My research: Living Social Presence

I normally post in English because of the different people who follow this blog and speak other languages. However, today I'd like to share the result of the work I've been developing (in Brazil) for the last two years: my M.A. thesis.

Why did I decide to study about Social Presence?

Well, I start my thesis telling a story about a period of my life that because health problems I couldn't be in a real classroom in contact with my students. In an attempt to feel useful and share some knowledge with other teachers, I created an online course for EFL teachers and for the first time moderated an online course on my own. With this experience, the virtual learning environment was no longer a cold and impersonal place, but a space where I met people in order to exchange ideas and learn. This is my personal reason for the interest to understand about Social Presence.

What were my objectives?

I wanted to observe and analyze how participants of an online course live Social Presence and some implications of our conceptions of Social Presence to the learning process during the course.

And what is Social Presence?

Although there is no unique definition for this concept, based on my studies, I believe Social Presence is the degree in which you perceive your presence and the presence of others in a virtual interaction and the willingness to develop an interpersonal relationship aiming collaborative learning.

My defense took place this morning and as I promised to share my presentation with the research participants and my friends, here it is. The research was carried out in Brazil in Portuguese, so the slides and the recording are in my mother tongue.

This is a recording I made in order to practise for the defense: (IN PORTUGUESE)


Presença Social from Ana Maria Menezes on Vimeo.

And these are the slides (PREZI) I used for my presentation this morning.
http://prezi.com/aicu8mvelpf1/vivendo-a-presenca-social/#

The experience of having my work discussed by Cláudia Hilsdorf and Valeska Soares Souza was pure enjoyment. I have to thank them for the contributions to my work.

If you wish to read the whole paper (in Portuguese), there's a version online at the blog where I've shared my writing since the beginning of the research  http://ufuanamariamenezes.blogspot.com.br  or flipping the pages below. This is the version I handed in for my defense. Please, bear in mind it's not the final version yet.

At Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/doc/209558265/Vivendo-a-Presenca-Social-historias-de-um-curso-online-para-professores-de-Ingles

E-course: Mobile Learning EFL

I was planning to propose an e-course for English teachers involving studies related to the use of mobile devices in the EFL classroom when I was contacted by a dear friend, Jennifer Verschoor.

Last year, Jennifer devised and monitored an online course on the same topic and we had been thinking about developing a project together.

Our collaboration in planning this online course has been quite interesting with once-a-week skype meetings, a google docs for our planning and little my little we've put together an online course for Brazilian and Argentine teachers.

This is the poster we've been using to invite participants:

If you're interested in joining us, the enrollment information can be found at the bottom of the online poster.

Mobile Activity: Introduce a family member

How can I use the many smartphones in the classroom for a simple and real communicative activity? This post describes a mobile activity I have already tried where basic learners use their own devices to introduce family members to their classmates.

Level: basic

Language Skill: speaking

Topic: members of the family

Device: students' own cell phones

Internet Connection: off

After having learned vocabulary related to family, ask if students have pictures of any family member on their cell phones. Let them browse their photos and tell them if they haven't got a phone that day or a photo, there's no problem.

Once students have selected a photo with one or more family members, model the exchange below with one of the students:

Student A shows the photo: This is my brother.

Student B asks: What's HIS name?

Student A: His name is Maurício.

Ask students to stand up and mingle while they show photos and ask questions. Students who don't have a photo to show, just go round asking questions.

I know this activity is VERY SIMPLE but believe me, I saw some smiles while they interacted with each other.

#365grateful

I've always liked ideas which in a way connect us to what is really important in life.

In this world of snapshots and selfies, I find myself many times overlooking little things in life which brighten my day. While reading my Facebook feed, I noticed a link my friend, Daniela Pesconi-Arthur shared about the 365 GRATEFUL PROJECT. I just loved it!

The idea is pretty simple: you take a photo a day of something you're grateful for.

According to the 365grateful website,

 "The project was created by Hailey. In early 2008, in an effort to fight depression, Hailey started a year long photographic project which involved taking one Polaroid photo a day of something she felt grateful for. Initially this was a chore but eventually it became a delight."

Watch Hailey's inspiring video:



 My friend, Daniela, has started her #365grateful project here: http://365reasons-mywritingshed.blogspot.co.uk/

I'll be posting my photos and posts using instagram plus the hashtag #365grateful and will be collecting them all at my Tumblr http://anamariacult.tumblr.com/

This was my first photo

Wouldn't this be a great idea for a writing project with students?

Coincidentally, this same week, I read a post by Vicki Davis about writing a Joy Journal which kinds of reinforces this idea of being positive about life.
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com.br/2013/04/9-fine-reasons-to-keep-journal-and-how.html

19 BYOD language activities wrapped for Christmas

Sharing some activities I've collected for  android and IOS devices.

 

 Wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

11 random facts at Christmas time

It's Christmas time, and it's time to celebrate life and friendships.

I was tagged by Cristina Monteiro Silva for the "11 Random facts" Blog post challenge.

Thanks, Cristina, for the tag and the opportunity for us to learn more about you in your blog post.

So, how does it work?

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger(s).

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4. List 11 bloggers.

5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

#2 Sharing some random facts about me.

 

 #3 These are the questions Cristina has asked me to answer:

1. What was the best moment in your life?

I've had many good moments in life but the more I live the more I think the best moment in my life is NOW.

2. Do you expect much of people?

I've been told I'm quite naive when it comes to trusting people. I always expect the best of everyone.

3. How many true friends do you have?

I have very few true friends but many people I truly love.

4. What do you do when you need to have YOUR moment?

I choose a book to read and sit by myself.

5. What is the film of your life?

"The color of paradise" could be one of the films of my life.

6. When was the last time you slept 10h?

I don't usually sleep a lot but last week I woke up at 10 in the morning so I guess I ended up sleeping for more than 10 hours, kkkkkkk.

7. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I drink a glass of water.

8. Which historical character would you like to meet if you had that chance?

I'd love to listen to the Dalai Lama.

9. An embarrassing moment in your life was…

When I greeted someone with a hug and then I noticed I had mistaken the person for someone else.

Awkward!

10. When did you last burst out laughing and couldn’t stop?

I can't remember but I laugh A LOT. 

11. City or countryside?

City. I love living in the city, the noise, the movement, the people.

#4 The list of eleven Bloggers I tag for the challenge:

1. Roseli Serra

2. Camila Sousa Sakai

3. Andressa Cardoso

4. Emma Heath

5. Vicky Saumell

6. Jennifer Verschoor

7. Sílvia Heshiki

8. Naiara Valente

9. Daniela Pesconi-Arthur

10. Susana Canelo

11. David Kapuler

#5 My questions for them:

1. Where did you live as a child?
2. What was your favorite toy?
3. As a child, what did you want to be in the future?
4. Tell us something you're afraid of.
5. Tell us something you're good at.
6. Tell us something you're bad at.
7. Tell us about a place you'd love to visit one day and who with.
8. What do you normally procrastinate?
9. If you could a place to live, where would it be?
10. What would you like to get for Christmas?
11. What would you like to learn in 2014?