We, the people ...

Tor_Khan تور خان

If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people. ~ Chinese Proverb

Life's a Journey ...

... and here are some of the places I'm connected to* ...

View Larger Map

... there are others, and we will revisit some time InshAllah ...

Tor_Khan تور خان

* in my first blog entry, I mentioned my thoughts on life being a journey and that I was a traveller on that journey...

2B or not 2B?

IYO txtng = NME or NBD?

Translation for those of us non-conversant with SMS-type speech: "In your opinion is texting the enemy or no big deal?"

2B or not 2B?

Let me begin with:
1. a fact,
2. a comment,
and then
3. an opinion.

1. Language changes by the people who use it.
2. Not all people like all the changes. (I h8 txt msgs, John Humphrys).
3. Academic and formal writing in is not yet about to give way to text messaging writing conventions. At least, I hope not, though I confess if this were to happen as in this reported example from New Zealand from USA Today, then it's possible that I may well join with the veteran BBC broadcaster, John Humphrys in his irritation (to put it mildly) of this emerging slanguage.

I posted a comment on the changes in spelling/writing conventions here. (Should give you an insight into what I think).

Spelling/writing conventions change over time; this has been particularly evident in English. I was at a spelling seminar once and the issue of SMS spelling/texting was featured and its role in redefining how people write and spell in formal and informal communications. In formal communication, people can get away with non-conventional spelling and writing rules in advertising, for example.

I haven't, I confess, quite got a grip on texting in short form when I'm sending messages, and find that I have developed my own fairly speedy texting skills using punctuation and regular spellings pretty much throughout. March, 2009

ICE (in case of emergencies), follow this link.

Power Fox

For open-source advocates, try Mozilla Firefox. Like many browsers, it has had many incarnations (and a few name changes too). However, I like the "fox". It's slick; it's smooth; has a few tricks up it's sleeve and it's sharp ... rather like a fox indeed. There are other Internet browsers out there, but Firefox has been my preferred browser for a number of years and the recommended browser for the best viewing experience for this blog.

Ustad Awal Mir استاد اولمير

Ustad Awal Mir, استاد اولمیر, celebrated composer, musician, singer and poet continues to be a legendary figure in Pashto music. He was born in 1931 Peshawar, British India where studied music under Ustad Jafar in Peshawar and began to perform initially for radio broadcasts. His first song for Radio Peshawar was زړگى مې شو ټوټې ټوټې  Zrgee Me Sho Tttottai Ttottai (My Heart Has Broken Pieces).

At 18, he visited Kabul, Afghanistan to perform at the Independence Day concert where he remained until his death in 1982. The title, Ustad, was later conferred upon Awal Mir by the Ministry of Culture and Information, Afghanistan.

The clip shows him performing ستا د سترګو بلا واخلم Sta Da Stergo Bala Wakhlam (Let Me Take the Pain from Your Eyes) written by Amanullah Sailab Sapi and remains one of my all time favourites.

Tor_Khan تور خان

Foxing Around ... On My Way to Work

I have an early start, leaving for work at 6am. A week ago, on my way there, the mist descended between Abu Dhabi and Bani Yas. This was a strange kind of low cloud; just a small patch of fog, about a metre off the ground. Mostly you could see quite well over the top of of the vapour though it appeared to move further away, the closer we got to it. I haven't experienced this kind of fog much before, and so I took a moment to take a couple of snaps and enjoy the morning air.

(Desert) Foxing Around

And then ... (slightly distracted - I was supposed to be on my way to work), I began to follow my foot patterns in the sand. I then had a go at making hand patterns and then to join up hand and foot patterns. Anyway, I decided to take a photograph or two to share on this blog.

... learning from a distance ...

Last week I watched Curt Bonk's video responses to questions posed by Manchester University DTCE students. The final question - the one on motivation - was a question I had submitted.

My basic premise was that the success of distance learning courses was reliant on the higher motivation levels of driven adult learners. Of course, this is a "gut" feeling and the case would need to be either proven or disproven. I'd suggested as part of the question that distance learning courses could only most effectively target a narrow band of (motivated) adult learners and thereby the success of distance learning could only be judged favourably by the participation of this narrow demographic.

Distance Learning Revolution?

However, I must confess, that having emailed Curt to which he responded promptly (and gave me permission to use his image), and having considered his videocast, I'm not exactly any wiser about his opinion on the matter. My intrinsic belief is that when it comes to the question of the success of distance learning courses, the received "evidence" on this relies on the higher motivation levels of adult learners. I therefore tread with caution over the argument that distance e-learning will bring about a whole scale learning revolution for all* that I sometimes get the impression is a popular belief. There will, for the foreseeable future be the traditional requirement to meet needs for key sections of learners in classrooms in face-to-face settings.

I am interested that Curt Bonk was authoring a book on this very subject which he said was in response to popular requests for (another?) motivation manual.

*As a distance learning student, I am of course happy that I can follow a distance learning programme, as this is the type of setup that meets my needs at this time.