From the Classroom Marsha Goren, Teacher Ein Ganim School, Petach Tikva, Israel Teaching Plan: On the Road to Safety An Experienced Teacher I have been teaching English as a second language in Israel for 23 years. I love my work! I began my studies as a new immigrant teacher in a special program of the Ministry of Education. I graduated from Beit Berl Seminar as a qualified English teacher. I went on to study for my B.A., and completed my education with a M.Ed. at Leeds University in drama and the arts of education. I began my teaching career at a school in a very poor neighborhood and moved on to an elementary school in the city. My work with children with learning difficulties gave me tools I needed, and I believe my work improved because of my experiences. Next, I worked as an English coordinator at a junior high for 15 years. I then went on sabbatical and furthered my studies in computer technology. I did not want to be left behind in the technological advancement that was beginning to flourish at schools in Petach Tikva. For the last three years I have been teaching English at Ein Ganim Elementary School in Petach Tikva with gifted and regular classes. Getting Started With Technology My first experiences with technology came when computers arrived at the junior high where I taught. I have to admit I was petrified and decided to take advantage of a bright child from one of my classes. (I will explain this in more detail further on). I began by using the few software programs that were available at the school. I then shifted to using desktop publishing with the children and began doing creative activities with them. I'm glad I learned how to type in high school! One story that does not leave me is this one: When the computers first arrived at my school I was totally frightened. My own lack of knowledge reminded me how the kids must feel during exams. I happened to notice a talented boy in my class. He was a computer whiz and I decided to take advantage of his knowledge. I approached him and asked him if he would be willing to help me. I said I would teach him extra English, and he immediately agreed. Once a week we would meet at my house and I would teach him and then he would teach me. After a while the novelty wore off. Avishai felt like a genius and so did I, so we decided to take a break. I hadn't seen the child in a month or so and I heard about an upcoming grammar test, so I offered the child a free lesson. He objected and I told him to think about it. After a moment or so he said to me, "I'll come to your house on Friday. You haven't had a computer lesson in quite some time." Technology Resources at Ein Ganim At Ein Ganim Elementary School, we have one computer lab with 20 networked computers. The computers are quite old and annoying! Each class also has an additional computer in the homeroom. A few of the teachers are provided with two. We have a technology coordinator who sets a schedule for the teachers who work in the lab with the children. I have several hours each week in the lab because of the different projects my students are involved in. Not all of the staff is fully trained, but there have been workshops at the school and there is progress. Funding for education is low now and the much-needed new computers for our school are on hold. Supportive Leadership Mrs. Hedy Rosental, the principal of Ein Ganim Elementary School, sets an example to her staff by showing support and encouragement. On a personal note I can honestly say that she is a warm and considerate educator who allows her teachers to express themselves freely. She opened her to doors to Intel and to the Seeing Reason project because she believes children should be involved in a variety of learning activities. Road safety has always been of highest importance to her and she has worked with the "Road Safety With Love" program herself in her early teaching days as an English teacher. She feels the Seeing Reason mapping tool can upgrade thinking skills to a higher level. Her guidance has been an inspiration to me, the children, and the rest of the staff. I am proud to have a principal like Mrs. Hedy Rosental. Technology Changes Teaching and Learning For me, technology has opened a new way of working with the children. I was in the Intel® Teach to the Future workshop that was offered in Israel, and I learned how to create a teaching unit (the results of which you can see now). The class broadened my horizons. I learned the correct steps to plan and implement a unit and learned to work with a project-centered focus. I am enthralled by the effect it has had on my pupils and me! By taking part in email projects and educational forums, the children's English has improved tremendously. They have not only learned computer skills but they have learned the beauty of global education: making new friends from abroad, learning about different cultures and above all, acting as goodwill ambassadors for Israel in these most difficult times. I truly believe that technology is the future for the children and this is why I have become so involved in it. Technology engages students in more interesting ways of learning, and students are guided to becoming more independent learners. As a teacher of children learning English as a second language, technology helps to improve writing and speaking skills when children correspond with others in emails and in real-time forums. Whether for a guided discussion or everyday small talk (which they enjoy!) the online forum is definitely a tool worth using for interactive learning. Teachers who are afraid to take the technology challenge are really missing something! The vast knowledge that the Internet has to offer and the tremendous variety of educational projects that are now available to teachers and children should be taken advantage of. The lecture way of teaching should not be the only method used. It is my belief that children study better and learn more when they are interested and engaged in authentic projects. This makes all of the difference. I cannot see myself teaching without technology. I see the difference in the learning atmosphere of my class. There is a unique curiosity and enthusiasm in the learning process. The children send emails to my home and tell me how much they enjoy the projects and the lessons. If I am ill, they write, "Marsha, why didn't you come to school today? Come tomorrow." With that I rest my case. It is truly rewarding. A Wealth of Projects I do many projects with my students. My first Internet project was called Our Rock and Roll Project, which I used for improving oral language skills. The Ministry of Education gave me an award for the project. The idea was to teach about famous musical artists and groups through popular songs. The children loved it and they brought in singers and pop groups that they admired. We prepared a rock and roll show for the parents and it was a tremendous success. We are also involved in the Great Friends and Flags Project (http://www.friendsandflags.org/*), coordinated by Karen Eini of Katzir, Israel. The project recently won the Global Schoolhouse Network award in Texas, USA. The project is a multicultural learning opportunity where children in a circle of five or six countries correspond to each other on the Internet in emails, in a forum, and through conventional mail. The highlight of the project is when each class sends the others a package representing their country. Ein Ganim School was given a special award for being the most active school in Israel! See how we contributed to the Friends and Flags project at: http://www.friendsandflags.org/teachercomments.htm*. Dream a Dream with Ein Ganim After seeing the enthusiasm of my students for this kind of project work, I decided to enlarge my efforts on the Internet by inviting children around the world to participate in a dream forum with 50 children from my fifth and sixth grades in the project "Dream a Dream with Ein Ganim" (www.etni.org.il/library/internet.htm*). The project has begun; educators are approaching me from different schools and I hope for a good year. In this project, children from Israel and around the world join in a dream forum to exchange ideas. Children are encouraged to express their dreams, wishes, hopes and nightmares. It encourages global understanding, and supports learning through authentic materials. The project encourages my pupils to use authentic English, learn about different cultures and act as ambassadors of good will in these most difficult times for Israel. The project helps show children from other nations that children in Israel have dreams just like they do, even as we are troubled by war. It is my hope that many children from different classes all over the world will participate in our dream forum, and together we can "make a dream come true." Finally, after having taken part in the Teach to the Future workshop this summer, I decided to build a learning unit on the Internet about road safety, which is so needed in Israel (http://beam.to/roadsafety*). I originally created and developed a curriculum about road safety, which is now part of the English curriculum in Israel. For me it was an opportunity to rebuild an existing curriculum and improve it with technology. The workshop that Intel gave enriched my knowledge and I am happy with the results. I also decided to expand my project by using the Seeing Reason mapping tool for teaching cause and effect. I think it can be a real asset in my work. I have now built a learning unit which I hope will the save lives of Israeli citizens. Even if one life is saved, then Intel and I have served a most important purpose. Looking Ahead My dream is to have good running computers for the kids in my English classroom. I really lack equipment and it breaks my heart. There is no funding for technology in education now because of the war. I have to always look for people to help me, and it is so draining that sometimes I want to give up. I do not want to deprive the children of technology and so I am doing the best I can. I was recently given two used computers and I am more grateful than words can write for these contributions. I am still in need of more computers. I would definitely put them into use. Maybe someday my dream will come true. I won't give up! I would advise teachers to take advantage of the technology that the world has to offer. It is the future, and our children are the future leaders of society. Without the proper skills, they will be left behind. Let us all try to bring them forward. They deserve it. At a Glance: Some of Marsha Goren's Accomplishments Goren won the prestigious PEF Endowment Award in Israel five times. She received the award twice for the "Road Safety With Love" workbook that is now a part of the formal English curriculum in Israel. Goren has been a teacher trainer in many technology seminars in the Tel- Aviv central district of Israel, and she has given numerous workshops to teachers of English around the country. Goren has received a special award from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Transportation for her efforts in developing road safety curriculum for Israel. See her Web site at: http://www.globalddreamers.org*. Goren's Web site "Dream A Deam with Ein Ganim" is among recommended sites on the English Teachers Network in Israel (ETNI) Web site, www.etni.org.il/library/is*, and the project was granted the PEF Endowment Award for innovative teaching in Israel by the Ministry of Education.   Return to Teaching Example * Legal Information and Privacy Policy © 2001 Intel Corporation