10 things I am going to do this summer

It is fashionable now to make lists on different topics, for example, 10 things you should know about..., 5 books you can't miss..., 7 new tools a teacher can't do without..., 9 best tips on... etc.

I have fallen for this strategy too, and out of idleness I have decided to create my own list. What could it be? Probably something I can realize during the summer. (A list can be manageable only if you have free time to do it, right? No use writing a list knowing that you will be occupied with other "more serious" things.)

Writing a list also somehow makes you stick to it, at least that is true for me.
I confess, I have been influenced by Mike Gayle's The To-Do-List which I read recently. I could never ever do as many as 1277 things he had written on his to-do list but then he had given himself a whole year to complete the task.


So, here I am writing the 10 things I am going to do this summer which otherwise might have not been done (I allow myself to extend the list if need be):

1. Read at least 4 new and valuable books (Cheating  because I was going to read them anyway!)
2. Sort out the wardrobe!!!
3. Wash the windows!!!
4. Go to the Forum Cinemas and watch at least one new film (have to decide which one).
5. Call on an old friend (or two depending on their availability) in another town.
6. Prepare a workshop I am going to deliver at the teachers conference (I was going to do it anyway, so it's cheating again).
7. Set up a new social site for my next year students and think out how to use it :))
8. Make a few jars of jam e.g. strawberry, blackberry, cloudberry, orange etc. (I have already made rhubarb-banana jam which is good!)
9. Take a picture of myself so that I have one ready to publish where necessary.
10. Go for a boat ride with my family in the Daugava. (Have done it before, and loved it!)

I'd write as item no.11 - learn the names of proper coffees but I guess that's not serious. My Italians confirmed the names except they did not know about Cafe Breve.

(click to enlarge)    

Three days in Aluksne

Beautiful Aluksne - who would have expected to find such a place on the border of nowhere!
Old, neat and homey, with tales and legends (told to us by Una), with a picturesque lake and cobbled paths, with enormous oaks (live for hundreds of years) and their own Bible translator, with stories about the czar and his courtiers - what a wonderful place in Latvia which is surely obscure to those living in the central parts or the capital!

Very successful Teacher Trainer Development course hosted by the British Council and Aluksne Infantry Training centre. (Surprise again!)

Eric with his flute in the morning and a hood on his head in the evening...
Galina with her bouyancy...
Rita with her red hair and her savvy of the subject...
Robert with the gift of the gab...
Ligija with her composure...
SilvijaA with her relaxed wit...

Poisonous mosquitoes...
Roman columns...
Bride's Veil island...
Beer with the game btw France: Mexico in the background...

What else?

E-book about teaching with Web 2.0

An excellent resource for those teachers who are interested in using Web 2.0 tools for teaching. The e-book analyzes the most popular sites and tools and gives tips for using them in teaching. Easy to learn things which you did not know yet!

Open publication - Free publishing - More 21st century

World Cup 2010 - tomorrow!

Being a total non-fan of football, I can't ignore this grand event. Here is my contribution - an interactive calendar which shows all teams, all games, all stadiums in an awesome and attractive way! (NOT made by me ha ha ha...)

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

June 2010 has begun

June is a lovely month. School is over! Exams are over! (Grading them is another matter...) There are still a few duties to perform (students who have lagged behind, some reports to be written), but nothing compares to getting up in the morning with a feeling of I-do-not-have-to-hurry.

The Learning Technologies course seems as if it took place last year despite only a few weeks in-between today and the 19th May. I see blogs have been forgotten, NING and wiki sites have been abandoned, tweets have not been written - as if they had never existed... Well, hopefully life gets back into them in a while, later, later....
Because of the course, I have turned into a faithful Twitter reader. I don't have much to share but I enjoy what other people have found and shared. There are tons of good things every day!

It's nice to write something for myself....

Japanese tulips

Scribblar

As I am getting ready for the seminar in Bauska, I keep looking for attractive ways to present Web 2.0.
This is what I found a few days ago - another tool with a funny name SCRIBBLAR implying writing, drawing, scribbling etc.
This is what you can do with it (for something more exciting I have to practice a little longer...)

New presentation tool - Prezi

I discovered this PREZI tool for creating presentations recently and spent some time trying to make my first presentation. In my not-so-humble opinion, the result is quite viewable! Start by clicking on the arrow below, just wait till it loads.
Once it loads, you can click on Fullscreen to experience the true magic of Prezi. You can also set it to Autoplay.

WEB 2.0 on Prezi

Singing with The Wiggles

Had I taught little kids, I may have discovered these fantastic singers - The Wiggles, children's musical group from Sydney, Australia - a couple of years ago. But I did it only now, and like a kid myself, I kept listening to their songs and crooning along until I thought I had heard enough.

It is a must for those who work with little children! Check The Wiggles on YouTube or search Google or Yahoo videos. Even adults might love listening to these cheerful, catchy and relaxing songs!

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.