Teaching Challenges
Opening the meeting, Lynda and Ian discussed their experiences with teaching in higher education establishments and the challenges they faced, sharing their common preference to negotiate the content with the students, showing respect for their preferences. The conversation also touched on the use of technology, with Margherita joining the discussion and sharing her experiences with a new microphone.
Teaching Approach and Assessments
Lynda discussed her teaching approach, which involves assessing students’ needs and interests before designing the course content. She mentioned that she had used Chat GPT to help write up programmes for her students last term and planned to start with assessments this term. Lynda also mentioned a meeting with the responsible pedagogy to validate her approach and seek resources. Margherita and Ian suggested using a self-assessment grid to help students evaluate their own language skills. Lynda also shared her experience of having lively and enthusiastic students who were eager to read books and participate in class discussions.
Improving Language Skills With Assessments
The team discussed strategies for assessing and improving students’ language skills. Marie proposed a group activity where students would assess themselves and then discuss with their peers, with the teacher providing feedback afterwards. We also discussed the use of an assessment tool, CLOE, which is free but doesn’t provide the teacher with a copy of the results. The team agreed to try out these strategies in their classes.
Tests, Presentations, and Tools
The team discussed various topics, including a listening test, a presentation task for students, and the use of a new community tool for polls. Lynda shared her plan to assess students through weekly presentations and mentioned a new course designer. Ian expressed his surprise at the quick booking of the meeting and suggested the possibility of another meeting next week. The team also discussed the confusing nature of the Calendly tool and the potential use of the new community tool for polls.
Language Network Website Access Issues
Ian, Margherita, Lynda, and Marie discussed issues related to accessing the Language Network website and the Fluent Community. Margherita and Marie initially encountered difficulties logging in, with Margherita mistakenly logging into WordPress instead. Ian clarified that the login process is separate from the website and that users can create their own accounts and Ian demonstrated how to do so. Users can create their own accounts to access the community, comment on posts, and contribute their own posts.
Introducing New Online Platform Features
Ian introduced the new online platform, explaining its features and how to use it. He demonstrated how to navigate the feed, spaces, and chat functions, and how to upload documents and links. He also discussed the limitations of the previous blog system and the need for a more functional platform. Lynda and Margherita expressed some confusion and asked questions about the new system, while Ian reassured them that it was easy to use and that they could experiment with it without any risk of doing any harm. Ian also acknowledged the need to create a space for job postings. The team agreed to continue exploring the new platform and to share their experiences with each other.
Webinar on Chat GPT and Learnbook
The team discussed a webinar about Chat GPT that Richard Osborne had conducted. Lynda mentioned that she had started watching it but got interrupted. Margherita and Ian also expressed interest in watching the recording. The team also discussed Learnbook, a platform that Richard Osborne had created, which was designed to centralize resources and send notifications to learners. The team agreed to watch the webinar recording and explore the Learnbook platform further.
Exploring Communication Platforms and Groups
In the meeting, Lynda, Margherita, Ian, and Marie discussed their experiences with various communication platforms, including Whatsapp, Telegram, and LinkedIn. They shared their thoughts on the pros and cons of using these platforms, particularly in the context of managing multiple groups. Lynda expressed interest in learning more about the Learn Book thing and the Linguaid webinar, which Ian agreed to share on the Language Network Community.
Online Marketing and Networking Strategies
The discussion focused on online marketing strategies and networking groups for business. Margherita and Ian shared their experiences with BNI (Business Network International) groups, noting the benefits of improving networking skills and business pitches, but also the time commitment required. We discussed the importance of having an online presence, particularly on LinkedIn and Google, for targeting potential clients. The conversation also touched on the need to evaluate the return on investment for networking activities and the challenges of balancing business networking with personal life commitments.
Qualiopi Mutual Support Group Meeting Update
The group concluded their meeting and discussed the next scheduled Quality Mutual Support Group meeting on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:30 PM. Ian mentioned that Kathleen had previously sent out the meeting link on January 17th, but that he could also post it on the online community, as this is password-protected.
