learning styles

I believe that learning is way more than rote memorization. Learning is meant to create in another situation OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOM! I do agree with the video that says that creating and learning is important, but how do we help student creating? Well, it is simple, let them express themselves in their own way! 

Technology is a great tool when teaching students, because you can reach them easily! Humor is another way. In fact, when a teacher is creative and respected by his students, the students can really grasp a lot from the teaching. 

When I become a teacher, I'll probably teach my students with arts, humor, creativity and with technology. With these five "pillars" teaching and learning can take a whole new meaning

Computer class management

If I had to manage a class of computers, it would be fairly easy. When I get annoyed, I shut on of the computer down in order to show the other computers that I can reign with an iron fist. 

Concerning an English class in a computer lab, I would probably do something different. First, I would be very clear as to what my intentions and rules are concerning the computer lab. These rules would be like in the English class and added details concerning the websites visited and wasting time. 

During my practicum, I have a computer class every two weeks and I think that it is time "well" wasted (comedy network pop culture reference). They "kindda" do what we ask them to do, but basically, they know the "ALT-shift" keys trick and thus it's easy to swap between screens and I can't do anything about it. That's why I would ask them to do a report and give it to me. Afterwards, I will allow them to use the computers freely (as long as it is ENGLISH).

If I have to punish one of the students, I would probably use some ironic punishment in order to get something creative out of them. AHAHAH! Seriously, I think that the best way to go is simply be cool about it, though you are discouraging disruptive behavior. Plus, I think that classic punishment doesn't bother students anymore. So, I just have to be very creative and have them get involved in something or create stuff for a mandatory additional work. Like a poem to be recited in front of the classroom, or give a 5 minutes sex-ed. class segment in English (if caught watching porn). It is way more embarrassing and time-consuming for the student. Moreover, it is a way to get them to be more concerned with issues and stuff that they might not see. 

I think that managing a computer class is just like managing a regular class. There are just a few computers added to the environment. 

made from people to people

When speaking about applications, programs and all that kind of stuff, we always hear the same complaints: the price, updates and nasty vocabulary. It's great that some people actually make applications for free that are actually as good or better than the paid applications. That's great! However, what threat can it be. Is it some kind of conspiracy in order to dominate the virtual word? No, it is too simple... actually, they want us to thinks it is a conspiracy, so they can achieve their real purpose. They actually are neo-communists who want to prove that freeware (new way to say" redistribution of the common wealth") is the ultimate political institution. They want to surpass the capitalist giant: Microsoft. They are indeed planning to overdo Microsoft. Firefox, for instance, is the trojan horse of all this. It lets freeware proliferate into your computer, and before you can do anything, you're addicted to the free, the scent to real altruism. It is so warm, soft and appealing that the user forgets everything about his cold-hearted applications. It continuously forces Microsoft to emerge from plateauing. Freeware will soon overwhelm Microsoft, simply because it is made by people who actually care about the final product. They want to make something better for normal people. 

Anyhow, freeware is a great tool, because it gives a great competition to big corporations like Microsoft or Apple that must alway reinvent their applications in order to be relevant for users. Competition's great, when it is not an oligopoly. Still, I prefer staying with payed applications, because I am used to it and I think that it is slightly better than the free wares. 

I'm not here to tell what's best, but I can tell that being open minded on that kind of stuff is really important, because you keep in touch with it, you can always use THE best application for the moment. It needs versatility, but it is worth it...

Enjoy all your stuff!

Dear chain letter...

Dear chain letter…

 

Dear chain letter, I am glad to finally write you. I have to admit that writing to a concept that relates to writing is awkward and ironic. I have been waiting so long to get in touch with you that I am very excited right now. I have so many things that I want to share with you that I’m not quite sure if I will be able to cover everything in a single letter. First, I would like to congratulate you for your numerous virtues. I am actually impressed by your journey into our hearts. You’ve touched everyone I know. You gave us hopes, dreams and you help us find meaning to our lives. Doing such a tremendous task demands a bottomless commitment towards every single human being. No real person can have such a great heart.

 

I like the way you help people fulfill their lives. First, you write a refined piece of literature that says: “somebody likes you” or “if you can reads that letter, then it is because the person who have send it to you really cares about you.” Every time I read this kind of heartwarming text, I melt. I can’t feel anything but personal satisfaction and that my life really has a purpose. Thanks, chain letter!

 

I also like the way you bind people together. It is very delicate of you recommending i  send letters to my friends to tell them that I care about them. Since you’ve been there, I feel like I am very close to all my hundreds of friends.

 

You know, the other day, you really broke my heart when you told me the story of that poor little girl who has the prostate cancer. I was touched because it is a very rare disease that only touches one girl in Canada. I was so sad that she couldn’t realize her dearest dream of becoming an astronaut that I sent her $100. I was very proud of myself because this action increased my sense of community. Every time I read about a young girl whose life has been struck by God’s twisted whim, I send her $50. Unfortunately, last week I couldn’t invite my best friend to eat at a restaurant for her birthday because of that. But thanks to me, there is a little girl somewhere in the world that can make the best of their few remaining days.

 

I am very proud of myself. I did not break any of your chains! Whenever you wanted me to send the message to 15, 20 or even 30 of my friends, I always did it. You promised me love and my wishes to come true. Even though I don’t have any lover, I am still waiting and longing for a prince charming to kiss me and break my curse of solitude. Meanwhile, I lay dormant in front of my e-mail box until I hear I have a new mail to send forward to all my friends and make a wish; make the yearned one appear or simply tell my friends that I really care about them. You know, when I make a wish, I always make the same wish. I wish to spend more time with my parents. They have very weird jobs. My dad is a special baker. He makes special flour that he sells to other special people, but I am not supposed to tell you. My mom works out. She told me that she is a streetwalker. She walks on the street to be in better shape. To be honest, I don’t think she’s getting any better. Anyway, This will soon be past because, thanks to you, dear chain letter, my feeling of helplessness and my despair will soon be gone. You promised to realize my wish if I send every message to a precise number of people. I am so excited to have a normal evening with my beloved family. You are my only hope, chain letter! You told me so, in many of your letters!

 

There is only one question I wanted to ask you. If you only strive to help people like me, why do you always menace me with misery? Why is it SO important to send these chains to so many people? When you really care about one’s wellbeing, you shouldn’t threaten them if they don’t submit to your caprices. This ambivalence towards people’s fortune frightens me. I am scared that everything is my fault… Can you tell me if I did anything wrong? Still, I am sure I sent the quota of letters you asked me to send. Why then is everything so complicated? I’ve been wishing for 4 years to spend a SINGLE evening with my parents and they still ignore me. Why chain letter? You promised to fulfill my wish! Why haven’t you done anything, yet? You were my only hope! You gave my life meaning; you gave me hopes and dreams! I gave you my heart and you shredded before my weeping eyes. WHYYYY???? Have you ever heard my cries of torment?

 

Hopefully, you shall never impede my life again. From this day forward, I will never place my confidence in you. Your very existence rests upon naïve and distressful people’s hopes and dreams. You simply dig their desolation deeper and deeper. This is why I have decided to believe me. Plus, in intend to change my life BY MYSELF! I have decided to take initiatives and make my own path to success. In spite of your “promises”, I have had to make my own luck. I have to go, my new boyfriend wants us to share the evening with his warm and welcoming family.

 

 

With scorn, ♀

The numerous joys of FACEBOOK

Ever since I first heard about IT, IT frightened me. I avoided IT like the plague IT is. A plague that has obliterated and scattered millions of lives so far. Even God's whims are ineffective toward ITs grandiloquent puissance. Whoever despises ITs  dominion shall be doomed to perpetual lamentations and be a pariah. IT is omniscient, though nobody may harm IT, for IT has no soul, neither has it a physical vessel. ITs wrath has enslaved billions of livings and decimated every single nihilist and infidel. IT viciously strikes when you least expect it, first poisoning everyone's Adam's ale, breeding and feeding paranoia until serenity becomes obsolete. Now, everyone has illness, psychosis and dementia. IT feeds directly from these illnesses and grows even more powerful. IT feeds from ITs minions feeds, hence the name, photos, events and groups. ITs lust for people's life knows no end, for IT is still starving. IT has no fear, no weakness, IT is virtually invulnerable. Nevertheless, that's what IT claims, for IT has one fatal weakness: the sun. There's alway a sunrise after an apocalypse. And so, the sun shines and immolates ITs power, raising new hopes in the dweller's sky who can "carpe diem" until the sun sets, yet another time...   

My online identity

Who am I? To be or not to be?? online or offline??? these very philosophical questions raise many debates. Internet is a great tool and deserves a special attention. You can log on many websites so you can have some kind of social networking life; which is actually great. It's easy to keep in touch with parties, abroad friends, friends and to express your self. What about your reputation? What about mischievous rumors or invented gossip? Just take a look at the Star Wars kid, his life was ruined! Worst, it became known from everyone "thanks to the news". There are even pop culture references on him in "The Simpsons", "Family guy", "south park" and even in a skating video game (if you can get inside a specific room inside a specific building, you can see it). Furthermore, I have personally seen a chain letter within which students sign their names to approve a text that express direct contempt towards a teacher. I also saw a personal web page on which girls could make up stories about a supposedly  sexual offender teacher. You can see where I'm going... 

What is MY online identity? Good question, I'd say... Actually, I don't build my identity on what is my internet image or what kind of guy I may look like on facebook. As you can se at the blog entrance, I attempt to make a humorous persona that propose laughter as a coping mechanism. I use mostly use satire because it is easier for me to make my point, to be more creative and especially add my personal touch. I am maybe looking for other's approval through their laughter. Anyway, I won't psychoanalyze myself any further. My online identity doesn't reflect any star's. I think that if any parent or school director saw my blogs, they would be confident in myself and think that I'm rather serious. For teens, they would probably think that I am a good guy and a wit. Concerning my opinions, they are easy to perceive. But it is a blog, everyone can express themselves, as long as it is polite and respectful. I'd say that my online identity reflects my real life identity with a stylistic touch, because I love to use figures of speech and alternative routes to convey my messages. 

With that being said, my following posts are likely to be more aggressive and have their unique perspective. But DON'T FORGET, it's for the style's sake and for humorous purposes. Enjoy!

Video review

 Here's a little word about last week's videos. They were cool to watch and gave many interesting facts and stats. It was actually nice to see how I, as a future ESL teacher, can use technology to enhance my courses. However, I think that the content and the ideas were too idealistic. It is not everybody that feels comfortable with blogging. I personally think that if it becomes a way to substitute a real social life, then technology is a pathology that may cause significant distress in the individual or be disruptive to his or her everyday functioning. (DSM IV)  

Treatment: When the patient is affected by this pathology, physicians must treat them immediately with technoleptics (patent by JEEPY). The pill directly affects the neurological behavior by tranquilizing the occipital lobe, which is the principal technology processor in human brain. It tranquilizes neurotransmission and creates a technical aphasia within the technology area. It has as side effects the enhancement of social life and decreases dependancy on computers. Furthermore, it gives the patient a critical view of their usage of technology in general.

As you can see with my satire, I am not a big fan of technology. I think that it is a great tool when properly used, however this is rarely the case. I love my Mac and my ipod because they are reliable and handy. Otherwise, I am not a computer nerd and technology is simply a tool, not an end and there are many other tools to pick from.