At this moment, the due time for finishing and submitting this Web site portfolio is near. I feel exhausted after working continuously on this site these recent days, but at the same time, I am very excited, feeling as if a new baby is going to be born after several months of expecting. All the worries, anxieties, and even sufferings are gone. A sense of achievement comes out of the heart.
There are several reasons for me to take the course: 1. The current trend of education is to integrate technology and the Internet with pedagogy; 2. My area and my university are far behind in terms of network construction and online education in comparison with Australian Universities; 3. Research has provided evidence that Internet-based language teaching and learning has opened new effective opportunities for learners. 4. Life-long learning and professional development place such a demand on me for continued learning.
The course has opened a completely new world to me. I have started to acquire some ideas on the way in which I can incorporate technology into my teaching, I have started to look at web-based materials from a more professional perspective, and I have started to learn how to design educational websites and courseware packages. As is well known, technology and the Internet are growing very fast, and the most up-to-date information on tools, software, and ways of integration between the Internet and language learning needs to be adapted and synthesised into course content and course materials.
Online discussion gives me a real experience of online collaborative learning. The postings there are excellent and give me guidance in Internet-based language teaching and learning from both the technical and pedagogical perspectives. However, as I am still in the period of transition from traditional class to online education, from being dependent on teachers’ lectures to independent learning, sometimes I feel I need some immediate feedback to my questions and face-to-face consultation with the instructor.
Most important of all, the experience of having designed a website of my own following the schedule of this course has given me in-depth understanding of what it means to integrate technology into teaching and learning, in order to maximise the learning opportunities for students and so to enhance student education.
On the whole, I have benefited a lot from the course. This empowering journey has enlightened my awareness, understanding, and practical skills related to Internet and language learning. I do envisage a bright future for myself, conducting online and Web-based courses in Xinjiang, China.