WEB 2.0 - Comments and Suggestions

Since we started the training of WEB 2.0, even though I have had previous knowledge about how to use a computer, the internet as well, there are a lot of things that I have learned that I want to share.

·         It was very interesting to get to know the theory of the basic course about how to use a computer. We have used almost all the tools of it all the time, but as amateur learners we do that automatically and we don’t use many things that could help us to do everything easier and faster.

·         To have an account in gmail was very new for me too. It has many tools to use that I have to practice more. I have already used the calendar, documents tool and I have used many times the chat to talk with my trainer and colleagues, which is very helpful when we are doing homework or we need to know something about work. Since we have been using gmail at CBA we have been in contact with the information and with all the teachers. These tools make our work much easier, like the report for Mr. Morales. I think to have it in our mail, is wonderful.

·         Another new experience for me was to use and take tests in Canvas. Even though I had a very good grade in the first test, I was so nervous taking it. Now I feel much more confident about using Canvas. I think in the future we are going to have a wonderful new means of communication with all CBA people in the conversation tool. Sadly only few of us used it. There has been long period of time since anyone has entered something in it.

·         To open and use the blog was very interesting, but I think there are lots of things we need to understand better in order to use it well. I have posted many reflections there, and I have commented on many reflections of my colleagues but haven't received many comments in my blog. I haven't used that with my students yet because I don’t feel confident with it yet.

·         To make a summary about all I have written, I can say that to use Web 2.0 has opened an amazing, new world for many of us. I feel that we are now able to say we started real changes to make CBA a leader in English teaching.

Now that we have been trained to use web 2.0, I suggest that when we learn new things we should practice more all we have just learned. A good idea could be to have group homework so we could share all what we know already and learn through our other colleagues. There are many teachers that are experts and they can help us to improve.

Other thing that I would suggest is make all the teachers participate in conversations, blogs and comments in a positive attitude. As I wrote before, we need lots of practice, which is the only way to make us feel confident about all we know now. After that we will be able to use it with our students without mistakes. Remember… “If we don’t use it, we lose it”.

Tech 102 - On Line Test Reflection

I am actually dissapointed about the "On line Test" I took last week. I think the questions were very confusing and also with no concrete answers in such a simple lesson. I got an 85, I didn't answer correctly 4 questions, three of them had more than one answer.What this lesson was about is something that I use a lot, sometimes daily.
I don't feel my grade reflects my knowledge of the subject completely. I believe it was a very poorly thought out test. No one knew what exactly they wanted as an answer, too vague in ideology, and presentation.
Ergo why so many did so poorly on this test.
I hope the people who created this test, put more attention into this matter and of course they fix the grades ASAP.

Going to the next step! TECH 102

This evening I have been reading and watching videos about the first  and second part of what is going to be TECH 102. There are the parts I have already done.

• What is a file.
• How do we create a new file.
• What do we store information in a file.
• How do we change or put a new name in a file.
• How to delete a file
• How to restore a file from the recycling bin.

I also could read and watch videos about:

• What is a browser.
• types of browsers.
• How to serch in the internet.
• How to copy and paste information of a web page. 

Like many of us, I am the one that uses all these tools day by day to work, to search information about a specific issue and to get in contact with people through the internet. 

However  it is always important to remember how to use them. When we use these tools all the time, we do that automatically and we don't pay attention to the different steps to do so.

The main objective of this training is to know all the steps to use a computer and the different programs it has in it in order to use them in our classrooms. Also to tech those students who don't know how to use a computer.

Turning on/off a technological life...

Tomorrow I am going to give a presentation about "How to turn on and turn off" a computer in the safest way. So far it looks like it is going to be a very easy presentation because that is the first thing we learned when we decided to get into a "technological life". However, this is very important to my training because the trainer asked to do three questions in order to give our classmates the day of the final test. So I have to do a very good explanation about that, and see if my colleagues can understand me correctly. When you are in a learning process any step you do is important, no matter how easy it could be seen.

Helping tools.

Dear colleagues I share with you this website for you to see and I hope you use it. There are lots of tools to help you teach. And they are FREE!
http://www.toolsforeducators.com/

First Reflection

Hello everyone!
 As I have read in many blogs of my colleagues, all of us are becoming a real good work group. I like that! Many of us know how to handle the new technology tools. Others know a little, and there are some that now have a new experience with it. Whatever our knowledge base is, we are working together... we are a team! Team of work, team of real colleagues/friends that have only one goal.
 Which is: TO GROW AS TEACHERS EVERY DAY!
Sandra dice:

Teachers and teaching quotes

• “Teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say.”
• “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”
• “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
• “A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”
• “If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
• “Teaching is the greatest act of optimism”
• “The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
• “There are three things to remember when teaching: know your stuff; know whom you are stuffing; and then stuff them elegantly”