Activity 4 section 3 Module 1: collaboration

First there was no constructive collaboration in group 2, subgroup Red. The objectives were not clear as there was no general meeting to decide about them and have tasks to be done. They were are motivated, but none of us took the initiative to be decisive. There were several individual attempts to unit the sub-group, which were all doomed to failure. Alex initiated the page in the Pbwiki, but only three people used it Alex, Andrea and me. Later, I send a message to the participants, but again, Alex responded by writing a useful message suggesting to meet in SL. However, our meeting was not successful as far as the projects was concerned; we only dealt with creating a box, changing it and take to be put it our inventory.

The problem we had was not being successful to have a general meeting and set the tasks. I am sure that everyone was working their own to accomplish the activities. I hope that we will be do well in time as there is more than enough time to have a rewarding collaboration

Fashion shows G3

I was early to book a plae. But, it was in the morning. Later, I attended in the evening

Everybody was chatting and enjoying themselves
The fashion shows ended by a collective dance.

Missing SL activities

This post was written while I was on holidays. Unfortunately, I could not post it because I used my laptop and took to the cyber café, but I could not open the word format.

It has been five days I have not logged or checked my e-mails as it was difficult for me to connect. I have been visiting the family during the festivities of the slaughtering feast. I have seen all my family members, including my parents. It was a great event for all Muslims to be together with their families. It is also time to welcome those people coming from their wholly journey from Makah. It is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is to perform the pilgrimage for those who are able to afford the cost of the trip. My journey was almost six hours driving. It was wonderful that all the family was in good health.

I am not back to where I live. The family does not have the internet connection, despite having the landline phone. Therefore, I have to go to a cybercafé. The problem is that. It is not possible to open second life to attend the show. Luckily, I attended fashion-show of group three, last Sunday. It was amazing. There were a lot of colorful garments. Though, my computer crashed several times, but I attended most of the event that took place, among the collective dance of the avatars. Though authentic dance is that of real life as Margarita said when she when she was disconnecting from the event.

Reactions to Evelyn Izquierdo' s post

You have stressed the fact that a SL situation a teacher should be highly trained on technology and should be able to deliver instruction adequately. Also, in RL situation, a teacher should be well -prepared and ready to improvise in case of not bringing the classroom notes or resort to plan “B” to keep students focused and achieves the objectives of the lesson. Therefore, other elements are called upon, especially the classroom management for RL classroom.

If I the teachers are wearing something culturally different, they would a deviation from the course aim, if the new look is not planned to trigger or introduce a topic, then the students will loose track and they would be diverted. A teacher should be aware of how to get dressed and how to motivate the students.

Your professional avatar is great? But why are you so short and wearing just black clothes? What are the objectives that you are trying to communicate?
It is a new look, but do not you think that you are frightening your students?

Reference:
Evelyn Izquierdo

http://www.muvenation.org/moodle/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=965#p3695

Changing Sami to become myself

Changing my avatar took a considerable time. In the beginning I was wondering how successful I would be to modify it and where can I find all the tools and what are the techniques and procedures to take. I hesitated a lot at the beginning to do that. What made the matter worse was that I did not have enough time to devote to that task last week because my toothache and the loads of continuous assessment papers I have to correct. I was confused even about the exact tasks that I had to perform, till I decided to print all the tasks and read them carefully and be practical.

I have done different activities randomly as visiting many places SL and I would be chatting with the people I would come across. Unfortunately, it was hard for me to be on time for most of the meeting held in the muvenation virtual world. I would either working or when I connect I would discover that the meeting was over.

Once, I have tried to become myself, but I become as a blur, which I have noticed some people would be the same. Even last night, my interlocutor said to me that he could not see but a blur while I saw myself clearly. Still, I am wondering why we become like that. Is there any reason or specific manner that turns us one to be a blur?

Sometimes, I tried to chat with the people in SL, but in vain since the typing in the chat box does not come on time; and if ever it comes, it would be too late for to conduct an effective exchange. Therefore, I only disconnect.

I am also, asking if there any limitation to the volute of the “inventory” because I kept accepting everything I would be offered, including cards, items, land, money….

Throughout changing my avatar, I have learned the process and the steps that I have to follow. It can be used in teaching when giving instruction or direction to students to carry out a particular task. There is a raise of recurrent social ties that grow in this virtual word.

Changing my avatar reminds me of how careful I would be when going to class, an outing, visiting somebody or attending a formal or informal meeting. A have a proverb which says “Eat whatever you like, but put on the things that people would accept”.

It is a show off skill. I have to show that I am learning and I am confirming with the whole folk. I am carrying out instructions.

Using the inventory

The old sami in the inventory

This is a second change saving when I want to have a famous person.

BEING A WORIOR

This is an outfit I got for free while shopping

I tried a tail and heavy load on my shoulder, which I got rid of. But, a message from SL was sent to me telling me that an object was returned to my inventory. I did not lke wearing these garments. They make me a starnger. I do want to hide my identity. I want to be the way I am.

I was a warior. I had to change everything. I want to become myself. I saved this as I did for the old sami so as I can use it in the muvenation show or going back to my infancy (My second life born body).

Becoming yourself

This is real life. it was in Washingtong in May 2008
This is the beginning of Second life
Trying to be myself! Needs more skills

It has been a while I have not communicated with my blog owing to a terrible toothache preventing me from concentrating and reflecting about my colleagues posts.
Finally I succeeded in learning many things. Thought, I have already exploring these activities from the very beginning of the course.
It is demanding when you struggle giving final touch to your avatar and loving it. I was trying to become myself in changing all the features of my avatar. The more time I spend with alter ego, the more care and love I like it.
I consider it my real identity in real life. It is my thoughts, dreams, words and gestures. There would be a great identification by the course of time and the more I will learn, the more skillful touch I will add to look real.

I enjoy the thoughts in the thread conversation that is launched by David, rising with whom we are conversing in the virtual word. I would say the building of trust id already established by the muvenation community. Once, you are in SL, you feel a friendly atmosphere. You feel that you are there to learn or cascade the knowledge. You feel that you do not want to quit or leave while the other person is need of comfort or assistance. Personally, I felt that they are high skilled, motivated and outstanding teachers willing to sacrifice their time, effort and money for the sake of learning and teaching. Therefore, we do trust our community to be engaged in this professional development.
Socializing is another key factor in this second life. Second life, particularly muvenation land is not populated. We need somebody to keep company, if there is no activity that should be done. At the beginning, I was reluctant to speak to some avatars in SL because of their appearance, but once I associate their avatar with I would be the one who initiate the conversation. Even, all the participants have a tag that adds distinctive features, sometimes. Our common interest is encouraging guidance to further continue the process of education.

I like the way Nergiz has voiced her opinion stressing the kind of students we are dealing with. Only two students needed their real names to be printed in the certificate while they other are not interested because they were, may be, involved in learning skills for their own use and not for other organizations.

David also raised the issue of assessment in the virtual world. I think using avatar would help teachers give reasonable feedback not based on the real persona’s acquaintance, but it would be on the contributions and effective presentations by the alter ego. Again, the learning styles differ from person to another. Here, the issue raised how much academic or non-academic involvement should be associated to promote individuals?

Step farther!

It was a wonderful memory to recall back when I submitted my subscription through an email. I was informed through the Web-head 2002 forum to which I subscribed a couple of years ago. I was trilled to get back a confirmation email from Margarita saying that there will be a selection of participants and that they would include non-European participants.

From the first day, I received the email I tried hard to explore Second life and click on everything that I can see on the screen. I could not remember how many times my computer crashed. However, I decided never to quit walking around.

I have visited several landmarks using search tool. Sometimes, it would be a welcoming place where feel at ease chatting and benefiting from the people around, but from time to time they would be inhospitable as they are not educator landmarks.
I also tried to see tutorial video from You-tube or use the given links in the forums.

Now, my questions so far how can I make use of Second life tool to enhance learning and coax my students to be more involved? What action should do to have a multiply effect on my colleagues and the educational environment I am surrounded by?

How can I promote positive aspects of learning among reluctant students and teachers who are lagging behind refusing any innovation changes regardless its benefits?

It was a slow beginning in exploring Second life. There was an unpleasant fright that I experience at the beginning. I was afraid to move or make a slight mistake. I was scared to get drown in the ocean. I felt a terrible panic inside when I was in the open desert surrounded by sand and few trees.

It was little by little I was introduced to the second life. Nergiz tried to coax me in this adventure. But I was afraid to start. She gave me friendship; she suggested the Casablanca which I hesitated to discover because of my ignorance. Sometimes, I would log in, and then log out immediately for a fair to get lost. I would report to my family I was lost in an ocean of Sahara. I was afraid to die in the second life.

I had to adjust my desk computer and laptop for second life, using the “Dxdiag” method. I formatted my desk computer to provide more space for second life. I had to make sure that my graphic card suits effectively this new tool. Also, I doubled the debit of internet connection.

At the beginning, I would ask my friend, Nowhereman, about SL. I would say it is second language. As days passed by, I discovered the real meaning of this virtual environment when I figure out it is used for teaching and creating an alter ego. It is a sort of psychological relief. You have the right to choose even your name to belong to a biog family. You can choose your garments, skin, color…

My smooth introduction was done first by Bon Bon and second by Viki who taught me a lot of things such as editing my appearance, moving, using my inventory, and editing my navigation bar. Since the, I have visited many places as New York, Turkey, second life sites….I have taken many pictures and changed my avatar…
I hope I have completed all my assignments.

Wow, I cannot quit anymore

Meeting Bombon Breavehearth

It has been a great night as I have learned a lot today from Bonbon Breavehearth. She was really helpful to show me how to change my appearance. She gave a lot things, including shoes, jackets, and socks… I had only one shoe on before I had met her in SL. Now, I am wearing a good sport shoes. Also I have changed my jacket. My daughter was setting besides me laughing about having only one shoe. But, later, she was surprised seeing me wear those sneakers.
We had a good chat. However, I could not continue using the audio

I am sure that I will learn as quick as possible. I do not know if there are any hat?

I can see only an open space. There are no building and siteseeing in the munenation. Is that our projects.

At least we are learning step by step. There will be a differentce...

time to sleep, bye.

Forwards/Backwards

I do not know whether they are steps forwards or backwards. I was completely lost in vast land surrounded by the sea, mountainous area and some green spaces. I tried to get help from whoever I come across; unfortunately none seemed to be able to help or give me direction.
I have learned how to fly, to walk, run. Whenever, I felt hopeless, I would sit down or my computer would crash because of the many clicks I would do.
I have learned how to open a local shut, make search and use the camera

Nevertheless, I do not know what tasks I have accomplish while navigating this tool. I know I could chat using audio, video or writing format to communicate with other people.

Further steps in Second life 1

Thursday 6th November

It was a national holiday. I devoted the whole day to explore boot my knowledge. I read and reread all the emails related to this course, especially I opted to receive digest one, which I did not like. I prefer to receive emails the moment it is written. I went through the activities step by step. I do not want to be left behind. I watch some tutorial vides and learnt how to discover second life including: Moving & flying, looking around with camera controls, Chatting, Creating and joining a group, Friendships, and Searching.
I updated some accounts such as Twitter: http://twitter.com/samiz; Flicker and delicious: zouitabdu200. Also I created netvibes account:
http://www.netvibes.com/muvenation#General

I have asked permission to get to the flicker group. Also, I have offered help with the PBwiki tool.

It was amazing watching the Second life tutorials. They have made my task very easy to explore and know about the basics of this prodigious tool. It is certainly the most developed means of virtual world which makes easy and handle the teaching and learning of students. Second life is a resource that engages students to learn more because they are fully involved in the process of learning. Think over the following Chinese proverb:
“Tell me I forget, write to me, I will remember, and involve me, I will learn”

First hours: Second life

I was first introduced to second life by Nergiz through her inspiring questions and the offer she provided me with. The first time, I was puzzled when I succeeded to get inside second life, I immediately noticed a chat box, then I begun to write “finally, I made it”. But the window crashed. I could not open the window that day for fear I will lose all my data. I read all the frequent asked questions to discover how to deal with this new tool and know

Another night, I returned from a short visit to my parents-in-law intending to sleep as I was supposed to go to work in the morning. However, I opened Second life to find other people chatting, flying, walking and singing… Luckily, there was someone who suggested helping me. (Sorry) I could not remember the name. There were other avatar chatting. I tried to chat with them, but standing confused not knowing what to do. What was astonishing was most of the people in the room could not do anything or endeavor to put forward any idea to move forward. I was asked whether I was an educator, where I was from and about objectives of using second life. I felt that I was making fun of myself, thus I quitted my navigation.

Diagnostic test

A. I am your friend. I don’t work in education. You are talking to me about the idea that we all learn from each other, in all kinds of contexts, and that this can often be richer than more formal classroom based learning. I am sceptical. Tell me about an informal learning experience you have had online in which collaboration was involved, show me a concrete example to help me to see what you mean.

It went back to 2005 when I had my first course online with Oregon University. We used the blackboard as a discussion forum online. My grade was “A”. I had 123/130 marks for all my contributions. The theme was about the implementation of critical thinking in our classroom. There was a group of 20 international participants who engaged a wonderful opportunity and a marvelous course on line. I was really thankful to those people who value knowledge. The latter is an endless process. The more you acquire the more you feel that you know nothing in this huge bulk infinity of information.

It was truly professional development. It took the normal and the sufficient time to review all teaching and instructional materials. I am, now, more confident in indulging and taking risks in public discussions in this issue of critical thinking skills and strategies.

It was an invitation to share this effort with the rest of colleagues and inspire others. The world is changing let’s be one of the tiles that contribute to the perfection of this change. If we do not try, we will be left behind.

Since then, I have introduced technology in my classroom using Yahoo-groups to make better my student performance and achievements. Not only the students were amazed, but also their parents and administration were thrilled by the school results and the etiquettes the students have learnt in their commitment in to contribute and submit their assignments online.

B. We all explore new technologies, some grab our attention more than others, some seem revolutionary, others simply bore us. Tell us about that new tool, or set of tools, you have just discovered that really excites you, talk about the potential it has to change your work. What do you want to do with it?

It is nice to talk about the PBwiki experience this year and the amount of knowledge and expertise I have become learned. The PBwiki team was patient and care to share. Now, I am persuading my colleagues and inviting my students to have their own PBwiki. I am planning to have a common PBwiki for every class as a platform. I participated in the competition of back to school challenge

http://www.backtoschoolchallenge.com/

This morning, I am the second one in the leader board out of 6264 participants. I have 1465 points. This PBwiki experience open me many doors to enhance my technology skills and train other teachers to be acquainted with the use of technology. My students will be the first to benefit from what I have learnt.

C. Do you see yourself as a pioneer? Do you think you are more innovative than others in your organisation? Do you think your organisation is lagging behind? Tell us how you feel about this?

I would say I am among the pioneer in my area. I have contributed a lot. I was the one who set an English regional resource center and keep maintaining and encouraging more students and teachers to join for the sake of knowledge and experience. Also, I was behind the idea of setting a local branch of the Moroccan Association of teachers of English http://www.mate.org.ma/. This association was behind the enrichment of my professional development. What’s more is the experience in Kent State University in Ohio where I learned better through designing instruction course and technology class and through participation in the ongoing seminars and conferences.

Introducing

Hello everyone,
It is a great pleasure for me to be selected in this course online. I will do my best to contribute and boost my learning and teaching skills.
Actually, I am an ESL teacher for more than fourteen years. I am an active member of the Moroccan Association of teachers of English. http://www.mate.org.ma/

My students’ age is between 15 and 18. It means K10 to K12. I have published three books, which are supplementary materials for my students. I would say I live in my emails.
I would like to learn more about technology and improve my teaching methods throughout a worldly collaboration with the participants in Muvenation.
I hope to be selected among those who will make it to the end.

Abdesalam.