“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. ”
Edith Lovejoy Pierce
New Year’s Eve is a perfect time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year.
2009 was a great year for me. I have started my teacher blog, joined Twitter and met a lot of amazing people and had the chance to meet some of these people in real life. The only problem has been keeping the balance right between the virtual life and real life from time to time but I think I am learning it.
2010 is another new beginning and I made a few resolutions to make my new year a more productive one.
Learn Spanish.
I want to experience learning a new language. I’m thinking of learning Spanish in Second Life. I hope to speak some Spanish during my next visit to Spain:-)
Start Wikiing.
I’ll start Wikiing with my students. I’m convinced that Wikis are great tools for collaboration. I have already created a Wiki on PBworks and will start international projects on it very soon. I’m looking forward to this experience.
Check out this great article by Vicki A. Davis about how to use Wikis in your classes.
Learn to use different Web 2.0 tools.
There are some web tools that I have heard but haven’t tried yet. Here are three of them:
Audacity: It is a free audio editing software which can be used for podcasting and editing audio files.
Animoto: Animoto produces music videos using your photos and video clips.
YackPack: YackPack provides a simple audio platform for groups to communicate in a private space on the Internet. You can leave asynchronous voice messages and talk in real time with your group.
Use your Flip.
Thanks to Lindsay Clandfield, I learned that I don’t have to suffer with converting videos anymore if I have a Flip. Check out his blog post called “Six activities with camcorders“. I’m very happy that I’ll have one before the new year starts. (Thanks to Ken Wilson ) Filming the nice moments and sharing the videos on the Internet will be very easy and fun with it. (lol! It sounds like I’m getting paid by Flip.)
Start another “Spread Your Knowledge” series.
I’m proud to have this great series on my blog. I’m sure that all the articles in this series inspired many teachers. Check out the great blog posts by some of the leading people in ELT and please contact me if you want to write a guest piece for the second “Spread Your Knowledge” series.
Leave comments to the fellow bloggers’ blogs more.
Join #Edchat conversations on Twitter.
Participate in forums.
I marked these three resolutions with red because I need more time for making these happen. I will do my best to realize these resolutions:-)
Convince more teachers to use Twitter and integrate technology into their lessons.
I’m glad to see that more and more teachers start using Web 2.0 tools in their classes and for professional development. I’ll do my best to convince more teachers to explore this great world of opportunities.
Well…That’s all from me. Why don’t you sit down with a cup of coffee, a paper and a pen and write down your New Year’s Resolutions for 2010?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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I love the red ones too! Participation in the internet/education world is going to have a breakout year in 2010.
tpnora´s last blog ..Teacher Certification
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Hi Burcu
I enjoyed reading your New Year Resolutions. You are a real inspiration for me. Good luck with what you hope to achieve in 2010. I am sure you will make them happen.
Animoto is one of my favourite tools because it is easy and fun to work with! I haven’t used Audacity or Yackpack. I look forward to seeing how you get on with them.
I haven’t been involved with Edchat this year but hopefully, 2010 will change that and then we can “see” more of each other and the PLN we share. That would be lovely!
Have a wonderful New Year and may all your dreams come true!
Best wishes
Janet
Janet Bianchini´s last blog ..2009:The Year of Living Technologically
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Burcu,
Thanks for the great to-do list. I share two things on your list. I am looking to do more with my wiki and also trying to keep encouraging more and more members of my staff to use Twitter to create their own PLN.
Thanks for being such a valuable resource! Happy New Year! I cannot imagine the new things that I will garner from my PLN in 2010.
Patrick Larkin´s last blog ..I Am Not "The School" – Please Don’t Blame Everyone For My Decisions
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Nice to see wikis are on the list
and thanks to you and Lindsay for the Flip ideas – great to have expanding lists and lots of goals to achieve!
Thanks for the inspiration and getting the ball going on this one…
Valentina Dodge´s last blog ..A Mosaic of Views and Styles
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What a great idea to write down your New Year’s Resolutions, Burcu!
You have inspired me to sit down and write mine, too, as your blog has inspired me in the past to be a better blogger.
For all that I have learnt from reading your blog, thank you and may you accomplish all your resolutions in 2010.
I wish you all the best for 2010, health and happiness in your professional and personal life.
I am very happy you are a member of my PLN and do look forward to a fulfilling and exciting new year as part of it.
Marisa
Marisa Constantinides´s last blog ..Though I may be on the other side of the world from you…
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Thank you for your lovely comment and good wishes Marisa. I am very happy to have you in my PLN too and really really looking forward to meeting you in Harrogate. I wish you a great year!!!
Best,
Burcu
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Hi Burcu!
I echo your 3 red resolutions. I also want to attend more Webinars like one I saw you do earlier this year. Remember the PK in my PJs!?! I accidently fell upon it one Friday night and thought it was great
Thanks for all your insights
Best Wishes for 2010
Amanda
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Yes, absolutely more webinars, more virtual conferences:-))
Happy new year!
Best,
Burcu
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Burcu,
Your resolutions are motivating. One of mine is to begin commenting more on others’ blogs, so I’m starting with yours.
BTW I do speak Spanish very well although I am not a native-speaker in case you ever want to practice via Skype or some other video conferencing tool.
Maryanne
Maryanne Burgos´s last blog ..Networked Learning for Teachers
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I would love to do that! But before I have to learn a few phrases…Learner anxiety:-) (My Skype name is akyolburcu)
Happy new year!
Burcu
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Maryanne Burgos Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 3:26 am
Burcu,
In reviewing my delicious account, I found this link to a post about a BBC site for learning Spanish that might interest you.
http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=101
I hope it’s useful.
Maryanne
Maryanne Burgos´s last blog ..If a tree falls in the forest…
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That’s a great list! Have you checked out LiveMocha? I used it over the summer to learn Spanish– it’s great! I liked the fact that you can become involved with the community and act as peer mentors
I too would like to do more of the goals you highlighted in red. Great post… now I’m off to brainstorm my own New Year PD goals 
Happy holidays, and best wishes to a wonderful new year!
MissCheska´s last blog ..Teacher Roles = Dangerous Territory?
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I will check it out, thanks:-) Thanks you for your good wishes. I wish you a great year!
Best,
Burcu
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Hi Burcu!
Funnily enough, I was also working on my professional new year resolutions! Great minds think alike… well actually I imagine lots of people will be doing the same. Glad you like the Flip, it IS such a cool little video camcorder!
A happy and healthy new year to you!
Lindsay Clandfield´s last blog ..Six gift ideas and the 2009 recap
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Thank you Lindsay. I guess 2010 will be a year of great tweet-ups. I’m glad that I met you and you’re in my PLN:-)
Best,
Burcu
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Dear Burcu,
Congratulations on your resolutions for the new year, may you accomplish everything you’ve wished for!
Happy holidays and A Happy New Year!
Best,
Melania
Melania´s last blog ..A change of perspective
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burcuakyol Reply:
December 28th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Thanks Melania! Happy new year to you too:-) Btw I’m very happy that I’m starting the year with a great Wiki project in which we will be partners!
Best,
Burcu
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