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1 Anonymous Users
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Final Report March, 07 |
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Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 35
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Hi All,
I have time to post photos, the text will follow. I know I'm not supposed to post photos that don't show people or schools, but for me, my experiences in Japan had as much to do with an exploration of the Japanese aesthetic as it did about its school system. (Well its not letting me upload photos and I have no more time left right now so bye till next try.) * I came back later yesterday and completed another portion of this entry only to have it not allowed due to a time-out something or other. So I'll just post and submit, post and submit as I go along. I have been reading several of the final reports submitted by various participants and like so many of you have already said, participation in this project has been one of the best things I have ever done. Not being able to participate fully due to a pethora of reasons may just rank right up there as one of the biggest disappointments of my career. Moving my room twice this year, a mysterious bandwidth problem that nobody knew how to deal with and the dismantling of our computer lab all conspired to limit access. Add to that my lack of technological know how and well you get the picture. I would like to suggest that the technological requirements for this program be made known right up front; in the application materials perhaps, so that applicants have a clearer idea of the process. Having said that, I firmly believe that video conferenceing is the wave of the future in our classrooms. I look foward to the the day when this form of cross-cultural exchange is the norm rather then the exception and I am glad to have been part of its infancy. A major reason I applied for this program was the chance to experience this technology in action. The foundation which governs our Rainforest Biosphere Project has begun researching the possibility of using this approach to create interactive 'field trips' with schools beyond Clark County, Nevada. Our focus will be to develop a more collaborative approach to projects in which the children will actually learn together. I want these visits to be more talking with other students rather than talking at them. I know my participation, however limited, will greatly enhance our efforts in this direction. I would also like to once again take this opportunity to thank the staff and administration of Nanakuni Elementary School for their warmth, expertise, flexibility and humor. Everyone gave so much of themselves; their time, materials, and friendship. I will always cherish our time together. Another reason I wanted to participate in this program was the opportunity to teach in another country. My students and I have participated in numerous cultural exchange programs; some well established programs and some dumb luck opportunities. For me, one of the major outcomes of my participation was the chance to develop lessons that would break through the veil of language and result in a meaningful learning experience. Needless to say, this was one of the most challenging, frustrating, difficult and rewarding experiences of my career. Going into this I would never have imagined that lessons inspired by Eric Carle's 'The Mixed-Up Camellion' and Lois Elert's 'Leaf Man' would translate (no pun intended!) so well into Japanese. This was by far the most thrilling part of all this. I will always be grateful to all of the teachers who worked so hard to make these lessons a true collaborative effort. I could not nor would I have wanted to teach them any other way. Bye for now, Bill Gilluly, J.C. Vanderburg E.S., Henderson, Nevada Attach file:  blue hydra.jpg (91.29 KB) raincoat.jpg (117.99 KB) hands3.jpg (311.87 KB) bride.jpg (201.38 KB) tea 1.jpg (301.29 KB) statues.jpg (270.11 KB) zen garden.jpg (635.30 KB) water8.jpg (91.75 KB) streamers.jpg (105.08 KB) star festival deco.jpg (176.29 KB) orchid.jpg (166.34 KB) hug.jpg (403.72 KB) dragon.jpg (341.61 KB) door.jpg (124.16 KB) cycles.jpg (168.23 KB) candles.jpg (520.04 KB) Buddha.jpg (91.57 KB) dry fish.jpg (542.60 KB) boat3.jpg (116.32 KB) roof.jpg (130.62 KB) Kyoto temple.jpg (293.44 KB) golden.jpg (373.08 KB) fish.jpg (45.97 KB) bridge 3.jpg (75.65 KB) oyster shells.jpg (542.00 KB) greeting 0.jpg (223.29 KB)
Posted on: 2007/3/1 17:55
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