Day 3

The Video at the beginning of the class was interesting and informative although I agree with the speakers that in some occasions students will and can learn on their own, but we have to remember that students will learn what they want to learn and motivation will be the key point that we have to think of. Imagine repeating the same experiment that the speaker did in some village in India, but this time in any part of Calgary how many kids are going to play with those computers? My guess is, not many because their motivation and needs are different from those students that live in the poverty of India.

I liked the activity of creating my own Wiki but I still think that I will be using Moodle because there are many benefits and functions that wiki don’t have yet.

Video conferencing is great tool that have many uses for students, teachers and administrators but unfortunately not all schools are lucky to have the technology available to them and although there is cheaper alternatives that can be used but these alternatives cannot be used in the way that video conferencing was intended to be used. The question that I have in mind what can we do to try to bridge the digital gap that some schools have comparing to other schools? And how can we increase awareness so the government will realize that such problems existed and need to be dealt with.  

day 2

Reflection

I would like to begin by thanking Jean for allowing me to be in his class in a short notice; I really appreciate it.

 As I have said in my introduction this is my 10^th course in Education technology  and the truth is I found this course very useful because its hands on, stress free and most important full of good tools that can be integrated in the classrooms and outside.

(Jean) had mentioned very important fact today, that collaboration on learning is very important and powerful tool, students learning from other students, many had mentioned that when it comes to technology teachers could learn from their students.  

In our school system, I have integrated Google Apps and email system this year for all the staff the benefits were substantial collaboration and communication increased by a fold.  The next stage I will be adding grade 7-12 and I am hopping for the same results.

I likes Titan pad because it very easy to use and it does not require students to have Emails as (Jean mentioned in the class.

As for Skype now owned be Microsoft its very good tool that I have been using it for many years. I started using it to talk to my family overseas and then I use it as a collaboration tool for my classes.

Looking forward for tomorrow

Thanks  

Introduction

My Name is Victor Hilal in 1989 I was enrolled at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece where I finished my degree in Physical education and Health and graduated in 1993.

After my Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Physical education and Health, I acquired an after degree in Secondary Education, with double majors in Health and Physical Education from the University of Regina.

As I started teaching these subjects, I discovered that when I integrated technology in my classes using power point, hyper studio, the internet and other tools to help me deliver my lesson plans, the students were more motivated, excited, active, and responsive. Eventually my fascination with technology increased and educational technology became my main area of interest (my passion). In 2000 I start teaching information processing and communication technology at a Reservation School 50 minutes east of Calgary. Last year I moved from teaching to a new position (Director of Technology) with the same Board.

I am enrolled as part time in the Master Degree in Communication Technology. This class will be my 10th and it seems that it’s going to be very informative, interesting and hands on.

I live in Chestermere Alberta with my wife and my two little girls one is 4 years and the other one is 9 months. My wife is a Dentist but unfortunately she cannot practice in Canada because of the complicated system we have in Canada ... my mother also lives with us, she is 80 years old and we are happy that she lives with us.

I am really interested in finding new ways, tools, and methods to help our students and staff with their learning and teaching and help reduce the achievement and technology gap they have..

As a learner I am defined be my student’s needs, and the need to fulfill those needs by learning the best ways and methods and designs to teach and reach these students in all their learning styles, abilities, strength, and Intelligences.