Week 1: Things started to get into place

I still remember exactly the thrill I felt when I received the official letter stating that I was accepted to this course. Why did I choose this course and not another one? First of all because I like technology, I like being up-to-date to everything surrounding me. Then, I said: "everything is quite brand new for me in this field, why not?". At the same time, I attended many courses on pedagogy, teaching, etc, and I said to myself that it's time I learned something new, something which can become part of my future teaching style.

Then, I was looking forward to the start of the course (honestly, I was counting the days...) And, it finally happened. After reading the "Orientation" tasks, I felt scared: too much information for me, so many things to do - this was my very first thought. I started reading the tasks very carefully, then I started reading what others said and I managed to solve the tasks. I like the idea about expressing our opinions about the "Ground Rules" and I liked that many of my colleagues participated in a constructive way - I had the opportunity of reading some good comments which inspired me for my future actions.

Another thing I really liked was the idea of writing our favorite quotation related to teaching and technology. I read them carefully and I totally agree with most of them. I want to salute here Ruslana's idea of posting some of them on her blog. It was also very nice to have the map with our homes on it. I was looking at it and still wondering ... I couldn't help thinking about teachers 50 years ago or 100 years ago, who didn't have the slightest chance of doing what we can do now. (I am a bit romantic, you see).

Later, the first day of the course came, bringing with it the first great challenge: creating a blog. It was not something brand new for me, but it was different. Once again, I read everything very carefully (instructions, our teacher's recommendations, other blogs...). Then, I created this first blog on education. I learned that it's better to be informed, to read, to get ideas from other people, then to apply everything. I wanted to be original and creative - I am not sure I managed to be, but I know I will improve in the future. At the same time, I learned to pay attention to details - actually, they make the difference.

The most important thing for me is cooperation and sharing. I would like to know your ideas about what I write, I would like to get feedback - especially constructive one, because this is the way I learn better.

Now I consider the educational blog has lots of advantages: both for me and for all those who read it.

Short introduction

I created my first blog, in Romanian, called "Journeys and adventures" about 2 years ago. I was quite proud of it, I really enjoyed writing, but later I gave up (don't ask me why, it just happened). It was easier to read what others wrote instead of writing myself... I really like reading blogs, and I read some of them quite often (most of them are in my native language and on different topics, not education).

Last autumn, more precisely from September to October 2009 I attended the CELTA course at International House - Accademia Britannica, in Rome, Italy. I simply wanted to learn more about teaching. And I did. All my ideas about teaching and learning and assessing changed, or became clearer. I shared part of my knowledge with different Romanian teachers who asked me to create a blog and post there all my experience. But, once again, I did nothing...

Now, it's a challenge for me. I created my first blog on education, I am asked to write regularly... I hope I will be able to do this (no delay, I hope).

Everything seems interesting to me for the time being. I learn new things, I read what you post and I try to improve myself and at the same time I try to share all I know. "Sharing is caring" and "Sharing is one of the best ways to find yourself", as Khang from Vietnam quoted as favorite on Nicenet.

I am sure everything will be fine and we will be able to learn wonderful new things.