Bring creative blended learning solutions to a low resource setting

Underutilized Classroom

Easily shared mobile content

Easily shared audio content

Transformed learning speace 

T

Upon arriving to Korkit-Ata Kyzylorda State University, I found that there were many challenges. Firstly, being that many of the students did not have the resources to purchase student books and other material linked to the ESL program. In addition the university did not have in adequate quantities of paper and toner to make printouts for all the students, as well as many of the classroom did not have projectors or in some cases working electricity.

This initially posed a problem as the methodology, that I planned to use in teaching English as second language was through the communicative approach rather than the grammar transtaion method the students were taught in the past, and the need to provide a range of multimedia exposure and context specific content was critical for student success in language acquisition through the communicative approach.

While during the icebreaking activities in the initial days of the project where we would end up with extremely overcrowded room were the technology for presenting visual and audio material could be found, I found that all the students had mobile devices with the capacity to read pd and, mp3 files and could share these types of files easily.

So, I decided to develop mobile accessible content that matched the learning outcomes of each of the classrom lessons. This initially include small audio clips that produced on my laptop using both Windows Sound Recorder and Windows Movie Maker. Then distributed to the student via email and flash memory.

The effect was phenomenal, as it allowed me to use any classroom and readjust my student groups to smaller groups that better fit their timetable. This increased both attendence and participation of the students. Needless to say we have moved from me making all the content in a mere 6 weeks, to the student making dialogues and other content through mini-project they do outside the class, allowing me to introduce blended learning in a very practical manner to the university.....

Almaty Arrival

Having been challenged by short term airline strikes and crazy weather. I have finally arrived to Kazakhstan to start a new teaching adventure in Kyzlorda, Kazakhstan. I was happily surprise to see that Almaty has not changed much since my last visit nearly ten years ago, and that several of my favorite are still operating, such as the Academic Bookstore and several tasty Dungan and Urgar restaurants.

Well tomorrow am off to Kyzlorda and hopefully will much more to post about ....

Shots from the runway

Finally found the energy to begin posting shots from the I&W fashion project for Westminster International University in Tashkent on the 1st of April. The show despite many challenges was a success at least in terms of Facebook comments and the rise in inquiries and sales at the shop - so thanks everyone for your hard effort.

little quiet kitten grows up into a big confident cat

Funny things during fashion program preps

I love my crazy colleagues at Westminster International University in Tashkent especially those who splash coffee on me during the making of a small shadow video for the runway program. This post is dedicated to Olga Yugay - talented, smart and a bit expressively wild (especially when she is directing a video production) :)

Our Diamond in the Rough

As with any winning team - you always need a good coach. For us it has been Olesya who has been our choreographer since our first show. She is a a person with a heart of gold but the skill, experience and understanding when to do a bit of shouting and tough love to ensure that the event is as flawless as possible. As we like to use students, friends and others who do not have much experience in runway modeling; her task is always less-than-easy, but she bears the burden and in the end not is the show fantastic but all who experience the process of putting the show togetehr comes out stronger and better people for effort. Oleysa thank you for the wonderful things you do with I&W

a bit about Indira

Working with Indira is totally amazing and challenging. She is a details person who likes everything done in a very organized way (the challenging part), but at the same time is not afraid to explore new ideas, such as not only designing, making but also modeling the clothes we put together for the label. In addition she is not afraid of traveling out in -5 degree C weather to find get the right fabric needed for our customers - a strong woman with a focus and a purpose - which one needs in the very demanding field of fashion