What if the system goes down?

Hell everybody

Most of the discussion has been going on the side of using technology. But What if the system goes down? The teacher (instructor, presenter, trainer)has to have plan B all the time.A mobile cell can be used for listening exercises instead of computer speakers or a cassette player. A flip-chart can replace the electronic Board. Cards, pictures, flashcards, models and maps can replace images or videos on the computer. The white/black board can be used for drawing or spontaneous writing.

Another point I'd like to raise. I think we should maintain using traditional methods and materials side by side with the modern technology.Modern technology includes new communication skills. That's true. But it includes typing but not writing, and we still need HANDWRITING. Technology takes learners away from the face to face social communication into another sort of addiction, depression and isolation. So there MUST BE SOME SORT OF BALANCE IN USING TECHNOLOGY.

Best wishes
Ahmed Khattab

Call for Listening, Speaking, or Pronunciation

Hello everybody

I believe a teacher can use technology in preparing lesson plans. Using computer and the Internet, a teacher can write down/type a lesson plan.Using PPT or other Programs he/She can do the warm up, present the new ideas of the lessons, review, wrap up, assign homework...etc At each stage a teacher can attach a text, images, audio clips and even video-clips.With the help of computer and the internet, a teacher has endless sources of seen and heard materials, web-pages, exercises, methods of teaching and tools of assessment.The target audience,Students,are part of the learning/teaching situation all the time.Using the computer and the internet,Students can listen, speak, read, write, search, design, prepare, criticize, suggest, be tested ...etc
I read an article on the website:
http://www.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200204.htm
It tackles these points:
1-Listening: A good way to learn English
2- What is listening an answer to?
3- Why is listening good?
4- How can we listen to English?
This article gives BBC and VOA as model radio station broadcast all over the world to improve listening.
It gives a web-page with links to Radio/TV Station on the internet:
http://www.englishclub.com/listening/radio.htm

I think it has been wonderful task with wonderful experience and nice results.

Best Wishes
Ahmed Khattab

Skill Building Websites

Hello everybody,
I used some websites. But I found out a very wonderful one: "http://www.internet4classrooms.com".I used an activity that helps teachers to choose and design the suitable activities for certain Grade Level Skills "http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm". I also used a web page that gives a lot of exercises to check and enhance spelling for Level 8 "http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/spelling_language_arts_eighth_8th_grade.htm".
This site can be used for all levels from KG to Grade 12. It enhances most language levels especially Reading and Grammar. I highly recommend this website for both teachers and learners simply because it is simple, easy to use and comprehensive.

Best Regards
Ahmed Khattab

Delicious Bookmarking

Hello Everybody
Have you tasted the delicious link "www.delicious.com"?
I have. I enjoyed it. It is like playing the same game with completely new spirit, steps and icons. One more thing I learned from creating my own URL, "http://delicious.com/ahmedkhatab", is that what you would do if you saved a book mark incorrectly. For example, I saved a new one as three words, so it appeared as three links not one. I simply re-saved it, but as one word with under scroll.It worked.

Best Regards
Ahmed KHattab