Bloggers Jan-Mar 2012

Welcome Bloggers to a new adventure on learning and sharing in English!

Isaac Elejalde  http://isaacelejalde.wordpress.com/
Javier Mejias http://dunnothrasher.blogspot.com/
Daniela Machado http://itsdanimachado.blogspot.com/
Carlos Palomares http://cassiusonwood.blogspot.com/
Jose Reyes http://jarb86.blogspot.com/  JARB86
Rosa Nava http://rosnv20.blogspot.com/
Raquel Domingo http://raqueldimanche.blogspot.com/

First class in the lab! jan-Mar 2012

Last class we discussed what blogs are. We worked on the following questions:

Have you read a blog before? Do you have a favorite blog. Share your favorites if you have some. What do you notice about blog format? What’s the writing like? What about the use of photos and other images? How does a blogger make a blog unique? How can blogs help you improve your command of English?

You were supposed to search the web for three blogs related to something you like very much or your field of expertise. Write a post on your blog about it? add images and links to your choice of blogs.

Also, we worked on getting a blog and learning basics things like adding images, links, videos and finding information in English. Use this model to help you write a welcome post... http://doris3meflcenter.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-post-example.html  

Finally, we tried to get in world in Second Life... write a post on your blog about your avatar!!! What's your avi's name? add a photo.. tell of your first experience in SL.

Well, that was an interesting class... hope you have had fun!

Keep on shining Love and Peace!
Doris3m

Blogging Tips

Blogging

These are wonderful tips on how to blog. Please check them out for a better blogging experience. They are in English, yes... try to read.. you will be surprised on how much you will understand. These are the guidelines to evaluate yourself.

Now, a little bit about blogs...

Spend time exploring blogs together. Have you read a blog before? Do you have a favorite blog. Share your favorites if you have some. What do you notice about blog format? What’s the writing like? What about the use of photos and other images? How does a blogger make a blog unique? The audiences for blogs vary. Some are intended for a broad audience, such as a sports figure who blogs for fans. Other blogs may be more personal and intended only for a few close friends. Others are for educational purposes. 


Getting Started with Blogger
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1113/blogger-start1.pdf

Blogging Information Sheet
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1159/blogging.pdf

Common Blog Features
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1113/features.pdf

Blogger Entries and Comments
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1113/blogger-entries.pdf

Online Commenting Guidelines
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1113/commentingguides.pdf

Think before you post!

Before you write a comment and post it, don't forget to think. You may want to use WORD to write and edit your comment. If you do so, you will have a chance to re-read your comment before you copy and paste it to the blog. This will give you the opportunity to think again about what you have just written before you actually post it. I also suggest you preview your comment before you publish it.

Watch the following video....

What did you learn from it? Is it a good advice?
Well, hope all these material will help you to be a great blogger!

Keep on shining love and peace!
Dr. Doris Molero

************
Resources: 
Blogging tips taken from  ReadWriteThink  http://www.readwritethink.org
Think before you post by Eduardo Lina http://eflyudkugel.blogspot.com/ 
Video: Internet photos by mcgeet3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGlrAhtQC24&feature=player_embedded

Class Details Jan-March 2012

Class Details 

Mornings and afternoon School
4-year University
Credits 2.0 credits / 3.0 hours Required course
Course Type: For Academic Trimester
Level taught：Level 6
Group taught：G611
Office located: ESL Center - Dirección de Ingles. Building F 1rst Floor

Instructor: Dr. Doris Molero de Martins
E-mail address: doris3m@gmail.com
Facebook: Doris Molero
Twitter: doris3m
Second Life: Pionia Destiny
Virtual Office Hours Monday through Friday 8 - 9 pm

Course Description

This course focuses on classroom activities, during which students will discuss, read, listen to and write on particular topics together. Ideally, the course will enable students to develop and express their own insights and experience with respect to different aspects of the English as a foreign language. At the same time the course wants to integrate technology as a way to help students in their multiliteracy development and the learning of a new language.

Course Objectives
1. To encourage students’ critical thinking on the relationship between language and culture.
2. To encourage students' oral and written exchange and interaction
3. To use web 2.0 tools to learn EFL and multiliteracies.
4. To participate in international collaboration communities or social networks.

Evaluation Criteria＆Grading
First term= 10 + 10 pts   30%
Second term= 10 + 10 pts   30%
Project presentations + Attendance, Homework, Quizzes and Class participation = 10 + 10 pts   40%
** Bonus tasks get  extra credits

Course Requirement＆ Attendance Policies
1. Active participation in classroom discussions and activities is expected from all students.
2. Cell phones and beepers should be turned off in class.
3. Being more than 15 minutes late will be counted as an absence.
4. More than three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.
5. No make-up presentations will be permitted, except in case of documented emergency.

Materials to be used

Hand outs and online materials
Headphone and a microphone
Pen drive/mobile phones
Computers/ internet


Online references Online references will be published on the Blog http://www.eflcenterspeakinggroup.blogspot.com

Reading Task: The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology.

Hello, there! Welcome to our Technology Unit Task. This time we are reading an article called The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology. To get started, get in groups or in pairs and be ready to participate actively in the activity. Copy this activity and the article in a word document. Upload it to google docs, and share it with your partners.

Before you read.

Read the tittle of the article and discuss it with your partner. Write little notes on your notebooks. Draw mindmaps.
1. Visit the following link: The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology. Look at the title and the photo in the page.
2. Now, What do you think the article is going to be about?

While reading.

Discuss the following questions. Write notes. Underline new words. Make a list of words related to technology.

Part 1
Who's Bill Buxton and what he did to help shape the future?
What was he trying to do before he did what he did?
What helped him do it?

Part 2
What are some literature examples that support the idea of a flat, personal computer shaped like a book has actually been around for a long time?

Part 3
What are Four Ways Technology Will Change Our Lives In The Future?

Part 4
How iPads Are Changing The Classroom?

Part 5
What are some concerns of hospitals in the use of tablets?

Part 6
What's The Fantasy Of Touch they talk about in the article?

Part 7
According to Buxton what's The Next ‘Bingo’ Moment? watch the video and describe some of this surface features at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBpP1QIMdk

After reading.

Now, after reading it and discussing it with your classmates. It's time for you to tell and write about it. Write a post in your blog. Use these questions: What was the article about? What did you like the most about it? what's your opinion about it  and what are some new words and expressions you found in it? You can add images, links and videos to your post.

Finally, record your opinion here http://www.voxopop.com/topic/b91093f3-f772-4c06-a28b-5145bd2d0395