Yees! Fast Internet for Africa

In Sudan, we have a fairly good Internet speed, but we still have problems when watching a video and downloading a large file.
However, I consider this is an interesting news for language teachers in Sudan to be using the Internet. Charging for connection is getting cheaper, thanks to the competition between private and governmental companies! Regarding computers, the situating here, and maybe worldwide, is that computers are to getting more cheaper ( with installments), which makes it easier for teachers to have their own. As for students, more and more are getting access the Internet for different reasons, but what is important that they ARE getting access to computers and the Web. Teachers, please take the intuitive!!

Leslie Opp-Beckman in Sudan

Leslie Opp-Beckman
I was invited to attend a workshop at the Department of University Requirements, University of Khartoum conducted by Dr. Opp-Beckman, senior instructor; technology coordinator at the American English Institute, University of Oregon. The workshop was based on "Shaping the Way We Teach English" modules. The effect of the workshop on the teachers attended, was like when very thirsty people, in a desert, are offered a bucket of water! Simply, it was fantastic! The content, the instructor, organization, materials, resources and the food of thought we went with were all what kept teachers hang on to the workshop. Teachers considered Leslie a unique instructor who really shaped the way we teach English. Slide show of photos on Picassa http://tinyurl.com/6p8983
More about Leslie here and her visit.
Her work with professional development videoconferencing series for English as a Foreign Language educators in Thailand, 2007-08

World's First Blue Roses

after 20 years of research, the amazing blue roses have come to life! I wonder what's next??

Testing Adobe Connect

Today I tested Adobe Connect with the educators from the USA State Government Office, as a first test for the system to see just how the platform might work. They meant to use it with teachers in Sudan and other parts of the Arab world for seminars and presentations. It was for sure a great experience. I didn't experience any tech glitches with my low bandwidth. the sound and video were crystal clear. The people from the system joined us and I was amazed about how the system was very user friendly. It has the same features of Wimba and WiziQ.
I still feel I am at home with Alado and Elluminate,though!

Is it Funny or What?

Today was my first day at work, after a very long vacation!
I was so excited about "re-shaping the way I teach" to the extent that I spent nearly a week to prepare the syllabus and add to it.I started the day with wings to fly!
I am not sure if the story or the incident I am going to write about EL teachers recruitment in our university is pitiful,horrible, disgraceful, disastrous, or just funny.
A part time teacher was in daily contact with me during the previous week to help him completing a file to submit for a full time job in our university. He is a very good teacher who worked for two semesters, with Masters in ELT and long 5 teaching experience in schools. The only problem he had was that his BA degree was "good", while they want "very good" and higher.( Very Good =3.5).Nothing is funny here too!
We set a time today to meet at the Dean's office.
The Dean called me two days ago, asking me to come and meet a new teacher, with no experience, who is supposed to be an English teacher after the next one-two semesters.
I knew that the first teacher, with experience and Masters, will not get the job.Fine.It's the Ministry of Higher Education policy. No problem.Still, nothing funny!
The Dean's teacher called even before I get dressed today.When I got there, I saw his, a face I didn't know where I have seen before.As I was late to the lecture, I asked him to attend with me,to have a first look at how things work in the English classroom.I always tend to make my first lecture as a diagnostic lecture for the level of students, especially freshen. I also tend to make it as an orientation to the syllabus, the class environment, class regulations, the university system, and even to myself a teacher. I gave students 20 minutes to write short paragraph entitled"About Myself". Nothing funny, I know.
The story began during these 20 minutes when I was having a chat with the new teacher, who told me he is an employee in our university. His BA is in law.His masters in translation and he has never taught English. His job? The Chief of Security since 19997.Funny?
I came home without wings!
I better start thinking about leaving.

Youtube and the National Telecommunication Cooperation in Sudan

"Ooops! I should have blogged about the unblocking of Youtube in Sudan!!
Youtube is also back, except of those videos that thrown away by the National Telecommunication Cooperation in Sudan.
The National Telecommunication Cooperation works on blocking and filtering of pornographic, anti-Islamic websites, in addition to those that contain political, cultural and religious content that “the company “ sees and decides upon their inappropriateness. The blocking of YouTube was criticized in Sudan and all over the world. A large number of Sudanese youth all over the globe have even created a group at Facebook as an online platform for a protest campaign. I wonder if we can change the behavior of our youth by blocking websites, which, professionally, they teach you how to mirror and easily access them!
My relationship with the National Telecommunication Cooperation dates back to January 2007, when I reported back to them about blocking my blog and my Bubbleshare account.
In August, 2008 I wrote the company asking to unblock Box.net, a website for web hosting where I keep most of my files, documents, my PhD theses and all my previous work with my students.The company was very cooperative and sent me a prompt reply that they will unblock the website as soon as possible.For the second time, I admired their cooperation and helpfulness.
Earlier on an e-list, I posted about Bubbleshare being blocked and the great help I found by the NTC. I will copy the post below:
“The day before yesterday ,to my surprise, I found that Blogger com is also blocked! I turned into a mad woman ( men know how that would be of. I called the telecommunication company, as they put their "how to reach them " button in a big and clear font)After a furious talk, and to my big surprise, the man was very cooperative, listened attentively , took the URL's and among my speech, I said something about having blocked a website before and I didn't complained. The man was very keen to listen about types of these websites and promised to call back. Guess what? Yesterday, ALL were back with a telephone call of apology.I began to think whether Sudan is *really *developing!!!
More on Youtube being banned in Sudan:
The Initiative for an Open Arab Internet
Sudan Tribune
NetwrorldWork
Zoulcolm X A blog by a Sudanese youth

Sudaneseonline is back today!

"

Sudanese Online سودانيز اون لاين دوت كم via kwout

"I felt so sad when receiving an error message stating that Sudansesonline was blocked by the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), the message that appeared on my screen when checking out if it back or not. The action of destruction generated thousands of angry emails and posts everywhere online protesting the action. I am not a member of Sudanseseonline, but I won’t skip a day without lurking and reading the up-to-date news on the website, which groups thousands of Sudanese professional around the globe.The website was destroyed by professional hacker, amongst other 300 Sudanese websites destroyed by hackers during the last few months, according to a report by Hassan Elbihari at Al-Ray-Alaam newspaper.
The rest of the websites were governmental, ministries, newspapers; Alayam, Alwatan, online forums; Sudan.net , Sudanyat and Al-Hilal football league.Even the website of the National Telecommunication Cooperation didn’t survive in front of the hackers'keyboard, as a protest reaction to blocking Youtube in Sudan in July 22, 2008.
Welcome back, Sudaneseonline!

What should I blog about?

My posts seem to lessen monthly! The truth is that I do miss blogging. I don't want to be another Sudanese who complains about life in Sudan and how things are getting complicated every single moment. As if we are a herd driven by the current situation to the "nowhere", where there will be no step back.Anyway, concerning myself, my friends, my family and my neighbors ( about 1000 person!), we are all being driven to the unknown!!
Let's keep on dreaming that one day...just one day, we will wake up and find our beloved country a better one!

Rest in Peace ”Habeebo”

انتقل الي الخالق الاخ محمد احمد على رضوان "حبيبو"رحمه الله
والذي استشهد غرقا"ىوم الاربعا 8\10\2008
When I read the news on the Tagananet e-list, sent by Mohamed Osman, my eyes froze on the screen. A recorded film strip began to move in front of my eyes. Mohamd Rudwan, or just Rudwan, as I loved to call him, was one of the students that I used to miss in class. Do you know what this means? When a teacher misses a student when he is absent means that he/she adds to the class. Adds what? Student presence. Everything. Even if he doesn’t say a word, his being there watching you, listening attentively to the lcture, helping his colleagues with exercises and spreading his love to the class. This WAS Ruwdan for me.
I have always felt that his friends, Hisham Salih, Ahmed Osman, Alsareef, and others, miss him in class, as I do.
I happened to get to know Rudwan close when he joined the Internet Group back in 2007. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tagananet/ I remember his childish big, black, rounded eyes when asking me about something he didn’t know, or when he submitted his homework. . He had a funny type of teenager’s “Istihbal” that you couldn’t but laugh at when he gives you his back. He was so confidant of himself. He used to tell me that “Ok teacher, everything will be done soon, no problem”. Nothing will be done now. No Rwdaon anymore. He drowned on Wednesday,October 8,2008, when he went to swim in the Nile River with one of his friends,going deep into a dangerous area in the Nile, fear of nothing even if he doesn’t know how to swim well, that’s typical Rudwan , the guy full of confidence. He thought he could do it. This last time ..he couldn’t.
Hisham called me three days later, telling me they found his body at Aljabal, after four days. I told him I will come to offer my condolences to his mother. I just couldn’t! It’s my first time ever to lose a STUDETN. I told my kids about him. Maybe my words were so true that my elder daughter kept telling me for three days that Rudwan picture was always in front of her eyes, asking to show her his picture. I refused.
Today, I miss Rudwan, my student, the one who was so young, so full of life, full of hope, ambition, energy, enthusiasm and much more that I don’t know about. Loved by all his friends, they called him “Habibo”. Anick name means “His lover”. Allah yarhamak wa ya3awid shababk al Jennah.We will always miss you! I will keep you in my Duaa, forever!

Enjoying lurking

The picture tells it all! After Eid, I started crawling to my laptop. I still can't blog, work, prepare or participate actively in both the cyberspace and the kyberspace!I am enjying being a lurker!

Sperficial Spam!

In a response to a post on the ESL Sudan Google Group yesterday:
you wrote:
>”I don't know why you are so worried about "spam"; it's just normal….”
Absolutely! Yes! I agree. Getting spam massages are very normal.
>” ignore it and have fun. It seems to me we are discussing superficial things”
I am afraid members of this group could lose the fun part of learning if they are not aware of the danger of these spam messages and they happen to have spammers attach their computers. Usually, spam emails go the “junk “or “spam “folder, not to the inbox. When they succeed into getting to the inbox, problems will start. If you check the discussions in our group:
http://groups.google.com/group/ELSudan you will notice that we are getting more spammed posts.
When I posted earlier about “spam’ messages, I was *not* discussing anything. Actually, I was making sure that all member of the group are aware of these types of spam messages. Also, I wanted members be careful about responding or following the links added on the spammer’s email so as to prevent them from falling into the trap.(Check group discussion)
Some member of ESL Sudan had already fallen into the trap when they , as being courteous in welcoming a new member, started to reply to the spammer having no idea of what’s behind this email. The dangers of this type of responding are:
Firstly, it could be an attempt to test if the email address is active and valuable for further spamming.Secondly, we will have more spammers joining the group. Thirdly, following a link like this, could lead to very serious damages to computers, as it may contain computer viruses or spywares that can have access to the computer used. Consequences? Gaining access to files and folders on the computer, send inappropriate information or prone images to all your contact list. I am not going to “discuss” ransomwares, financial scams, losing money in bank accounts, illegal activities, credit card information, drugs, or Internet crimes because the members of this group are teachers of English and not indulged in ANY of the previous dangers. But, this is how things are on the cyberspace and this why more serious actions have been taking place about Internet security issues and active fighting of spam.
Moderating each post could be very difficult in group of large members. Turning on the moderation setting to a group have never meant to BLOCK any teachers from joining in. On the contrary, it will guarantee a safe environment for learning, discussing or collaborating, especially if students are thought to be invited. Please correct me if I wrong, I think this is has been suggested earlier about inviting ASTEL members and students to use the material sent for the DVC. New members only have to drop a line about who are they ( a teacher/ student).
If anyone is interested to know about the danger of spam, you may check these web sites:
About spam: http://kb.iu.edu/data/afne.html
E-mail spam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_spam
More about spam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)
Tips on how to deal with spam: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/email/spam.mspx
http://www.cdt.org/speech/spam/030319spamreport.shtml
Thank you for reading until here!
Have a blessful Ramadan!
Hala Fawzi ( Didn't know that this will turn into a long post.Sorry!)

Connections for a Better World

>
I joined "Connecting Online CC09"a Ning community,which created by Nellie to "share "online" personal and professional learning experiences in preparation for the online conference in February 6-8, 2009. The invitation was by Nellie, who has been known as an active online researcher who is always connecting people, researchers and teachers in many platforms. Thanks Nellie!This is my first post there
Our context, cultures or views may differ, but the spirit we share of digging for more knowledge leads us to join/create more connections. For me, with the development of technology, the birth of the Internet, and the online connections with other "cyberism" that 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, the world have changed since the minute of early online connections, but we are all longing for a better world, a new connected-utopia,

Towards more learning, sharing and better societies.
Cristina Costa added a comment:
Dear Hala,
You said it all.
I think that those who are really looking forward to truly connect to others will be able to establish the so long awaited Utopia where connecting really means to learn with care. And where what interests the most is that we make ourselves available to others (volunteer support, mutual respect, joint engagement). In doing that we also receive what we give. Sometimes...most times... even more. And that is what makes us come back and look for more - the feeling that we are welcomed here (online) and that we belong to this connected world, which in a way is aiming at overcoming some of the impersonal off-site spaces where people are to busy to connect.
I think online we have found a new way, and a pretext too, to re-connect, and thus awake the community spirit, which is so important to all of us. After all, finding new ways of establishing true communication (connecting) are part of what we are as human beings.
I am just glad to be part of the same community as you are. It certainly has made my world better! ;-)

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan is the month in which I recharge my spiritual soul. I decided to come out of this Ramadan as clean as when I came from Hajj. It has been a long year,with some dark sides I wished never witnessed. The most important thing that I, my kids, husband, my mom and the rest of my family are all in good health.Being in good health is very difficult in this country, though. May Allah fulfill my wishes. Ramadan kareem to the Islamic Ummah!

Webheads f2f in Fukuoka

BubbleShare: Share photos - Create and Share Crafts

Enjoy to the last Yen!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Powered by BubbleShare

Hello and Goodbye WorldCALL 2008!

To start reflecting about my WorldCALL 2008 experience with a farewell post, can tell a lot about how much knowledge we were exposed to since the conference has started:intellectually, socially, culturally, digitally, wirelessly, civiliz*ingly* and webehad*ingly*!Without exception, attending WorldCALL08 was the most rewarding experience in our lives, if comparison could fit here with any! More to come soon!
BubbleShare: Share photos - Powered by BubbleShare
Airport. Another culture shock in Japan!

When a Dream Comes True!

Finally, after almost 24 hours trip, the dream came true! Accompanying Susan from Doha made the trip very comfortable and fun.I am not sure if my computer will let me finish this post. I am posting from my room, with a battery of 37% left. I have to buy a transformer tomorrow. Here is another photo.We didn't meet the rest of the Latin America girls. All sleeping. Thanks Nina for showing me and Susan around our rooms. You are our f2f and virtual master.Make sure I will not tell about the secret:-) Wait until I tell you what happened behind you girls!!!! Viki, the one met me and Susan at the airport, said we have to take the subway to Fukuoka University . Taxis are too expensive. We decided to meet at 7:00 am for breakfast and go together.
Be it a mass loss of webheads in Fukuoka

Flying to Fukuoka

I am leaving to Fukuoka, Japan next week for WorldCALL 2008.I have post it about it earlier on my other blog.Full story on the wiki I created.

Back to Life!

I remember how often I tell my brilliant student, Muhanned, to be more optimistic, as he always writes about the dark side of life in Sudan. Lately, I found myself turning to another Munhanned, but the only difference is that I have never dared to put what's inside my mind into a blog post!
The death of a dear friend and a neighbor on the Sudan airways flight lead to a slow down, really slow down in all my life streams.
Back with this photos.It tells a lot and does NOT tell a lot more!!!
This is what is written on it:
"The photo is a Pulitzer winning prize taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine.The vulture is waiting for the boy to die so as it can it him.The picture was a shock to the whole world.No none knows what happened to the child even the photographer, Kevin Carter, who left the place as soon the photo was taken.Three months later, he committed suicide due to depression.

Sharing Culture Interview

I am in Cairo now. I am at an Internet cafe near the house. I left the kids with my friend because I have a meeting with a friends' students doing a project entitled "Sharing Culture" I went the day before and checked the software I needed, but today, there were serious sound problems that hindered having a smooth interview.It was great to hear the sweet voices of the students, Maria Belen and Agustina.
The page looks amazing, with all the info compiled on the wiki page
It's amazing how I feel so committed to this friend, or any other teacher, in the webheads community of practice. They taught me, or is it just a viral infectious learning, to share, care and lend a helping hand whenever possible. But this "possibility" if I may call it, turns to something else, turns to a real commitment i real lie. Amazing, ha?