September 8, 2008

Connecting with Other Cyberism

Our context, cultures or views may differ, but the spirit we share of digging for more knowledge is what leads us to join/create more connections. For me, with the development of the technology, the birth of the Internet, and the connections I started to make, global windows were opened to new opportunists for learning and gaining knowledge in all fields. The changes in attitudes, views, behavior, career and eventually, changes in the value of us as human beings, to both our real and virtual societies are what connections should achieve. Certainly, all have changed since the minute our first cyberspace trip began.

Towards more learning, sharing and better societies.

Connectivism & Connective Knowledge

On joining the first massive online course, facilitated by Stephen Dowens and George Siemens, Connectivism and Connective Knowledge Online Course, I felt overwhelmed before even the course starts. A fully 12 weeks!!! How on earth can I follow? 1900 sign up for the course, a pageflakes , a wiki, a Moodle, various groups, a Second Life cadre, readings, blogs, a daily newsletter, and more. As they know that it is easy for one to loose his way around, they recommend us to start with "The Daily" every day.So let's start! Here was where I first started

April 9, 2008

Self Introduction

My name is Hala Fawzi, an English language teacher and a webhead. I am involved in blended learning, online learning and the use of Web 2.0 tools in teaching, learning and for teacher professional development. I am interested in exploring the learning opportunities that offered to us, in limited technology countries, through the connections available in this networked world.

By coming here, I hope to find a better view for what I have been wondering about for a while: I wonder about connectivism and learning in developing countries: what is the effect of connectivism on the individual/citizen level?? As we don’t wait for the system to respond, (to George if he is reading this), I wonder about how can a personal change, because of connectivism, lead to a change in a society? How can we convince “the system “that connectivism can help in fighting poverty or illiteracy? Which is more important in a less networked country; “the content or the pipes”? Can the pipes be used for a better quality of a content, or can the content lead to better created pipes? Can one pipe be stretched or widened to hold more assorted content? What can be done to the pipes that are subject to switching off by authorities in the name of filtering the content? How can I, as a teacher/individual respond; negatively?? Positively? Ignoring(ly)? Look for other unfiltered pipes?

Looking forward to an inspiring course!