I designed an action research project in course ISLT 9417 to develop a web-based, peer review process to improve the EFL writing skills of our freshmen students. This project would involve exploring different web technology options to enable the peer-review process, an analysis of the impact on student learning, and a reflection and presentation of the results to my fellow staff members.
A colleague and I gave a presentation on the use of Google apps in EFL education to our fellow staff members. Discussions that followed gave me a chance to learn about different ways my fellow educators at YU were using technology in their classes. In addition, I’m a member of KOTESOL, an affiliate of TESOL International Association. I have attended workshops on EFL learning in Korea, but there have been an increasing number of workshops on using educational technology in the classroom. I’m also a member of a few related Facebook groups: KOTESOL, my local branch of KOTESOL, and the Foreign Professors and University English Teachers in Korea (closed Facebook group).
This program and my classmates have introduced me to many websites and online resources with which to stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes. For example, a team article summary I worked on in ISLT 7377 introduced me to eLearn. In addition, my action research plan included background research on using web-based peer review to improve EFL writing skills. I obtained some of my background literature from ResearchGate. The project made me more connected to researchers and more active in seeking and requesting research articles.