Learning is Sharing

Recently I have been very impressed with a PBWiki works wiki created with MA students by Evelyn Izquierdo from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. I was invited to look at the ICT in TEFL 2011 wiki and I was blown away by the whole layout and the notion of being able to freely view work carried out by students and tutors doing a course based on Web 2.0 tools. This wiki is a great example of what can be achieved in a relatively short time and it is a vertitable treasure trove of resources and ideas. Well done to everyone involved in the project!!

To quote from one of the many comments written on the front page:

"This wiki is a great reference for those EFL-ESL teachers interested in exploring different tools to provide easy access to course content, collect and assess students’ work".



Sharing is Caring
This post by English Virtual Community refers to sharing. I have just come across it via onestopblogs and it is called "Hey, teachers! Use Web 2.0 tools."

Carla Arena's post on Three Powerful Mantras for Tired Teachers is very motivational. Sharing is at the heart of what she does as an educator.

Sharing Leads to Fulfillment
From a personal perspective, since I have been slowly but surely sharing new things that I have learned since 2008 via this blog, I have felt more fulfilled than ever before. I have shared freely in the hope that someone somewhere might be inspired, or might use something I have written or published in a beneficial way to aid in teaching. In the grand scheme of things, it's just a very tiny thing. All it has cost me is my time and some effort. What it has given me, however, is absolutely priceless!!

IASKU - An Exclusive Interview with Chiew

I was so excited when Chiew Pang from the wonderful A Clil To Climb blog got in contact regarding doing an interview for his exciting new blog project called IASKU. I was very happy and honoured to be amongst his illustrious cast of interviewees, which includes so many educators, whom I greatly admire and respect. I also felt very flattered to be a part of the "daredevil and avant-garde" group of educators, who have been interviewed so far. I certainly didn't ever set out to be different in any way!!! It kind of just happened along the journey of life without too much drama, and when I least expected it, really.

I'm not so sure if I fit into Chiew's category of teachers who "dare to be different", as I feel I am still the same old me, but thanks anyway, for the fab description!!

However, I think you can certainly teach an old dog new tricks, if the old dog (moi) is still young at heart!! As Chiew mentions, I first met him via our shared interest in idioms, and I had come across his lovely interactive lessons on Idioms on his A Clil To Climb blog, which I began to follow with interest.



Chiew explains here why he has started up this inspirational new project. I have really enjoyed viewing the interviews, and I like the way he has arranged and organised them all. He is really dedicating a lot of time and effort to make this series of interviews such a great success!! Many congratulations to Chiew!!

I wasn't able to do the recording using my own equipment at the time, so I asked a very good friend called Andy to help me out. He did a brilliant job of recording my responses. Grazie mille, Andy!!

I chose to answer Chiew's questions all in one go with no takes, so that my answers would be as they came to me. I am delighted with the result, and Chiew asked some fantastic questions, which I enjoyed replying to. Thanks very much to everyone who has already commented on the interview! I appreciate that.

You can view the interview, which is in two parts if you click on the link below:

http://iasku.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/janet-bianchini/

Once again, Chiew, thank you for interviewing me on your IASKU blog. I really enjoyed the experience and it was a huge honour to take part. Now, I wonder who will be next?? I can't wait to find out...