MIND-MAP IT OUT!

Hi guys!
In this post I want to reflect with you on a concept I've probably already mentioned without talking about it: the Personal Learning Environment.
You all know that this blog is part of the toolset for my PLE, that is the system of sources, environments, activities, interactions that let me keep on learning. We, students of languages well know that as soon as one stops keeping in touch with a language, one starts missing it.
But why PLE might be useful or indeed central to learning in the future?
The idea of personal learning environment directly derives from the changing technologies and thus, from the pressures for changes in the present education system. PLE believes that learning is ongoing, so it takes place in different contexts and situations. Moreover, it is based on the increasing recognition of:
- the role of the individual in organising his/her own learning;
- the importance of informal learning.

I found the idea of mapping my own language path extremely original and interesting: concentrating on my current PLE made me reflect on myself! Including both formal education and anything outside of it, I made a list of the different activities, sources of information and tools I use to improve my level of knowledge and to set my future goals; I tried to categorize them and to make them systematic; then, I mind-mapped it out. Reflecting on what I do to learn was extremely useful, as it made me realize my current knowledge, think about my strengths and weaknesses, the way I work and organize myself, my endeavours (and also my laziness!), what I've learned so far and what I still need to learn. As far as English is concerned, I realized that during this year I made some good improvements in fluency, accuracy and clarity. However, I still need to work to eliminate my "bad habits", and to achieve my language target, that is to feel more self confident in communication and interaction. I want to be able to use the appropriate language in both formal and informal contexts. I will devote 30 minutes to 1 hour per day practising my English in any possible way: reading books, newspapers, magazines, watching movies, listening to online radios, listening to music, etc... (As Sarah suggested, a useful and interesting exercise is to compare the different pronunciations listening to different radios of England, Australia, Ireland, America. I am curious to see it!!).
Here is my mind map.

PHISHING SCAMS

WEB TRAPS: SOME TRICKS TO AVOID THEM!

Hello all!
in our last lesson we discussed the risks of using the Internet. The main problems you might encounter in surfing the net are:

• privacy violation;
• cloning;
• identity problems (distinction between real- and virtual world and the so-called "second life") ;
  
• copyright infringement;
• viruses/trojan horses;
• hackers;
• addiction;
• false information;
• scams.

We all know that the web space is huge and therefore diffucult to control. There are always new tools,technologic systems and services which increase the potentiality of the Internet but also the risks. The use of the Internet has risen exponentially in these last years; doing things online such as booking, buying or selling, can be faster and more practical, but also problematic. In most of the cases, indeed, you are required to give your personal data, your sensitive information, or your account. The problem is that someone can have access to your data and use them improperly or even to criminal purposes. The key to avoiding scams is AWARENESS. You need to be aware of what online service you are using; be careful when giving sensitive information (such as, your credit card number, PINs, passwords); be aware of your rights; always read before clicking; be acquanted. Knowledge and awareness are always good safeguards against frauds.
I am curious to read what you think about it.
See you soon!
Bye

WATCH THIS!! IT'S SO FUNNY!!!!;)

AND THE WEB TOOL OF THE WEEK IS.... GOOGLE DOCS!

Hi all!
Do you know what Google Docs is? Well, this week I learnt something more about what it is and how to use it.
Let's think about the main characteristics of this web tool and the advantages you can have in using it.
First of all, it is a free online tool which allows users share and collaborate online; that means that you can create, share and edit online documents, spreadsheets and presentations while collaborating in real time with other users. The main advantage of Google Docs is that you can access to your files from any computer, at any time. It simplifies the system by putting the data on the Internet: that makes sharing and collaborating on documents much easier. Furthermore, it is a close system, so you have control on whom can view and have access to your documents. That's extremely important in order to protect your data and to prevent plagiarism. If the old way attaches a file to an e-mail, this new way inverts the system by attaching e-mails to a file. Indeed, you simply invite who you want to collaborate on the document you shared. In this way you can work with other people on the same document and edit at the same time. That makes it extremely simpler and convenient when working, commenting, editing and reviewing your and your collaborators' drafts. Another important aspect of Google Docs is that it allows all collaborators to make changes while giving the possibility of going back to previous versions and checking them by clicking on "History". It's a system that makes editing more organized, precise and secure. I think that this new tool will be very useful for my next tasks as student but also for the future as worker.
HE THAT LEARNS A TRADE, HATH A PURCHASE MADE!!
See you soon,
Have a nice Sunday!

APA vs MLA

APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) are two of the most commonly used guidelines for citing sources and formatting research papers. While reading some basic information about them my first impression was that APA style is much more constraining than MLA, but let's see what the main similarities and differences are:

Both style

• require that whenever you use a source you provide in the text brief parenthetical references mentioning the author and page number(s);
• recommend that at the end of your paper you provide an alphabeltical list of the works you used and consulted for your thesis listing the complete citation for each work referred to parenthetically in the text;
• prefer a language clear, concise and plain (so, minimize the figurative language).
  

APA

• gives very precise and detailed instructions of both the major paper sections and the specific formats to be used in the text (headings, stylistics, in-text citations, quotations, references etc.);
• your essay should include 4 major sections: Title page, Abstract, Main Body and References;
• suggests you make the References list by: capitalizing all major words in journal titles, italicizing titles of longer works (books and journals), not italicizing underlying or putting quotes around the titles of shorter works (journal articles or essays in edited collections).
  

MLA style

• gives precise but more general rules;
  
• recommends always underlining instead of using italics: it is more distinctive and recognizable for material that is to be graded or edited;
• recommends using a more descriptive heading such as Works Cited, Works Consulted, or Annotated Works Cited;
• when you have more than 2 authors, it suggests you provide all names, separated by commas with and before the last (not &, as APA suggests).
  

A STEP BACKWARDS...

We all are working on searching, evaluating and filtering information. As we've learned so far, being critic is an important step to gather ideas in order to create the own one. So let's apply our critical approach on what I have written so far.
Are my blog posts well structured? logical, cohesive, clear and concise?
Going back to what I've made I can have an idea of my mistakes, my bad habits but also my improvements. While rereading my posts from the very first to the last one I noticed a difference in organizing information. The more recent posts seem to follow a more precise structure. However, my bad habit persists! I've always been long-winded, made loong sentences, complex periods.. I wonder if even the nuns of my nursery school told me to be MORE CONCISE!! It's really an effort to me to be clear. I always have to skim and scan my own ideas before writing clearly. It's a characteristic of mine: I'm complicated.. Anyway, I realized I've also made improvements: I try to be precise and accurate, to find the appropriate words following a logical structure.
We are here to learn in order to correct ourselves and to improve. So I will do my best.

WHAT ARE IP RIGHTS?

As Internet, blogging and other technologies spread, copyright concerns become really important. If on the one hand all this has made it easier to search for, share, give and have information, it is also easier to infringe rules and violate rights. It is thus important to have a clear understanding of the Copyright law and of what Intellectual Property Rights are. It is essential to know your IP rights in order to protect and benefit from your creativity!
So, what are we supposed to do in order to respect IPR and avoid plagiarism?
First of all: be honest and loyal! Do not appropriate other people's belongings! Then:

Do use material and work under public domain but don't copy it. If you report an idea you find interesting and appropriate to your written production remember to quote the source and to mention the "owner" of that idea. Citing can be an important way to support your own opinion. In a blog you can add a link to a more exhaustive text.

Do use images and pictures but make it sure that they provide copyrights (use for example: Flickr's CreativeCommons). It is always better to add a note of the source. If you're not sure you are allowed to use an image check at the bottom of the web page if there is something about copyright, otherwise, don't use it.

These are some of the things I've gathered on the topic up to now. I know that the matter is rather complex and intricated so if you have something to recommend me you're welcome. Suggestions are always precious!! =)

See you soon!!

"TRUE" LOVE OR NOT TO LOVE?MY ACADEMIC ARTICLE

A few days ago I found another article about Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde which may be more readable and easier to follow (the other one was reeeally long and I don't want you to get bored!=). Good writing should be:

• well structured
• logical
  
• cohesive
• clear, precise and concise
• coherent.

I'm now going to analyse the academic article I've chosen answering some burning questions in order to see if it conforms to this structure.

• Does it follow the hourglass structure? (introduction, body, arguments against/for and conclusion) The article has an hourglass shape: it has an introduction including the main themes developed by the body. It begins with a brief generalization on the poem and continues with a deepening of a specific topic: love. Through a quotation of Chaucer the essay immediately puts the reader in front of the two key questions of the essay. Each question is analysed clearly and carefully and every statement is supported by examples or quotations of other studies on the poem. The conclusion does not bring the arguments and concepts of the essay to a close, but intentionally leave unanswered its questions: it is the poem itself that leaves the question open.
  
• Is there a logical flow of ideas? The text has a logical flow of ideas that makes the main points of the essay clearly outlined. Logic, clarity and cohesion are the main characteristics of this text in that every argument is linked to the previous one and introduces the next. In each paragraph it is possible to notice how the writer repeats the same terms or uses metalinguistic words that helps the reader keep the track of the discourse. For example, the use of demonstratives, subordinators and conjuncts which point back or forward depending on the context.
• Is the text cohesive? Definitely. The use of metalinguistic words helps building the logical structure of the text and strengthening its cohesiveness. Each paragraph provides references forward and back to other ideas that facilitates the reader following the dissertation. The ideas are exposed in a very clear and concise way and avoid any generalization on the question by getting to the point early.
• Is the writing clear or complex? The article is very clear in meaning. The text and its subject matter imply the reader's foreknowledge of the topic (text's assumed audience). In some points the text presents quotations in old English that may be difficult to read. However, they are very brief and not essential parts, so the text is relatively easy to understand.

Ups.. sorry. It's hard to me not to be "LONG WINDED"!!

MY CRITICAL APPROACH ON...

Hi guys!
We were discussing how to evaluate online sources and how to be critic towards information in general. I'm now going to apply my critical approach on an essay I found on the Web following the criteria of my checklist. Since in this moment I am studying for the exam of English Medieval Literature I am particularly interesting in deepening my knowledge on the topic, that is Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde. Chaucer's work is really fascinating, but also very complicated (as every fascinating thing!;). I used Google scholar for my research and I found this article about the character of Criseyde. When reading the text I realised that the content was particularly relevant to the information I need. The TITLE is: CRISEYDE'S ROUTHE and the AUTHOR is Kate Bauer, a teacher who recently completed her M.A. in English literature at New York University, where she is continuing her studies toward a Ph.D. Through this main information on the author I could have a fair idea of who wrote the article and thus understand the reliability and authority of the document itself. The aim of this article is to discuss a dissertation on Criseyde's figure by comparing different positions and studies on the issue. The text clearly follows the structure of the argumentative text and the style is formal and academic. Furthermore, the source provides accurate and exhausted information. What I found particularly interesting and relevant to my research was the fact that most of the quotations were from the books I am to study. (Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, ed. Stephen A. Barney, and Boccaccio's Il Filostrato, to give some examples). The article is not really recent but it is rather difficult to find critical essays or studies on literature subjects. Unfortunately, there is no specific datum about the time of writing or publication.

EVALUATING ONLINE SOURCES

Hi guys!
How are you? Today I feel great.. finally the sun is shining!=)
What do you think about last week's lesson?I found it really interesting as we discussed and reflected on how to search for information on the Internet and how to adopt a critical approach to the information we find.
The Web is huge and full of information. However, is everything we find really useful, reliable and valid for our research and purposes?
I usually search the Internet if I need some explanations or material to work on for my studies but it's really easy to get lost or to waste time reading something I actually won't use. So, what to do? Following the suggestions given by Sarah, I prepared a checklist with the main criteria I follow when reading and evaluating online information. Basing on the 4Ws given by Tips from San Diego State University, here are the main steps:
- Who is the author
- What can be said about the content, context, style, structure, completeness and accuracy of the information provided by the source?
Is the content relevant to your information needs?
- When was the information published?
- Why was the information provided by the source published?
What are the perspectives, opinions, assumptions and biases of whoever is responsible for this information?
I think that these will be essential in order to skim and scan what we read for our research.
I'm also proud of my discovery of new technological tools to use. I didn't know Google was so diverse and accurate in providing systems of research. Now I know how to use:
- Google Blogs if you are looking for blogs about the topic you're interested in;
- Google Books if you're looking for some specific books;
- Google Scholar if you need some academic texts.
One never stops learning!! All these tools will be very useful for my future research.
Have a nice day!

MY DEL.ICIO.US BOOKMARKS

If you're curious to see what my interests are, go and visit my bookmarks on delicious.com. Since I think they are more or less common to yours maybe you find something pleasant!
I found an interesting site with practice of pronunciation, quizzes, grammatical exercises and other intellectual plays that are always useful to improve our language skills. (www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/).
If you want to have a break and relax, go and visit www.tv.com! It's really great. You can watch series, cartoons, such as That's 70's show, the simpsons or the griffins (I love them!!) and other funny videos. If you love animals and documentay films, visit the nationalgeographic site. It's gorgeous!
I look forward to seeing what you propose and suggest.
See you soon! Take care!

WHAT'S SOCIAL BOOKMARKING?

Hi everybody!
During our last lesson we spoke about "Social Bookmarking" and tried to understand what this new system is by using "del.icio.us" as model.
If you're an expert on the subject, all the better; if instead, like me you're not really familiar with that concept, I'm glad to "share" with you a brief elucidation. First of all, SHARE is a keyword in social bookmarking: it is through sharing that this system becomes "social". Basically, it is a method for Internet users to save, store, organize, search and manage bookmarks of web pages with the help of informal TAGS. And what's new in comparison with the old system? Well, these bookmarks are public and that allows you to share your favourite bookmarks with other people and they can share theirs with you. In the old way you could bookmark a web page you find interesting in a web browser in one computer. The problem is when you have to use different computers. Here comes the new way into action: it doesn't use a browser, but a website called "social bookmarking site", an example is Del.icio.us. I find it very useful in that it is a way to narrow the field of your research; everyone knows how vast is the Web and this is a method to filter information. Furthermore, using this system you realize that you don't start from scratch, but from a point that others have already reached: when you search on del.icio.us you find the URLs which have been saved by someone as bookmarks in that they have been considered interesting or rich of precious information about a particolar topic. Actually, you take advantage of the work or research other people have already done. You can also see who saved it in order to have an idea of what this person is interested in. It is useful to start saving bookmarks on del.icio.us because it makes it easier to remember sites thanks to tags. You can add keywords (tags) to describe the site and to find your bookmarks later. That's why tags are so important. Since it is a public system everyone can benefit from your bookmarks and they can use your tags like you. So, sharing knowledge into networks allows everyone to discover new and relevant information.

FEED AGGREGATORS

Hi guys!
Since I've been down with flu this week, I couldn't attend the last lesson,in which you spoke about Feeds and Feed Aggregator.. Sincerely, I had no idea of what they are, and still have a vague idea of them.
I tried and searched on the Internet and I found out that: “a feed aggregator, also known as a feed reader, news reader or simply aggregator, is client software or a Web application which aggregates syndicated web content such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts, and blogs in a single location for easy viewing. Aggregators reduce the time and effort needed to regularly check websites for updates”( from Wikipedia).
I hope to make this concept clearer next Wednesday.
See you soon, Have a nice day!!

MY REFLECTIVE BLOGGING POST

Hi!
This second semester I'm going to work hard in order to improve my English language skills: listening and writing skills, but above all, I would like to better develop my speaking skills, to enrich my vocabulary, to be able to use the appropriate term according to the context and to the topic.

One of the aims I would like to achieve is the acquiring of fluency and mastery in speaking language, and I know that I will have to strive and to apply myself constantly, during the lessons but also at home. I think that speaking and listening abilities are closely linked together, because the one affects and determines the other. Spoken production primarily depends on understanding, and so listening.

I decided to set a target I will try to meet every week (or month, if I have few time), such as for example: watching at least one film in English per week. I think it will be interesting to watch different genres, in order to concentrate on the different languages used, to focus on slangs or idiomatic expressions that are always difficult to understand if you don't know the context. Images and the plot itself help and speed up the understanding.

I'm sure that the activities done in class and the group works we are to do will help me to interact actively and thus practising my language skills.
Moreover, I will devote some time on the Internet and watch some videos using formal language, e.g. BBC and CNN news.
I promise I will apply myself to better my computer skills.. I'm really a disaster with computers.. so please, be patient=)
I really hope to manage to achieve my targets.. But, I know,if you do want something, you 'll have it and you'll be gratified.

COMMENT ON THE BLOGSPHERE

Hi! It's me again!
In this post I'd like to share with you my first experience with blogging and my feelings in surfing the net.
I needed a lot of time before I found a nice blog that was interesting, pleasant, relaxing and very readable also for you. I didn't imagine that the blogsphere could be so vast! And obviously, I got lost many times! I really have no sense of direction also in my everyday life. "Alas!" this characteristic of mine has confirmed itself also in surfing the net! Anyway, I did it!
If you are creative, imaginative and you're good with you're hands, here is the blog for you: http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/.
On reading this blog you realize that the language used is very clear and simple, in opposition to other blogs I read, which are more, let's say, "élitist": in fact, in dealing with specific matters, they use a terminology that can be very difficult to understand to a person who doesn't know those topics.
If you read the blogger's personal profile you'll find out that the girl is Swedish and a journalist who has published many books in these years. She writes about her passions in life, including creativity in general, photography and art. It has been interesting to discover how to use the Web to share passions, dreams, knowedge and also to make money! If you see, indeed, on the blog there are many links connected to, for example, Amazon, which give you the possibility of buying some of her hand-made creations.
I think this blog has a well-organized structure that makes its reading easier and more pleasant. There are many pictures and photos followed by descriptions of the immortalized moments, or simple instructions of how to create something similar to her creations.
What I like most of this blog is that it is interrupted here and there by keywords, phrases, expressions from various sources, which give voice to the blogger's particular philosophy of life, and she wants to share it with us!

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH BLOGGING

Today is a great day! I started creating my personal blog!
I'm very unfamiliar with computers and technology, but I will do my best to better myself in this field! I think that working with blogs will be a great opportunity to express your own personal style and creativity but also to learn more. Despite the fact that by now I don't know much about how to use blogs, I find them a very useful and effective instrument.