My name, my address, my PLE

That's it. Your Personal Learning Environment, together with your Personal Learning Network, will, from now on, hopefully be part of your identity as well as an efficient way of controlling the lot of learning possibilities that the Internet offers you.
During the next few days, we will start building up our own PLE/PLNs but, as we usually do with other topics, first, we'll try and put together what we already know about the topic. Then we will read and do some research about some of the basics of PLE and finally we'll work on a template to be able to make our present PLE which could -and should- be completed afterwards...
To begin with here are some links that you can surf in pairs in order to be able to tell the class what you consider that a PLE is. Some of the links are in Spanish, but never mind, I'm sure you will understand, 'cause I've seen you speaking Spanish in the breaktime :-)
So, first, have a look at this:
- The PLE Explained to 10 year olds by Lola Urbano
- PLE at School
- The Teacher's PLE

Do you still have one minute? Have a look at this:




Now, you can start making a first draft of your PLE. Look at the previous examples and ask for anything you don't understand. Then, you can download this TEMPLATE  and start filling it (don't worry if there are too many 'boxes'. This is a long-term task) or use an online mindmap builder like BUBBL.US to start braistorming about the whole topic.
As I said, this is a 'long term' task. About one month after writing the last para graph, I've discovered THIS WEB full of links to applications that can be used to create and visualise our PLE from different points of view. Choose your favorite and..
... Good luck!!  

Decorating the classroom

Before going on with more "serious" things, it's still time to keep working on the preparations for the course. All in all, we've been together for only a few days and I don't feel like starting with exams yet, do you?
I've thought that one thing we could do is to decorate our classroom, because we are going to spend quite a few weeks there and a pleasant environment is always a positive thing, isn't it?
Well, I've talked to the School Board and they have allowed me to print UP TO FIVE large A-3 full color posters to pin in our classroom walls. The condition is that they must be related to the work we do in the classroom and must have some kind of text in English (sorry, but Justin Bieber posters won't be financed :-((
I have already chosen one (it's a teacher's privilege...) so, there are FOUR left.
In order to do a fair selection, I have open a board on PINTEREST  called "Classroom Posters" where we will upload the posters we want to print, and then we -and some invited teachers-  will vote the best ones.
I will tell you different ways to upload the posters to the board, but in order to make all the process easier,  it can be a good idea if you become a user of PINTEREST by filling in a few registration details. Then, I'll tell you how to keep connected and share the pins and so on...
I know you know how to find images on the web, but just in case, let me suggest you a place to start with:
- Englishteach8 board
- You can try browsing Google images or flickr, or... using the words "inspiring posters" or "motivating posters for the classroom" or...
- And, of course, any personal, hand-made poster will always have the categorie of "Winner" and will be displayed in the classroom.
Good luck!

Knowing me, knowing you...

Well, you've already been together for over three years and you think you know each other very well (we'll check that later) But, how much do you know about your new teacher?
To start with, you can take the following TEST and try to guess the right answers without asking anybody. Just follow your nose. Then I will tell you about myself and you could ask me questions, discuss and check the answers.
Good luck!!

Now, watch this video and check your answers: