Coming Back... For Peter, with love!

Coming back to this blog is painful... I know it is supposed to be a teacher's blog, but this teacher is mourning her beloved partner now...
After a long suffering, my beloved partner, Peter James, left for a better world 19 days ago.  During his long illness, house bound, Peter was still present in the world by means of his social networks. He was a proficient networker and an astute observer/researcher of the human nature and behaviour in the cyber world with its wonders and hazards. He was an early promoter of the advantages of social/professional networking; at the same time, he tirelessly warned against the numerous dangers and was always ready to give safety related tips and advice. For example, way before this blog entry by Scott Thornbury, he would perform forensic linguistics on scam e-mails and we used them as teaching materials for students to spot the mistakes!!! And that was really funny! It was also fun for him to publish photovideos done while on our little trips together on the emerging YouTube and other video sharing sites. You can have a glimpse in our life together by watching his Boffin1157 video channel. Enjoy!

I started this blog a couple of years ago. The reasons were both personal and professional:
firstly, Peter and I agreed that my journey in the "wonderland" of the Internet (started many years before) should serve as a platform for sharing with my Romanian colleagues and students my/our enthusiasm related to Internet use in teaching English for (specific) academic purposes and for tracing the learning curve I was following on a daily basis.
Secondly, because Peter was so present in the virtual world, it felt good to be together here as well and discuss its multifaceted aspects -

- and so it feels now when I follow in his footsteps and numberless questions need to be answered!...

Join the Learning Revolution at Newham College of Further Education

Last week (27/10-30/10) I joined a group of group of Cluj-based Romanian experts in adult education for a visit to London, part of a Leonardo project aiming to exchange good practices on adult e-learning in Europe. We attended a most interesting workshop on the role and benefits of implementing a VLE for the college courses aimed at a very numerous student population.

Newham College of Further Education is a college of further education in the London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom. Previously called Newham Community College, it was created from the merger of the former West Ham College and East Ham College. The main site is in East Ham, with a further site in Stratford, and six further local neighbourhood learning centres. An Oftsted report following a 2009 inspection awarded the school a Grade 1 (outstanding). The college is a member of the 157 Group of high performing school (Source: Wikipedia).

 Our hostess, Mrs. Joyce Amato, and her team introduced us to the college Moodle-based VLE, called New Learning, the result of two-year efforts to integrate technology in learning.
Definitely, where there is a will there's a way... and it's up to us to decide whether we want or not to join this Revolution!

Din nou despre tehnologii si alte minunatii

Rima involuntara din titlu e binevenita. Pentru ca la inceput de septembrie in minunata Creta am avut parte de reteta ideala cu ingredientele mele preferate. In ordinea preferintelor: Mediterana, oameni minunati de la care ai de invatat, multe idei si metode noi, sentimentul ca nu lucrezi in van.

Scoala de vara la prof integrarea tehnologiilor web 2.0 in predarea limbilor straine

View more presentations from Cristina Felea.

Summer School in Chania

Busy, busy...

Introduction to Web2.0 & Language Learning, LaProf Summer School 2010

View more presentations from MARIA PERIFANOU.

Sir Ken Robinson's "Bring on the Learning Revolution!"

No comment for now. Enjoy!

"Does Google Make Us Stupid?"

A very exciting survey released recently by Pew Research Center about possible scenarios on the future of the Internet and human cognition. Worth a good read!
To connect it with an overview on the Millenials generation - good stuff for educators to take into account! You might like to take their quiz, How Millenial are You?
As for me, hmmm...

Angela Meiers’s - My L.O.V.E. Affair with Learning

Cred ca aceasta scurta si pasionata interventie a Angelei Meiers (reputat si respectat blogger si educator) ma ajuta sa raspund la cateva intrebari legate de adevarata frenezie a invatarii care m-a cuprins de o vreme incoace. Ii voi da ei cuvantul (traducerea este mai mult o adaptare…!)

    I love learning. I love being around people who are passionate about their own lifelong journey of learning and teaching. It's contagious.

Imi place grozav sa invat. Ma simt extraordinar in preajma oamenilor pasionati de propria odisee a cunoasterii si a instruirii celorlalti. Este molipsitor.

     As I reflect on these past 20 years of working in this great profession of education, and particularly the past few years of worldwide connections I've been fortunate to find due to the blogosphere, I'm excited about learning now more than ever. I strive for at least one WOW each day.

Reflectand la cei 20 de ani de activitate in aceasta minunata profesie de educator si mai ales la acesti ultimi ani in care am fost norocoasa sa-mi creez contacte in toata lumea datorita blogosferei, constat ca invatarea ma entuziasmeaza mai mult decat oricand. Ma stradui sa am parte de cel putin o exclamatie de entuziasm zilnic.   

On this day where we celebrate sharing our hearts and passion, I thought I'd share something I've been thinking on for a few days.

In aceasta zi in care ne celebram pasiunea si entuziasmul, voi impartasi cu voi cateva ganduri.

    My L.O.V.E. Affair With Learning

     Literacy: Though we often think about literacy with regard to book learning, there is so much more to literacy than that. Social literacy and how we interact with others. Health literacy and how we treat our bodies. Global and Economic literacies and how we are supporters of our neighbors and steward of our possessions. And with changes constantly about, we continue to learn.

 Alfabetizare / (Competente de baza in actualele discutii din domeniul pedagogiei, nota mea, CF) – Cu toate ca asociem acest termen cu invatarea traditionala pe baza cartilor, exista acum mult mai multe tipologii de luat in considerare: competente sociale sau felul cum interactionam cu ceilalti, competente legate de sanatate si felul cum ne tratam corpul, competente globale si economice sau cum ne sprijinim vecinii sau ne gestionam proprietatile. Cu toate schimbarile care au loc in permanenta, continuam sa invatam.

  Odyssey: And with changes constantly about ... we realize learning is not a destination (and I think this is what I love most about learning), but a lifelong journey. Who knew 4 or 5 years ago we would be sharing our thoughts via blogs and wikis and Twitter?

 Cu toate schimbarile care au loc in permanenta… realizam ca invatarea nu este o destinatie (si asta imi place cel mai mult la invatare) ci o calatorie de o viata, Cine s-ar fi gandit acum 4-5 ani ca ne vom impartasi gandurile prin intermediul blogurilor, al wiki-urilor sau pe Twitter?

     Valuable: Our brains are pattern-seeking, meaning-making muscles. Thank goodness for that, because otherwise the noise would be too much to filter. Each of us have different styles and reasons to learn. What I am learning (important to me) may not be your cup of tea -- and that's okay, as long as each of us continue to find value in what we are learning, we will continue in our learning odyssey.

Valoare: creierul nostru este un muschi aflat in cautare de modele/ configuratii si creator de sensuri. Slava domnului ca este asa fiindca altfel nu ar putea filtra harmalaia generala, Fiecare dintre noi avem stiluri si moduri diferite de a invata. Ceea ce invat eu (ce e important pentru mine) poate sa nu ti se potriveasca tie – si asta este in regula - atata vreme cat fiecare dintre noi incearca sa gaseasca valoare in ceea ce invata, ne vom continua odiseea cunoasterii.

     Enduring: The most important part of lifelong learning is that it endures. That's the passion part of our love affair. And yet, just like in this acronym - it's often silent and unrecognized. I ask students from 17 to 70 what drives them to continue to learn. Often, a shrug of the shoulders is the immediate answer. If we recognize our enduring love affair with learning, we will continue to nurture it, and even spread it with enthusiasm.

Cea mai importanta componenta a invatarii permanente este ca e durabila. Aceasta e componenta de pasiune din povestea noastra de dragoste. Si totusi, la fel ca in acronimul pe care l-am creat, este adesea tacuta si nerecunoscuta. Intreb studenti cu varste intre 17 si 70 de ani ce-i face sa continue sa invete. Adesea, ridica din umeri. Daca recunoastem ca avem o nesfarsita poveste de dragoste cu invatatura, vom continua sa o cultivam sis a o daruim si altora cu entuziasm.

     It is my hope that you are having a lifelong LOVE affair with your learning, and you spread it infectiously to everyone you meet.

Sper ca si voi traiti o poveste de dragoste cu invatarea si ii molipsiti pe toti aceia pe care-I intalniti.

    But let me ask you this: What drives you to continue to learn (watch the shoulders)

Dar dati-mi voie sa va intreb: Ce va face sa continuati sa invatati (atentie la umeri).

Nu e deloc usor... dar merita/ It's not easy, but it's worth every bit of effort!

Still immersing, still struggling to breathe in this ocean of information - it's not easy but it is worth every bit of effort!
Interestingly, I haven't been so excited about everything around me for a long time now. I'm just like a kid in Disneyland!
Ok, but how about this time-wasting and wild goose chasing? No, it's not about gadgets and playing around with all sorts of glamorous glowing interactive toys...
It is all about being free to wonder around, being free to make decisions that transcend institutions and may reach real people either as friends or collaborators or students, being free to learn avidly new things and at the same time feeling comforted by the thought that everything you have been and are learning can be put to work in this generous global environment where like minds can meet - 
Not easy, but worth every step...!

Collablogatorium: Online

A most compelling description of the advantages of online collaboration/ learning curve!

Collablogatorium: Online

La vanatoare de granturi si idei...

Pe ger si viscol spre/dinspre Europa, de luni dimineata, cu greu, tropaind pe coridoare, prin birouri cu fete zambitoare...
Unde e oare acel minunat birou sau acel minunat site care sa gestioneze printr-o inter-fata (!?) prietenoasa batalia omului obisnuit cu hatisurile birocratice?

Nu e! Nu e! Asa ca înarmaţi-vă cu multă răbdare, cu o dantură  care să vă permită să scrâşniţi din dinţi pe când aveţi aerul că zâmbiţi!
Si va amintiti că  munca nu a omorât pe nimeni, dar nici de lene nu se ştie să fi murit cineva.

Ah, da, între timp, poate aruncaţi o privire aici, sunt lucruri frumoase.

E-portfolios si lifelong learning

Iata cateva video-clipuri despre e-portfolios

O introducere simpla si simpatica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B3tujXlbdk

Utilizarea lor cu studentii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ_CRwifBCw

Hmmm, ar fi interesant sa lucram ceva in sensul acesta cu studentii nostri.