WELCOME TO WEEK 1 We are so glad you all have joined us! The Moderating Team

 

 

Week 1  (Jan 14 - 20, 2013) - INTRODUCTION & BRAIN BASICS

 

During the first week of the course, participants will

 

• Join the group online meeting place
• exchange introductions and become familiar with the group environments
• create and/or share their digital portfolios
• explore and understand some basic principles of brain functioning 
• have some initial discussions on how brain research affects our teaching
• start digitally curating brain-related resources  

 

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NEW>>> How to Make the Best of Week 1 and Beyond

 

 

NEW>>> Week 1 Wrap Up Message

 

Week 1 Tasks 

 

Week 1  (Jan 14 - 20, 2013) - INTRODUCTION & BRAIN BASICS Task 1 - Joining our Digital Tools Wiki Task 2- Connecting - Getting Started with EDMODO Task 3 - Your Story - Introducing Yourself, Establishing Bonds, Socializing Task 4 - Your e-Portfolio - Deciding for your Online Space Task 5 - About the Brain, Brain Research and our Teaching Task 6 - Brain Basics Extra Readings 1) Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning 2) Using Just 10% of Your Brain? Think Again Help Desk  Completion Checklist Our Session Online Spaces

 

Task 1 - Joining our Digital Tools Wiki

 

a. Request access to this wiki, which will be our collaborative webpage for our session.

 

 

 

b. Once you are granted access to it, go to your account settings to add your details and upload your photo. 

 

 

c. You can also decide if you want to be notified of updates on our wiki or not:

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Task 2- Connecting - Getting Started with EDMODO

 

a. Sign up for an account at http://edmodo.com as a TEACHER.

 

b. Access our Edmodo group (left on your screen) and join us Group Code: r1x8tp

 

c. Once your membership has been approved, explore our group page and connect to others.

 

d. Go to your page settings and customize your space, check your information, change its appearance and set up your email preferences. Take your time to explore this place for social networking in a school-safe environment and fill our your profile and add your photo. 

 

 

 

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Task 3 - Your Story - Introducing Yourself, Establishing Bonds, Socializing

 

a. A Story of Who We Are.
In an online setting, there are multiple ways we can introduce ourselves. Find your own unique way to tell your story, the one which tells us who you are. You can write a poem, add a video, a PPT, a photo, or just words. It's up to you to decide on how you're going to introduce yourself with your own story.

 

Prepare your introduction, access our Introductions activity in our EDMODO group Discussion Forum and add the link to your story. (USE THE REPLY BUTTON; DON'T START A NEW THREAD!)

 

 

Here are four TOOLS that you can sign up for an account, explore and use to prepare your introduction:

 

- http://animoto.com (make a 30-second video about yourself)

- http://about.me/ (tell us who you are)

- http://prezi.com 

- http://smore.com 

 

Get to know our MODERATORS, and check their introductions pages in the different platforms:

 

 

 

b. Take a seat and "listen" to the others at the Introductions area, check their stories, and interact with, at least, two other participants.

 

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Task 4 - Your e-Portfolio - Deciding for your Online Space

 

Throughout this online session, the idea is that you

• collect the digital resources you produce along the way
• keep a space for reflection on your learning, your findings about neuroscience in education and the tools you get to know about
• receive feedback from your peers in what you've been reflecting upon, exploring and producing
• start your journey as a lifelong learner

 

There's no right or wrong way to organize your online space, as well as not a best tool. It will all depend on you, your style, your interests.

 

a. You'll choose an online space to keep your tools, reflection, collection. 
    If you already have an online space, no need to create another. Just use the one you're used to.   

 

    Here are some platforms you can use to start your portfolio:

>>Help	>>Help
>>Help	>>Help

In all of those spaces, there's a help page to get you started. 

 

b.  Share your session space portfolio with us at our portfolios Page.

 

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Task 5 - About the Brain, Brain Research and our Teaching

 

a. Test your knowledge about the brain on our Brain Test page and do tasks b and c there.  
 

Extended reading: 

Neuromyths in education: Prevalence and predictors of misconceptions among teachers

pdf file

Sanne Dekker, Nikki C. Lee, Paul Howard-Jones and Jelle Jolles

 

 

Task 6 - Brain Basics

 

a. Read the Brain Basics summary.

 
b. Learn how information is carried from one neuron to another.

Have fun with this interactive animated cartoon of a neuron.

Be sure to explore the various pages of this amazing interactive tool and read through the elucidating information at  http://www.childrenshospital.org/research/_neuron/index.html

c. Watch the video Neurons - How They Work in the Human Brain 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9p2ou1IyC0&feature=related

d. Think about how learning about some basic concepts about the brain helps you understand a little about how your own brain works.

How do you suppose those ideas connect to teaching and learning?

 

Portfolio Entry Add your ideas (task 6.d) to your own digital portfolio

 

e. Add the link to your portfolio entry to our Edmodo thread, and check each other's thoughts on the topic and give some feedback to your peers in their own online spaces (digital portfolios). 

 

Extra Readings

 

1) Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning

 

http://www.edutopia.org/neuroscience-brain-based-learning-myth-busting

 

2) Using Just 10% of Your Brain? Think Again

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324556304578119351875421218.html

 

 

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Help Desk 

 

Need Help, Ask us!

http://hottopicselt.pbworks.com/Helpdesk 

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Completion Checklist

 

 

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Our Session Online Spaces

 

Edmodo: main environment, message board for announcements and discussions >>> Group Code: r1x8tp 

Our Wiki: syllabus, weekly tasks, weekly discussion threads and tutorials

Pinterest: visual content aggregation.

 

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Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, an international education association

   

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