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Week Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!

Hello Jodi, Sherie and everyone,                                                              

Once upon a time there was a pleasant and challenging week called week 5. It was full of fruitful ideas and powerful tools. I amazingly believe that this week is somehow critical and at the same time beneficial. This week has a big community that brings joy, fun, support, clarity, wonder and peace to it. I would like to mention the super tool the Nicenet that helps, saves, gathers manages and develops all the participants. This tool is the field of our genius participants and instructors. Allow me to call all of you genius because you work hard to make this course special and you add a nice flavor to it. Allow me to call you creative, critical thinker and bright readers. You deserve more because you add a lot to my life career so I am proud of everyone. During this precious week I live a marvelous journey. I live a special and unique moment with every participant in the course. Everyone in the course has his own flavor and taste. I meet different character. Although I couldn't meet them face to face, I understand a teacher!! When I communicate with my students, I feel as if they are my family and friends. I experience different wisdom and excellent number of tools that really help teachers and students. By mastering these tools they will use the power of imagination, power of anticipation, power of presentation and creation. I would like to accentuate on the information I get from the writers, instructors and participant this week. I could say that I am watching a movie that never ends and becomes like a river. All participants and instructors are benevolent because they don't stop helping me and helping other participants in this course. I have this feeling that this course is super and fruitful. The moment I checked my email, I directly checked on Jodi's email and went to check my assignments and other duties I have to do. I was paralyzed because I saw lots of sites, reading, searching and different tasks to accomplish. That moment I capitulated and I was panic because of the powerful work I should do. I do believe strongly in this quote “There are no boundaries for the journeys of mind.” We have to live these sweet journeys together and get the best of them. We fly here and there and we exchange brilliant ideas that we all admire. I would like to mention this wonderful quote by Mr.Marjan Glavac “Talk to each other, support each other, take care of each other”. What a great quote Mr. Marjan. I faced a real challenge when I was introduced to WebQuest, Rubistar, Alternative Assessment, Rubrics and Project Based teaching (PBL). Each one of these methods or tools have its own taste and use. We should deal with each one carefully and thoroughly. They all help in giving the students the freedom to learn, think, provoke, anticipate, imagine, predict, compose, work, communicate, and produce new ideas. What I like about these ways is the flexibility that is given to the teacher and student. This week I learn a lot from dear participants, I learn from their posts, their discussion, their comments and their reflection on the ideas mentioned. I do like strongly the warm feeling among them and among the instructors. I am really thankful to them all especially to the wonderful instructors. One dream I would love to come true is keeping this course run forever so that I keep learning till I master everything in teaching and learning. I learn a lot of projects and their benefits for the students and their impacts on the students thinking and learning. The writers mentioned Folktales and how can students develop their speaking and imagination through telling stories. This technique creates students self-confidence. These projects are also beneficial for the teachers too. I am worried about being here as a narrator and I don't want to be long and boring. I want only to send everyone a meaningful message. Thank you for everyone who participates in this course thank for the dear instructors for being helpful through the course. I am positive that beneficial ideas are spread among the participants and among the world.

Wish you all the best and thank you for your time!

What I learn from Week Four?

I read a lot of different articles about reading listening and speaking. I feel that I gain a lot from the mentioned articles. What I enjoyed most is the websites I got from different people and from the articles mentioned.  The reading materials make me learn more about different techniques and methods about teaching and learning process. Concerning the websites, I tried all of and they are useful and they have huge number of uses. They need much time to go over them and try to organize them and put them on the right spot to be used. I am astonished by the number of websites and by the content they have. I am delighted that I learn new things every week.  I feel happy that my students will get much benefit from the ideas and websites that I am getting from this course and this week. What makes this course great is its rich stuff, materials, websites and ideas. I am positive that all participants get benefit, richen their background and make them brighten up their critical thinking skills. The magic thing about this week is the Nicenet thread which is the cream of the crop. I feel that it is a pleasant journey for me and for all of the participants to learn, read, process our thought, generate ideas, put them logically and present them on the thread. Everyone is an expert in this course because the huge experience each one has. What makes me thrilled about this week is the amount of materials I went over and the way of communication we use. Ideas agree generated automatically. The big challenge that occurs in this week is the tasks given by the instructors. Lots of work is given like the reading materials, web search, project tasks and the Nicenet thread that required time, effort and quick reflection. Challenge makes people learn in this course and add a lot to their experience. I got a lot from the participants especially those who use critical thinking skills to communicate with each other. I am trying my best to use some ideas in my class and with my coworkers in the school. I try using some of the ideas in my field. I won't forget the articles about lesson planning which is the most important activity that a teacher should worry about. Once you manage and write a well-organized lesson plan, your message will be delivered smoothly. This lesson plan is engaged with the use of technology so that a teacher ends up with an interesting lesson.  I am happy to be a participant in this course. I am thankful to the participants and the instructors for making this course interesting. I would like end up my words by saying thank you very much to you all and thank you for your time reading my humble words.

I would like to suggest more websites for this week:

www.usingenglish.com

www.englishonthego.com

www.eslfocus.com

www.eslbase.com

www.apples4thteacher.com

www.lessonplanet.com

www.esljunction.com

www.reall-language.com

www.honeyboee.net

www.educationworld.com

Week Four Valuable Materials

I read an article about using the Internet in ESL writing instruction by Jarek Krajka. The article emphasizes the use of technology in our life and in our field especially education, teaching and learning. Technology gives variety to the classroom and to the learning process. This article tries to explore the use of the Internet as a teaching aid or as a teaching medium, through which students are taught how to write different writing genres. The writer proposed the use of web pages, email connection and creating websites to develop the students writing. Jarek Krajka refers to some articles on the topic. The first article is by Dennis Wilkinson, in his article “Getting your Class Connected” from the title I understand that the writer is in favor of using the net to develop the student writing. He suggested also that students should exchange their emails and teacher should introduce emails to students. Belisle suggested that teachers use some software like (Eudora Light ). Chao-Chih Liao talks about “E-mailing to Improve EFL learners”. Reading and Writing Abilities. He talks about pen pal connection.

Gerald Fox, in his 1998 article. “The Internet”. The Internet motivates students in their efforts to acquire English proficiency skills. Both teacher and students will be active using the web. Trokeloshrit and Jost in their paper say that the Internet helps students improve their skills in typing skills and general computer usage. Students will be involved in new group discussion via an Internet system to learn how to sue the Internet for general research purposes. The authors claim that web classroom has widened and authentic reading audience. 

Victoria stressed on using the Internet in the classroom to motivate learners. Internet projects are interactive and facilities for using the Net are often readily available. The summary of the mentioned above research the writer emphasizes on the management, successful planning and the implementation. Teachers should be careful about their goals when they prepare their lessons. There teachers should think careful about the integration of the on line-activities into the syllabus. The teachers should be aware of the complexity of using the Internet such as; difficulties in scheduling the access to the computer labs, the availability of computers out of the classroom to finish their activities. I understand that the Internet gives students variety and choice since they have huge number of sites to choose form. Each student will be encouraged to do something different, and later the class compare their findings orally. By this way we add speaking and listening development to the lesson, whereas the course book which is given to student has the same text or exercises, and there is no possibility of change. The Internet gives the freedom, more knowledge and the ability to learn more about culture, having the world at their fingerprints and moving from one place to another freely. In addition students are motivated to learn through using the web. On –line lessons might add new flavor to the classroom. Another important point is how this on line component could be in corporate into the curriculum. First, the students level should be considered in English. Students should be in an intermediate level so they will be able to understand the content of the Internet sites. Besides English level students should computer-literate in the sense that they should know how to manage using the Internet.  The teacher should be well prepared for the lesson, with a careful detailed plan lite, the content of the sites, time, the language. Teacher should know how to solve minor technical problems. There should be a ready lesson plan in case of emergency like, Internet communication. Control and keep observing students so that he knows that student are doing the exact work assigned.

The teacher should consider the resources needed for conducting on line lessons like intern connection, the speed; lab tops, scheduling the lab and etc. Students should have the access to use the lab outside classes. Students should have an individual email account and should bring a flash desk to save their work, interesting sties and incoming email messages.

The last issue which needs to be considered is the syllabuses of a course including the on-line elements.

Some ideas for teaching writing Genres with help of the related components. Mary Stephen mentioned some practices and ideas for tasks and techniques done with the help of the web or e-mail could make writing more interesting and appealing to students. There are three elements to be used in most of the genres.1. A letter to a friend               2. A formal letter     3. A Biography   4. A description of a person

5. An argumentative essay(Both For and Against) 6. Notices and advertisements    7. A description of a Festival of Ceremony    8. A description or Reviews of a Book, Film or play    9. A newspaper report   10. A personal open essay     11,. A description of a place.

Teachers should think wisely on how to generate on-line activities into the syllabus rather than the adding them on top of the rest of the classroom activities in a disconnected fashionable way. To conclude my work, I do really learn a lot from the articles given and I enhance my skills in developing the writing, speaking and reading among students.

What amazing information I got during week 3?

Hello Sherie & Jodi and everyone,

 I am proud of the instructors, the participants, and myself that we all work together professionally and with one spirit of a team. What I learn from this week is something unique? This week which is week 3 is full of surprises. In this week I read, comment, share ideas, learn, communicate, understand, manage, search, analyze, discover, evaluate, apply, and structure. I am convinced that I learn a lot from my instructors and the participants. This week looks as if we all travel around awesome orchards which are full of knowledge and science. Let me start talking about the blogs. I enjoy reading almost all the written work in my colleagues blogs. I learn a lot of insights, ideas, rich experiences, valuable words and amazing thoughts. I feel that work appears in each blog is a treasure that we have to protect and spread  it to all. Some people wrote something unique and interesting to all. Some others spend time expressing themselves freely to tell everyone that we are all one team. I am really eager to learn more form the blogs. I am going to talk now about the sweetest, marvelous and interesting tool which is delicious. I want. I heard of delicious before but I know its value in this course when I discover its functions and it's important to all. I struggled when I start it but I am trying me best to manage with it. I feel that it's like a big box that has lots of precious ideas. We need only to search or just a click and then we will get what we want in a blink. I have the opportunity to read more about listening and speaking. I read thoroughly the ideas that Lindsy Miller discuss in her article. I understand more about the use of technology in listening and speaking. Then I went through the Bloom Taxonomy. Another interesting and important thing I learn during this week is reading previous projects prepared by the  last course participants . I have the chance to read different ways of planning, organizing, explaining and presenting the ideas. I also get to know more about different titles and issues raised by other participants in the previous course. I am given the freedom to read and comment on the mentioned projects. The Nicenet idea is another supportive, encouraging and promising. Nicenet helps a lot in enhancing my skills and my overall information about teaching, techniques different abilities. I get to know various number of skillful teachers which reflects very much on my skills in general. The very important point I like about this week is forcing me to read more, search and find out new ideas about technology and the interactive web. The week forces one to write a lot which is an excellent technique to develop. 

Thank you very much for all who share in this course and bring up their valuable ideas.

Week 3 bookmarks

Hello Hassan everybody,

Here are the links you asked for:

www.mixx.com                         www.elllo.org                                  www.speaking24.com
www.propeller.com                   www.englishforeveryone.com          www.eslgold.com   
www.newsvin.com                     www.boggleslworld.com                 www.primaryenglishresources.com
www.stumbleupon.com             www.tech-nology.com                     www.webteacher.com
www.clipmarks.com                  www.cyberbee.com                        www.history-of-call.com
www.furl.com                            www.gingersoftware.com                www.worldofenglish.com
www.diggy.com                        www.teaching.org                             www.dailyesl.com
www.technorati.com                  www.speak-english-today.com        www.englisheaster.com
www.blinklist.com                     www.englishcaster.com                     www.newsinslowenglish.com
www.squidoo.com                    www.ultimatevocabulary.com             www.teachertv.com
www.salshdot.com                    www.ompersonal.com                       www.teacheryoutube.com
www.misterwong.com               www.esl-lab.com                               www.bbc.co.uk


I hope you all get benefit from the mentioned above websites!!

Thank you

Week Three - Suprise

Hello everyone!

When week two finished I felt that I did a lot of work and I gain a lot regarding the technology! I talk to myself thank God I am almost there! Then I waited eagerly for week three to start and I was worried about the coming information, tasks, reading, searching and communication. When I checked my email I only try to locate Jodi and Sherie email. Once I click open I got surprised by the amount of work we all should do. This might affect on the participants speed because till this moment only few people do their work on Nicenet ! I'm waiting to read their work and I want to read the comments and ideas they bring. Now it is 3.30 in the morning and I am still waiting for the participants work and because there is power!  I think I have to go to bed and I will check tomorrow!

Week Three - Bookmarks

Hello everybody,

Thank you Wedny Boswell and thank you dear instructors, Jodi and Sheire for thses wonderful bookmarks you present to us in this course. I am delighted to read about all the the tools Wendy pointed out. I think this will enhance my abilities in managing different topics in the web. This will be reflected to my students and my colleagues at school. I am astonished again by the amount of information I get during the course. I would like to recommend this course to all teachers, educators and lecturers so that they can perform well i their work. These tools help a lot in finding the information we need fast, learning fast, helping others fast. In that way we save time , effort, money and end up with better results. I would like to present these tools as follows:

Delicious:  bookmark site    -  the most popular    -    being purchased by Yahoo

Diggy:      Interesting           - social bookmarking -    gone a little wild        - you are free to comment on it

Furl :        save and cope with any page     - search your personal archive   - create your own shopping list

Clip marks:     capture the pieces you want ( video, image, sentence )  - clip the best of web page
                     you don't have to bookmark the entire page

Stumble upon:    find dedicated web search   -  take advantage of fast network   - find brilliant web search
                        you will be addicted to it

News vine:       you can read stories from established media

Propeller :      submit stories    -   find stories   -   comment and vote on those storeis

Mixx :          videos and news   -    offers all sorts of book markable content   - popular stories

I try my best to summarize what I read about the above mentioned tools. I want to simplify or shorten the whole issue so that my dear readers might go over it and get the message. I am positive that everyone learn a lot from the materials given by the course instructors and supervisors. Thank you for all and thank you my dear participants and thank you dear instructors for reading my humble work.


Salam

Welcome to Week 3

Hello everybody,

Thank you very much for you all and thank you for our dear instructors Jodi and Sherie for the fruitful two weeks we had! I would like to show you my Delicious URL:

 http://delicious.com/slamiho

Thank you very much for your time! I hope you will enjoy the third week.

Salam

A Final Thought on Search Engines

Hello everyone,

Search engines are perfect for all people who have a career or an aim to use them. We are here to learn and share ideas so I think we are all glad that we do so. During the second week of our course the instructors introduced rich and valuable websites and search engines; some participants mentioned some extra engines. All the mentioned engines are helpful to everyone especially myself. When I learn about the search engines especially those ones I don't know I feel that I find something dear to me. It is my privilege to be introduced to these golden and outstanding engines. Regardless the search engines, we should admit that we gain a lot especially from the discussion happen during this week. And I won't forget the valuable comments and additions brought up by our dear instructors Jodi and Sherie. I enthusiastically read, analyze, study, think and comprehend almost all the written work by the participants but I feel sorry that I couldn't reply to all  posts. I am trying my best to keep up with everybody in this course and I hope everyone will be satisfied with my work especially my instructors. What I realized during the two weeks that some and may be most participants work hard and do their best to participate in everything. That pushes me harder to do more and more to follow the same way. Thank you very much to you all for your work and I won't forget my instructors Jodi and Sherie!

Thank you !

Salam