, your Blog looks nice and you have a lot of activities and information there.
    To mention is that it is preferably that the rubriques on the upper bar be arranged in such a way,that the students and the visitors could easily find any information, especially if it is the task or assignment, created by you; be it a flipped class task or a topic a student missed. And it is better if teacher could reply to all the tasks fulfilled to every student--thus we can keep them involved and motivated always. A good example is the voki they did. If the techer's comment is right below the voki--it is important for them to see the feedback and the evaluation of their work. I f the links and comments are in different spaces--that is a little bit confusing, becasue we need to see both the work, implication, particiipationa nd the evaluation as well. We have to work here on their comments and fulfilling the tasks. So,good luck!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emma, for your pieces of advice. Actually I was also thinking about the possiblity to delete the "fedback" section since it makes no sence having my comments separated from the accomplished task. You just guessed my ideas)) And this indicates my thoughts are moving in the right direction)) And, of course, I will take into consideration your suggestions about the rubrique organisation in a way that facilitates browsing the blog. Thnx))

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    2. senSe*/taskS*)))) double sorry))

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    3. Yes,Maria, glad to hear it is all welcomed, as the Blog will look much more bright and comprihansible for your students and teachers as well, so that you could share the experience. Good luck in all you do!!

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  10. Galina Madam
    EFL Teacher
    Boarding School Orhei
    http://galinamadam.weebly.com/
    Dear Galina! The Blog you created looks nice and to make it a little better we can make some more changes. First of all, the Workiing together topic--is to be more precise: what should the students do, except watching the video? It would be so much better if the assignemnt will show the link and the task together-- very clearly formulated in words, like what should the students do after watching the video, what is the purpose of this exercise, what is the topic you studied in class and write the coments with the evaluation.Every assignment has to have the addressing note to the Grade or Form (9-th, 11-th or 12-th). It is important for the students and teachers as well,to see and understand immediately that this Task is addressed exactly to them. It saves the time and makes the process more efficient and lets those who visit your Blog see how the work is going, how the students are involved and what is the benefit of its existance.The dictionaries are better to be on the right side of the blog,so that students could use it immediately and not search it. Thus you will see how well they can use it and enrich their vocabulary.We deffinetely need comments of students--this is the proof that they participate and work. The other teachers are to visit and comment as well, because through this we share and learn together. So much for that and i wish you the best result in the hard work you do, because it is very seen -- your efforts are immense !!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emma, for great support and for the time you spend to analyze our work. For sure I'll improve my blog and make it accessible and efficient. Thanks again!

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    2. Dear Galina, you are more than welcomed !!! Let's do some improvement together if you need any. If there are the ides to implement, please let me know and we can elaborate it and make it more livly and working. Enjoy the process !!!

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  11. Mariana Ursu
    EFL Teacher
    Lyceum „Vasile Alecsandri”, Călărași
    http://marianaursu-popescu.weebly.com
    Mariana, your work is very important and bright. You did a lot of activities and the implementing of on-line tools is seen in your Romanian class activities. You could also use some more of what you studied, Movenote, Glogster, Voicthread, Padlet and many other insturments and incorporate them together with those traditional ones. And dictionary will be very nice --if we talk about English classes. You could also try some Grammar exercises and activities, some video songs and movies, short audio-video presentaitons in English with native speakers or a theme dedicated to a current topic you have in your textbook. One of the great things might be if you access the other blogs of your colleagues and of the EFL Edition 1, where you can find the examples of the assignments for the grades that you also teach. This is a real sharing and is very-very useful. let's try to do it. Good luck !!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Emma, for your support and for the time you spend to analyze my blogs. It’s a lot of work to do and I very busy this year doing a lot of activities and joining 2 big international projects, on the other hand I have to do 3 important things for my professional career (defending master's degree, conferring the 1st degree in both subjects I teach Romanian and English). Anyway, I'll try to improve my blogs and make them accessible and efficient. Thanks again!

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  12. Eudochia Jalbă
    EFL Teacher
    Cantemir
    http://duseablog.weebly.com/
    Dear Eudochia! The design of your Blog is awsome and the structure of the rubriques and the arrangement of them is very clear. If one accesses it, there is no problem in understanding all the departments. However it would be so nice if the Assignements are there so that students could see them all and the other colleagues and teachers could share. The comments are also welcome to be as the fulfilling the tasts by the students--thus they feel more engaged and involved into the process.This is how we can show that the given Blog is living and working and gives its results. Every single answer of the students and their hometasks are better to be seen here. The dictionary as well would be a benefit for students' work. Hope you will have it elaborated more and more. Good Luck!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Emma , thank you for watching my blog and your piece of advice. I totally agrre with you.As I was late for my tasks(I was not enrolled in the project from the beggining )now I have to catch up with.At the moment I am in the process of explanation and training with my students how it really works and what each of us must do to give it life.A lot of dilemmas for me and them.The thing that mostholds me up to continue is they like it and this gives me optimism. I try to do my best to fullfil it to get a good one.

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  16. It is great that students like this type of work and collaboration with the Teacher. The more you engage them --the better result the Blog itself and the students will have. Glad to hear that it is living and can have a fruitful results. Enjoy this interesting collaboration by posting assignments and activities into your beautiful Blog!

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  17. Veronica Colesniuc
    EFL Teacher
    Gymnasium Lopatnic, Edineț
    http://veronicacolesniuc.weebly.
    Dear Veronica! YOur blog looks indeed just as you said in your welcome note about yourself--this is a reflection of your personality and it is nice. However, let's make it even better, as far as such a huge work of yours is seen here. The Assignments are better to have more detailed explanations. Thus you will be sure that your students understand correctly andexactly what they have to fulfill. Try to explain step by step how to do and what to do in one or another task. The most difficult ones might need more examples, theoretical and then practical,audio-video aid and tutorials as well. What esle is important is to specify to whom you refer the assignment , the group or the grade. In such case children will fiind it easy to access and fulfill the excircises. For example, your assignments and learning material with seasons is a great additional material, but it would be better to post it in the rubrique with Assignments. And the dictionary here will be a very appropriate insturment to have. Comments are almost absent, but you can try to do it together with students in class. You will work together and see how they understand and implements on-line activities. You assignment with Christmas theme, as an extracurriculum activity is nice, but let's post it in your Assignment rubrique--it is more relevant there. You also have pictures from the Resourse Center. It would be nice to have some comments on what it is there. So that the visitors, your colleagues ,teachers and other students could understand why you posted them and what it reflects. So, let's make a few modifications and see how it looks and works. Good Luck !!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Emma, for your advices, It is really a hard work fulfilling these assignments, because I have only a class of English, and they are the 2nd form.Even with my help, and in the classroom it is almost impossible to do the tasks.But,as you have said, I will improve the blog, and I will wait til they will grow up and do all the things:) Thank you for best wishes.

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  18. Stela Tagadiuc
    EFL Teacher
    TL " C. Stere", Soroca
    http://stelatagadiuc.weebly.com

    Dear Stela, your Blog seems to wait for yout attenion! it has a good start and intention and your hometasks are so interesting, there is a dictionary,that students can use. It would be nice to rearrange a bit the upper line with the segments,like giving the first,where yu introduce youreslef or your school.Than your assignemnts and hometasks and then the extracurricular activities. And to have students' comments will be a sign that it is alife and implimented. So,let's see if it is possible!!! Good-luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Liliana Ipati
    EFL Teacher
    Lyceum "Boris Dînga", Criuleni
    http://englishclassipati.weebly.com/
    Liliana, our Blog looks rather nice and attractive in terms of its design. It is seen that the sections are thought-over pretty well, however, it would be better to be more specific when you create and assignment for your students: to inficate to what form or grade it refers, to give more detailed instructions and steps to follow and to encourage them to fulfill the task in comments here, on the page with the hometask itself. The easier the explanation is and the better it is structured-- the better is the motivaion and the involvement. It is also nice to see that they can use dictionaries right here to easify their work. Good luck in making it better and better.

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  20. Aurelia Plămădeală
    EFL Teacher
    “Olimp” Theoretical Lyceum,Puhăceni village, Anenii Noi
    http://englishteachersblogforpupils.weebly.com/
    Aurelia, your Blog looks nice and it seems to be in the process of present elaboration. You have good and clear sections on te top and a lot of useful information. However, Teacher's e-portfolio should look as a real one,with the use of on-line tools and approaches, reflecting your merits and achievements.Maybe it would be better to look again through the links and examples from your Assignmens on this topic and choose the one that is more appropriate for your merits and make it as a real e-portfolio, bexause otherwise it is just a source of various informaiton.
    Student's e-portfolio looks more like a section with hometasks. There are so many interesting and varied tasks, and it will be nice if you could order them and make it more clear. Write the form or grade, the title of the topic you are going to discuss, describe in details what is the task about and what they need to fulfill and structure them in a more comprehensible way,so that each person who access your Blog and the given page (be it a younger or and older student, your colleague or any other teacher who wants to get acuainted with the information) find it easy and nderstands what is the aim and the final goal of yur work. And of course, Comments should perform and prove, that the on-line tools are implemented and they really work and bring knowledge and develop students coompetences as well. Dictionary is likely to help students fulfill the tasks easier and immediately if it is placed and embed right on the age where the Assignemnts are. So , let'e see if we can improve a little bit the general structure. Good luck!!!

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  21. Thank you,Emma. I agree with you.It's a draft blog.I am in the process of improving it, but I am happy that it helps students with independent work.

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  22. Olesea Chihai
    EFL Teacher
    Gymnasium ,,Gura Căinarului’’, Florești
    http://myblogclass.weebly.com/

    Dear Olesea, your Blog looks very nice and plenty of activities for you little pupils.it is amazing to see them all participating here or there. Moreover it is great to have here tasks in 2 languages incorporated in one Teacher's Blog. It can bring lots of opportunities to grow and deveop, because more teachers can access it and share their experience and more students can benefit from it.Just one single thing is to be added--is a dictioanry link on the page where the tasks are--thus those who work will make it easier. And one more-- the font is rather hard to read, it is difficult to understand the letters. If it would be a simple one, it would much more easier for both eyes and comprihension as well. And Comments can be also encouraged to be done --it prives the life and constant feedback. But in the long run, it looks like many teachers could access and share your way on using the on-lin etools in teaching a foreign language. Good luck with your next weeks and presentaitons.

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  23. Svetlana Roibu
    EFL Teacher
    Lyceum "Boris Dînga", Criuleni
    http://englishteachersblogforpupils.weebly.com/
    Svetlana, your Blog looks nice,however, there might be several points to pay attention to. The Teacher's portfolio segment seems to reflect a different issue.One can find there essay instructions and samples. Maybe it would be better to reconstruct it a little bit and to showcase the real merits and achievements from your personal portfolio, if you wish or giving some extra websites and links with the portfolio of the other teachers and how does they look like. It refers to the next segment as well, that is entitled as student's e-portfolio, but in fact it has some assignments. It would be nice if they had been structured more precisely, each having its place and clear explanation. So that every student who accesses it, could easily find his grade and number of the task and see clear instruction and how to proceed. And this will give the Blog the opportunity to be alive and make these oin-line instruments and tools work. So,good luck!

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