I tried to do a mind map. I didn't want to spend forever on this - so obviously this isn't an exhaustive list! But a useful site!

Delicious!!!

I've been wanting to have a play around on Delicious for ages but never found myself the time. I still need to experiment with a few things, but I think this is a really useful tool. I want to set up 'sets' of sites for kids to go to when doing research. I am about to start a topic on Japanese sports with year nines, so this will be really useful for me RIGHT NOW! That is, if our laptops work...

It was good searching in Delicious too. I searched for sumo and baseball and it came up mostly with the sites that I had already found in my google searches, but I think I may have found them a lot more quickly in Delicious. If lots of people have bookmarked the site it is a good indication that it may be useful.

Well, I'll hopefully see you all tomorrow!

29 July 2010 PD

Hi everyone

I am here with you in spirit - just plodding along on my own at home today. I keep coming up against hurdles, but slowing working my way through the things. I have just searched google maps and street view. I have looked at Himeji Station to Himeji Castle. Not sure how to post a screen shot - sorry! Also, streetview wasn't available for any of the places I tried. Anyway, I had a go.

Hope you are all having a great day. Off for lunch for a bit and then back for more exploring.

Slideshow

OK, my last post for the day! I have found an intersting slideshow about Harajuku and unusual youth fashions. Would be useful when doing describing people and clothing. Students might find it interesting to research these subcultures too.
Sorry - it is very long!

Enter The World Of Harajuku Pop Culture Tokyo Japan

View more presentations from ڿڰۣڿڰۣ♥ Spider ♥ڿڰۣڿڰۣ ♥.

I did have a few problems on this site, as most searches I put in came up with things that weren't appropriate for students ('Dating' Japanese women!!). But for use to embed powerpoint presentations in other things it would be good.

Web Search

Thanks for the tips about refining searches. Some were new to me and very useful. I find it really hard to search in Japanese though, as I can't read the results/web pages. はずかしい！！That's not to say there is nothing I understand, but just that there is too much kanji, which puts me off so I can imagine how students feel. The image results were interesting. I actually found the English one more useful here, as it showed the parts of Japanese housing that is different from Western housing, which is usually what we are wanting to highlight. In the Japanese image search, there were more images of building companies, house designs etc. Interesting to see the difference!

The video is funny. It reminded me of a segment on Spicks and Specks where they translated song lyrics into Japanese using an online translator, then back into English and the contestants had to guess the song. It was very funny! I have found the ending of the show, where the guy is singing 'The Way We Were' after the lyrics had been put into Japanese and then back into English using an online translator. haha, funny!

Well, I've finally managed to set aside some time to do some work, and of course I am putting off doing all the boring things and playing with the fun technology instead. Must be strict with myself to make sue I don't stay here all day!
I have made my first voki, but I don't have a microphone at home to record my own voice. The computer one is a little creepy I think!! Anyway, I can see the kids really enjoying doing this.

Get a Voki now!


Off to discover the next 'thing'!

Holiday Time

Well, it is school holidays and I have been very lazy! I have had swimming lessons with my kids at 9am every morning - which somehow seems to take up the whole morning. Then with a bit of housework and relaxing the day is gone. Not sure how I normally fit work into my day.
Anyway, will get on with my new things next week. The vokis look cute!

Japanese Toilets

We are learning about Japanese houses with year 10s at the moment and they always find the whole bathroom fascinating. I think they will find the information about the hi-tech Japanese toilets funny and interesting.

Goals for 23 Things

Well, I have many goals in this program....

• First of all, I hear words relating to wikis, vokis etc etc, but I really don't know what these are or how to use them in the classroom. So the first goal is learn all of the lingo!!

• Most of all, I want to develop the skills to be able to develop motivating activities for students. I want to be able to link students with students in Japan and with the culture of contemporary Japan. The biggest problem I find is making language learning relevant and engaging for all students.

This all mainly relates to the following WACOT standards:

• Standard 3.2: Teachers know and use the methodologies, resources and technologies which support learning the content, processes and skills they teach.
• Standard 4: Teachers use a range of teaching practices and resources to engage students in effective learning.

So, these are my goals. I hope I get there!!!

Hilary

Greetings from the very chilly South West

Hello everyone!! I am here with you all day - at least in spirit. I am accessing this PD remotely, although I am not so remote. I am in Bunbury and I teach Japanese at Ocean Forest Lutheran College. I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you in virtual land at least!!

Hope you are all enjoying the day. Send me down some lunch will you....

Hilary