Learning Technologies course - the sunny side

Not all things are black, only cats at night...
To be fair, after my previous post I have to bring out the best points of the course which are numerous.
First, I have re-discovered people who were familiar to me but unknown at the same time. Doing the course tasks has revealed their skills and talents which are really surprising. They are displaying perfect command of the subject, excellent writing skill, logical and coherent comments and postings. I am really happy to have learned this...
Second, I am gratified that many course participants feel satisfied with all the new things they learn every week. After all, I was the one who invited them to this course, and although I did not build it, I sort of feel responsible for the outcome.
I think the course is challenging but rewarding...
Third, I have understood that the ladies who are on the course are really trying to do their best to complete all the tasks, do the quizzes and questionnaires which is not easy for some of them, having little children or sick parents. And the gardening season is open! What a dilemma - do the tasks or work in the garden?

Learning Technologies online course - stumbling along....

The third week of the course is coming to an end, and I have already drawn some harsh conclusions.

First, people should not apply to this course if they are not sure of their ability and willingness to spend hours and hours online, being persistent and diligent.
Second, people should not apply to this course if they do not favour technologies and hate the time they "waste" at the computer. Finding "very objective" excuses seems childish to me...
Third, people should not apply to this course if they just hope to complete the course by lurking (see what is a lurker) quietly somewhere "behind the scenes" and never showing up in public. Being taciturn, does not rank high on such a course.

Sir Ken Robinson on creativity

In this fascinating speech creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we're educating our children. He believes that schools kill creativity. He is an amazing speaker, never tiring or boring, with the typical British sense of humour. It's worth watching!

Starting a Learning Technologies course

Finally the time is ripe for the first online course with me as a moderator. See the previous post about this course http://baibasvenca.blogspot.com/2010/01/moderating-my-first-online-course.html

After completing the final leg of the preparation (3 more weeks), I am now ready for this adventure.(?) I only hope my "students" will be as excited about it as I am now. We are meeting on 30 March for a face-to-face meeting. I will report about the event...

Dinner for one

I have come across the most hilarious video ever! I fell about laughing while I was watching this old film made in 1963. It may be a little naive but you still have to see it. Just be patient and wait until the plot develops....
Part 1



If you wish to see the 2nd part - the staggering ending - then go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPVCtpNjMtY&feature=player_embedded.

Music is the universal language

Watch this amazing short episode showing the 10-time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin (Don't worry, be happy) getting the audience to perform music which they have never heard before. It reveals a surprising result of the way our brains are wired.

Tag cloud with TAGUL

TAGUL is a web service that enables you to create gorgeous tag clouds. Similar to WORDLE. Point with your mouse over the words and see how they come alive! If you click on the tag, Google finds related pages.
You need to register and then you can start playing with words.

Listen and relax!

Here is my little gift to you - a lovely song that will go perfectly well together with thoughts about why people celebrate Valentine's Day (those who do). Because they feel unloved or, on the contrary, they are bursting with love? Because they are open to any fun that passes by or they are in need of brushing up their lives? What if there is nothing behind?

Just enjoy being alive!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Ladies and gentlemen, Leonard Cohen! 

DANCE ME TO THE END OF LOVE

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love

Oh let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love

A video for teaching Conditionals

Use this great video at the lesson when you are teaching conditionals. You may also watch it on YouTube or download it to your PC.