Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

gilmarmattos's posterous

A special space for Educators to share their experiences using webtools to help their learners

Time to say goodbye

I am here at home today enjoying a local holiday. Truth be said I have loads to do as we approach the end of another semester. I have posted in different places I am still scared about how fast time has slipped away this year. It seems we have been saying the same for quite some time now BUT this time in particular has been crazier than ever. It has been quite an unusual year for us at CCBEU-Franca. Some very dear friends have decided to sail across other seas and they have been missed a lot. Other people have joined us and that's life, isn't it? People are always coming and going.
We are now very close to our Graduation Party and it will be time to say goodbye to some students who have been around for quite some time. Some will, hopefully, be back in 2010 so they can do our Prep Course for the University of Michigan ECPE exam but there are those that, for different reasons, are really saying goodbye now.
I have mixed feelings about this time of the year. Although it is true I feel the need of some rest (I guess all of us), it is also true we get so involved with this hectic lifestyle it is hard to get rid of it and accept some quiet time.
I have been chosen to select a video, a song or something to be used during the Graduation Ceremony. I have something in mind and I believe it will touch students and help them when they are out there by themselves. One great thing about the modern days is the fact that we can keep in touch forever if we really want to just by making good use of so many tools for interaction be it Facebook, Ning, Twitter or any other.
Well, right now the one song (I couldn't post anything without music) that comes to my mind is "Time to say Goodbye". I will be sharing the Spanish version with Andrea Boccelli as the solo performer. I had not heard about it until very recently and I must confess I fell in love with it. A good opportunity to go back in time and remember my Spanish lessons back in 1987 at University.
How about you? How do you feel about this time of the year? Do you ever feel nostalgic?

P.S. Just changed the video since the other one has been removed from Youtube. Same song - without the lyrics, though.

Blindness x Music

Blindness-02

I have just watched the movie Blindness  based on the book by José Saramago ( http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1998/saramago-autobio.html ) and I believe I would need a lot more time to actually reflect upon it. It's shocking to see what human beings can turn into when they are deprived of the basics for survival. It's clear people tend not to show any sort of compassion towards "strangers". One thing seems to remain untouchable, though and that's the power of music. Towards the middle of the movie when people are already exposed to a lot of suffering a newcomer to the asylum where they used to be isolated appears with this very simple radio. Everybody agrees that they might benefit from some music and the next thing is a very short yet touching scene. People do react positively to music regardless of their horrid situation. I now remember an interview by Barbra Streisand in which she comments that her mother, who had been affected by Alzheimer (http://alzheimers.org.uk/), would recognize  music and its links to her life at an advanced stage to the disease.
How about you? Have you watched the movie? How do you feel about music?

Have I stayed too long at the fair?

via youtube.com

The other day I was talking to this friend of mine(an Educator for more than 30 years now) about all the changes we've seen in the world in the past, say, 10 years. Even though we have been trying to get the best from all this modern stuff (technology/web 2.0) sometimes I think it's only natural to feel as if "we have stayed too long at the fair". Of course I mentioned this song because I think it says it all. I can't help feeling scared because I think noone can deny how fast time has been slipping away. Last Friday I also got schocked when I saw this decoration store having Santa Claus on their windows - mind you - it's the end of September!!
Anyway... I'd love to read from you about this theme. Do you feel this way as well? Have you ever felt as if you've stayed too long at the fair? How do you deal with this hectic lifestyle we have all been exposed to?
In the meantime enjoy Barbra at another magical, timeless moment.

Barbra Streisand Concert 2006 A Cockeyed Optimist

via youtube.com

Another awesome moment from her latest Concert. This is another great example of her immense talent and sense of citizenship. I have shared it with most of my students, very young people (most of them in their early, mid teens) and it's wonderful to see the light in their eyes when they listen to her. I insist people cannot resist true talent. I know some colleagues who say they would not dare share their music preferences with this new generation as they could not care less about anything.
Thank God I have been very successful so far. It may not be the kind of music they will download to play on their Ipods YET they recognize its value and many of them have come to me and thanked me for sharing.
Last night I posted about music in a blog : http://thelearningquarter.blogspot.com/2009/09/first-time-that-music-meant-so... and now here I am once again sharing another gem from Barbra and her own concept about music.
Maybe someday (somewhere...somehow) we will come to realize that we should all "be the inferior of no man, nor of any man be superior...). Isn't it what web 2.0 and the idea of collaborative work is all about? Is she something or what?

Blogging for me

Well, as they say "better late than never". I have just realized I had "forgotten" this task here from our course. This week has been particularly hectic for me becuase of the Mid Term Test to correct, parents-teachers meeting to take place tomorrow afternoon to name but a few of the extra activities. However, I have been trying to do my best so I do not fall a lot behind schedule here. The whole experience  has been really exciting and motivating. A great opportunity to see myself as a learner again. I have always defended the idea that we are/ should be eager learners for ever but it's different because I now belong to a group, I have an instructor, facilitator, guide and all my friends who may also be expecting to  hear from me just as I feel whenever I get to know they have done something new. So, I came across this picture,which perfectly represents my idea of edublogging. We are here to help one another - really care for one another and share. I do not have to count on Google only any time I get in trouble in front of my PC. I know I can leave a message to Carla on Edmodo and before I know it I'll get some help from her or from any of the other members of our group. I have been  a little forgetful these days so I'll not mention names because I may certainly forget some but I should take this opportunity to thank you all for the encouragement and support shared so far. Hope to read from you soon.

World-connect-people-community

​