There's always much more than work

The Flipped Classroom for Count that Day Lost

Hi! I won't be able to get to the meetings at Matach this Chanuka, yet I have submitted the task on the Matach Moodle Platform. I might as well share it here, since I will be more than glad to get tips on how to improve what I hope to be getting my English pupils to do. I will also be pleased to know that this may be useful for some colleague "out there", too. Chag Sameach and here I go:

Using Vocaroo - example -Pisga English teachers workshop

שילוב מוודל בקוגל

Pisga Holon - Junior High School and High School English Teachers Workshop - Module 3

8.12.2014 - התחילה ההשתלמות בבית ספר יסודי גורדון

היום התחלתי להנחות בהשתלמות נוספת שפיתחתי במסגרת פסגת חולון. בנוסף להצגת הפלטפורמה של ההשתלמות, ולהתייחסות לצרכי בית ספר גורדון, התחלנו לעסוק באופן מעשי (אין תיאוריה) בנושא "התאמת מערכת החינוך למאה ה - 21 ותכנית התקשוב". התמקדנו בגוגל דרייב (בינתיים, בעיקר גוגל מסמכים). ויש אפילו שיעורי בית לצוות גורדון! י  BUILD YOUR OWN WILD SELF

Module 1 2014 - 2015 Pisga Holon High School Workshop for EFL teachers

Module 1 Pisga Holon Elementary School teachers Workshop

"ניוזלטר" - מטלה במסגרת השתלמות "תשע"ה- מובילי ומדריכי פדגוגיה

קישור 

MOOC Innovación - tarea final

Tarea 3 MOOC Innovacion - Clip

“Innovaciones en Formación Continuada” - DE LA TEORÍA A LA PRÁCTICA: TAREA DE LA UNIDAD 3

Uno de los logros del MOOc “Innovaciones en Formación Continuada” reside en que el paso de la teoría a la práctica no queda tan solo en debate. Otro es que tanto organizadores, facilitadores y un gran número de participantes comparten lo que saben y hacen y así   permiten entender aspectos teóricos y prácticos relacionados con los temas del curso... SEGUIR LEYENDO

Introducing Pisga Holon's 2014 - 2015 Module 1 Junior High and High School English Teachers Workshop

Introducing Pisga Holon's 2014 - 2015 Module 1 Elementary School English Teachers Workshop

CUANDO NO TODO FUNCIONA AL USAR LAS RRSS CON ESTUDIANTES: NO SE TRATA DE CAER SINO DE SABER LEVANTARSE

 Tarea de la unidad 2 del MOOC

"En líneas generales, no me gusta mucho usar las redes sociales como Facebook o..."  Seguir leyendo 

MOOC ‘Innovación en la Formación Continua’ - Unit 2

  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind as to the benefits of taking part in MOOCs such as this one. This is another course in which I learn with, and from, Spanish speaking people  (many of whom are teachers like me, but others whose professional background is quite different from mine). While I like the input from the organizers and facilitators, the added value comes from what participants share. 

The subject of unit 2 is "Social Media" (Redes sociales: fundamentos, utilidades y uso en el aprendizaje.) Following are some contributions from participants that I particularly liked. I have also exchanged a few words with a few ppeople, and I guess I should give it a better try to keep the connection going on. Incidentally, I am sure that I have missed quite a few other contributions because the number of participants makes it impossible to catch up with all that is published.

 Aporte de Luis López-Cano
  Comunidades y redes sociales: de la hoguera a las nubes (#easpMOOC13)
unmaestrocreativo.blogspot.com.es


I liked the way Luis explained the pattern of socialization - a journey from sitting around a fire to socializing by means of Social Media. This was a great input from a Special Education teacher who may have given up his dream of becoming a journalist but writes better than many who are journalists. His personal learning bio is worth paying attention to, too.



   I also learned much from  Identidad digital en las redes sociales by  Profesora: Silvia Vill  My colleague, whom I have met on another MOOC, discusses PERSONALIDAD DIGITAL (I have yet to check whether this is termed Digital Personality or Digital self in English) quite well. I recommend reading her post.

I know I should mentione more comments, but these two serve as a good example of  what is going on on this MOOC.

Masá Israelí - מסע ישראלי

I am just back after spending two nights and days with teachers and 11th grade pupils on the great Masa israeli - Israel journey experience. They will go on for a week, while i had to get back after leaving on Monday at 1:00 AM, getting to the Negev at around 5:00 A.M., walking in the "Machtesh Ramon" (Ramon Crater) from 6:30 A.M. till 4:30 PM, eating the dinner pupils got ready, sleeping on tents (no classy toilets and no showers), and then yet again starting before 5:00 AM on Tuesday. All along, pupils and teachers discussed things in groups (lots of MAAGALIM - Circles) commenting on what it means to be israeli and live in Israel .. and having a good time!

Acabo de volver después de pasar dos noches y días con docentess y estudiantes de 11er curso en la gran "Masá israelí - Expedición Israelí. Es una gran experiencia y vivencia. Ellos continuarán durante una semana, mientras que yo tenía que regresar después de salir el lunes en 1,00 de la mañana, para llegar al Negev en torno a las 5.00 A.M., caminando en el "Majtesh Ramón" (Ramón cráter) desde las 6.30 AM hasta las 4:30 P.M., cenar lo preparado por estudiantes, dormir en tiendas de campaña (no había lujosos baños ni duchas), y luego una vez más partir antes de las 5 A.M. del martes. Todo el tiempo,y en cada parada. alumnos / as y los profesores /as discutían cosas en grupos (en muchos MAAGALIM - círculos) relacionados con el significado de ser israelí y vivr en Israel
!

Tarea del Módulo 1: MOOC Innovación en la Formación Continua y herramientas 2.0

Enlace a mi tarea del módulo 1

Innovación en la Formación Continua y herramientas 2.0

Nunca pierdo la posibilidad de participar de un buen MOOC organizado por españoles, y en el cual participan muchos colegas de ESpaña y latiniamérica. Mi experiencia hasta ahora ha sido muy buena, así que no dudo de que lo mismo va a suceder en esta oportunidad.

Teacher Training with Moodle - My Wiziq Presenation of Thursday, October 30th 2014

Wiziq Session - MM5

I have just had one of these rare opportunities to speak to / with fellow teachers from all over the world during a WIZIQ live session in the framework of MM5. As for me, who did the talking and presenting this time, it was a great experience. I hope it was time worth spending for those colleagues who gave their time  attending the session.

These sessions are recorded. Thanks to that, I often find myself watching sessions I could not attend live. I would not be able to say "how much: I learn from presenters, but it  is quite a lot. That is the reason why I said observing (and listening to) others may lead tos uccessful a"dopting and adapting" in workshops I develop and facilitate.
MM5 is an example of fruitful collaboration. Kudos to Dr. Nellie Deutch and Thomas Hodgers for opening up doors (and windows of opportunity)to share  for teachers from all around the Globe: Venezuela, Canada, USA, Great Britain, Yemen, Russia, Israel, and I probably missed a few other countries. That was a multiculurak "classroom", indeed!

Games in Schools

I joined an online course on Games in Schools. As I do not use games much, I guess I may be lead to use them as I learn about them. I tend to use those digital games that touch on subjects, or on vocabulary or grammar, I teach, but then I guess there is more to games than that. They call it "Gamification", don't they?
I have just read EUN's  ‘Digital Games in Schools" and learned things about games I had not given much thought about before. The prospect of using games sounds promising. Equally important, I feel I need more time to look into the games participants mention both on the FB group and on the course page. I hope to get to checks ome (at least that).
Incidentally, having so many primary school teachers who mention different games  also helps since I have to be updated on possible uses on that area ,, (I might find what to integrate on a workshop I will give on using tools in the classroom). As a high school teacher, I will also profit from what felow HS teachers introduce (at least to the extent I can follow).

Alternative assessment -a Beer Sheba morning workshop

I was at a Ministry of Education workshop on Alternative Assessment in Beer Sheba yesterday.
Sherman Rosenfeld did certainly a great job presenting the subject (he got people to do things rather than talk about the subject. This is surely in kine with the things he is interested in and teaches teachers to do).
While the subject of the workshop is important enough, I learned something else as well: Sherman spoke briefly, and showed me Ron Berger's "Leaders of their own Learning" Book. I read a few things and hope I may get  a chance to read more some time later.
A few Holon High Schools (and Kugel High School taking a leading role) have taken up PBL as done by High Tech High. This seems to be another approach which merits checking.
I am glad I was sent to attend the workshop (it was well worth leaving at 5.30 to get hte train to be in beer Sheba on time).

Wiziq session - Power Point Presentation

Here is the link to the presentation I hope to be using on Thursday, October 30th 2014 at 8 P.M
Link

Pisga Holon: Moodle and "tools"

Pisga Holon Workshops in English

I have just submitted my proposal for the two workshops (in English for teachers of English). I have developed them and will be tutoring both this semester.
The following are important points:
Objectives:

1.    Teachers will learn the use of Digital Tools for Blended Learning.
2.    Teachers will choose digital tools according to the added value they give to the teaching and learning process.
3.    Teachers will have an online Digital - based Environment to support their work in class.
4.    Teachers will both use and present their use of Digital tools with their pupils.

I have submitted the timetable and created the first of the two courses (having met Yehudit lerner, from Pisga, and gotten excellent advice, I have managed to upload relevant and organized content into the M
oodle platform)
I am looking forward to Pisga people  publishing a detailed schedule on the Pisga Holon any time soon.

Digital pedagogy - The Israel Ministry of Education and Matach

Last Wednesday, October 22nd I had the chance to take part in this school year's first meeting of  teachers who have a leading role in fostering Digital Pedagogy in Israel. Teachers from different areas join forces in the framework of a workshop organized joinly by The Israel Ministry of Education and Matach (The Center for Educational Technology). It is altogether  good step  in the right direction.

The idea is to advance Digital Pedagogy. I like that.

People involved in this  deal with it as part of their job. Unlike me, teachers who take part in this effort are paid for their ob as either part -time trainers / tutors of fellow teachers, or developers of training programs. As a matter o fact, I work with the Spanish as Foreign Language National Inspector without the title of "Madrich" - Tutor / Trainer, and without being on the Ministry's paid list. I do work as  developer and facilitator of  workshops in Spanish and Hebrew.

The mmeting was fine, and the workshop I will be taking part as a participant seems promising.
I like the idea that we will have a framework to share and promote things together, regardless of each specific field (I will be able to see what other people who are not language teachers do, and learn from thei ideas, projects, etc.). This sounds good.

There are a couple of facebook groups that will let us share and collaborate. Even better, there is a workshop platform that seems quite promising. It'a a Moodle platform.

I hope to see good things coming out of this effort.

Introducing how to use PowToon to introduce Moodle

My workshops at Pisga Holon will be devoted to integrating technology to teach English. While the emphasis is on teaching and learning English, tools (applications) are a means to achieving that end. Moodle with all it has to offer is at the centre of this effort, but getting teachers to use other tools is important, too. Accordingly, there will be very little talking, some modelling, and lots of practice.
In this post, I provide a sample of what I am going to be doing in my workshops: here is how I use a tool (Screencastomatic) to introduce what we are learning (Moodle) by means of another tool (PowToon) using Voice Over to record myself.
Confused? My workshops will make it easy for you to understand.

Workshop Introduction - advertising the service

While developing the next Pisga Workshop(s), I decided to create this short clip. Undoubtedly, Powtoon is going to be one of the tools I teach along with Moodle

Text read aloud in Moodle

I am getting my next Pisga Holon Teacher Training ready. Developing it, I created this short video, which I share as a sample of one of the things that I hope to be doing.

Introducing Part II of the Text read aloud series

Moodle MOOC5 is on!

Excerpt from the "Opening Ceremony" on Wiziq



October 1, 2014

MOOC 5 - Here we go again!

 Link 

MM5 - Webinars on Wiziq

Syllabus for Moodle MOOC 5

MM5: Developing and facilitating Teacher Professional Development

Nuevo Taller de Capacitación Docente en el marco de ELE Israel del Ministerio de Educación de Israel

En Buenahora y con energías renovadas el equipo docente ELE Israel del Ministerio de Educación ha iniciado las actividades con la apertura de un Curso de Formación. El curso comenzó en la plataforma Moodle de Lnet el 10.09.2014. El 17.09.2014 se realizó un encuentro presencial en Herzlia. El taller continúa en Internet, tanto en la plataforma Moodle como también en dos encuentros virtuales simultáneos ("síncronos") por medio de la plataforma Webex.
 

Spain - Israel Project Proposal

I am a member of an English teachers Facebook group from Spain (I guess I am what is considered a special guest). I have written the following in their FB group. Let's see if we can get something done.
"Hi!  A couple of years ago, my 10th grade 15 - 16 year-old Israeli pupils and I shared a good experience with pupils and teachers from Madrid. One of the courses I teach this year is a similar 10th grade course. I would like to have another collaborative experience with teachers and 15 - 16 year-old pupils from anywhere in Spain (needless to say, I love Spain). Would anybody be willing to give this a chance? I guess I can find one more teacher and similar age group in my school if there are Spanish colleagues available and willing to share this project."
 

A different way of introducing oneself on a Moodle forum

Así van a presentarse por medio de un foro en Moodle mis estudiantes. Segúndicen, salí muy bien en la foto... This is how my students will introduce themselves in a Moodle forum in every course at Kugel. People tell me I am quite handsome as I appear on the image

A new school year - Nuevo ciclo lectivo

Este 1 de septeimbre comenzamos un nuevo ciclo lectivo. Así enseño a mis estudiates en Kugel (además de hacerlo en el aula), y esto es lo que espero voy a enseñar a hacer a docentes en Israel en cursos de capacitación en hebreo, inglés y español... This Septeber 1 we start a new school year. This is how I teach my pupils (in addition to my work in the classroom). Hopefully this is what I will teach colleagues all over Israel to do (in the framework of profession Development Workops in Hebrew, Spanish and English) 

Eduardo - Shlomi (20.08.2014): Moodle for English Educational Counselors

Once you start using Moodle as a teacher, you can never go back to teaching without using Moodle. What we as teachers need is training in how to use Moodle. Nobody was born knowing how to do that, so we must get somebody to teach us so that we can teach others later on. Accordingly, we must take action concerning Moodle.

Click here for the Google Presentation


From my presentation to English Educational Councelors


"Following Ruth Solomon's excellente presentation of Moodle, I have decided to show how Moodle can change the way you work both as English Educational Counselors and Teacher trainers and as English teachers working with pupils at school.

Part one of my presentation: Examples of Moodle platforms I have used and Moodle courses and teacher professional development courses I have facilitated / will facilitate.

Part two of my presentation: Examples of Moodle courses at Kugel High School.


Part three: Moodle at ETAI..."

Summer 2014

Summer 2013

Kugel on Moodle (Prezi presentaion)- Eduardo Lina

La colina de la vida

¡Hola! Hace un rato, volviendo de Tel Aviv, volvieron a sonar las sirenas por misiles / cohetes lanzados hacia "el centro del país". Nos pasa mucho menos que a quienes se encuentran más al sur, claro. Esta vez me "tocó" estando en la parada de un autobús en el cruce de rutas que separa a Holón de Tel Aviv ("Tzomet Holón para quén cooce"). El mejor lugar para "protegerse" en este caso fue quedarme abajo de un puente. El tráfico, muy intenso, se paralizó y hubo silencio, lo cua...l permitió escuchar bien claro las explosiones de cohetes interceptando a los misiles. Eso fue cerca (se pudo ver con claridad). En fin, esto no va a aparecer en la TV ni se leerá en alguna nota en la prensa, pues "la realiad" está un tanto coloreada cuando se la relaciona con Israel. A eso me referí en un comentario (originalmente en inglés) a un artículo publicado en inglés por un emprendedor argentino / español. Tal vez les interese ver otro aspecto de "la realidad" en Israel, y leer una preguntas que, creo, se pueden formular. Saludos y respetos.

---

This is not about Moodle ...

This is not about Moodle or teacher training, or any professional concern whatsoever, but then neither was the post on the World Cup, so I will publish it anyway. I have been living in Israel for many, many years and have had all sort of experiences here, being as I am, a citizen of the country by choice. This has meant having my share in rights as well as responsibilities. It has also meant living through wars, terror attacks of all sorts, etc. I hope for peace, and am willing to pay the price for it, but terror and hypocrisy concerning Israel are something I will always reject.

There are many ways to show that Israelis don't put the other cheek to get another blow when we get one. One way is to live a normal life as far as possible, even when among many other things that involves running to take shelter during sirens. This has meant that this week, when we have family visiting us and staying in our home, I have taken them on the usual tour of Israel: a lot of Jerusalem, very much of Holon and Tel Aviv , a bit of Haifa, and so on, and everything using public transportation (bus, train, tram, and even "subway"!) . There has been a lot of walking.

Hurrah to a grandfather and grandson who barely two hours after landing from Argentina experienced their first siren a week ago, and have lived through every other one like we do, acting by the book, that is  in accordance with the IDF's Home Front instructions.

These photo albums show what we have done and where I have taken them .I like every place we have been to (having visited each so many times before, and learned much about them so as to explain what they are).

I feel very sorry about the victims of a war that is forced upon us, and quite worried about our soldiers. Indeed, living a normal life as far as possible is one Israeli way of showing how our enemies will never defeat us.

Incidentally, I adhere to Martin Varsavsky's words on this post.

---

Igual, Vamos Argentina

 Mala suerte...

Igual, ¡Vamos Argentina!

¿Alemania? Y, bueno, en fin...

ETAI Summer 2014 Conference session: Two for the price of One

If there is something we Israelis of all kinds like is to get two for the price of one, don't we? Well, here you are: that's what you get on this ETAI session:

  ETAI 1

See it here


This is the original Presentation




Watch a short version of the talk I had in mind


And ths is ETAI 2 

  


See it here (link)









This is my video report on what I actually tried to convey:

See also

•  Moodle Mooc 4 on Moodle4Teachers - Week 1: Introductions
• Moodle Mooc 4 on Moodle4Teachers - Week 1:Moodle Challenges Forum Task

MM4 Weel 4 Task on Blocks

A Summer's Reading

Well, I wouldn't say that these are the only books (printed books, I mean) that I will be reading this July 2014, but they are a kind of Summer Reading. I am half way trough "Thinking Fast and Slow", and will read the Moodle ones while I cope with Kahneman' book (the plots are somewhat different, so I guess I will manage that).

How to learn Moodle

I have been asked how people can learn Moodle. Part of my session on ETAI's Summer Conference 2014 on July 9th 2014 at 14.00 hours will be devoted to answer that question (the session will be on "Moodle and Google at Kugel").
This image belongs in the presentation I will be shwing and sharing that day.

Here in Israel, you can learn from books (Packt Publishing printed and eBooks are my favorites) and from courses (get Pisga and or your school to create courses where you can learn Moodle). You can also take part in a Wiziq / Moodle for Teachers Mooc, of course.

My reflection on "MM4: Teachers Teaching Online ..."

Packt Publishing's new campaign - It's worth sharing this information

I am a customer and occasional reviewer of Packt Publishing books on Moodle (they cover many more topics). As a result, I got a piece of news that might interest people who read this blog. Following is the message that I received: "Packt is offering all of its eBooks and Videos at just $10 each. This campaign is specifically aimed towards thanking all our customers and opening up our comprehensive range of titles just for $10 each. This promotion covers every title and customers can stock up on as many copies as they like until July 5th. I hope you find this as a great opportunity to explore what’s new and maintain your personal and professional development."
I think it is worth sharing, as i find their books valuable indeed.
Check here for more information (the Press Release in which details are given)

My reflection on MM4: Building Community in Online and Blending Learning Environments

I have created the following artifact for this presentation:

I have used Read and Write for Google Help Text

The session was presented by Dr. Jackie Gerstein on Sunday, June 29 2014 - I watched the recording on http://www.wiziq.com/class/#

I find the topic of interest, and the presentation to have been quite good.

Dr. Jackie Gerstein’ session on MM4 was certainly an engaging class. I watched the recording, so I missed taking part in the different activities the presenter asked participants to carry out.

The session was indeed far from being a passive one for those who attended it and wanted to make the most out of it. Dr. Jackie Gerstein shared what she considers the meaning of being a connected educator, and did it by example rather than by just giving out definitions. Such an educator is one that takes an active role, creates and shares content, and at the same time learns from others as a result of  this interaction. The online class was an example of a way she  does this: participants interacted in the chat, and the presenter related to thir input. She also “took” participants to different sites that either provided information, or asked them to do something and share, or both. It was time well spent.

Here are some points I found of special interest:

1. The importance of creating a positive digital presence / reputation.

2. The importance of using different channels to be in touch with educators interested in technology as I am: Twitter, Blogs and the like.

3. The idea of using Twitter in my teaching. Although I do not use it very much, the presenter got me interested in checking the possibilities of using Twitter with my English as Foreign Language pupils

Read and Write for Google using a video review

My review of “Designing Moodle Themes [Video] by Susan Smith Nash, a Packt video.

June 24th, 2014

Getting to know all that Moodle offers may take a lot of time and effort, not to mention much “know-how”. If you are interested in mastering Moodle to a level where you can understand it very well, then taking courses provided by highly qualified instructors, and also sharing experiences with fellow “Moodlers” will help you a lot. I have done that. It may, however, not be enough if you aim higher than average.

I believe that getting to feel that you understand Moodle very well requires the help of even more professionals than great course instructors. People like me, for example, like to check  both printed  and / or digital books (I love books) as well as carefully arranged, step - by - step tutorials that can be handy whenever needed.  This is precisely why I have turned to what Packt Publishing offers. That is also the reason I have some of their products on Moodle, and why I share my opinion with anyone interested. Perhaps somebody will benefit from my words.

I have just got one new Packt Publishing video: the” Designing Moodle Themes [Video] course”. I am a field Spanish and English as Foreign Languages teacher  (I write this to let you know that I am not a computer person, a program developer, and the like. I wish I knew what they do, but I don’t). The thing is that this video course does allow me to get to understand stuff I doubt I could learn on a course on Moodle for teachers, simply because getting into such detail as Susan Smith Nash gets into would take too much course time.

Being just a teacher who likes to be considered a “Moodler”, the video tutorials that make up this course have got me to learn a lot about Moodle design. While one should never judge a book by its cover, there is no doubt that when it comes to creating a Moodle course, its cover, by which I mean its design, is important, and certainly enough people will judge your course based on that as well. As for Moodle, understanding design means coming to grips with Moodle Themes. Incidentally, I also learned that Themes provide a "skin" to completely change the look and feel of your site (or even an individual course).

Note: This is how you may see the videos on your computer folder. Downloading is as easy as can be.

You may say a teacher does not have to deal with  “Pre-installed Themes”, “Customizing the Appearance of Activities”, “Customizing the Appearance of Resources”, “Downloading Themes”, “Developing Our Own Themes", and the like. I could certainly learn about that in the video.  Consider this, please: it is useful to learn about them because you may find yourself in a position where you are asked to give an informed opinion, or even better, when you may have a say on the Moodle course design most appropriate for you.

Needless to say, administrators and course designers will find answers to all sorts of questions, and help with solving all sorts of problems.

I have managed to get the school administration where I teach to purchase some of Packt Publishing’s work on Moodle. I have even go as far as to review such products because I honestly believe that Packt people produce quality stuff. As I see it, teachers, Moodle Administrators and anyone involved in helping teachers to use Moodle for the benefit of the school, its pupils and yes, the teachers themselves, may eventually agree with me.

I recommend this video course highly. It may take a toll on you when it comes to devoting time to get what it offers, but it may eventually be time well invested.

Eduardo Lina

My reflection on MM4 Using PoodLL to Make Students Talk

Video Tutorials (or other) creation - one more option

It goes without saying that i believe that learning from "professionals" (such as Dr. Nellie Deutch or those from Packt Publishing) helps us, field teachers, find a way to master skills we may not have learned when becoming teachers. In my case, there are skills that were not even taken into account back then (way back then). The advent of New Technologies, however, has meant that in order not to stay behind, we teachers have to keep on learning ("Life-long Learning" as it is called).
One such skill is video (tutorials and other) creation using New Technologies.  I like Screencast-o-matic and Screenr very much, but these are not the only options. There are some others, such as using Jing , Slidespeech, etc. It is hight time I tried the latter when creating videos. I will soon.

My Reflexion on "MM4: Making Videos for the Bended and Flipped Classroom"

My Reflexion on "MM4: Making Videos for the Bended and Flipped Classroom", presented by  Vicki Hollet on Tuesday, June 17 2014. I have watched the recording

First, I should mention that once again I notice that sharing media (as opposed to screen sharing) on Wiziq may bring about some problems for the presenter (It has happened to me once). The presenter has had a rough time dealing with this problem on the  session.

The session highlights the fact that  “Everybody lights up when you put a video”.

Telling stories through videos (best practice: 1 minute videos are the best) is one way videos light up the class.. 

The presented also suggested some other things teachers can do with videos. For example, using TEDTalks in class is  favored by the presenter . These short videos help much when introducing / teaching, etc.  subjects.

As for the suggested lenght of videos: while most people believe the shorter, the better, ultimately, the best lenght comes down to what ya teacher  wants to give to her / his students. Students may enjoy transcripts ( such as those offered by TED Ed)

Videos bring a lot of things to the classroom which a teacher on his own can’t. 

We got examples of short videos that have to do with teaching English as Foreign Language

For example,

With videos teachers remove blindfolds and show much more meanings than without them.

Some people claim that Youtube has reduced the quality of videos. However, the presenter believes that the huge amount of videos produced may offer the possibility of picking good quality videos. Production, however, may have indeed been badly affected.

Video: :

Another plus is that ystudents don't have to sit in a classroom and watch the whiteboard. Teachers may build a set to use in the video they create, too. It is also possible to use parts of other people's video too (Check free stock videos)

The presenter dealt with equipment teachers may want to use.

My thoughts on the topic

Using videos in the classroom / to teach is a subject that has been dealt with extensibly. Watching this online session has added something to what I have learned about the subject

What I am going to do as a result of what I have heard.

I should try to do more than what i do now (mostly tutorials and work for the courses that I teach and / or learn). I have learned about Animoto, to mention but one example, and some other software. I hope to try them this coming summer vacation.

MM4 - Here's what I have done on MPA - Activities

MM4: My Reflection on MM4: Professional Development in CALL

The online session "Professional Development in CALL-Where are we and where are we going?" was presented by Dr. Christina Nicole Giannikas on Wednesday, June 11 2014 I watched the recording.   

CALL (Computer Assisted Learning) is a big issue in current Language Teaching, some of whose benefits are:

·         being a tool to use so that language learning can develop

·         providing accessibility to promote in-depth learning,

·         helping make learning meaningful and relevant,

·         increasing the quality of learning,

·         igniting self-reflection, collaboration and engagement of cooperative learning,

·         promoting dialogue,

·         providing visual aids, 

·         building a global community connecting classrooms from around the world, and

·         taking students to self-autonomy in the language learning process.

The presenter discussed a study conducted in Cyprus: \ while teachers were comfortable browsing the internet, they were reluctant to include any form of social media in their classrooms, so  government money to support teachers' use of technology is wrong if  there is inadequate professional preparation: success depends on how teachers are trained.  Facilities at school are essential. Teachers are mostly disappointed, and disappointment leads to rejection. Teachers shouldn't wait for support to come, but take action.

The key to change:

·         Taking part in online training that allow teachers to meet colleagues from around the world, and sharie ideas and resources.

·         Teachers making a proposal (carefully worded so as to include objectives and expected outcomes) to teaching the use of CALL at school, and

·         Applying Action Research

I will integrate  the presentation on MOODLE I will give at the July 2014 ETAI Summer Conference .

Since I use technology a lot, the content of the presentation relates to my work as a teacher. My problem is overcoming resistance that comes front some of my students, but that is not something that will prevent me from going on using CALL. I hope to continue training teachers in the use of technology, too.

To sum up, this has indeed been a great presentation.

·         I agree that using CALL makes teachers more flexible.

·         It is important to learn about CALL and what happens in the language classroom.

·         Collaboration among teachers is important to make a real difference in education

·         Being passionate about using technology is important, and overcoming difficulties, such as school administration’s reluctance to use technology, is central, too.

·         Teacher motivation is essential, too. The spirit of innovation has to be there

·         Going online, taking online courses, interacting with colleagues around the world - these are eye-openers.

Incidentally, in Israel the question of school equipment may not be a problem as most pupils have a computer in their hand: their cell-phones! They can share them in class, and then sent them to where a computer is available (at home, in the school library, in the city library, etc.)

Recalling what was said on the presentation, I also say to fellow teachers: Take initiative! Take action!  

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