tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69879141453878548502024-03-12T23:48:09.169-07:00ICT in TEFLCesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-22370877018124100332011-08-02T19:18:00.000-07:002011-08-05T10:19:06.954-07:00Final Reflection about my Experience in the ICT in TEFL course (Session 13)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd84vVmi5dL_0cA9sG1Cq6xraZJTmX2Pkz91X7MRv3jgVS_xL-cHMfTZh9eRQ1fiz4xyN6ekZJujP2y1i2Kf7otDTSYQFo3sIJ5I03ZuYRfTP7wv7Tb0cgkvvUNU1m71gPu2kYsMjGUOoe/s1600/reflection.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd84vVmi5dL_0cA9sG1Cq6xraZJTmX2Pkz91X7MRv3jgVS_xL-cHMfTZh9eRQ1fiz4xyN6ekZJujP2y1i2Kf7otDTSYQFo3sIJ5I03ZuYRfTP7wv7Tb0cgkvvUNU1m71gPu2kYsMjGUOoe/s1600/reflection.bmp" t$="true" /></a></div><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Final Reflection about my Experience in the ICT in TEFL course.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to start by saying that this has been a unique experience. Taking this subject has taught me that learning about technology definitely widens our minds. There are so many things that technology has to offer that when you are introduced into that world for the first time, the experience is absolutely overwhelming. I am happy and I may give a list of all the reasons why. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we have been shown <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the tip of the iceberg. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it is up to us to follow the path to becoming a 22<sup>nd</sup> century teacher or to continue to look at the other side and do nothing to change our reality. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From now on, we have no excuses to become better educators, plan our classes looking ahead and seeing the positive of the experiences to come. I am just imagining what technological artifacts we will be using in ten or twenty years. A little frightening, but not that much to stop me from keeping on exploring.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am exhausted but at the same time very satisfied</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my partners <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for always being there with a helping hand to support me every time I wanted to give up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you professor for taking us on a ride to this wonderful experience. I will never forget you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-73841867858045791472011-08-02T18:37:00.000-07:002011-08-05T10:23:38.319-07:00Fostering Maritime English Learning via a Wiki... (Session 12)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpV0-jhj15ADg527YzyMgBX44tJO6XDjOcOgbYRXH_7URhAK1I3wkM5H6B2rIE_gUMR3vpYzRn7kNfIaT-9W4dIzCEMzHUE1IEpTWDpjMgNqfrt04mvrXxE_IKoO6QDdu6gH79J-lm37V/s1600/quiz+bowl.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpV0-jhj15ADg527YzyMgBX44tJO6XDjOcOgbYRXH_7URhAK1I3wkM5H6B2rIE_gUMR3vpYzRn7kNfIaT-9W4dIzCEMzHUE1IEpTWDpjMgNqfrt04mvrXxE_IKoO6QDdu6gH79J-lm37V/s400/quiz+bowl.gif" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fostering Maritime English Learning via a Wiki for a Knowledge Bowl Competition.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowledge bowl competitions, according to record, started to be organized in the early<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fifties. These competitions were organized between schools and colleges. Their popularity increased so much that they were broadcasted on radio and later shown on television. (Wikipedia, 2011)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowledge bowl is basically a game of questions and answers about diverse topics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants are expected to master knowledge in a broad range of academic subjects if they want to reach the final rounds. (Wikipedia, 2011)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why the interest for organizing events of this kind ?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Research (Metzger, 2007; Parke, 2003) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has shown that organizing and participating in these activities really brings many positive experiences and advantages to those involved. On one hand, teachers may monitor and measure their students retention of material related to their subjects, they may also encourage their students to develop certain degree of autonomy just by asking them to prepare themselves for the competition,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and also to cultivate their confidence in their academic abilities and personal responsibility. On the other hand, students feel really engaged and motivated to learn because they have the chance to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a positive setting.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the diversed reasons explained above among others is that I have decided to organize a quiz bowl competition with UMC students who are taking the subject English VII as a way of motivating them to improve their knowledge concerning Maritime English. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the planning of the event I have decided to create a wiki which will be the means for all participants to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be in contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All participants: teachers and students will be informed, and invited to join in the wiki, they will be allowed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>participate in the construction and design <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of it. This tool will also be a platform for students to have the opportunity to practice their maritime English skills and share their knowledge <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with their peers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event will be organized in the UMC campus and all the students taking the subject English VII may have the same chance to participate. Of course, they will be informed about all the rules and procedures to be a potential contestants. Their participation will depend on them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very positive about this activity. I have been doing research about events like this and the results have been great. Students get really engaged with learning when preparing for the competition, they really enjoy all the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something I considered very innovative is using a wiki for the organization of the event and for facilitating the students’ practice and preparation for the final activity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eztaQbrLbN4SkMy3duXlCnbYO6qrtT3jod45nN2kQffOy-ao8a-lw3ySFn34T9BEYK8G3Y7PU5lAWEJ2BzwywciQHa6qGyl6_ZZBgM83SEbWI75tnVvn1rBk22oTfqZl97wgRGiI5CKn/s1600/quiz+bowl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eztaQbrLbN4SkMy3duXlCnbYO6qrtT3jod45nN2kQffOy-ao8a-lw3ySFn34T9BEYK8G3Y7PU5lAWEJ2BzwywciQHa6qGyl6_ZZBgM83SEbWI75tnVvn1rBk22oTfqZl97wgRGiI5CKn/s640/quiz+bowl.png" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">References: Reference page.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-86953584910405858372011-07-22T20:16:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:44:36.360-07:00Web-based lessons (Session 11)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaz-SfOnU5nhYQbsEY55UWqXdGOTz4wb68reOVOBrqmHo2tGslPnAN-zpjASMVpo8_A6IKiSboXCz1YGjUr5fA8U0DH4TIhDnnCGkJu-sxICSV93K7_UOiEo92BhvDiIRKQqqHatxe8fU/s1600/web+based+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaz-SfOnU5nhYQbsEY55UWqXdGOTz4wb68reOVOBrqmHo2tGslPnAN-zpjASMVpo8_A6IKiSboXCz1YGjUr5fA8U0DH4TIhDnnCGkJu-sxICSV93K7_UOiEo92BhvDiIRKQqqHatxe8fU/s320/web+based+2.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Web-based lessons</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>World Education Literacy Division (2005) “A web lesson is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a lesson that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>incorporates a web site or many web sites. This can be conducted entirely online or <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it can be a traditional classroom lesson with an online component”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some advantages of this kind of lessons is that they bring several opportunities for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>teachers and students to exploit their <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>creativity, which means, they may get inspired to create original resources and acitivities, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and therefore<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>facilite the class development and success.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another positive feature regarding this kind of lessons<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is the benefits<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they provide to different learning styles: visual, auditory, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">kinesthetic</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>given the varied formats in which the information (material) is presented.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most important matter regarding web-based lessons is the priority they must give to educational goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This should actually include<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>specific <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>steps, description of how and when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the websites will be used in the course of the whole activity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Web-based lesson</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maritime English use <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in different<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>contexts.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Participants:</span></b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> UMC Maritime Engineering students who are in semester VII.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Objectives:</span></b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Exercise<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>listening comprehension skills.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Raise awarenesss of the importance of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>oral communication skills <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the maritime <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>contexts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Summarize<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and report information after watching and listening a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>video. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Material:</span></b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Computers with internet ccess.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Preparation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Search<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>online video sites such as YouTube, Teacher Tube, or any other<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for videos<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about different speaking situations which require the use of maritime English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>( in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>any<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maritime context).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Select<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about six or eight videos<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in which people are talking or discussing subjects related to the maritime context. Videos may include people with different English accents or different English levels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have students form pairs or trios and assign a video to each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will watch and listen to the videos , take notes of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information they may think is important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teacher<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>may provide students with a short list of questions <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that may serve as pre-listening activity to give them certain context.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students will prepare a 5-minute oral presentation to explain the teacher and their partners ,through a summary,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about the different speaking situations shown in the videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must relate the videos to their current<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and future situation.</span></div><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A debate may be started<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to discuss about the advantages of knowing and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>speaking maritime English. This would be a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way of encouraging students to raise certain <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>awareness in regards with the importance of communicating in such specific context as it is the maritime one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They really need to have command of this specialized language.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05QPL1DUqd-wAJfvB4LZlUGo89NlupMx86qu90aM2LACRaRRnbZNPeeqR5SAfWbOIsHmmiIiwgZz9WI4NgChPKpwgjoFqCNwvC8mHsxMpzUHQmNkxniYtVBh-QCHKjBplwNZkQwsnB-g3/s1600/web+based+l.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05QPL1DUqd-wAJfvB4LZlUGo89NlupMx86qu90aM2LACRaRRnbZNPeeqR5SAfWbOIsHmmiIiwgZz9WI4NgChPKpwgjoFqCNwvC8mHsxMpzUHQmNkxniYtVBh-QCHKjBplwNZkQwsnB-g3/s400/web+based+l.png" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>References: See reference page</strong></div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-24749715341654407882011-07-22T19:32:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:54:56.709-07:00Notions about Second Life (Session 10)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETsR-bxNevIu91KZEw35yuoetnENtXuQmbC9deLV3lZmFQtJKBUSieWACvj3y6BULBmP6Wcu0cyT3r9p-qIqC3heoemPnn7tlIcYzsrQ7FWvaPUFhciDc8wlpx0PMJ3dYA-IeWeqjCA-o/s1600/SecondLife%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETsR-bxNevIu91KZEw35yuoetnENtXuQmbC9deLV3lZmFQtJKBUSieWACvj3y6BULBmP6Wcu0cyT3r9p-qIqC3heoemPnn7tlIcYzsrQ7FWvaPUFhciDc8wlpx0PMJ3dYA-IeWeqjCA-o/s320/SecondLife%255B1%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="300" /></a></div><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong>Second Life</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="http://www.mexicotop.com/uploads/emoticons_3384.jpg" id="Imagen_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 31.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 184.2pt; margin-top: 94.95pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 33.75pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata cropbottom="55066f" cropleft="15676f" cropright="33429f" o:title="emoticons_3384" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\CONFIG~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"><strong></strong></imagedata></shape><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The first time I heard about second life was two years ago. I heard<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about it from my two nephews who are now 22 years old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they told me about that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>,according to them,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“amazing virtual world”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my reaction was rather the one of an skeptical individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought of it as a teenage geek <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never imagined at that time that I was going to be living <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the second life experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, here I am trying and rehearsing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how to change my appearance, my outfit , how to sit down, take a picture and even fly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some curious information, well! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think not so curious I found about second life is that a lot of people see it as a way to open up and and behave the way they would never do in real life. Some guy said “the best part of it is that at the end of the day your actions and choices stay with your second life character, not you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is due to fact that second life can somehow give one the benefit of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anonymity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I was a little worried about how to handle this new experience, but then I also read that there are some groups to help newcomers. Cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> And something that really attracted my attention was finding out that there is a hybrid mashup of second life and moodle, which is called Soodle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This soodle platform<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“provides a range of tools for supporting learning and teaching to the immersive virtual world”. (The Instructional Technologist’s blog, 2009).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The benefits of this second life word for educators and students <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are wide a lot. Collaborative projects can be started and developed, simulations impossible to be <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>due to factors such as budget matters in educational institutions can be feasible, field trips to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>far away places: Can you imagine visiting second life NASA? Superb! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Well! I will continue to try on second life. Who knows if in the future I become, as they say, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one of those avatar teachers who own buildings and condos, married<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to a gorgeous<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>avatar girl and living in second life Antartida,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> A picture of my first Avatar</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx7P1L0p4SDuTsET6ZHkZ1Mn2ull63xYiC-7rU9DTxy0u3UTKHzGYil4-mtIFjw5MhEY-en6xuU6nLsQ-zUKk6fpYFha-zd2Fc6T038xh31OsIYXTDLKEV9ikGRSZL1XZ7nOEjuY9zemn/s1600/securedownload%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx7P1L0p4SDuTsET6ZHkZ1Mn2ull63xYiC-7rU9DTxy0u3UTKHzGYil4-mtIFjw5MhEY-en6xuU6nLsQ-zUKk6fpYFha-zd2Fc6T038xh31OsIYXTDLKEV9ikGRSZL1XZ7nOEjuY9zemn/s400/securedownload%255B2%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong>References: See reference page</strong></div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-44587003940038139222011-07-18T22:31:00.000-07:002011-08-03T13:04:18.086-07:00Virtual Learning Environments (Session 9)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRNK_3V7dKUebTDNjR0mreU6nmG-gd73p_it95eYdwhkT6iwbfEC9Iyb10UtBigRNrzmLDpf90oNhfgM5wzjzH8OK3YQMrHdDD1rI8ZpOm6G1o-hQ6Ye8GrqNldZgoTPh8KPU-AiTDAJg/s1600/virtual+learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRNK_3V7dKUebTDNjR0mreU6nmG-gd73p_it95eYdwhkT6iwbfEC9Iyb10UtBigRNrzmLDpf90oNhfgM5wzjzH8OK3YQMrHdDD1rI8ZpOm6G1o-hQ6Ye8GrqNldZgoTPh8KPU-AiTDAJg/s400/virtual+learning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong>Virtual Learning Environments</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Nowadays<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that science and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>technology<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have contributed with the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">advance</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> of many fields of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>society , we teachers can not deny the fact that changes in education <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have been ocurring, and they <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are just around the corner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can not think of the teaching-learning process <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as it was thought of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ten or twenty years ago. Technology has undoudtedly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made this important process happen beyond <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the limits <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">of the physical infrastructure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now learning environments are not only physical : a building, four walls and a roof, but virtual: with no physical <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>boundaries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> A virtual learning environment <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(VLE) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is “ a system that creates an environment designed to facilitate teachers in the management of educational courses for their students, especially a system using computer hardware and software, which might <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>involve both face to face and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>distance learning” ( Wikipedia, 2011) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been stated <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that these environments were originally created <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for distance education, however, with the passing of time, they started to be <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>used to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">support and complement</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> traditional </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">face to face</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>classroom activities: blended learning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> There are certain <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>elements a VLA should implement. Some of them are:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The syllabus for the course.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Administrative<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Students registration.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Basic teaching material.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Additional resources such as links to spaces on the Internet.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Assessment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among others <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Wikipedia, 2011)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Once <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all these elements have been incorporated , <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the job of the teacher to exploit all them fully to get the most advantages of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> According to Dillenbourg<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2000), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VLE <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">own</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> certain characteristics, which may make them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">achieve</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">goals</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> they have been created for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of these characteristics <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are: students are not only active, but also actors, they co-contruct the virtual space. This means that they are not restricted to consuming web information, they become information producers as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VLE are not restricted to distance education , they also enrich classroom activities. They integrate heterogeneous technologies and multiple pedagogical approaches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> In the TEFL field, VLE are seen as very </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">effective</span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> platforms. These virtual environments are considered as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>useful and successful as face to face ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may actually complement each other. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> At Univesidad Maritima del Caribe there is this online platform “Sistema de Aprendizaje Interactivo<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a Distancia” (SAID)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>created in MOODLE which has brought a lot of benefits to the campus in regards to physical space, time contraints, and resource economy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> This platform has been created aiming at the design and offering <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of intructional modules, subjects and programs <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be developed under the distance learning mode. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> UMC teachers who may want to instruct using <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the SAID platform must take a six-month course (diplomado) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to learn how to work <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I was offered the opportunity to take this course and the experience was really worth it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taught how to use all MOODLE predetermined <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tools <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such as: forums, tasks, questionnaires, lessons, and how to design and administer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instructional modules.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Right now, I am using this SAID <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>platform <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not only to instruct and assist distance learners who are taking the module Instrumental English II for <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>three-year major <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transporte Acuatico, but also to complement my face to face classes. This is somehow a new experience for my students, and believe me they are as amazed as me to see and realize <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how productive and supportive for their learning <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such a platform like this can be.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQT6yceXWjkONn02wcVsN6evehFLcIm5dc4zoX1wKZ8NTr_4AkRbDZcztoiHeltudqnRc-6PQhZFHl9x8DT4SOTBRjYW17CRL-SlpHqHIcRfR3e930WoGNrh9ITTKQN8I92tynOQMImmVb/s1600/SAID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQT6yceXWjkONn02wcVsN6evehFLcIm5dc4zoX1wKZ8NTr_4AkRbDZcztoiHeltudqnRc-6PQhZFHl9x8DT4SOTBRjYW17CRL-SlpHqHIcRfR3e930WoGNrh9ITTKQN8I92tynOQMImmVb/s640/SAID.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://mail.umc.edu.ve/said2/">Link to UMC Virtual Room</a><br />
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References: See reference page</div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-63677827059680581012011-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:002011-07-18T23:04:05.758-07:00Communities of Practice/ Social Networks (Session 8)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-g9NKyKqZ0GqN7gjJ1XqOIQJ4-1Bff1JrAf3xWpK_pYKH56ZLknjw8F1KRO6EYyw5jmwUw22CPGscXwew_mZc6GQ44XS8uXE-RoPdwgyAS_VfPFiNeiw-pu1rLPaUqcz0B4UidPwxU17/s1600/CoPs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-g9NKyKqZ0GqN7gjJ1XqOIQJ4-1Bff1JrAf3xWpK_pYKH56ZLknjw8F1KRO6EYyw5jmwUw22CPGscXwew_mZc6GQ44XS8uXE-RoPdwgyAS_VfPFiNeiw-pu1rLPaUqcz0B4UidPwxU17/s320/CoPs.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<b>Communities of Practice.</b><br />
Lave and Wenger (1998) state that “communities of practice (CoP) involve people sharing common concerns, sets of problems, or the same interests in a topic. they share information and experiences and because of this process of sharing, all the members of the community learn from each other and have the opportunity to develop themselves both personally and professionally”. <br />
These organizational groups are characterized by having as many objectives as members in their circles. They give participants great opportunities to share their best practices and experiences on specific domains, or fields of knowledge. <br />
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Communities of practice are meant to be of great importance for establishments such as non-profit associations, business corporations, educational institutions and even government organizations because they : connect people who, otherwise, would not have the time to interact; enable dialogue and discussion between their participants; stimulate learning; introduce collaborative process, help people organize and generate learning. (Wenger, Mc. Dermott & Snyder, 2002).<br />
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In field of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), CoPs have been gainig ground. Teachers and researchers in this area have started to take action and decided to assemble these types of communities given the lot of opportunities they offer for interaction and knowledge sharing. EFL teachers and researchers have realized that a great way to be exposed to the latest and newest information regarding their jobs is by interacting with their colleagues. This interaction, of course, can be possible through a community of practice.<br />
In Latin-America and Venezuela CoPs regarding the English language teaching field such as Webheads in action, Avealmec, VenELT, ELTnet, among others are well known by those doing research in the EFL/ESL teaching field and those really interested in sharing their experiences and expertise related to those fields. Interesting, exciting and sometimes divisive topics are discussed and participants contribute with their knowledge and expertise to state their view points and clarify doubts. In particular case of Webheads in action, educators meet to discuss about the emerging communications technologies, a very important area which really complements the ELT field.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcvwX1muZWcSGMeCZMZZqLEHsnUGh0elXv9-0Jq6Nl1EOlRCJyPneb2jvNPgjn0JwCzAzf2McyBrO2b2fBUy5JK58GdalPYDymkfE0J83jc-_BVK5_pH_G7dA_NfHCvmrsA1P0lhHApCu/s1600/social-networks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcvwX1muZWcSGMeCZMZZqLEHsnUGh0elXv9-0Jq6Nl1EOlRCJyPneb2jvNPgjn0JwCzAzf2McyBrO2b2fBUy5JK58GdalPYDymkfE0J83jc-_BVK5_pH_G7dA_NfHCvmrsA1P0lhHApCu/s320/social-networks.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<b>Social Networks</b><br />
A social network is “a social structure made up of individuals which are connected by interdependency such as friendship, other relationships, common interests, knowledge and even status”. (Wikipedia, 2011).<br />
A very popular social networking service worldwide is Facebook. This service was originally created with the only purpose of helping students of Harvard University get to know each other better. However, nowadays Facebook has expanded so much to the point of having 750 million active users worldwide. (Wikipedia, 2011)<br />
Facebook as social networking service owes its popularity to the fact that it is a very friendly- and- easy- to- use platform, which means any user does not need to be an expert in software or technology to use it. This platform provides users with a wide range of possibilities to interact and socialize. Facebook users can create their personal profiles with pictures, create lists of personal interests, communicate with friends, relatives, and other users, create and join interest groups, among other services. <br />
The first time I signed in and tried with Facebook, I was really excited thinking of the lot of possibilities this platform was offering me to meet new people and socialize. I could not believe about its popularity. I realized how popular Facebook was when I started to contact many of my childhood friends, high school and college classmates, who I had lost track of due to many reasons. It was an amazing experience.<br />
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I may say that this social network service has helped me a lot both personally and professionally in the way that it has offered me the opportunity of meeting and interacting with people, teachers and researchers from other countries. We have changed valuable information regarding our profession and more. In addition, The greatest benefit that Facebook has given me is the numerous opportunities to practice my English with people from all over the word, and also know a little more about their cultures. This is definitely not an artificial means to practice English, but a real one.<br />
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<a href="http://es-es.facebook.com/"><b>Facebook link </b></a>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-85722690181992603762011-06-18T15:02:00.001-07:002011-06-18T15:12:28.948-07:00Video Created with Window Movie Maker (Session 7)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mL8YbJCcpsw?hl=es&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mL8YbJCcpsw?hl=es&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-54523991795101753562011-06-18T14:38:00.000-07:002011-08-04T21:08:28.314-07:00Videos in the EFL class. (Session 7)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3fGtYgLifRSGtjdWi67pxrAEN4f5CYXHOrRly7lGKc-ANalQBHZZ9jeuxHov0ZSsqVqoFEU2vUsB1Ls6jLTIwBmmjUVBKI2bKEGzpJkml-2_7WqEe_Rh80C-i8iIXS5JJ0-Bb8WraR7Z/s1600/videos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; height: 180px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 221px;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3fGtYgLifRSGtjdWi67pxrAEN4f5CYXHOrRly7lGKc-ANalQBHZZ9jeuxHov0ZSsqVqoFEU2vUsB1Ls6jLTIwBmmjUVBKI2bKEGzpJkml-2_7WqEe_Rh80C-i8iIXS5JJ0-Bb8WraR7Z/s320/videos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL8YbJCcpsw">My First Movie Maker Video</a></strong></span><br />
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<span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong>Videos in the TEFL Classroom</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have always believed that one of the most motivating resources for the language classes are videos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience of watching a video (a film, a music video,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a documentary) always awakes a lot of mixed feelings in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>those who see <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and listen to them .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Videos are often created with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>varied purposes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and one of those purposes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is expressing and communicating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ideas, feelings, messages<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that may not <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be clearly expressed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with just words .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The actractive aspect of videos, in my opinion, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that they can trigger imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just imagine that our mind functions like a video camera, and our memories are recording of our experiences. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Research (Canning-Wilson, 2000) has revealed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>students like learning language through the use of videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those studies suggest that learners really enjoy <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>action, entertainment films .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why not taking advantages of them for our classes?. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But videos should not be used in the classroom just for the sake of amusing our students. They should be implemented with a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pedagogical purpose of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we teachers must be clear about setting our objectives before using <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some questions that language <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>teachers should answer before using videos in the classroom. For instance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the language learner will benefit from watching videos, or how students and teachers can develop language skills based on videos (Canning-Wilson, 2000).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once we are clear about the purpose of using a video which may be the hardest part , we should then<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>devote ourselves to the design of the video material to fulfill our teaching goals. Videos are great tools to mainly teach and test listening skills. But the other skills <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are not kept out of the benefits of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have indeed seen and used videos to teach English micro-skills such as grammar, vocabulary and even intonation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The various<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>times I have used <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>videos in my English classes , They have been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>borrowed from the internet. YOUTUBE, I think , is a great source of videos. Many of them show really authentic situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I have done so far <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is downloding them to my computer with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RealPlayer program and keeping them in a video bank for future uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Some partners at work also use videos a lot and we sometimes <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>interchange them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now I am really happy because creating my own videos using the Window Movie Maker program is now an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This program is so friendly and easy to use that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just thinking of the possibility of having my current students create their own presentation videos before this semester ends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, that will <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be a very meaningful <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>English learning <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>experience for them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong>References: See reference page</strong></div></div>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-18239478876209388102011-06-04T15:28:00.000-07:002011-06-30T19:43:57.338-07:00PODCAST (session 6)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHUy7bvviJcBqj6NaomhiDjgp8tei8IIFHb9LDZjFxaSr3VeP8hd_FJS9S78bjJ_6drScIzBk7KSLoqIGxW2e1c_sbKdFfYKnhgYbu6OLcPpt1_EmZK1fLJIUmUTOLD8ZiOiaadxWkoQQ/s1600/podcast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHUy7bvviJcBqj6NaomhiDjgp8tei8IIFHb9LDZjFxaSr3VeP8hd_FJS9S78bjJ_6drScIzBk7KSLoqIGxW2e1c_sbKdFfYKnhgYbu6OLcPpt1_EmZK1fLJIUmUTOLD8ZiOiaadxWkoQQ/s320/podcast2.jpg" width="285px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://cesarerivas.podbean.com/2011/06/30/my-interview-to-albis-tovar/">My Interview to Albis Tovar</a></strong></div><br />
One of the advantages of using the Internet is that it gives us wide possibilities to easily access genuine resources and material. Such resources can have a big value in the EFL class as they may be used for many purposes, for instance, developing great and interactive classes with activities such as debating, discussions of topics, work projects among other motivating tasks. <br />
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A device that has become a great source of authentic material to use in listening activities is the podcast. Podcasts have a number of advantages because of their authenticity and suitability. Language teachers may create them to suit their class needs.<br />
Podcast is a blended word formed by the combination of the I-Pod (audio player) and broadcast from TV and radio. It is a computer radio file. The most common file is MP3. (Sharma & Barrett, 2007)<br />
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For downloading a podcast we need a broad band internet connection. And, though they take authenticity (real life) to the class, to create one is not a task for an elementary computer user(Sharma & Barrett, 2007). Fundamental items of equipment are required. Two of those items are a sound card and a microphone.<br />
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Podcast formats vary. They may be presentations, monologues, interviews, dialogues, etc. As it has been stated before, teachers may choose their formats based on their class needs.<br />
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In the TEFL field there may be a lot of reasons to use podcast. First, podcasts provide listening practice that is tailored to the learner’s needs. Second, they can benefit learners who are more aural than visual in their learning styles. Next, they can provide with models of pronunciation and accent for those who do not have opportunities for foreign language exposure, among other reasons.<br />
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The experience of creating a podcast in the ICT in TEFL course has been somehow daunting . Authorities that support the use of technology in education are right when they say that creating such type of file is not a task for elementary computer users. Actually, just looking at the panel of programs such as audacity and the like may be a little intimidating. One may start thinking that this is a task for a sound engineer. However, once we start experimenting with the features of the program, we find out that creating a podcast is not that difficult. I indeed got excited to the point of wanting to create my own sound files for my ESP classes. Of course, I am still in the process of experimentation with the panel of audacity.<br />
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<a href="http://cesarerivas.podbean.com/mf/web/qaj78u/myshortintro.mp3">My first Podcast</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1051500636">My Podbean blog</a>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-63685167790419821502011-06-04T13:44:00.000-07:002011-08-04T17:35:36.923-07:00WIKIS (session 5)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qDCfG_vcrPL0k0dZmoiOgkj4dFNLhPbUx6avZ48-zaVl29LpftBS3pymFT2i8DPYsMnf5fmbIFYL72ymRp9Tem3kn6iZKfY3_iawe-HiklqC7ZVK2PtIWCmt7_Ztq-CO3MIETcmWkkZ3/s1600/wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qDCfG_vcrPL0k0dZmoiOgkj4dFNLhPbUx6avZ48-zaVl29LpftBS3pymFT2i8DPYsMnf5fmbIFYL72ymRp9Tem3kn6iZKfY3_iawe-HiklqC7ZVK2PtIWCmt7_Ztq-CO3MIETcmWkkZ3/s320/wiki.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The use of technology in the TEFL field offers a lot of opportunities for learning progress and improvement . To work with tools like computers and the internet ; for instance, may become a motivating learning experience as students may feel excited, stimulated and inspired if they realize the advantages and benefits of using such tools in their learning and practice of the target language.<br />
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Language learners may also feel stimulated when working with authentic material and participating in collaborative tasks. In this sense, a very useful tool that allows students to participate in collaborative learning tasks is “WIKI”. <br />
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A wiki is a “website on which pages can be constructed and edited by its creator as well as by its users”. (Sharma and Barrettt, 2007). Wikis have many uses in the language learning field . When students are learning a foreign language, they actually need a context that gives them the possibility to interact and use what they have learned. Therefore, participating in the process of creating and editing a wiki may be that perfect context. <br />
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According to Sharma and Barrett (2007) some of the benefits that wikis offer to the language learning are that they propose opportunities for learners to create bonds between them which may facilitate their learning. Wikis also make learners develop a sense of responsibility and respect when they realize that they are creating a project and that they are the authors of it. <br />
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In addition, teachers benefit from using wikis as these tools can facilitate some teaching tasks such as monitoring students progress, keep a record of how students are doing, observe what difficulties they may be encountering, among others .<br />
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The use of wikis in education, and specifically in the TEFL field has become the latest trend among teachers who love using technology in their jobs. Personally, I think that this technological instrument possesses great features and offers a number of possibilities that may contribute with the effectiveness of the teaching /learning process. At this regards, based on the premise that working cooperatively and collaboratively really contributes with meaningful learning, then wikis (because of their features and devices) will continue to be very efficient teaching/ learning tools.<br />
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<a href="http://gymkhanaesp7.pbworks.com/w/page/40664549/Home">MY WIKI </a>Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-8266821892529855792011-05-23T15:10:00.001-07:002011-05-23T15:10:58.837-07:00Blogs and Blogging (Session 4)One of the advantages of the Web 2.0 applications is that they propitiate and make possible interaction between their users. <br />
As a teacher I particularly think that interaction and cooperation between learners make the learning process more meaningful. Now if this interaction and cooperation is done via technology, there may be a high possibility of learning success.<br />
Blogging is actually the basic activity of updating a blog with information and make it available on the web. (Sharp Colmer & Thomas, 2005). This of course cannot be done without the web 2.0.<br />
Blogs have become very popular web tools as they can be used for a variety of purposes. They may serve as personal diaries to keep a record of actions. They can be used for business and trade. They can also focus on particular subjects in which people with same interests can share and interchange ideas. <br />
In the TEFL contexts blogs have countless uses. They indeed complement and harmonize the foreign or second language teaching/learning process by promoting the interaction, cooperation and collaboration among all those involved.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina-zfYHPR44OpCvCNFMoDwsK3qRyD-KWE5Wg7hVqYa2M0_yXV0-xoj86H-DKYcByPW-Pm5ZrzJeOhmxRmdF2uEs1TAKJ1tHuK6Yg3rEuS4Sa6pIId5cFgW1KAHrYVxNGuCpz2PlTW1mOt/s1600/blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="171" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina-zfYHPR44OpCvCNFMoDwsK3qRyD-KWE5Wg7hVqYa2M0_yXV0-xoj86H-DKYcByPW-Pm5ZrzJeOhmxRmdF2uEs1TAKJ1tHuK6Yg3rEuS4Sa6pIId5cFgW1KAHrYVxNGuCpz2PlTW1mOt/s320/blog.png" /></a></div><br />
Reference: Sharp Colmer & Thomas T.,(2005) "The Senior's Guide to Internet".Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-32156473371757150922011-05-23T15:09:00.001-07:002011-05-23T15:09:34.940-07:00WEBS 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 (Session 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-Jbvvqt2_DUV24K75YbCfRDQUD44UkP31vY215JFzBdof1mao7-xtt76eKupflDGArGMhX0i_EnKeW4ngUKBQ2XY09EUFnq9bYqCdCm6ecIf3BAopr3mcEr8cWfcRRBJD9cdwVnw47Lc/s1600/webs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-Jbvvqt2_DUV24K75YbCfRDQUD44UkP31vY215JFzBdof1mao7-xtt76eKupflDGArGMhX0i_EnKeW4ngUKBQ2XY09EUFnq9bYqCdCm6ecIf3BAopr3mcEr8cWfcRRBJD9cdwVnw47Lc/s320/webs.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Features of Webs 1.0, 2,0, 3,0</b><br />
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<b>Web 1.0</b><br />
Users only hace access to the information as rceptors.<br />
Users do not have possibility to edit, participate in contents.<br />
Pages include only text, and a few images.<br />
The used format is HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language.<br />
There is not interaction between users.<br />
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<b>Web 2.0</b><br />
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Facilitates sharing information.<br />
It allows users to interact and collaborate with each other.<br />
Pages are dYnamic as they integrate multimedia resources: videos, sound, etc.<br />
The used format are Java, Script, PHP.<br />
Allows users to create their own contents.<br />
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<b>Web 3.0</b><br />
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It is called a semantic web because it is a combination of the different systems of social networkings.<br />
It will be conceived for the machines to understand people and process the information posted on the web.Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-70787855480929947122011-05-23T15:08:00.001-07:002011-05-23T15:14:52.334-07:00E-Portfolio (Session 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq3A9UwTM6u9jfffZRJ9BrvYm7A3SSnHKGASYlU0cH-e4TdNyFgGYQWlzk9m2iNkePgy2lIbLAEAd7T6clFYN_oC3aauA3o0UnM7IsZa1yPpP_g-yzC7HdbBclXuPe1EyLV0VS-RaDE6K/s1600/e-portfolio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="274" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq3A9UwTM6u9jfffZRJ9BrvYm7A3SSnHKGASYlU0cH-e4TdNyFgGYQWlzk9m2iNkePgy2lIbLAEAd7T6clFYN_oC3aauA3o0UnM7IsZa1yPpP_g-yzC7HdbBclXuPe1EyLV0VS-RaDE6K/s320/e-portfolio.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Technology has undoubtedly invaded every aspect of our lives. Lots of people spend hours in front of computers, talking on cell phones, using all kinds of machines. Now activities such as going shopping, having fun, meeting people, etc . can be done via internet.<br />
A latest trend is posting one’s portfolio on the web. This kind of portfolio is called “E-portfolio”. This is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user. It may include texts, electronic files, images, blog entries among other features. (L. Malita & Vanna, 2010).<br />
In the educational field portfolios are very helpful as they provide with evidence of the students’ progress and achievements. Students can reflect on their learning and become more aware of their strengths and needs. <br />
These useful tools vary in use. They can be developmental, reflective and representational. Every type serving different purposes.<br />
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Reference: L.Malita & Vanna,B. (2010) Digital Story Telling for Employability.Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-37232352228375367182011-05-23T15:04:00.001-07:002011-05-23T15:16:30.308-07:00E-Learning (Session 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX8X2yBMQ0zkJy_T3PLJ64vthRgvECywAFvfWgMn6LOMtcUj9g4dbSbaYpqDgaBq067Z501qzrQLHg1URTDXLEmY_C_gqGxlTDqFbVbrQfCSJ0yWMIY8kFTP608T9FZSZtb5jDC-CTnmH/s1600/e-learning%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX8X2yBMQ0zkJy_T3PLJ64vthRgvECywAFvfWgMn6LOMtcUj9g4dbSbaYpqDgaBq067Z501qzrQLHg1URTDXLEmY_C_gqGxlTDqFbVbrQfCSJ0yWMIY8kFTP608T9FZSZtb5jDC-CTnmH/s320/e-learning%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://mail.umc.edu.ve/umcp/index-ie.php"><b>U.M.C. Web page<br />
</b><br />
</a>The development of technology has made it possible to take the teaching-learning process to a higher level. Now, there are different systems which have contributed directly to the education growth. One of these systems is E-Learning. It comprises all forms of electronically supported learning based not only on the web, but other technological devices such as cell phones, video cameras, multimedia gadgets, etc. (Wikipedia, 2010).<br />
E-learning has played a paramount role in the TEFL field as it has certainly served as a solid and varied platform which facilitates all the practices involved in the second language teaching and learning. Learners do not require to go to an enclose building or room to learn a second language. They can do it with just any new technological application in their computers, I phones, Blackberries and the like.<br />
At present, Educational institutions worldwide have experienced the need for updating their syllabuses with the aim to implement e-learning systems in their infrastructures. Authorities in the education field have been stating that e-learning may be the cornerstone to solve many of the problems occurring in education. For instance, spread education and fight the disadvantages caused by physical space. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia06CnjdyylDokrEFyt-yw7CyXW3Xl2fwIQBgqxMkKWo30IUzHMxa9e-XAbIOsku-bSFqdNovyxoltxC3g10brh6ESJ2iff5e46BbjzQQs3dtHxWU59rG-44tkm05ycOl0eJVjRQ4kawXk/s1600/UMC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="174" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia06CnjdyylDokrEFyt-yw7CyXW3Xl2fwIQBgqxMkKWo30IUzHMxa9e-XAbIOsku-bSFqdNovyxoltxC3g10brh6ESJ2iff5e46BbjzQQs3dtHxWU59rG-44tkm05ycOl0eJVjRQ4kawXk/s320/UMC.png" /></a></div><br />
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<b>E-Learning / TEFL Context </b><br />
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<a href="http://mail.umc.edu.ve/umcp/index-ie.php"> U.M.C. web page<br />
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At Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe (UMC) there is a technological platform serving the UMcista population. The UMC has a web site which everybody can access to look for detailed information about the university. This university has also three computers labs and three OPSU rooms. These facilities provide both students and teachers with certain preparation in the ICT areas. Though the internet access is limited since many web sites and pages are blocked, students and teachers can do research on the web. <br />
A curious and sad fact is that all the activities developed in the Computers labs have not connection with the learning of languages. The computers labs are only used to teach students about computer programs, software, hardware and all that computer technicality.<br />
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Reference: Wikipedia (2010) E-Learning "en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ E- learning.Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-13286517786144949372011-05-23T15:03:00.001-07:002011-05-23T15:03:27.487-07:00Digital Literacy (Session 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eojSGBQDywCpbMJrekcM-RVsSY7PG0hyKtRrncos-g0qKItrI-Lws-Na5sFbMa2CF8EJCL3CupgW4U8mYa-Tg5y_llufrUcTkSxB64Nl7m1Otr3d0Ps2JAPWKx56UeCX4GWkZL4pHpEt/s1600/digital_literacy%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eojSGBQDywCpbMJrekcM-RVsSY7PG0hyKtRrncos-g0qKItrI-Lws-Na5sFbMa2CF8EJCL3CupgW4U8mYa-Tg5y_llufrUcTkSxB64Nl7m1Otr3d0Ps2JAPWKx56UeCX4GWkZL4pHpEt/s320/digital_literacy%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Digital Literacy<br />
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If we turn back in time a hundred years or more, we will be surprised to find out that society’s conception of a person being literate was very different from today’s conception . Literacy in the past had more to do with reading and writing the languages used by certain intellectual circles. A person, who could read and write in Latin; for instance, was considered well-educated and therefore literate.<br />
It is amazing to see how this conception about literacy has changed. We have witnessed the emergence and development of technology in the last 20 years. This evolution of technology and the control that it has upon our lives has undoubtedly changed our perceptions and conception of our reality. Now we have new and different needs.<br />
In this sense, it is pertinent to ask what it means to be literate in the 21th century. Many authors (Asko, 1998; Frechette, 2002; Ogle and Klemp, 2007) argue that being literate in this era is related to developing critical thinking and having a continuum learning to be able to develop knowledge for participating actively in society (Ogle & Klemp, 2007). However, in this technological era developing “Digital Literacy” has become a real need.<br />
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2001), digital literacy is “sophisticated set of competencies pervading workplace, community and social life”. Moreover, “It is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate and create information using digital technology”. (Wikipedia, 2010 in Reynolds, 2010). It is a fact that to be digitally literate, knowledge and understanding of high technology and its use is required. It is also a reality that people who are digitally literate can communicate and work more efficiently nowadays.<br />
In regards with education, It is well-known that schools and universities worldwide have been planning and updating their syllabuses with the implementation of computer related areas. Now more educational courses are being offered online. Hence the necessity of teachers to prepare in the tech. areas and become digitally literate to satisfy the learning needs of today’s students.<br />
I may say that it has been a long and intricate way for me to get certain command on the use of technology to catch up with my students. That does not mean that I am a hundred per cent digitally literate. Actually, I am far away from being that teacher who is at the forefront in the use of technology. Nevertheless, I have always been open to this wonderful field. Something undeniable is that technology is always changing and new ways of communication and information have appeared. So we teachers can not deny the fact that technology is there to be used, consumed and get the most benefits of. So why not doing it ?<br />
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Reference: Frechette, D. (2002) Developing Media Literacy in Cyberspace.Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987914145387854850.post-26331609564207191782011-05-23T15:02:00.000-07:002011-06-17T14:39:00.706-07:00ICT in TEFL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotwj4a4C11sfJ2jOU_YBmxuSrd8iFClrZ37yQ8vz0Tr5J9ssXpZ71umDNQ-Yyahul7QjPmyZfdvE6RClyowj_n6XbZD3KZtkaEgYSqo_2Tr6PVAbWn5976rGf4TDxPRn_fK8qev1ptRik/s1600/web-tools-2%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotwj4a4C11sfJ2jOU_YBmxuSrd8iFClrZ37yQ8vz0Tr5J9ssXpZ71umDNQ-Yyahul7QjPmyZfdvE6RClyowj_n6XbZD3KZtkaEgYSqo_2Tr6PVAbWn5976rGf4TDxPRn_fK8qev1ptRik/s320/web-tools-2%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0qtePZUM-60DE0-rCS4GFU38ADToNq_GK419i1zMec1xUJqD2IuIdwjSmoN4bkNZ1Shb8MeMEA_2VfwK_hziPU5TqIOdKPlENQL6wmiVzkBz1IYkO9Vw835409dKlgwDhaZcq8vAMqPW/s1600/500px-Speaker_Icon_svg%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0qtePZUM-60DE0-rCS4GFU38ADToNq_GK419i1zMec1xUJqD2IuIdwjSmoN4bkNZ1Shb8MeMEA_2VfwK_hziPU5TqIOdKPlENQL6wmiVzkBz1IYkO9Vw835409dKlgwDhaZcq8vAMqPW/s1600/500px-Speaker_Icon_svg%255B1%255D.png" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://cesarerivas.podbean.com/mf/web/n88h66/podcastwithmusic.mp3">My Intro Message</a> </span></strong></div><br />
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This tool has been created with the main purpose of providing followers with basic and "easy to consume" information about some of the benefits we can get from using technology to develop the teaching-learning process. Here you will find some blogging about technology and education-related topics such as: Digital Literacy, E-learnig, E-portfolios among others and all of them have been related to the TEFL field.<br />
You are invited to post your comments on the topics you think are useful and interesting. <br />
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Welcome!Cesar Rivashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11322371998610641549noreply@blogger.com2