Blogging in Class

Fall 2011 TPP 1071-6 Class

2011-11-29T20:18:00.004+03:00

Missing: Ahmed, Abdulla

Blogging in Class Teacher Workshop PowerPoint Presentation

2011-10-24T17:53:00.003+03:00

Note: It seems the hosting service for this PowerPoint is corrupting the text. Contact me directly if you want the original version-Scott.

Blogging in Class Teacher Workshop PowerPoint Presentation

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How to make a link on your website to this class website

2011-10-20T15:10:00.002+03:00

1. Go to the class website: http://english4computers.blogspot.com
2. Start an email to post@posterous.com.
3. Copy and paste the class website address into the main part of your email.
4. Put the subject.
5. Send.
6. Show me your website and I’ll sign your checklist.

How to Optimize Video Presentations for Posting

2011-10-12T10:09:00.009+03:00

Equipment needed: video recorder, tripod, extra batteries,

It may help to have lights on in the room for better lighting.

Record video in a high resolution (not just 640 x 480, since the sound quality may suffer). Covert to smaller file size on a computer using anyvideocoverter (free).

When converting, keep the sound bitrate high (256). Set the video resolution at 640 x 480. Save in avi or mp4 format.

Optiminal file size for a 5-minute presentation: 30 MB

My Life by Hoyai

2011-05-25T17:10:00.004+03:00

Yousef's Oral Presentation

2010-03-27T17:20:00.006+03:00

Games to Learn the International Alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie)

2010-03-21T17:28:00.006+03:00

Click here to start!

Example PowerPoint: Mohammed

2010-02-28T15:56:00.006+03:00

Mohamaed Aljbor My Life

View more presentations from Scott Dagilis.

How To Put A Screenshot in Your Blog

2010-02-17T11:18:00.003+03:00

Sometimes it is useful to take a picture of what is on your computer and post it on your blog. Here is how you do it:

Choose what you want to post a screenshot of.
Click on the "Print Scrn" button on the keyboard (if you are using Windows).
Open the Paint program. To do that, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint
Paste (Right-click and choose Paste).

Select the square on the left side to crop the picture.
Choose the part of the image you want.
Go to Edit > Cut.
Go to File > New. If it asks you to save changes, you can select "no".
Go to Edit > Paste.
Go to File > Save As and save your image.
Upload it to your post.

Writing Emails

2010-02-16T10:50:00.001+03:00

Instructions:

Read the assignment I give to you in class.
Write your answer on the I give you.
Show it to me. I will mark it and help you with the mistakes.
Type the corrected version into an actual email.
Post a picture of the email in your blog, or just type in an example.

Flowchart of History of Gas and Oil in Qatar

2010-02-15T10:39:00.003+03:00

Instructions: Create a flowchart of the 7 important events in the history of oil and gas in Qatar. Use as many vocabulary words as you can.

Example:

1939: Oil was discovered in Dukkan

1949: Production for export started.

1966: Offshore production started.

Vocabulary word: Thunderstorm

2010-02-11T10:06:00.002+03:00

King Tut

2010-02-11T09:16:00.001+03:00

What vocabulary words do you hear?

Steve Martin sings about King Tut.

What Does English Sound Like to People Who Speak Other Languages?

2010-02-11T03:01:00.004+03:00

A French guy tries to speak in accents from other countries.

From an Italian show in 1972. Quite an amazing song in "English" with no actual English words! It is by an Italian named Adriano Celentano. Celentano said the song is about the difficulty of communicating in modern times. Prisencolinensinainciusol means “universal love.” Is it also one of the first Rap songs?

Past Simple with Was/Were

2010-02-09T09:14:00.005+03:00

Instructions: Write 12 sentences. 3 positive, 3 negative, 3 questions and 3 answers.

I was at home yesterday. I wasn't at home.
We were in Oman last week. We weren't in Oman last week.
I was in a restaurant with my friend yesterday. I wasn't in restaurant with my friend yesterday.
Yesterday at this time I was in City Center. Yesterday at this time I wasn't at City Center.
Where were you last night? I was at home.
We were in the cinema yesterday. Where were you? I was at home.
Where were you last night? I was at home.
Were you enjoy about teach us?-->Do you enjoy teaching us? Yes, I do.
Were you in class yesterday? No, I wasn't.

Trainee for the German Coast Guard

2010-02-09T03:19:00.000+03:00

This funny commercial is about a trainee for the Coast Guard. It shows why you should improve your English!

Woman Speaks with 21 Different Accents

2010-02-08T21:27:00.005+03:00

Can you hear the differences?

5 Past Simple Sentences

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I watched TV yesterday.
I went shopping yesterday.
I went to the barber yesterday.
I ate fast food yesterday.
I went to the cinema yesterday.

10 Examples of Simple Past, Was/Were

2010-02-07T13:27:00.001+03:00

Positive

I was scuba diving yesterday. I wasn't scuba diving yesterday.
We were on a holiday last week. We weren't on a holiday last week.
The Qatar Islamic Museum was established in 2009. The Qatar Islamic Museum wasn't established in 2009.
I was playing Xbox last week.I wasn't playing Xbox last week.

Jassim's Presentation from Summer 2009

2010-01-19T14:28:00.000+03:00

Winter 2010 1071 Blog Checklist

2010-01-05T11:05:00.000+03:00

1071-9 class

sign up
picture
video
describe your friend
links to other classmates' blogs
5 past simple examples
10 sentences using vocabulary words from unit 2

1071-10 class

sign up
picture
video
describe your friend
links to other classmates' blogs
my best friend copy 1 and 2
5 Present Continuous examples
5 Passive sentences
10 examples of using Simple Past using was/were, positive and negative
Past Simple examples
3 extras like games, music, calendar, etc.
10 sentences using vocabulary words from unit 2

Burning Water from Gas Leak

2009-04-09T08:22:00.001+03:00

Honda commercial

2009-03-21T10:28:00.002+03:00

How it was made

Jaber giving a presentation about life on an oil platform

2009-03-16T12:16:00.005+03:00

slideshow player

2009-02-26T00:58:00.000+03:00

Animoto.com

Bears!

2009-02-04T09:05:00.002+03:00

International Alphabet

2009-02-04T09:03:00.002+03:00

Click here to learn the International Alphabet!

Made with Studymate. Free 30-day fully functioning trial available here.

The Antonov

2009-01-29T08:48:00.000+03:00

Largest Cargo Plane in the World

2009-01-29T08:47:00.003+03:00

Look for the trick

2008-10-29T15:08:00.002+03:00

Idiot of the year

2008-10-29T13:45:00.001+03:00

Second Life: A 3-D World

2008-06-04T06:35:00.003+03:00

Secondlife.com

Online brochure maker, Free images

2008-06-03T23:13:00.002+03:00

Help with brochures

Free Pictures online

http://everystockphoto.com/

Vocabulary Practice for "Programming and Languages"

2008-06-01T12:40:00.002+03:00

Here is some vocabulary practice for reading #6 on programming.

Made with Studymate. Free 30-day fully functioning trial available here.

Vocabulary Practice for "Role of IT"

2008-05-28T16:45:00.002+03:00

Here is your vocabulary practice for "The Role of IT"

Adaptive Technology and Stephen Hawking

2008-05-27T15:12:00.007+03:00

"Dr. Hawking, a renowned scientist, professor and author, suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative motor neuron illness. While the disease has not affected Dr. Hawking's intellectual capacity, it has robbed him of many physical abilities. He can only move two fingers on his right hand and he is unable to speak, making his computer with voice synthesizer essential for communication.

Dr. Hawking has a computer screen mounted on the arm of his wheel chair, which runs communicator software. The software enables him to press a switch in his hand to create words and sentences easily and intuitively. Once he has built up a sentence, he sends it to NeoSpeech's VoiceText speech synthesizer, which turns it into speech. The technology enables Dr. Hawking to communicate, including writing scientific books and papers, and giving lectures. " (from Gizmag)

More on Stephen Hawking from Wikipedia
Video of Stephen Hawking interview
Video of Stephen Hawking in zero gravity

3 Cartoons about blogs and computers

2008-05-24T21:24:00.003+03:00

Computer vocabulary from Reading #1

2008-05-20T09:53:00.000+03:00

Practice your computer vocabulary from Reading #1: "The Hard Disk Crashed! What Happened Exactly? Can Data Be Recovered?" Click Here

Review of New Apple 24-inch 2.8 GHz iMac

2008-05-19T21:38:00.000+03:00

Comparing Desktop Computers

2008-05-19T16:03:00.000+03:00

Write a memo to your friend recommending a desktop to buy. Here are your three choices:

Use the information on these pages to fill in your information chart in class to compare the systems. Use comparatives and modals in your memo.

Computer Words Practice

2008-02-27T15:11:00.003+03:00

Click here to practice computer words:

http://scottdagilis.googlepages.com/ComputerWords.ppt

Class Role Play Group #3

2008-02-20T14:01:00.004+03:00

2008-02-20T13:45:00.002+03:00

Video of Class Role Play

2008-02-11T09:43:00.001+03:00

Feed my fish!

2008-01-24T13:23:00.000+03:00

Penguins

2008-01-23T20:04:00.000+03:00

How to add Google Gadgets (games, clocks, etc.)

2008-01-23T19:55:00.002+03:00

Go to http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open (open this in a new window by right-clicking on this link and choosing "open in new tab"
Find something to add to your blog.
Click on "add to your webpage".
Click on "get the code" at the bottom.
Copy and paste the code into your blog. Make sure you are in the Edit HTML area and not Compose

Blogging workshop PowerPoint presentation

2007-12-10T01:59:00.000+03:00

PowerPoint presentation used in Blogging workshop December 10th. You'll need PowerPoint installed on your computer to view this.

How to password protect your Word documents on the internet

2007-12-10T00:35:00.000+03:00

Sometimes you may want to publish a document such as a worksheet to the internet for your students to access, but you may not want other people to have access to it as well. These are some choices you have to accomplish this:

Require a password to open documents (How to password protect Word documents), and give the password to your students.
Use a more robust method of encryption to provide extremely secure privacy protection. There are open-source and free tools you can use to do this, such as Keepass.
Link to documents hosted inside your college on an intranet. This way, a student will only be able to open the document you link to if they have access to the system (i.e. they are on campus).

As with anything else, be sure you test whichever method you use to ensure it works. Be sure to be logged in as a student when you do this, or better yet, ask a student to test it and see if they can do it.

Blog quizzes, checklists, and help pages

2007-12-10T00:22:00.000+03:00

How to add a music player to your blog

2007-12-09T20:55:00.001+03:00

note: I believe the first time you go to this website you can do the following steps to search for and embed a playlist, but the second time you have to register to get access.

Go to http://www.imeem.com/
Click on "Playlists" at the top.
Type in a keyword such as "Christmas" and click "find a playlist".
Click on a playlist you like.
Next to "embed", highlight and copy the code.
In your blog, start a new post.
Click on the "edit html" tab.
Paste the code.
Post and test!

Another popular music streaming service that offers the option of embedding your own player in a blog is Last.fm.

Useful add-ons to improve your blog

2007-12-09T20:47:00.000+03:00

Music player at Imeem or Last.fm. Allows you to customize a playlist and let visitors to your blog listen.
Slide-show at Picassa. Build a collection of photos and then put an automatic slide-show of them in your blog.
Teacher web page at Pageflakes. Useful website service you might find helpful to supplement your course. Offers easily customizable webpages.
Visitor counters at Easy-hit-counters.com.
Sounds at Freesound.
Millions of royalty-free images at EveryStockPhoto.com. Free for educational use.
Free online banner and logo generator at cooltext.com.
Powerful online photo editor at Cellsea.
Typing practice and tests at Typingtest.com.
Create slideshows at Slide.com

Using legal photos in your blogs

2007-12-09T14:35:00.001+03:00

Source of millions of photos you can use free for educational purposes:

http://www.everystockphoto.com/index.php

Tips to remember passwords and addresses

2007-12-09T13:40:00.000+03:00

Students often struggle when it comes to remembering passwords and website addresses. Here are some suggestions:

When registering for their blogs, have them use a combination of their name and their student number (I use the last 3 digits of their student number). This way there is a greater chance that url (blog address) is available among the hundreds of thousands of addresses already taken. It also serves to help you identify the student when assessing their work.

Have them use their student number as a password. This way, if they forget, they or you can easily look it up.

Another password solution is to have them use their phone number. Although good, this still has the disadvantage of them forgetting it or getting it confused, and you not being able to help them find out what it is (for example if they used an old phone number or a brother's).

It might help to have them print out two copies of a screenshot of the webpage when they register for the account; one for you and one for them. However, if you ensure they all use the same format suggested in #1 and #2, you shouldn't need this.

Another trick is to have them key in their username and password into their cellphones, or email them to themselves.

Once they sign up, I have them print out a screenshot of their blog so they can see what the URL is and go back to it more easily the next time.
Quiz them! (example quiz in Word format)

Remember: It isn't a good idea to have them post personal information such as their student number on their blogs where other people can see it. A general rule of thumb I use is: if it is posted to the internet once, it may be there forever in some archived form.

Solution to lost editing option in blogger

2007-12-09T13:31:00.000+03:00

blogger editing icon

Sometimes when you are editing your blog you can't see the icon . This is due to what seems to be a flaw in Blogger. Here is the solution:

Refresh your page. You may have to do this more than once. The edit icon may return. If that doesn't work,
Come back to your blog at a later time. The option will probably be available then.
Try another browser. I find that sometimes Firefox, which is superior to Microsoft Explorer so many ways, sometimes doesn't show this blogger icon for some reason.

Websense: Viewing blocked content

2007-12-09T13:20:00.000+03:00

If your school or business is using a filter to regulate access to websites, this might result in not being able to see images or videos that you have posted in your blogs. this might include websites such as Youtube or Picassa. If you can normally access those websites after you click on an "accept" button, then that means you can still see the content on your blog. This is the quick solution:

Open a second browser and go to any website that you need to "accept" to see, such as Youtube. This will unblock the entire category of similar websites for a given period, such as 10 minutes.
Go back to your blog and refresh the page. You should now be able to access the content.

Wear Your Seatbelt Videos

2007-12-06T14:56:00.001+03:00

Why you should wear a seat belt:

How to add a slideshow

2007-11-29T12:39:00.000+03:00

Blogger automatically stores photos you have uploaded in Picasa, another great Google service. To add a slideshow to your blog, you can either use those photos or make another album in Picasa, which requires simply dragging and dropping a collection of photos you have into Picasa to upload them.

Here is how to embed a slideshow of photos you have already posted to Blogger:

Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/.
You may have to log in.
Once you get to Picasa, click on the album (in this case your Blogger photos) you want to make into a slideshow.
On the left side of the page click on "embed slideshow".
Select a slideshow size ("large" is the best for Blogger).
Choose your other options.
Copy and paste the code into a new blog post.

Note: it is possible that the first time you try to access Picasa, you have to add it to the services you have access to under your Google account. You'll only have to do this once.

Interesting websites

2007-11-27T09:08:00.037+03:00

Funny English Videos

Woman speaks 21 accents from all over World

German Coast Guard (two) (three)

The rude translator

Funny Indian English Coach

Steve Martin as Frenchman trying to learn English

First sample of McGurk Effect. What do you hear?

The McGurk Effect-is seeing believing?

Do you speak English?

Don't laugh

How do other languages sound to others?

Song with English sounds with no English

Audio Illusion-play it again and hear it continue higher.

Nature

Idiot of the year

Life on Mars?

Strange things on Mars

Scary fish from the Sea

Binti the gorilla that helped the little boy

Another gorilla helping a boy

World's longest snake found dead

Chicken Police

Laughing rats

Famous Bigfoot Patterson film (stabilized)

can you see a ghost?

Ghost on the road?

Driving

speed bump

Dirt bike that can't crash

Stupid desert driver

How to lose a race

RV campers: live on the road!

flying motorcycle

Other Videos

You for president! Make your own video instantly

Hero movie

Remembering people for 5 seconds

fastest clapper in the world

new world's fastest clapper

100 people from ages 1 to 100 hitting a drum

Mobile salesman wants to sing

Man gets angry at computer

Optical illusions

Trying to move a big roll of cable up stairs

Amazing robot that looks like a dog

You can do anything at Zombo.com!

Growing a beard

Woman on Mobile in 1928? (two)

Inside Hitler's Bunker

Multi-track singer

Dub FX: When you love someone

Dub FX: Flow

Taking apart and putting together a Jeep in 4 minutes

serious discussion

How a computer mouse works

Wingsuit Basejumping

Visitor counter

2007-11-15T14:10:00.000+03:00

http://www.easycounter.com/FreeCounter3.html

Hit'>http://www.easycounter.com/FreeCounter3.html">Hit Counter

2)Go here to add a visitor counter: http://easy-hit-counters.com/

Example:

more counters

Free sounds for your website

2007-11-15T14:01:00.000+03:00

The Freesound Project

You can search on this website for free sounds for your blog.

Examples:

Koran

hello

Chicken sounds

How to embed audio

2007-11-04T09:15:00.000+03:00

A good activity in class is to get your students to record speaking or dialogs to post. You can record these using the free and powerful Audacity software. This will allow you to save the recording in a small file size after you export the result in an mp3 format. You'll also need the lame encoder to do this after you install Audacity.

Once you have made your recording, here is how to upload it into a blog:

Sign in to your google account.
Go to the site manager of Google Page Creator (you can join Google Page Creator through Google Labs).
On the right side of the page where the files are, click browse and upload the audio file.
Next, start a new post in blogger and copy and paste the code below into it.
Add "sharp brackets", e.g. "<" and ">" before and after the code.
Replace the location of the file as defined by "http://......" with the address of the audio file you have uploaded (to find the address, right-click on the uploaded file in Google Page Creator and choose "view properties".
Publish the post and test it out.
If it doesn't work, it may be due to a slow internet connection causing a delay, or an extra space or error in your code. If necessary, go through the steps above again.

code to copy and paste:

embed src="http://scottdagilis.googlepages.com/salem201intro.mp3" type="application/octet-stream" loop="false" autostart="false"

qatar map

2007-10-30T10:39:00.000+03:00

Do you smoke? Watch this

2007-10-28T22:43:00.000+03:00

Mazda Miata commercial

2007-10-11T00:59:00.000+03:00

video test

2007-10-09T07:56:00.000+03:00

New Driving Rules

2007-10-04T11:24:00.001+03:00

He says he wants to move to Canada because he is embarrassed. His friend saw him wearing his seat belt for the new driving rules.