TDIC project - part 2

Monday, May 26, 2008

TDIC Project

Hello, here's an idea about how you can orgainze your TDIC writing:

4 paragraphs
introduction

best project

least interesting

conclusion

We'll talk more in class -

the Fox

How to use / share your Voice Thread

Gentlemen:

Go to the 174 'Cool Cities' site, and check out the Voicethread.com site. You will be adding a voicethread link to your blogs - which you can also link to your 'Personal Focus' section to increase the effectiveness of the posting(s).

There are many ways you can share your Voicethread. If you are really tech-savvy, you can even try "embedding" it in your blog. The basic ways, however, are just making it 1) private 2) public. See below.

PRIVATE
1. Sign into voicethread.com
2. Click on the star (right-hand corner) for your Voicethread.
3. Click on “edit”.
4. Click on “add a friend”. Fill in the information.
5. Click on the eye picture (allow), giving your friend permission to view your Voicethread.
5. Click on “Invite”. Send e-mail to your friend (e.g. classmates or teacher: gregory.vrhovnik@hct.ac.ae or gregoryv2005@gmail.com )

PUBLIC
1. Sign into voicethread.com
2. Click on the star (right-hand corner) for your Voicethread.
3. Click on “edit”.
4. Select “This voicethread is public” – choose comments or no comments.
5. Post your Voicethread link on your blog (Note: you MUST choose "public" - if you just copy and paste the link but your Voicethread is private, people will not be able to see it ... unless you invite them. See "private" above).

Here, for example, is one of TJ's public voicethreads (notice that she has hyperlinked it): http://voicethread.com/#u82592.b112146

Note: this way could be more fun since everybody in class can then see your Voicethread. However, so can everybody in the world!


THanks to Teacher TJ for her help!

Home stretch - week 16 Cool Cities project etc.

Gentlemen:
In the last week of classes we will have much to do, talk about, and finish before the week is out: you might want to check out the Gulf News iniative under -

Go Green Day - Open letter from Editor-in-Chief
Gulf News Published: May 25, 2008, 00:11

Also, here's the checklist for final blogposts and the assessment percentages- We'll talk about the TDIC project and how to 'Voicethread' on Tuesday. Come ready with your questions. Happy blogging!


174 Blog Checklist for Blog 30%/ 30 pts (5% each)
1. Inconvenient Truth – Summary and review

2. ‘Carbon Footprint - UAE and beyond – Report (see calendar or Blog)

3. ‘Cool City – comments’ (adaptations /bad/ disadvanages)

4. ‘Cool Cities – Abu Dhabi + Masdar’-TDIC project (for your final presentation)

5. Voice thread – add to your blogs

6. ‘Cool Solutions – 'My own Focus’ – individual blogs on your topic


Project Grading:
“A” level = full marks (5) – Band 6-6.5 writing level, very good organization, 1-2 errors, excellent coverage and completion of the assigned tasks in all aspects; excellent content and choice of blog materials
“B” level = 80% of full marks (4) – Band 5.75 – 6 writing level, good organization, 3-5 errors, very good coverage and completion of the assigned tasks in all aspects; very good content and choice of blog materials
“C” level = 65% of full marks (3) – Band 5.75 writing level, average organization of tasks, 5+ usage errors, average to good coverage of assigned tasks; above to average content and choice of blog materials
“F” level = 0% (0) – Band 5.5 and below writing level; poor organization or missing tasks; poor coverage of tasks when included; poor content choice and quality

Week 15+16 tasks (final)

Gentlemen, it’s almost over!
In week 15, please make 2+ critical comments on other classmates’ blogs. Do the same in week 16. You should post at least 10 comments in total.

Try to finish your WebCT Vista Vocabulary quizzes by the end of week 15. The deadline for completing all ten quizzes is Thursday, 1 pm, May 29. This deadline will not be extended.

Find a partner. Go to http://www.tdic.ae/ and look under “Projects”. Choose one:
2. Shangrila Hotel
3. Emirates Pearl
4. Saadiyat Island & Cultural District, Saadiyat Island
5. Abu Dhabi Creek Business Resort<
6. Bridgeway at Zayed Sports City
7. Grand Corniche Hotel
8. Qasr Al Sarab
9. The Lagoon Club Hotel & Residences<
10. Desert Islands
11. Al Bateen Wharf

Read about your project at this website (http://www.blogger.com/www.tdic.ae) and any others you can find. Prepare a short (4-5 minute) PowerPoint, arguing that your project is the “coolest” (best). Guidelines: you need a minimum of six slides (1) cover slide/introduction 2) location/definition – what and where is your project? 3) Main reason/feature why your project is the best 4) Another main reason 5) Last main reason 6) Conclusion/review.

- Upload or embed your PowerPoint (use scribd.com or another method)
- “TDIC Projects”. Write a 200 (+) word comment:
- Paragraph 1. My partner (name) and I researched (Emirates Pearl). You can see our - PowerPoint about its best features at link.
- Paragraph 2. The project I liked the most was (x) because … (include picture)
-Paragraph 3. The least interesting project was (y) since ... (include picture)
- Paragraph 4. Make a general (critical) comment on the TDIC projects in Abu Dhabi.
The deadline for all blog posts is Thursday, June 5, 1 pm. No extensions. I will offer feedback/editing assistance in class.

We were supposed to do a power point presentation with this exercise - but it looks like we'll save that for the last week, i.e. which you can include in your final presentation with power points on either Monday, 2 June: 14.30 - 16.30 OR Wednesday, 4 June 10.00 - 12.00 (noon). We'll devide the class into two groups of 6 or 7 and they will only have to appear for their presentation day.
- All blog posts are due BY 5 June (when you have your IELTS test) so finish before then!
- Thanks to TJ for her help this term with the blogs!!

happy blogging, the Fox

New Blog for Cool Cities

Sunday, May 18, 2008 / three weeks to go!
- Be sure to bring your personal blog topics to me for Tuesday! Otherwise it's tough to give you the extra marks...

Week 14 Tasks
Hello gentlemen! This is a busy week since we had to do reading summary last week Therefore, other tasks are easier this week.
1. WebCT Vista Vocabulary – finish up to and including quiz 8. The deadline for completion of all 10 quizzes is Thursday, May 29, 1 pm (end of week 16). 2. Blog comments. Add two more thoughtful comments to other classmates’ blogs (2 per week from week 12, so you should have 6+ by Thursday, May 19). Please spell-check!
3. Watch the Cool Cities video about developing cool cities in the UAE. Identify three good changes (adaptations) which could work well and three bad or unrealistic changes which would not work (well) in terms of practicality or environmental impact (global warming) in the UAE. You can find more arguments for and against “cool cities” in these articles from The National: "Cool ideas to beat the heat", "Building a Green Dream", and "Masder's Green Dream is not for all". Need to see the video again? Click on "Cool Cities" in the week 14 tasks of the blog project (a fast internet connection helps!).
**4. Post a 140+ word blog entry called “Cool City Comments” and use subtitles “Good adaptations” and “Bad adaptations”. Write 3 main points for each (#1 below is my example only – change it!).
**Good adaptations1. Covered walkways – would reduce temperatures and not impact the environment.2. Main point 2 – good because …3. Main point 3 – beneficial since …Bad adaptations1. Using misters (water) to cool the air temperature – could be bad because water supplies are limited. It also takes energy to get water and produce mist.2. Main point 2 – may be bad because …3. Main point 3 - might be impractical since …Suitable images and links to suitable videos or articles are also a plus. Try to finish #4 by Thursday, May 23 (the deadline for all blog entries is Thursday, June 6 - the week of your presentaions). This week, I will not be editing your work because you are only asked to write main points and, too, I am more interested in good content and critical thinking than in grammatical accuracy (although that still counts!). Plus, I will have 20 reading summaries to mark!

See you Tuesday;

the Fox

Sample summary - for Inconvenient Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2008

An Inconvenient Truth: Evaluation (sample)
In the film “An Inconvenient Truth”, presenter Al Gore, a former US presidential candidate, makes a compelling case for global warming as fact, not fiction. On the plus side, he highlights an important issue in ways that both convince and appeal to his audience. Graph after graph with alarming statistics correlating rises in temperature and C02 levels are featured, as are then-now pictures of glaciers. Furthermore, he presents in a serious but humorous manner by, for example, moving up on a machine to illustrate the projected temperature in five decades, and using cartoons throughout. Last, he weaves in sad personal events to make an emotional appeal to viewers, thereby echoing his own repeated pleas to government.However, Gore may not practice all he preaches. To explain further, one chart on US automobile fuel “inefficiency” conveniently starts in 2002, the year Bush assumed presidency. It does not, however, show that fuel efficiency was even less in the years prior to this, when Clinton and Gore, as vice-president, were in charge. Moreover, this man may well lead a less than environmentally friendly life himself, having lived on luxurious Pennsylvania Avenue 8 years and flown all over the world, albeit for a good cause. He's even shown drinking Coca Cola in China and there’s a can on his desk in another shot. Does he often drink this American-manufactured poison? Did he get money to include it in his film? Finally, although the Gore tobacco farm did eventually close, he was actually still campaigning against labeling on cigarette packages a year after his sister's death from lung cancer and, four years later, still wanted to keep the farm (see real politics link).To conclude, good on Gore for raising awareness of an important issue, but a few more “gory”, personal truths would make the man more real, the movie more realistic.

I'll be checking your weblogs to make sure they are up to date... stay ahead on your 174 assignments, plus your 174 vocabulary.

See you in class,

the Fox

Week 14 Tasks - more on Carbon Footprints

Tuesday 13 May, 2008

Week 14 Tasks

Hi guys!Week 12 tasks related to "An Inconvenient Truth" were to a) write a summary of the movie (200+ words) and b) evaluate or review it (150+ words). If you've not finished, hurry up! (;Week 13 tasks are1) finish 2 more quizzes in WebCT Vista Vocabulary. That means finishing up to and including quiz 6. You also need to post 2 more NICE (but critical) comments on other classmates' blogs. That means 4 posts now -- 2 each week from week 12.
2) measure your carbon footprint at either http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ or http://www.myfootprint.org//. You might want to try both quizzes! I did the first one. I thought I was very environmentally friendly but was shocked that my score was 3.59. That means I am living as if there were 3.59 earths and, too, I am above the U.K. average! For the second, my score was a horrible 10.77 (10.7 earths!). My scores were poor for food (I'm eating too much meat) and goods and services (buying too many new things) but good for home energy, transport and housing
3) Make a post entitled "My Carbon Footprint: Problems & Solutions" (200+ words). You should write 4+ paragraphs. Suggested format:a) introduction (define the term "carbon footprint" and say what your score is and what it means)b) body paragraph 1 - problems (identify 3 of your carbon footprint problems. For example, one of mine is that I travel a lot by plane, so this contributes to atmospheric pollution)c) body paragraph 2 - solutions (identify 3 specific solutions for your carbon footprint problems - for example, I could do more travel by bus within the UAE instead of going to other countries during breaks like Eid)d) conclusion - brief commentary on carbon footprints/global warming and future statement.Please included 2+ nice photos to accompany your post. Links to suitable videos would also be a plus. I will check your post (#3) if you finish it by 1 pm on Thursday, May 14 AND let me know. -- Enjoy!

Plus check out the Natioanal article:

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Industry/10211839.html

A recent article about 'Power - and Carbon Footprints' in the UAE should be very interesting
about arternatives to regular energy creation...

the Fox

Also, next Blogpost will cover 'Voicethreads' something to add to your blogs, which we 'forgot' to do / cover up to now which is important for your blogs! Check out:

http://voicethread.com/ Good stuff !!

tF

Blog for 12 May - Truth summaries and more

Monday, 11 May, 2008

Week 12 Tasks

Hi again guys!

By now, your profile, and voicethread should be finished (what's that?) I'll tell you in my next blog... It's time to move on to exciting new challenges.

Week 12. WebCT Vista vocabulary is now open! Log into your account, Eng 174, and start doing the vocabulary quizzes. The deadline for completion of all 10 quizzes is the end of week 16, so you should try to complete at least 2 quizzes each week. You need 70% in each quiz in order to receive full marks.

Please make at least two comments on other classmates' blogs EVERY week, including this week. Part of your final mark is based on making critical comments.

We watched "An Inconvenient Truth", featuring Al Gore. I assigned two tasks which you should complete by the end of week 13:

1. Post name: "An Inconvenient Truth: Summary". Write a 200+ word summary of the film. You should organise this like Task 4 in the reading summary (short intro, 2+ body paragraphs) and a short conclusion. Think about what themes are involved - it's not just problem-solution but also has an argument slant as well as autobiographical element.

2. Post name: "An Inconvenient Truth: Evaluation". Evaluate the film in 150+ words. This should be similar to Task 5. You mention your opinion and say what you liked and disliked about the film. Support your ideas with evidence. You can read some other evaluations(commentaries) here:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inconvenient_truth/?critic=columns

Please spell-check 1 and 2: I will edit 1 or 2 if finished by the end of week 12 (1 pm, Thursday, May 1) but will NOT edit posts after that.

Happy blogging!

the Fox

weblog for 11 May '08 - Carbon footprints and more

Gentlemen:

New Blog-post for 11 May 2008 - This week we will discuss 'Carbon Footprints' and the environment how we can reduce our impact on the environment- check out.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080505/BUSINESS/69195690/1053&Profile=1053 - all about 'beating the heat with cool ideas' and another article about how the UAE can reduce its impact on resources at:

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080506/BUSINESS/203459638/1055&Profile=1055

Be sure to bring your 'Focus Topic' to class on Tuesday, because this is how you can get the extra points for your 174 project. In fact, to be fair and to give you more incentive to work harder on your 'cool solutions' part of the web-blog, this section of your project is now 10 points (out of 30 pts)of your grade, with the basic content elements 20 points. Enjoy!

Happy blogging;

the Fox

How hurricanes / typhoons / cyclones are formed

Gentlemen:

we saw in 'Inconvenient Truth' about typhoons and hurricanes - see this site for how they form:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/hurricane.htm

Is the recent Myanmar typhoon normal for this time of year! ANd now they saw upwards of 50,000 people may be dead. Check it out if you are interested! See this news spot:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_desperate_survivors


the Fox

new measures for emirate's carbon footprint

Gentlemen:

 The sites for the 'carbon footprint' sites in the National are still valid - but here's a more direct
 site: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/NATIONAL/929178526/1001   and
  -  http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/NATIONAL/769035659/1001    and
  -  http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/NATIONAL/109809881/1001    and
  -  http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080429/NATIONAL/276408775/1001

 They are  all good and about local concerns about the environment and what is beeing done locally to protect the environment.

 CHL 174 for the week 4 - 8 May:  We will see (finally) 'Inconvenient Truth' and do the summary to post on your blogsites. The next 30% of your grade will deal primarily with the content of your blog and its quality and effectiveness. REad about 'AD's carbon footprint and we'll discuss this point on Tuesday

Five-year plan to help the environment

Gentlemen:

  Here's a local site for you to gather more information for your blogs:

New measures to gauge emirate’s carbon footprint
 @ www. thenational.ae

 The Government is to measure Abu Dhabi’s environmental record scientifically for
the first time to improve the emirate’s deteriorating “green” performance.

From wonderland to super port
EAD key target areas
Five-year plan to help environment

 I would think you would use at one least of these sites that I recommend for your
blogs...

 happy blogging,  the Fox

Green is the new red white and blue - part 2

Gentlemen:



Here are some sites that were mentioned in the previous article but did not come up on the website:



1. Acciona Energía- [ Translate this page ]
Acciona Energía es una empresa... prueba. ... Noticias. 11/03/2008 ACCIONA Energía promueve en Extremadura proyectos en renovables por 900 millones de euros ...www.acciona-energia.com/ - 13k



2. Finavera Renewables
It develops and operates assets in the wind and wave energy sectors. Describes current projects and
lists news items. Based in Vancouver, Canada.www.finavera.com/ - 10k

3. SANYO eneloop Ready to use Rechargeable Battery - The only ...
eneloop is a ready to use Rechargeable Battery - The only battery you will ever need.
www.eneloop.info/ - 22k

4. Welcome To PetroAlgae
PetroAlgae is commercializing extraordinary new technologies to grow and harvest oil from algae.
This remarkable process creates a sustainable, renewable, ...www.petroalgae.com/ - 51k

5. Petroalgae - The Environment - TIME
Fred Tennant thinks algae — those slimy little creatures from your biology textbook —
will save the world. Here's how: the company PetroAlgae, where Tennant ...
www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/article/0,28804,1730759_1730843_1730862,00.html - 34k

6. Sustainable Concrete Construction Solutions - Hycrete Waterproof ...
Integral waterproofing that eliminate the need for external membranes.www.hycrete.com/

7. Hycrete « Later On Blog
I’m not sure I totally get this, but apparently Hycrete is a recyclable waterproof concrete—pretty nifty, given that the enormous amount of concrete we use .
leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/hycrete/

Check out these sites to add to your blog!!

the Fox

Green is the new red white and blue

Gentlemen:

 Here's a collection of articles and ways that will lead to a greener future... Check out the
articles and five ways to go greener. You could select individual points to use in your own blogs - this is a big hint on how to get a higher grade (last 30%).

 See: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1730759,00.html

 Green Is the New Red, White And Blue

So far the U.S. has largely sat out the war against climate change—but that can change.
We have a plan for making America the global leader on global warming
Cover Story
Viewpoint: The Right War

 

Earth Day 2008

Here is a web-site for Earth Day 2008:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/04/22/earth_day_2008/

This would also make a good link for your own blogs - including Earth Day 2008 in the UAE!!

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10207331.html

Where did Earth Day start and what is the purpose?? Find out and add to your blogs...

Earth Day: Balancing consumer passions and eco values

• Story Highlights
• First Earth Day was held in 1970 to promote values of environmentalism
  
• Today Earth Day's network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries
  
• Corporations have met public's growing interest in marking Earth Day
  
• Worries that 'participation' has been replaced by 'shopping'
  
• Next Article in World »

By Matt Ford for CNN

(CNN) -- To consume? Or not to consume?

Since its inception in 1970 Earth Day has become much more commercial. Is this good or bad??

The Fox

Greensburg, Kansas - Greenest city in the US

One year ago, the city of Greensburg in Kansas, USA was destroyed by a tornado. Now the city is famous for a happier reason. It is becoming one of the “greenest” cities in America.

Read all about it—and watch the videos—on today’s Yahoo news. Add this news to your blog if you like.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080421/lf_afp/usenvironmentclimatestorm

Greenroofs.com: The Resource Portal for Green Roofs

http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=40

These are the types of green news stories that you can add to or write about in your blogs.

Regards,

The Fox

PS: Check the favorite student blogs link to make sure I have your blog!!

Thanks to Ms. Molly

Earth Hour Dubai

I would like all our students to watch the Earth Hour Youtube video

Dubai to join 'Earth Hour' blackout
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/climatewarminguaedubai

About This Video
Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

This simple act has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. As a result, at 8pm on the 29 March, 2008 millions of people in some of the world's major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane, Tel Aviv, Manila and Dubai will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxu3MluKl8A&NR=1

It will help students with their 174 project.

- We will also have a discussion and writing assignment next week on this topic -

TO my 174 students

Top 10 greenest US cities:

 Here is a link to the recent article on the ten greenest US cities - 
check it out and find other 'green' cities in other countries and areas.

 http://green.yahoo.com/sustainable-cities/sustain-157/portland-a-role-model-for-the-nation.html

 We want to emphsize Solutions to global warming, not concentrate 
on the problems which was done last semester!

 the fox 

Where are my student's blogs??!

 I assigned my 174 students at ADMC to post their blog addresses on my site... but how many have found it? Not too many!

 Remember, this is the project for 174 which amounts to 50% of the grade in the class besides the reading summaries and the vocabulary check.

THe students can do anything they want with their blogs, but this term's topic is on 'Cool Cities' - in the weather/ climate sense, not so much regarding the social life.

 If any of my 174 students have found this site, it would be good to hear from them!

the fox

car accident

For those of you who missed the news there was a terrible multi-car accident yesterday on the Sheik Zayed highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Here is a site to see all the photos:

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10196827.html

There were over 200 cars involved in the accident. The cause of this tragedy was the thick fog which limited visibility on the highway - also drivers who were not used to the bad weather did not slow down.

the fox

hd1

It's easy to follow your work at the hd1 site - learn and enjoy at:

http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/HD1/index.htm

the fox