Teachers writing workshop Thrissur 2024

Workshop Dates

April 29 and 30, 2024

Objective of the workshop

The District Centre for English (DCE), Thrissur is organizing a workshop with the aim of enabling Government and aided primary and secondary school teachers to enrich their seminar presentations into academic papers for publishing, thereby strengthening their academic writing skills.

Introduction

District Centres of English (DCEs) were established in Kerala in 1989 under the Department of General Education to provide specialized training for English language teachers in government and aided schools. DCEs function under the administrative oversight of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), offering specialized training for English educators at the primary and secondary levels. Since their inception, DCEs have been conducting structured training programmes, seminars, workshops, and other empowerment initiatives for English Language Teachers across districts, thus providing opportunities for teachers to grow professionally by focusing on innovative techniques, methods, and approaches to teaching English.

The DCE organized a seminar for primary and secondary teachers from government and aided schools in February 2024, where 15 teachers presented papers on classroom innovations in English Language Teaching (ELT). While some teachers had presented papers, others had prepared notes on their work, which they presented in the seminar.

Writing Workshop Methodology

DCE is proposing to conduct an ‘academic writing workshop’ for these 15 teachers. The aim of the workshop is to support these teachers to strengthen their capacities for academic writing, and to publish their work as academic outputs. This would have two benefits – firstly , their articles could benefit the wider community of teachers in Thrissur district, and even across Kerala (and elsewhere). Secondly, it would be a professional development exercise for these 15 teachers to progress as writers, who can publish their action research. It would also be a ‘first’ for the DCE, to work on ‘writing’ skills of teachers in a structured manner.

The DCE along with identified resource persons plans to conduct a two-day workshop towards these objectives. On the first day, the teachers would be introduced to the craft of writing, time-tested ways of converting ideas into written text, engaging in analytical, creative and critical thinking, taking and giving peer feedback and academic reading, which is a prerequisite for academic writing. The teachers would be encouraged to find and read other academic papers and articles related to their topic.

The second day would start with initiating the teachers into academic writing with a free writing activity, which would be followed by the preparation of the first draft of their academic papers. The sessions are designed in such a way that the teachers regularly receive supportive feedback from the resource persons and their own peers. By the end of the second day, the teachers would have written the first drafts of their articles and would have gone through one stage of revision. The second day would conclude with the discussion of how writing is an essential part of self-learning and professional development. The teachers are expected to continue working on their papers and share revised versions with the resource persons in a week’s time and receive detailed feedback and hand holding, to enable them to complete their papers. DCE intends to e-publish finalized papers as a ‘Teachers academic journal’.

Tentative workshop session plan - April 2024

Session No	Time	Agenda	Resources for the session
Day 1
Session 1	10 to 10:30 AM	Introduction to the program/workshop
Session 2	10:30 to 11:15 AM	Interactive session on writing: Writing as Carpentry Overview of 'digital tools' and their use in writing	Concept map 'Digital Tools for supporting writing'
Tea Break	11:15 to 11:30 AM
Session 3	11:30 to 1 PM	Initiating and organising writing: Using digital mind maps	User manual on the Digital Mindmap tool - Freeplane
Lunch	1 to 2 PM
Session 4	2 to 3:30 PM	Creation of digital concept maps by teachers (on the papers they presented)
Tea Break	3:30 to 3:45 PM
Session 5	3:45 to 4:45 PM	Initial presentation + Peer feedback in plenary, and discussion
Session 6	4:45 to 5:00 PM	Interactive session: ‘Reading for Writing’ and Accessing academic articles (assigning article for reading)	We learn to write by reading - Krashen
Day 2
Session 1	10:00 to 11:30 AM	“Free writing”
Tea Break	11:30 to 11:45 AM
Session 2	11:45 to 1:00 PM	Academic writing: Writing the first draft of the paper (in small groups with peer and resource person support)
Lunch	1:00 to 2:00 PM
Session 3	2:00 to 3:30 PM	Peer Feedback and discussion in small groups
Tea Break	3:30 to 3:45 PM
Session 5	3:45 to 4:45	Final revisions in the draft
Session 6	4:45 to 5:00 PM	Possible Way forward; journaling for continued learning

Resources for the workshop

1. Writing as Carpentry (podcast)
2. Using digital technologies to support writing
3. Mind mapping as a method to support writing
4. Learning Freeplane, a digital tool for developing concept maps - User manual
5. Free Writing - what and how
6. Skill Will matrix - Understanding Ability and Willingness to Write, to explore possible CPD

Paper Presenters and Facilitators

Name of the teacher	Paper Title	Reference resources for writing	ITfC
Ms. Anila R, UPST, GUPS Paralikkad	Enhancing English Grammar Conceptualization and Retention through Integrated Acting and Dance Techniques		JK
Ms. Anitha Hassan, LPST, GLPS Ottupara	100 days 100 reading cards - An Effective Strategy for Improving Reading Skill of Children		MI
Ms..Arathy K R, LPST, GHSS Villadam	Importance of evolving texts parallel to textbooks		MI
Ms. Aswathi Mohanan, UPST, NSUPS West Koratty	Puppetry in English Classroom		JK
Ms. Bindu K, LPST, RSLPS Engakkad	Discourse becomes easy		MI
Elizabeth Poulose, UPST, St. Pius Xth UPS Wadakkanchery	Theatrical Pedagogy: Fostering Learning through Acting in the English Classroom		JK
Ms. Kulirma Beevi, LPST, SPKCMMGUPS Madayikonam	Enhancing Primary Level Learners' Writing Skills through Picture Description: A Comprehensive Pedagogical Approach		MI
Ms.Meenu Krishnan, UPST, NHSS Irinjalakuda	Fun Learning through Word Games -An Effective Tool for Improving Vocabulary		MI
Ms. Meenu Vincent, HST, St.Sebastian's HS Chittattukara	Fostering the need for Global Connectivity by ingraining the Relevance of Spoken English in High School learners		JK
Ms. Remya Gopal, HST, NHSS Irinjalakuda	Unlocking World: Transformative Power and Endless Adventures Found in Reading!	Learning-about-your-childs-reading-development Proven-Ideas-from-Research-for-Parents	GK
Ms. Sajitha Joseph, IIST, OLFGIIS Mathilakam	Percipience Procedure: Fostering Comprehensive Learning through Active Engagement	NA	GK
Ms. Sandhya PU, HST, GNBHS Kodakara	Exploring the efficacy of mediation techniques in enhancing English as a Second Language classroom dynamics: A Research study	Mediation_Focus_Paper mediation-what-it-is-how-to-teach-it-and-how-to-assess-it METLA (Mediation in Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment) project	GK
Ms. Sherine K R,HST, St. Joseph's HSS Mathilakam	Mindfulness in English Language Learning	Cultivate Mindfulness: A Case Study of Mindful Learning in an English as a Foreign Language Classroom Mindfulness in the foreign language classroom: Influence on academic achievement and awareness Langerian mindfulness and language learning Mindfulness in the foreign language classroom: Influence on academic achievement and awareness	GK
Mr. Shibu E P, UPST, GWLPS Ponnore	E-LIFE (English Learning Interestingly Fluently and Effectively) - A Programme for Developing communication skills and confidence LP and UP students		JK
Ms. Sumitha N S, LPST, SNLPS Irinjalakuda	Enhancing English Speaking Skills through Confidence Building in Children	Encouraging your child to speak English Teaching speaking skills in English through student centered activities	GK