Minwen+Gao+-+Design+Space

=**I. Design space to develop your 250-300 word** // abstract // **that summarizes your question, rationale, and your findings.**= * What is your question? How can web2.0 tool VoiceThread be applied in language teaching classroom to build a learning community? * What is your rationale? 1) TPACK model---ECI546 Mishra & Koehler (2006) assert that the successful teacher is one who can draw from content, pedagogy and technology, forming a technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) framework. In essence, effective teaching with technology requires TPCK, or an ability to integrate content, pedagogy and technology flexibly during the act of teaching.  As we know teachers' dispositions and uses of technologies to support student engagement with new literacies are central to closing the gap beween in-school and out-of-school student technology use. Learning how to use technology is much different that knowing what to do with it instructionally, as Mishra & Koehler (2008) assert with their TPCK model.

2) Learning community

A learning community is one where both the teacher and the students share the responsibility for the learning that occurs in the classroom. This sharing of responsibility is demonstrated by mutual preparation, use of a variety of activities and/or techniques so that you can address the different learning styles of your students, and guided respectful discussion. The learning community is not a touchy feely place without form or substance but rather it is a highly analytical environment that has high standards. Building and enhancing a learning community in a classroom can help you to accomplish your teaching goals as well as potentially have an impact on the learning that students engage in outside the classroom.

3) Teacher leadership “Collegiality is an essential part of growing and developing.” (Barth, 2001 p.157) Teachers with collegiality are those who promote community and interactive communication skills. They dream of turning schools into a learning community. Working alone is no good for either the quality of the product or the quality of life of those who produce the product. In contrast, in the school learning community, schools can become much more than places where there are big people who are learned and little people who are learners. They can become cultures where youngsters are discovering the joy, the difficulty, and the excitement of learning and where adults are continually rediscovering the joy, the difficulty, and the excitement of learning. Places where we are all in together--learning by heart.

* What are your findings? VoiceThread has four distinct advantages for classrooms that are communicating and collaborating across counties, countries or continents:

* Safety * Multiple voices * Open for public commenting * Interaction welcome VoiceThread serves an effective web2.0 tool in language teaching classroom to build a learning community. VoiceThread provides:


 * Free and open interaction among and between teacher and students

* Collaboration, cooperation, and constructive group problem-solving activities * Supportive, positive learning experiences * Strong connections between adults and students, and commitment to the mission and goals of the school
 * Equity, fairness, and respect for diversity of race, culture, ethnicity, social class, religion, gender, ability, and other factors

=**II. Design space to plan out your** // creative synthesis // **that will visually represent your findings. Remember to include your abstract in your visual representation.**=

> Develop your compelling question related to student learning by the end of your first semester in the program. Decide on a question that you are passionate about and want to focus on for the duration of your program. Click here to learn more about what we mean by compelling question. Here are a couple of examples: How do I creatively and effectively engage diverse learners in my middle grades classroom? How can I effectively engage elementary students in reading and writing?
 * ==Compelling Question:==

> Use coursework (including core courses ECI 546, 524, 523, 508 and your content specialty courses), individual investigations, and outside experts to explore different aspects of your question. Actively analyze information from multiple sources and perspectives as you explore answers to your question. Make a list here of the information you are analyzing. As you proceed with your analysis make some notes here about your initial findings and where you anticipate needing more information. Also, make sure to note if and how your compelling question has changed.
 * ==Gather & Analyze Information:==
 * However, learning how to use technology is much different that knowing what to do with it instructionally, as Mishra & Koehler (2008) assert with their TPCK model.Therefore, part of my compelling question is How can technology be applied in language teaching classroom?In this picture, we can see that in the New learning ecology, teachers play roles of content experts, facilitators & mentors, while students are expected to be curious, creative & self-directed. Such kind of teachers and students share the responsibility for the learning that occurs in the classroom, which forms a learning community. Building and enhancing a learning community in a classroom can help teachers to accomplish their teaching goals as well as potentially prepare students for a better future and becoming a global citizen.Now my complete compelling question came out; i.e. How can web 2.0 tools VoiceThread be applied in language teaching classroom to build a learning community?

> Synthesize the information from and across your sources to create a unique response to your question. You should be able to distill your synthesis into 4-6 bullet points (to be included in your written abstract) as well as provide a creative visual representation of your findings. You may use a variety of media and tools to design your visual representation of your Creative Synthesis. Think carefully about the tools that you will use to represent your findings. The first draft of your Creative Synthesis should be developed no later than Midterm/NCSU Spring Break while you are taking the ECI 508, Teachers as Leaders class. Click here to see sample products from former students.
 * ==Creatively Synthesize Information:==

> Seek out at least two colleagues in the NLGL program in addition to your advisor to provide peer feedback on your abstract and creative synthesis based on the NLGL Creative Synthesis Rubric. Based on the feedback you receive, you may choose to make revisions to more fully meet the rubric criteria.
 * ==Critically Evaluate and Revise:==

> Be prepared to present your Creative Synthesis at the NLGL Design Studio Showcase during your final semester of your degree program, in conjunction with the ECI 508, Teachers as Leaders course.
 * ==**Share, Publish, Act:**==