New and Innovative Ideas in Adult Teaching

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Massey University School of Educational Studies College of Education 273.281 – New Ideas in Adult Teaching Assessment Three: Critically reflect on the use of new or innovative strategies in own teaching Due date: 28th May 2012 Author: Emma Williams Student ID – 09134549 This essay reflects on the innovation I tried, evaluating its success, linking my reflections to the literature I have read on innovation/new ideas and to adult education principles and theories. Introduction I teach a group of adult refugee and immigrant learners who are enrolled on an ESOL course. They are in the process of working towards NZQA Unit Standard 1289 – participate in a group conversation using simple learnt language patterns (ESOL). In order to be competent in this unit standard, they need to discuss negative and positive personal preferences, using present simple grammar. This is usually taught using Murphy’s (2007) Elementary Essential Grammar in Use Book. These grammar lessons are usually boring using textbook work. As part of my innovation I thought a different approach for me to teach grammar would be to use music. I also wanted to take into account that the learners have different learning styles. “To vary your teaching enough so that students feel that their individual learning preferences are recognised and addressed some of the time” (Zepke, 2003, p. 95). Unfortunately, I prefer to teach to my own learning style and selecting teaching strategies that favour my own. Also, I wanted learners to be more actively involved in the lesson instead of completing grammar worksheets. And finally, I wanted to include some fun activities in my teaching. Brief description of innovation The song “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke uses many negatives in the present simple tense, mainly “don’t know”. It is short and simple with repetitive
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