The flow of the text conversation with her was quite interesting because as it turned out, this was informal learning/mentoring in practice- ahhh the power of the Internet. Behold!
Note: orig worldmap was retrieved from this site, http://geology.com/world/world-map.shtml
Read the entire text chat and see what took place. She was already impressed with my old class wikis, but I told her there are other Webheads out there with great class blogs, wikis, and what have you. By the time you read this, julyddan is probably on her way to signing up to the Webheads YG!
I had a hard time figuring out how exactly I could help her. The idea of mentoring always interests me, as that's what Webheads and EVO team do; but she came in with all that motivation to learn and list of things to do- I just didn't know where to start.
I hope I did the right thing today. Anyway, I did tell her that she could show me her class wiki when it's done. And yes, she can always send me an IM!
/a
Read her message below:
Dear Aiden,----- Our chat on Thu, 9/2/10 5:07 PM -----
I have received a copy of the TESOL e-newsletter and have fallen in love with the EVO project. I am a post-graduate student awaiting the defence of my thesis and thence graduation with an MPhil English. As professional teacher with 11yrs teaching experience, my pre-occupation is researching into the most effective ways of teaching English and Literature especially through CALL. However, with regards to the use of CALL in Ghana, it is even difficult to find a single lecturer in my department who can mentor me. Hence my special request to the team is to be accepted as a protegee who can be coached and trained to introduce CALL in my country and my university in particular, University of Education, (name of state deleted).
As part of the training, I would be grateful if you could pair me or make me join a moderator group. Through they assigning tasks, and others to me I am sure I can learn and make an impact in my community.
By the next session my aim is to become a full fleshed moderator and be able to recruit many other language teachers from my country.
Hope to here favourably from you.
Thank you.
(name deleted)
julyddan (4:13 PM): HI can I join an EVO team from Ghana? My interest is in integrating computers in language learning.
Aiden (4:15 PM): Hi there. received your message. Have you participated in any of the EVO sessions before?
julyddan (4:15 PM): no
Aiden (4:16 PM): The EVO sessions will be offered in January 2011. We are still in the process of receiving proposals.
Aiden (4:17 PM): http://evosessions.pbworks.com/, here's the link to past sessions, http://evosessions.pbworks.com/EVO+Previous+Sessions
julyddan (4:18 PM): Is it possible to join an existing team so i can be coached?
Aiden (4:18 PM): I suggest that you join Becoming a Webhead session as they show participants how to integrate technology in the classroom
Aiden (4:19 PM): There are no open sessions now; but you can join Webheads online community and be part of the learning community
Aiden (4:21 PM): I also suggest that you look at past BaW weekly activities- they introduce the basics from which tool to use to why you should it
Aiden (4:22 PM): you should also attend free webinars on Web 2.0
Aiden (4:23 PM): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evonline2002_webheads
julyddan (4:23 PM): ok I am checking on the links u have sent me
Aiden (4:24 PM): how old are your students and what class/es do you teach?
Aiden (4:25 PM): oh, and how did you find out about EVO?
julyddan (4:26 PM): I am 32. I have submitted my submitted a soft copy of my thesis for MPhil in English
julyddan (4:27 PM): Currently I am a tutor at the univ of Education, Winneba, distance learning section.
julyddan (4:29 PM): and i am looking for innovative ways of integrating IT in my teaching
julyddan (4:30 PM): I am also and IELTS exam proctor for British Council Ghana
Aiden (4:30 PM): how did you find out about EVO?
Aiden (4:31 PM): how old are your students and what class/es do you teach?
julyddan (4:32 PM): I joined the ELTeCS Europe, Caucus and Russia from the Briish Council Website when I was browsing for BC language teachers' opportunities
julyddan (4:33 PM): They are 18+. Diploma, Post Dip and 1st Degree
Aiden (4:35 PM): Is this a general English course?
julyddan (4:37 PM): I teach Comprehension and Composition at Post Dip, Com Skills and Intro to Lit at 1st degree
Aiden (4:38 PM): is this an online course or f2f?
Aiden (4:39 PM): do you use a wiki?
julyddan (4:39 PM): they are all f2f
Aiden (4:40 PM): do you have access to computers in the classroom?
julyddan (4:40 PM): but the dip courses are by distance and i wish to find ways of integrating IT so that my students can com and learn from home
julyddan (4:41 PM): not yet but if i can put a gud design together, my director is ready to provide them
Aiden (4:42 PM): do you use a course/leanring management system i.e. wiki, moodle, Yahoo! Group
julyddan (4:42 PM): I need to convince them with a gud proposal
julyddan (4:42 PM): no can u teach me how to?
julyddan (4:42 PM): this is why i want to be an evo member
julyddan (4:43 PM): nobody does these things in my university
Aiden (4:43 PM): Outline your proposal on a wiki and use your Yahoo! Group (or Google group) as learning mngt system (LMS)
Aiden (4:43 PM): EVO provide yearly teacher professional dev't sessions
Aiden (4:44 PM): what you need is to join a community of practice so you could just post your enquiry to the list
Aiden (4:44 PM): and peope will respond to you
julyddan (4:44 PM): so what is the first step?
Aiden (4:45 PM): for collaborative projects, you can also count on the webheads to help you
Aiden (4:45 PM): outline your plan on a wiki
Aiden (4:45 PM): sort of like a learning syllabus
Aiden (4:46 PM): i'll show you my class wikis
julyddan (4:46 PM): oh ok like my course outline right?
Aiden (4:46 PM): yes
julyddan (4:46 PM): great
julyddan (4:46 PM): i wild like to see it
Aiden (4:46 PM): in this way your students should have an e-copy of your syllabus
julyddan (4:46 PM): ok
Aiden (4:47 PM): these are old wikis because I took a break froom teaching last year bec. i'm finishing up my PhD
Aiden (4:47 PM): wait, let me get the UR:s
Aiden (4:48 PM): http://dcyeh.pbworks.com/,
julyddan (4:48 PM): oh ok
julyddan (4:48 PM): hope u grad soon
Aiden (4:48 PM): look at the sidebar, scroll down and you'll see SY2008-2009
julyddan (4:49 PM): then you can guide me through one
julyddan (4:49 PM): I am checking on the link now
Aiden (4:49 PM): yOU'LL see all the subjects that I taught that school year
julyddan (4:49 PM): ok
Aiden (4:49 PM): each class has its own YG and Wiki
Aiden (4:50 PM): the YG serves as our LMS, while the Wiki as a site for syllabus, instructions, students work, etc.
julyddan (4:50 PM): hmmm
Aiden (4:51 PM): familiarize yourself with YG or google group and see how you can organize it in a way that course materials are available in folders, links bookmarks, etc.
Aiden (4:52 PM): this is an example of Freshman English class
Aiden (4:52 PM): http://ue1a.pbworks.com/
Aiden (4:53 PM): my advertising class, http://ad97.pbworks.com/
Aiden (4:54 PM): research writing, http://researchwriting97.pbworks.com/
julyddan (4:55 PM): I am impressed
Aiden (4:55 PM): for writing, you can use googledocs
Aiden (4:56 PM): and you don't have yo publish your students work until they're ready
Aiden (4:56 PM): and you should always let them know why you're putting their work online
julyddan (4:57 PM): ok
Aiden (4:57 PM): Other webheads also have great class blogs, join webheads and you'll be surprised on how friendly and helpful people are
Aiden (4:57 PM): you can't find anything like the webheads
Aiden (4:58 PM): once you've got your class wiki up and running, let me know and i'll give it a visit
julyddan (4:59 PM): ok
Aiden (4:59 PM): great. glad to help you this time.
julyddan (5:00 PM): thank u very much
Aiden (5:07 PM): (smilie)
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