It's good to be a NERD at times.

Gentlemen,
Yes, it sure is good to be a nerd , part of a learning process. After all, what is life without l discovery?

Click on LearningNerd to find how Google can be useful as a writing tool.


Happy discovering!


Ms. Sunita

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY!

Gentlemen,

Today is 'No Tobacco Awareness Day'. The newspapers carry different articles on the same and so gentlemen if you are into it, JUST STOP IT or take help!

Click on the various points on the image and find what smoking does to your body!

Remember, you are not only ruining your own health but also the health of your near and dear ones.

WHO's flyer for the awareness.

So to sum it, just QUIT IT!

Your HEALTH is your WEALTH!

History of computers, some I have witnessed.

History, the History of Computers, and the History of Computers in Education

1780 - Early public schools adopt the teacher/manager model with the teacher as the primary manger of instruction and assessment in a single classroom.

1946 - First vacuum tube-based computers developed; universities help in computer development effort; technology used in war effort.

1951 - Little technology used in schools, primarily TV; baby boom begins with resulting increases in class size; first-generation Univac computer delivered to the US census bureau.

1954 - General Electric is the first business to order a computer. Early rock and roll music, based on the rhythm and blues tradition, gains a little in popularity.

1955 - IBM's first commercial computer is sold; the cold war results in use of technology in aircraft design and in weapons control. Russia developing the technology for the first spacecraft.

1956 - Eisenhower elected president; Elvis Presley records "Hound Dog"; school overcrowding growing; school dropout rate rapidly declining toward zero; schools still based on the teacher/manager model in individual teacher-controlled classrooms; the cold war continues with technology playing an important role and is intensified when Russia sends up their Sputnik space vehicle to demonstrate their lead in technology.

1958 - As cold war continues, National Defense Education Act brings some new money and some new technology into schools, but primarily in vocational education. Mainframe host computers are not widely accepted in schools that are still using the single classroom, teacher/manager method of delivering information to students.

1959 - Transistor-based computers in use; the cold war continues with public support for the development of technology needed for space exploration.

1960 - COBOL business-oriented, high-level programming language created; Kennedy elected president with campaign promises to put more money into education; crime rate doubles in one decade; Gary Powers shot down in hi-tech spy airplane; 70,000 involved in civil-rights sit-ins.

1962 - Airlines begin to use a computerized reservation system. President Kennedy diverts more money into education. The cold war continues and results in a confrontation with Russia as hi-tech spy planes discover missiles in Cuba; George Wallace campaigns for governor of Georgia pledging segregation forever.

1963 - Vocational Education Act passes with new money supporting the use of technology in schools; however, the mainframe and minicomputers in use at this time are using batch processing methods that do not fit well with the single teacher-as-manager-of-learning methods in use in most schools; BASIC, a simple high-level programming language is developed, mostly for use in universities to train programmers; IBM 360 family of computers is developed; most computers still using host methods with punched cards as the primary input device; line printers are still the primary output device; the cold war and the competitive space exploration effort continues with President Kennedy's call for the science to be developed that could put a man on the moon.

1964 - Johnson elected president; the Beatles rapidly rise to stardom; Bob Dylan writes songs that give voice to the protest movement; the Gulf of Tonkin incident results in the first confrontation between the US and the government of North Vietnam; the civil rights movement grows including a one-day civil-right protest absence of 464,000 students in New York; China explodes a test Atomic bomb.

1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act brings new money into schools for technology. Mainframes and minicomputers are put into place in some schools, but most are used for administration or for school counseling (databases for information a bout and for students); the cold war continues as President Johnson expands the war, with 125,000 American troops in Vietnam; hi-tech weapons are used in bombings of North Vietnam; 50,000 Americans killed in traffic accidents.

1967 - High-level programming languages such as Fortran are being taught are in universities. School vocational training programs begin to include computer maintenance; Stokely Carmichael declares a need for SNCC to move from civil rights to black power; Mohammed Ali refuses army induction for religious reasons bringing national attention to both the black power movement and the anti-Vietnam movement; student strikes on many campuses related to protest over both civil rights and the policy in Viet nam; acid rock and protest rock grow in popularity; centers of dissidence like Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco develop; anti-war protests grow, especially on college campuses; 380,000 US troops in Vietnam.

1968 - Nixon elected president; riots in many cities break out over civil rights issues; the cold war continues with a rapid expansion of the war in Vietnam 9,419 dead in Vietnam; some programs designed to bring money for technology into schools are canceled; host computers are not widely adopted in schools because they are seen as appropriate for use with the teacher/manager model of learning (they don't fit into the single classroom, but instead are accessed remotely by sending batches of data).< BR>
1969 - Neil Armstrong arrives on the moon; the Woodstock rock concert in upstate New York draws hundreds of thousands; the cold war and the war in Vietnam continues; many students, religious leaders, civil rights leaders, and ordinary citizens begin n to speak out against the war in Vietnam.

1970 - Pascal created; the US bombs Cambodia; Kent State antiwar students killed by Army reserve troops; mainframes and minicomputers in use in some schools, but very little use in the delivery of instruction.

1971 - Intel's first microprocessor developed; the first microcomputers (PCs) are developed; mainframes and minicomputers are in wide use in business; a few software companies begin to develop mainframe and minicomputer- based instructional program s; 18-year old given the vote.

1972 - Five men working for President Nixon's re-election caught in the Democratic party's headquarters in the Watergate hotel complex; Nixon re-elected president and orders the bombing of North Vietnam.

1974 - President Nixon resigns and is given a full pardon by his successor, President Ford; a gasoline embargo creates lines at gas stations; Patty Hurst kidnapped; Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's lifetime home run record; Apple I computer is sold in kit form.

1975 - Some Apple 1 PCs are donated to schools; some schools have adopted mainframes and minicomputers and refuse to consider PCs; four Nixon administration official convicted in Watergate cover up; The war in Vietnam ends and the government of Nor th Vietnam invades and takes over South Vietnam.

1976 - Carter elected president; the cold war continues; Iraq holds hostages, rampant inflation; the Apple I computer gains popularity in small business.

1979 - 15 Million PCs estimated to be in use worldwide; PC-based spreadsheets developed, mainframes and minicomputers still in wide use.

1980 - Reagon elected President, the cold war continues with Reagon declaring Russia to be the "evil empire"; the TI 99 which uses a television screen as the monitor is the world's most popular PC.

1981 - IBM is the first mainframe manufacturer to develop a PC; drill and practice CAI gains acceptance in schools; the cold war continues. The first educational drill and practice programs are developed for personal computers.

1983 - IBM PC clones proliferate; Sperry Corporation is the second mainframe manufacturer to develop a PC (actually developed by Mitsubishi in Japan); the Apple II computer finds widespread acceptance in education because PCs better fit the teacher /manager model of instructional delivery (PCs can be used to "support" the ongoing teaching in the single classroom). Simple simulation programs are developed for personal computers.

1984 - Reagon re-elected; 31 states use 13,000 PCs for career guidance, but there are still relatively few computers in classrooms; the Apple Macintosh computer is developed; commercial software manufacturers develop computer-based tutorials and learning games.

1986 - 25 % of high schools use PCs for college and career guidance, K-8 schools buying mostly Apple II and Macintosh computers, high schools buying mostly DOS-based clones.

1988 - Bush elected President; 60 % of all workers in the US use computers, laptops are developed; Gorbachoff proposes an end to the cold war;

1990 - Multimedia PCs are developed; schools are using videodiscs; object-oriented multimedia authoring tools are in wide use; Simulations, educational databases and other types of CAI programs are being delivered on CD-ROM disks, many with animati on and sound; the US crime increases dramatically; the cold war ends.

1992 - Clinton elected President; for the first time, police and prison budgets begin to surpass education budgets; schools are using Gopher servers to provide students with on-line information.

1994 - Digital video, virtual reality, and 3-D systems capture the attention of many, but fewer multimedia PCs than basic business PCs are sold; object-oriented authoring systems such as HyperCard, Hyper studio, and Author ware grow in popularity in schools; most US classrooms now have at least one PC available for instructional delivery, but not all teachers have access to a computer for instructional preparation.

1995 - The Internet and the world wide web began to catch on as businesses, schools, and individuals create web pages; most CAI is delivered on CD-ROM disks and is growing in popularity.

1996 - The Internet is widely discussed as businesses begin to provide services and advertising using web pages. New graphics and multimedia tools are developed for the delivery of information and instruction using the Internet; many schools are rewiring for Internet access; a few schools install web servers and provide faculty with a way to create instructional web pages.

1997-2007 - The growth of the Internet expands far faster than most predicted. It soon becomes the world's largest database of information, graphics, and streaming video making it an invaluable resource for educators; but marketing-oriented web pages, computer viruses hidden within downloadable programs and/or graphics, and spam (widely disseminated email-based sales pitches) threaten it's usefulness. Search engines such as Google and Yahoo constantly develop new ways to find information within the ever-growing number of web pages. Web sites that offer individuals a place to put personal information become popular, as does internet-based publishing and discussion forums. Voice recognition slowly enters the computing mainstream, but its development is slowed by an unacceptable frequency of errors. Some computers incorporate TV input, but it is not as common as many predicted. Educational software becomes more useful and interesting to students as graphics and video are incorporated. Larger computer storage capacity and the growing prevalence of CD-ROM and DVD drives in personal computers make it easier for educators to store large graphic and video and sound files for educational applications.

2008 and beyond???

Reference: www.csulb.edu/murdock/histofcs.html

The Future of Education

IT giants partner educators to make learning a seamless ride

Boundaries of studying and technology development fading fast

• By Rania Moussly, Staff Reporter
• Published: 00:00 May 23, 2011
• 

• 
  

• Image Credit: Illustration: Ramachandra Babu/©Gulf News

Dubai: IT companies break new ground at such fast rate that education systems struggle to keep pace. Yet, the trend is that industry giants like Cisco systems, Microsoft and Intel, are partnering educators across the world in an attempt to embed technology into the remotest classrooms.

Therefore, it would not be a complete fantasy, when referring to information and communication technologies (ICT), to imagine holograms and other futuristic technologies in the classrooms in the near future.

When speaking about the future of technology in the classroom, IT experts believe human kind is in for a ‘wild ride'. For starters, the entire concept of the classroom is up for a reshuffle.

"The best way to start would be to define the word classroom, where will the classroom of the future be and how will the students learn," said Frank Florence, senior director of industry solutions and marketing at Cisco systems.

He added the future of classroom education could be one where media technologies have a prominent presence. "We are seeing some universities in the US experiment in the virtual education community environments," he said. "With things like Second Life, we are also seeing holographic experiments now in learning education."

However, Dr Khalid Khawaja, Chair of IT at the American University of Dubai (AUD), believes such radical changes in the UAE and subsequent regional educational systems are unrealistic; as holographic technologies could never replace the human bond between student and teacher.

He added the fundamentals of the Middle Eastern K-12 and tertiary systems still need to be cemented in place before educators look to fix specific teaching problems with futuristic technology.

"We still have a lot of challenges to address when it comes to K-12 and university education," he said. "We are still trying to create quality education and research institutions to be innovative and productive."

Once such principles are achieved the advanced use of technology in the classroom could be introduced to solve teaching and learning challenges.

"We have a lot of challenges at the fundamental level," he said. "Having futuristic technologies is not going to all of a sudden turn our universities into world class research institutions."

For Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Intel Foundation, we are still in the ‘Stone Age' when it comes to the potential for technology in education.

Radical change

"I think we will see a radical change in education that is offered by technology," she told Gulf News at the recent Intel International Science and Education Fair (ISEF) held in Los Angeles. "We will see changes that allow students to pursue their own ideas but we are just dipping our toes in the water."

The Intel Foundation was established in 1999 with an aim to provide teachers worldwide an opportunity to learn how to use basic technologies such as computers and the internet.

"Such an opportunity changed the way they teach and changed the relationship with their students in the classroom," Hawkins said. "They then become the coaches and guides to their students, which is what we trained 9.5 million teachers across the world to do."

She added the ability for students to design their own learning games is within reach today.

"Those tools and resources are coming and will be very transformative for the students who develop them," she said. "Using 3D immersive technologies has tremendous potential in schools and universities."

However, Dr Khawaja, believes the reliance on technology in teaching with no measurable purpose is a futile pursuit.

"If we are not introducing technology with the full understanding of what learning outcomes we are trying to achieve and how to measure them it's pointless," he said. "Education is becoming a learning outcome based formula, which is a very important concept." He used the example of the introduction of gaming into a computer programme writing class at AUD to illustrate the introduction of specific technology with measurable learning outcomes.

Gaming

"We found that introducing computer gaming to illustrate the principles of programming to students got them more excited," he said. "We brought technology in to allow them to programme in a gaming context and we saw significantly improved results."

Advanced technical developers like Intel are mindful, however, of the challenges educators and academic institutions face when it comes to keeping up with rapid technical developments. "It is difficult for universities to have their faculty keep up with the technical developments that a company like Intel is driving because the change comes so rapidly," Hawkins said.

"Our recent announcement about the 3D chips Intel is developing is a new technology difficult for universities to incorporate quickly enough into the curricula." This is why Intel works with advanced universities worldwide who then disseminate the new curricula across the board.

Yet, when it comes to incorporating new technologies into the education system the UAE is one of the leading Arab countries.

"With universities in the UAE we find most classrooms have the latest generation of technology," said Azza Shinnawy, Education lead at Microsoft Gulf. "This part of the world is quite advanced in deploying the latest technology generations and student adoption of these technologies."

Future of classroom technology is classroom driven

Azza Shinnawy, Education lead at Microsoft Gulf believes the future of technology in the classroom will depend on the demands of the labour market as learning environments will become increasingly tailored to suit employer needs.

"The classroom will have to prepare students for the relevant exposure they will get in the workplace," she said. "Therefore their technical learning context will not be different from that of the labour market."

She added the use of advance technology is in and of itself a means to a end in which to engage students in the learning process. The various technical developments on offer for use in the classroom also present an opportunity for individual based and tailor-made learning.

"Technology is also impacting positively in terms of learning outcomes," said Shinnawy. "It allows students of a certain aptitude to progress quicker than the slower ones and with this nature it's creating an individualised and personalised learning environment."

However, Dr Tarek Shawki, Director of the regional bureau for science in Arab states at United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) believes with all the rapid technical advancements; it is the educators who are most resistant to change.

Speaking at the recent Global Education Forum in Dubai, he said the ancient fundamentals of education, which consist of a knowledge shift, remain the same. Yet, technology and the new developments to come are simply part of the educational evolutionary process.

"Our classic global education system is driven by the industrial revolution but it is set to change dramatically in coming years," he said. "Yet, the education world is the most resistant to change."

He added worldwide education systems are experiencing a paradigm shift driven somewhat by IT firms.

"If the education system is not fast enough to respond it will perish and others will take education away from it."

Dr Shawki referred to a new initiative developed by Apple called iTunes U (University). Located in the online iTunes store, it allows users to download or stream university lectures at the world's leading institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge for free.

However, he believes universities in the Arab world need to get as innovative in their thinking through the use of technology. "We have kids listening to iPods and using iPads, if you knew how many iPods are sold you'd see the potential in something like iTunes U," he said.

"Yet Silicon Valley is responsible for all the technological advancements in education while Arab universities are just watching…we have to face the fact that either we jump on the wagon or get left behind."

Ms. Sunita

From a teacher to her students..

Gentlemen, 

This piece is for you...

When the CLASS breaks LOOSE!

It’s happens once in a while and I’d like to term it ‘restricted freedom!’ 'Restricted' because the freedom is confined to the four walls of the classroom and there’s still a list of 'don’ts' to follow. No fizzy drinks, no junk food, no music, no dancing, no littering, no breaking any other classroom decorum. It’s just a class of relaxed atmosphere where we share healthy food and environment.

Nonetheless, it is a good experience to break routine and be at ease with a bunch of young, energetic adults who are about to step into the next phase of their life. For that hour there’s no imposition and no order, the otherwise discipline-obsessed teacher is a silent observer giving the teens space and freedom.  There’s supervising though for supervision it seems runs in the veins of teachers and the students are tolerant for they know their teacher well enough!

When the class breaks loose is a worthwhile moment for both the instructor and the instructed, it's an opportunity to know each other from close quarters. You share the table and lighter moments, which in turn bring about bonding that’ll last a lifetime.  On such an occasion your students don’t dread your sight, instead they do the opposite; they hover around and make an effort to know the ‘human you’, the person you are in your world and you in turn you do the same.

 ‘Ms, eat, why aren’t you joining us?’

             ‘Ms, taste this dish, it’s ‘Paper Rice’, (Vine leaf, actually) Azooz’s mom prepared it, purely    vegetarian and healthy.’

            ‘Ms, why are you sitting so far? Come, join us.’

             ‘Ms, take a picture with us.’

These imperatives are but expressions of genuine concern. One of the taller otherwise shy student wittily remarks, ‘Ms, you eat so little, no wonder you are so stingy with marks.’  

That’s what keen observation is all about I guess.

The 'teacher you’ may have been a nightmare burdening young lads with wagon load of assignments, projects, quizzes, deadlines and consequences yet the ‘person you’ is the one they long for and whose attention and advice they seek. They wish to hear and be heard; therefore, it is but necessary for the class to break loose once in a while. You win the confidence, loyalty and respect of those who you care for most and this indeed brings about a deep sense of satisfaction. 

I wish you well everyone :)
Ms. Sunita 

On Being Independent Learners...

Gentlemen,

A link was shared by Ms. Margaret this morning. An interactive website that informs you of the skills that you require at a university. Take a tour and learn more.

Universities require you to be Independent Learners!

After taking the tour, let's have a discussion!

Thank you Ms Margaret for sharing the link!

Happy touring!

Reading a book

Gents:

I know that reading comes an little difficult to a few of you. However, it doesn't have to viewed in that manner. Reading can be fun if you only apply some of what are discussed in this short video.

"I cannot live without books. "

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government"

Thomas Jefferson

"Reading opens eyes and minds.'

Harold (Bilal) Taft

Planning to Study Abroad?

Gentlemen,

It's true that some of you have already started the admission processes to universities abroad. So, the first step of choosing the country and consequently the university is done. However, for some of you who are still interested, here's a website that gives a complete profile of the universities in the UK, the top universities in the US and Australia.

Students are creating a website and working on a video that prepares students to study abroad. We shall upload the links for your viewing once they are done.

Here's a blog where a student writes his experiences about studying abroad. What caught attention was his recommendation of enjoying the experience if one could afford to and asking students to " get out of their comfort zone and try something new".

Yes gentlemen, most of us get into a comfort zone and become reluctant to start anything new.

Step out and expand your horizon!

Summer Challenge Program in UAE

Last summer, I was honored to be apart of UAE's Summer Challenge program held at YAS Marina Circuit. This program was funded and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Education Council, INSTITUTE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY and YAS MARINA CIRCUIT. As the Site Director, I got a change to observe how fulfilling and exciting such programs are. A sample of such programs offered in other parts of the world is attached below. Read the article and inquire if such a program might exist here in UAE.



Have Fun While Learning

Summer Challenge Program - Boston University Summer Term

The Summer Challenge program offers students a preview of college life and college coursework. During this two-week program, students participate in two academic seminars in the areas of abnormal psychology, business, creative writing, electrical and computer engineering, history of Boston, infectious diseases, international politics, journalism, law, mass communication, nutrition, persuasive writing, topics in philosophy, and visual arts.

• Two weeks. Middle of June to beginning of August.
• Grade Level: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

For more information, visit the Summer Term website.

Writing About a Process

Today I would like us to take a closer look at one part of the IELTS Task 1 writing that often poses a great deal of difficulty for students - writing about a process.

When you write about a process, you need to pay attention to the structure of your essay, and they type of language you use in your essay.

First, I want you to WATCH THIS VIDEO, which explains, in detail, exactly how you should write an essay about a process.

Loading from LongTail.tv...

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Writing About a Process Published via LongTail.tv

When that is finished, I would like you to work on ACTIVITY 1, which focuses on points made in the video above.

Finally, I would like you to open ACTIVITY 2, and complete it in class.

MARADONA IN DUBAI

Maradona receives warm welcome from fans

Argentine football legend visits Al Wasl Stadium and looks at club's new facilities

• By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Sports Editor
• Published: 00:04 May 15, 2011
• 

• 0
  
  

• Image Credit: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
• Football legend Diego Maradona of Argentina arrives at the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai on Saturday.

Image 1 of 2

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Dubai: A hearty roar went up from the motley crowd as exactly at 7.30pm, a special guest walked into the Al Wasl Stadium yesterday evening.

Diego Maradona, clad in a casual blue tee-shirt, bermudas and a baseball cap, walked in for an interaction with members of the Al Wasl team, who were training for their upcoming UFL game. The club authorities had, earlier last week, announced the possibility of him visiting the club to take a look at their some of their new facilities — and expectations have been growing ever since among his fans here.

After making a brief appearance early in the afternoon, the Argentine legend came back in the evening. heavily escorted in a Mercedes four-wheel drive. While the smattering of fans would not have been more than 150, there was no dearth of enthusiasm and colour among them.

While quite a few were carrying the famous blue-and-white flag, one of them wore a bushy wig so typical with the football crowd all over the world.

A middle-aged gentleman in a kandoura was shouting "Diego... amigo." His shouts caught Maradona's attention, and he turned around blowing kisses in his inimitable style. After spending 20-odd minutes on the ground shaking hands with the players, officials and posing for photographers, Maradona was finally whisked out by the security personnel.

According to informed sources in the club, the legend would be staying in Dubai for quite a few days and could be "visiting the club again".



Ms. Sunita