Yo there reader!
Long time no update but here's one!
Been furiously trying to catch up on this first module, living, breathing and dreaming "Computer Based Resources in Education"!
Got back last week from that wonderful paradise (albeit overcast) Krabi - the massages and spas more than made up for it though as well as zipping round on a souped up moped and raving on the beach all on my lonesome (see above pictures)...
Although late, I’ve been contributing (see below) to various discussion topics as well as at “ElearnEnable” which is just a fantastic website – just perfect for this Masters! I also like the “Coffee Shop” but think it’s rather underused – I wonder what I can do about that…
Sayonara for now!
Michael
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Subject: Re: Activity 1.1
Hi all
I love the Wile E Coyote 'twist' about a historical figure we identify with so I'm gonna do the same. I've thought long and hard about this but can't think of a real historical figure I can identify with so I'll go into the realms of fantasy with mine and simply introduce him as Bond, James Bond!
Why? As a young boy growing up (anywhere in the world), who hasn't wished he could be this suave secret agent who gets the job done in the most exotic locales with the fanciest/latest gadgets and the women! Some of this still do!
Would this gentleman British spy like the internet? Oh come on, the guy practically relies on it for a living! As an agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service (aka M16), he's up-to-date with the latest ways of communicating digitally, be it tracking down his latest suspect or using it to gather information for his missions.
Make mine a vodka martini, shaken not stirred...
Michael
Re: Blogs
Hey everyone
Just thought I'd add my thoughts on Matt's "what's with blogs anyway?" and initially I have to agree with the guy!
I started my own blog (http://medtech-ml.blogspot.com/ - please drop by with some comments!) while doing this module and I have to admit I kinda enjoy it. It's a mix of business and pleasure - I like to mix!
With me, I was reluctant to use blogs as it just seemed to me to be an "electronic diary". Why would anyone wanna read the daily/weekly/monthly events of an everyman like myself (way to sell yourself) but when you come across some really good blogs, you realise how useful and dare I say, entertaining some of it is, especially when their life sounds so much more interesting than yours (in comparison) and the way it has been expressed so eloquently just drags you into their world and you just can't stop reading and checking out the latest updates. Of course, there are blogs out there that are used by people who wanna express their views in freedom of speech restricted countries so it can be a good outlet - they just gotta be a bit careful, that's all...!
In my English lessons, I used to use journals with my students as a way of informal written communication practice. In these journals, students could tell me anything they wanted (as long as they used English) and the kind of things they talked about was stuff like what they did during the week, what they learnt in the last lesson, what they like/dislike about school, what they think about my lessons, personal stuff, etc. I would collect it in, read it and write a few comments sneakily repeating and correcting some of the things they wrote (‘sublimal’ teaching!) I can now see myself using blogs instead of these journals...
Anyway, that's my tuppence's worth...
Blogging out
Michael
Re: Promethean Boards
Hi all
I have had experience using these interactive whiteboards (IWBs) when I worked at the British Council (BC) Hong Kong (from 1998) where it was one of the first BC teaching centres (TC) to use this relatively new technology. Since then, as far as I am aware, all BC TC worldwide have started using or are planning to use these Promethean IWBs and that’s a lot of TC as they operate in over 100 countries (http://www.britishcouncil.org/home-contact-worldwide.htm)!
When it was first introduced, there was a lot of trepidation (as with any new technology, especially for teachers who were not that IT-literate) but there was plenty of training for staff to learn this new technology and add it to their box of teaching tools. Now they have regular training sessions for new (induction) and experienced teachers (share and tell) as well as professionally certified courses such as the Promethean Accreditation Level courses.
It was commendable of the British Council Hong Kong to go all the way and install ALL their classrooms with these IWBs so it turned into a kind of 'sink or swim' situation. Of course, there was a safety net of portable whiteboards in case of breakdown or lack of inexperience, etc.!
Although I’m a bit of a ‘tech freak’, staff’s general consensus was that these IWBs were adding extra pressure/stress and load to their already burgeoning workloads. Not only was the training taking up a lot of time but more time was needed to prepare flipcharts, etc. As with any new technology, once familiarity kicks in it becomes second nature.
From the students’ point of view, it has been very positive, especially with young learners as IWBs have so many useful amazing functions and features, eg. accessing the internet, interactive software, etc. and has proven a huge success – see for yourself: http://www.prometheanworld.com/uk/server/show/nav.618
Michael
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