Materials for my workshop for #FAAPI13

HERE´S A LIST OF THINGS I PREPARED FOR MY WORKSHOP AT #FAAPI13, IN BUENOS AIRES FROM SEPTEMBER 26TH TO 28TH.

This is the theoretical phramework submitted for the proposal.

And here´s the presentation featuring my own pictures (and some icons from Iconfinder)

The Connected Educator in Progress. from mariacolussa

This is a short handout with useful information


This video is the last part.
(Song by: Dokashi Teru, The Annual New England Xylophone Symposium. From CCmixter
Here´s a list of my newly acquired words

On presenting a workshop at FAAPI 2013, Buenos Aires, Argentina

As I am finishing the last requirements of the organization commitee, I am starting to ask myself why I am in this situation.  Tomorrow I travel to Buenos Aires, a five hours´ bus ride from my city to attend the congress that every year gathers teachers of English from all over the country.  It was all fine untill I decided to submit a paper and it was accepted, putting myself way beyond my comfort zone.  However I have never regretted having done it.
What I would like to share with my colleagues is the joy I have experienced during these last two years as I became more and more engaged in web based activities.  I have learned so much and yet I realize that there is still so much learning to do that I am looking forward to coming back and setting my schedule for my next month.  Apart from this, I have often been involved in activities which could have been more profitable to teachers who are in front of a regular school, institution class.  I often found myself  saying: "This would be perfect for a primary/secondary school teacher."  Hence this idea of presenting the workshop was born.  During my journey I had so much fun with other teacher´s students who were always respectful, curious, amusing, that I wished somebody else had the chance to experience it too.
On the whole this experience helped me get organised with my learning and I am excited at the possibility of adding more Argentinian friends to the connected world of teachers.
Wish me luck!

Some reflections on my learning how to ski.

I am not an experienced skier.  Last year we decided to go to a ski destination so as to share a holiday with our three adolescent kids during the winter break.  This year I decided to take things easy and enjoy the experience as much as I could, given that last year I spent two valuable days trying to master the snowboard technique only to find myself full of bruises on my back and a severe pain in my neck.  The regular skis were my choice this year and it was like starting everything all over again.
Some observations:
Children:  Oh, the joy of being naive, light and fearless!
I used the same "bunny slope" where children were taken to give their first slides and I enjoyed watching them slide smoothly knowing that the instructor was there for them, encouraging, helping and praising them for every small accomplishment.  I secretly followed them and imagined that they were praising me! Well done,  María!  I like the way you did that turn!  Skiing was the most natural thing for them. How cute they looked in those outfits wearing the tiny helmets and pretending to fly like aeroplanes!
Adults: Fearful, clumsy and self concious, I struggled to master my equipment slowly and carefully.  Eventually I managed to go down the blue slope, but only when I was confident enough, and that was on the last day of our holiday.  What a bliss! The feeling of achievement, the pride of having accomplished something after mastering my own inner voice that warned me about invisible dangers.
I wonder does this have anything to do with teaching at all?  It made me a learner again, thank you for that!  I look forward to skiing next year and going back to teaching with a humble spirit.