Old blog with New life....

Hi, everyone,

Today is the end of Week 10. As usual, I check Oregon local time when I do my assignment, hoping that I meet the deadline.   However, this time I check the time because I cherish the time that's still left.  It has become a habit for me to follow Oregon time.  Maybe one day I can visit University of Oregon. :)

I am glad that this old blog is not taken down when few weeks ago I couldn't get connected with it.  And it was because of that, I found another blog system, which I am using now. It is called WordPress.  A lot of my friends use Blogger, so I would like to keep this.  Even though this is my old blog, I hope that I can continue to add new posts and meet my friends here.  You are all my friends and are welcome to visit from time to time.

It's 10:38a.m. Oregon time.  I will say goodbye for now, but hope to "see you" soon.

Yaling, Taiwan 

I'm back again

Hi, I thought I was rejected by blogger because of some unknown technical problem.  But, now I am back. Yay!!

An improvement and a good opportunity to learn.

So Robert is helping me find out the reasons why less comments were given to my blog.  I really appreciate his suggestion and would like to share with all those visit my sight that might have the same situtaion.  :)


Following the quote from Robert's tips:
 1. post earlier in the week, rather than Sunday
 2.make the posts shorter, rather than longer
 3.add pictures, graphs, links or video
 4. make sure it is easy for people to add comments (comments on, language in English, no moderating required)
 5. leave lots comments on other people's blogs, and they start to become "friends" and want to leave comments on yours
 6. change the name from "learning to teach v.s. teaching to learn" to yaling, Taiwan/Ellen.

Let's see how it will work with my fingers crossed.

yaling, Taiwan.

Week 5 Discovery: Making a post with Web Poster Wizard

 It's  00:51 Taiwan time.  All my family have slept for almost 4 hours.  I am so surprisingly sober! Just created an online worksheet using Web Poster Wizard.  

http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?id=155529

I also use Rubistar to create a Rubric.

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?ts=1304355408

There are so many links that keep me awake! http://www.4teachers.org/tools/

Yaling, Taiwan

Week 5 Reflection on Technology in Classroom

Even though it's the first day of Week 5, my inner urge to learn flames.  A teacher is a good teacher because he/she never quit learning, with the belief that every student is teachable.  We are now in a digital world where distance is between "clicks of the keys".  If we don't not take it seriously to bring in technology into our classroom, we are standing in the way of our students' future. 

Instead of seeing myself as a teacher, teaching my students, I prefer to see myself as a facilitator to introduce technology to them.  They learn so fast once they are motivated and know the what they are learning for.  The more time I immerse myself in teaching, the more awe I have for the importance of a teacher's responsibility.

There is this website http://4teachers.org/ with DVD about Technology in the classroom that make my heart beat speed up.  It is what is happening now and it is becoming a norm worldwide.  We should think to ourselves whether to use lame excuses such as  short of financial support or parental understanding as ways of delaying our students' learning English through technology.  

These two DVD clips speak a lot to me.
 
Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills: Kansas Technology Rich Classroom Project      by ptumarkin |   2009-05-14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu99aC8YK4Y&feature=player_embedded#at=110

A Vision of K-12 Students Today   by bjnesbitt  2007-11-28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8&NR=1&feature=fvwp     
  
This project was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging their students.

 
I hope they speak to you, too.

Yaling, Taiwan

Change the World in 5 Minutes - Everyday at School

This is a meaningful DVD clip to watch and practical in our classroom. by FILMAUSTRALIA |     2008-03-17

Writing and Reading

Week 4, end week reflections


We are heading towards the beginning of the mid-program.


Writing, according to Chinese saying, last generations.  It is combination of thoughts, culture and spirits.


There are so many forms (types) of writing.  What I can introduce to my students is so limited.  And it is because of realizing this fact, I find the need to introduce to my students great websites to explore for themselves, if not now, can be in the future. 


It is said that the best teachers are usually the best students because they model to be one.  I have met great "students" in this class and believe that they are fantastic teachers. 


What I learned can hardly be put down to words because of the limited time and vocabulary.  Yet, life is a learning journey and it shall last until the last breath I have. 


Yaling, Taiwan