My session for NileTESOL conference on 28th January, 2013

1. Ayat Ahmed Al-Tawel
NileTESOL 2013

2. Blended Learning
Are teachers new comers to new technology ?

3. International Collaboration Projects
 Learning Together: an internatioanl collaboration
project between students from Argentina and Egypt.
 Harry Potter Book Project : A Collaborative
Initiative Between Students from Egypt and Canada

4.  BAW (Becoming a Webhead) / EVO online
sessions
 Socializing through different PLNs
Yahoo groups, Google +, Facebook, …etc.

5. Ayat Al-Tawel (Egypt) – Maria Bossa (Argentina)

6. Interviews through Skype
Video conferencing
 Skype is a synchronous web tool which allows real
time, live discussions which expand the walls of the
traditional classroom and engage students to
communicate with authentic audience.
 "Skype helps to improve listening skills as the user has
to pay active attention to what the interlocutor is
saying; it's useful to practise vocabulary and everyday
language in a natural way; it fosters improvization
and puts our knowledge to the best both when writing
and speaking; it helps to improve our ability to
understand our facial gestures (video calls)"

7. Before the interview
Language context
 Clarifying the aims of the interview
 Motivating the students to practise their English in real time
Social context
 Talking to students about the teacher to be interviewed
Pre-interview preparations
 Question preparations on the part of the students
 Questions sent to the teacher so as to check topics

8. The interview
 Students’ motivation
Students’ participation
Students’ understanding of the interviewed teacher

9. After the interview
1)Instant feedback (directly after the interview).
I thought what We learnt a lot She had a
would have of things about different
happened if I Argentina & had language.
hadn’t prepared a great deal of
any questions fun
It was very It was It’s good to
interesting but I exciting know about
though I other countries.
blamed myself that I hope we can
I haven’t shared in didn’t share
do it with other
that interview countries.

10. After the interview (cont.)
 Better and authentic language practice: Writing a
diary, an autobiography, a story, a dialogue.
 Continual, on-going language practice
 The creation of the ArgentEgypt group in…

11. ArgentEgypt
 Facebook private group
 Any member can post a comment or question
 Chat in English
 Arabic and Spanish learning: language, customs and
culture
 A range of topics: greetings, birthdays, likes,
festivals, interests

12. ArgentEgypt - Pics

13. Harry Potter Book Project : A Collaborative Initiative
Between Students from Egypt and Canada
Ayat Al-Tawel (Egypt) - Bernadette Rego (Canada)

14. Project Objectives
- Change stereotypes about other countries.
- Improving SS reading skill, writing and critical
thinking
- Using the language confidently in an authentic
environment.
- Enjoying travelling virtually to other countries
and making new friends.

15. What is Edmodo?
•
• http://www.edmodo.com
• Free learning management system
• Currently more than 6.5 million teachers and
students connected to Edmodo
User statistic source: http://about.edmodo.com/

16. Edmodo's Features
• It's a free, safe and closed place to connect, collaborate and
share content.
• No e-mail required for student sign-up
• Students cannot privately message each other
• Assignments, quizzes and grades can be created and shared.
• Important links and docs can be stored in folders.
• Teachers can create multiple groups and sub-groups.
• Teachers can award students badges.
• Parents can sign up with a special code.

17. Harry Potter Book Project:
Preliminary Work
• Teachers met via Skype and exchanged e-mails
• Used Google docs to organize class lists and create sub-groups (4-8
students).
• Educating students about each other's respective countries and
cultures
• Established an Edmodo group.
• Obtaining signed permission from parents
• Explaining conduct guidelines to students
• Creating student accounts
• Ensuring internet access for all students

18. Preliminary work (cont.)
• Establishing a wiki for students where they have a link
to the online open book website, vocabulary and
questions for each chapter.

19. Harry Potter Book Project:
Student Introductions
• Students introduced themselves in Edmodo
• Created voice introductions using Voxopop
(http://www.voxopop.com)

20. Voxopop audio introductions

21. Harry Potter Book Project:
Initial Challenges
• Educating students about online etiquette
• Encouraging students to post introductions
• Dividing students into sub-groups
•Motivating students who will work on their
own as an extra activity.
• Students’ access to internet.

22. Harry Potter Book Project:
Some Obstacles
• Voxopop (closed / open talk group)
• Students working online at school.
• Students working online on their own at
home. (Jing tutorial)
• Open book link no longer working (Plan B)
• Time constraints discouraging some students
(Adding a variety of optional work to do)

23. Harry Potter Book Project:
Successes
• Student enthusiasm in communicating with
peers and learning more about each other (daily
life, school day and subjects, Pyramids, RCMP,
food, landmarks..etc.), moving from a book
content to a general content.
• Students mastering Edmodo
• Students working effectively in groups
• Students' privacy protected throughout the
learning process

24. Harry Potter Book Project:
What We Have Learned
• Importance of weekly communication between teachers
• Importance of educating students about online etiquette
• Selecting tools that :
- are appropriate for the students’ age and ability.
- protect students' online privacy.
- improve on what I can do without technology.
• Accepting obstacles may arise while embracing a positive
attitude

25. Recap of tools used
- Facebook
- Edmodo
- Voxopop
- Wiki
- Google docs
- Skype

26. "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry
on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the
children." - Mohandas Gandhi
Thank you
ayatawel@gmail.com
@ayatawel