Holiday Vacations and Online Fun!

Happy Holidays!


Wondering what fun activities you can do over the holiday vacation?

Of course, if you are lucky enough to have snow in your back yard, you can build a snowman!

Make sure you share a picture of it on social media or any other way you share your pictures.  Maybe you want to make a cell phone video of the steps you take to build one. Maybe you can even upload it to You Tube so that you can easily share it instantly with your family and friends in different areas.





No snow on the ground? Maybe you are away on vacation with your kids. Here are some great activities that I created called Fun Do at Homes. You can watch them on You Tube on any computer, tablet, or phone! The whole family can participate.  I would love your feedback and comments and your successes. Need help with how to do any of the activities? Contact me from my web site.
www.solve-by-skype-tutoring.com



Enjoy and have a wonderful and fun holiday season.
Happy New Year!

Clare

Post Halloween Hunker Down

Hunkering Down

Late fall, early winter brings out my survival instincts.  Is it in my DNA? Is it because I live in a historic Massachusetts home and I can vividly imagine what life was like for people a few centuries ago? Is it because my mother grew up in New Brunswick, Canada and only had a wood stove for heat and cooking?
Mounds of snow start Early!

I am now in wood gathering mode. I heat my apartment for the price of my efforts to physically get the wood..Everywhere. The Common. The woods, from friends.  There is tons of free or low cost heat out there.  I am fortunate to have a wood stove. I feel that I live as the founders of America lived..of course not nearly as hard of a life.
Recently I reconnected with a woman I have known for decades.  Years and years ago, I observed her as a single parent raise one of the most brilliant coders I have ever met.  Wonderful guy.  As a matter of fact, this kid (then a teenager), his best friend, and another friend my age, all created their own internet and shared all kinds of stuff.  I owe my technical knowledge to them!
So my friend and I were talking about how Boston is kind of the intellectual capital of the US, and how we who are fortunate to live here always have history over our shoulder.
I said of course it is, because the weather is so cold for almost 9 months out of the year, there was nothing else to do but study!!
Well of course I admit that I trivialize. It's the history that speaks to us to strive to learn. Online Learning has revolutionized the hunker down, gather wood, spark up the clay pot heaters, feel like you live in the past, but realize that you live in a wonderful world of global communication and learning.

Need to heat a room?
How to make a Candle Powered Air Heater

Here is my smaller version my friend taught me how to make.  It heats my bathroom. Nice and toasty. For just the cost of stuff you have lying around.

Because of Free Online Internet courses such as Coursera.org, Free-ed.net ,  MIT OpenCourseWare , and don't forget Kahn Academy we can fulfill our need to learn, Freely and for free.  Gather your wood, Light your Candle Heaters, Put a blanket over your feet.  Log on and Learn.

Free offer-Learn how to set up your own web site with your own web site address for under $10 a year! Contact me and you are on your way.
Thanks for reading!
Clare
www.solve-by-skype-tutoring.com

Everyone Loves a Halloween Parade-Even on Skype!

Hello all! I hope Autumn is treating you as well as it is for us here in Salem, MA! Home of the best Halloween Weirdness you could find anywhere!

Map of Salem MA

Recently, I had the pleasure of taking my friend with me to our annual Haunted Happenings Halloween Parade. My friend wasn't able to physically come with me.  We went together while Skyping! I use my Android Smart Phone Skype App, and a really cool feature is switching the phone camera from front to back. He was able to see everything, and even got to talk to some locals who were thrilled he came along!

Skype and any online video chatting program (I just discovered Tango thanks to my friend in Montreal Canada) is an incredible way to learn and tour! If you can't be with the one you Skype, Give them a Skype Tour!

Just dying to travel and don't have time or money? Take Skype trips!

Happy Halloween

Clare

http://virtual-skype-touring-with-clare.us/

Online Learning-"Thinking Globally, Acting Locally"

My Vision

From where did the notion come?

According to a Wikipedia entry, the "Canadian "futurist" Frank Feather chaired a conference called "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" in 1979 and has claimed the paternity of the expression."

As stated in GlobalLocal 2014,

“Think Globally, Act Locally” originally began at the grassroots level, however, it is now a global concept with high importance. It is not just volunteers who take the environment into consideration. It is corporations, government officials, education system, and local communities. Warren Heaps states, “It’s really important to recognize that markets are different around the world, and company compensation programs should reflect a balance between global corporate philosophy and local practice and culture”

Thinking Globally...from the workplace perspective.

Decentralization of the work place from large cubicle farms where employees type away on computers using web based business applications is the future.  Why? Business depends on Global Communication, just as Education does now.  Many courses out there teach us to learn online and to know how to teach online.  I am completing a wonderful course called Learning to Teach Online. I have met some wonderful and dedicated teachers from all over the world with the same vision. Take a look at all the places we live..You Tube Picture Slide Show.

 We communicate and learn online because we need to for Global camraderie and understanding our Global needs at home and in business. Now. 

Acting Locally...from the human being perspective.

In my view, the long term goal is to get those employees out of the cubicle farm, and into their local home or office space. Case in point. I see  my neighbor every morning at 7:30 AM walking her dog, my dog's "girlfriend." She gets in her car, and drives 45 minutes away (heavy rush hour traffic) from home down a treacherous highway to her place of work. 40 miles round trip.  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Except for a week here or there for vacation time. Gas costs approximately $3.50 US Dollar per gallon . I am sure she is well aware of the math.  She sits in her office, communicates to customers around the Globe, and all of the business applications are web based.   She could be taking her dry cleaning to our local cool guy down the street.  She takes her dry cleaning to the big huge mall by her work place. You see where I am going with this. Working locally, doing the same work, using the same communication, using the same business software it takes to use all that fossil fuel, aggravation just getting there, missing school plays, and buying from huge stores, taking hard earned dollars away from our local businesses.

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally.. 

References
Think globally, act locally - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_globally,_act_locally

Think globally act locally. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.coetail.com/itsallaboutart/2014/03/08/think-globally-act-locally/

Global and local business – glocalvision.me. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://glocalvision.me/

Visit www.clare-computer-tutor.com Online Skype Tutoring.  Learning from our wonderful global perspectives. Any time, any where.  Subscribe to my Newsletter using the form on the site for insights and Online Learning Methods.

Prepping our Minds for Changing Lives-Teaching-The Most Noble Profession

Experiencing the Wonderful Week before School Starts!

It's New England or Anywhere. It's the week before Labor Day, Monday September 1-We honor our work ethic with a day off...Teachers are most deserving.
Thoughts that are crossing our minds now-

Transitioning between enjoying the warm weather and prepping our minds for changing the lives of our students.

That being said-Are your kids nervous about starting school? Nervous about new math and science classes? Going to a new school? You know that they want to do well right out of the gate..but you know they need and want a review. 

Online Skype Tutoring-Math, Science, Literacy.  Right Now. When you need it. No waiting for a tutor to schedule, come to your house, and perhaps even cancelling, when you need them most.  The first get to know you session at no charge.  Flexible rates. Let me help you and your kids let go of those first days of school jitters.

Need an example of what I can do for you?

Visit my web site www.clare-computer-tutor.com You will find tutoring samples. Sign up for my weekly newsletter about my innovative online tutoring techniques and special offers. I look forward to meeting you. I am just a Skype Video Call Away!

Recording Your Adventures and Virtual Education

Greetings!

We all have opportunities to record and share our adventures with others in the vast world of Online Education.  I like to call one approach Experiential Education through Online Learning.  

As I have mentioned, my goal as an Online Educator is Not to have everyone stare at computer screens and write endless blogs and discussions.

I promote a wider approach for us to introduce our worlds to each other.

I feel that when we all learn to use simple technologies such as Instragram, where you take a photo or very short video and send it right away to your followers, you can share your rich culture with others for a more holistic view of each other.  I encourage everyone to try this, as sharing media becomes more and more easy.

Therefor, let's let the picture or the short video do the talking.

Let's start typing bullet points, and let's start showing effective means of communicating through visual media.

For Example

• Touring a city close to me-Cambridge Massachusetts-Video of cool Multicultural Mural
• Wacky Architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology:

Sand Art on Revere Beach MassachusettsI especially like this picture, as it is a concrete visual representation of the wonderful concept of unity with the world and collaboration-All accomplished with easy technologies at our fingertips!

Thank you for reading.

Visit www.clare-computer-tutor.com for more information and Subscribe to my Newsletter
Thank you!

Meeting Tourists in Your City-What a Wonderful Experience!

Each year, especially in the summertime, I meet the most wonderful people from all parts of the globe.  I live in Salem, MA-one of the cradles of American History.  I have the pleasure of living near the Salem Maritime National Historic Site:

During the 1800's the British locked down Boston, MA and punished the revolutionaries by imposing strict curfews and limiting trade and basic needs like food.  The revolutionaries fought against taxation imposed by the British, hence the well known motto "taxation without representation." Salem, MA became the central economic hub of the colonies for goods and services trade all over the world,  enabling the revolutionaries in Salem, MA to plan their move toward independence, thus becoming a major player in our country's independence.  I reflect upon this during the 4th of July holiday..especially listening to the Declaration of Independence read every year at 9AM EST in Salem.

Codfish became the major trade item from Salem to all points in the world.  Cod became the "currency" and became a very important part of the world economy, and once dried and salted (flaked), became an important source of protein.  In turn the Salem ships would bring home important items for the colonial economy.

As I mentioned, people from all walks of life around the globe visit my city and the national historic site to understand how important Salem was to the economy of the country in the 1800's.  

Recently I met some people from Iraq as well as Africa at the site.  I feel so honored that people come here to appreciate our American History and Independence.  I grew up in Marblehead, MA, the next town over-and I remember celebrating the town's 350th anniversary in 1979!  Maybe not a long time in the eyes of world history, but appreciated by member's of the world community.

So Happy Birthday America and thank you tourists from all over the country and world for visiting Salem, MA-land of my birth and land that I love!

Share your pride in your cities' or country's history! @virtual_clare

Thank you for reading!

www.clare-computer-tutor.com

Shared Project Goals through Online Experiential Learning

*From one Virtual Educator to Another*

During school year 2013-2014 I had the pleasure of facilitating an Online Biology Course.  I worked with students in Louisiana from my home near Boston, MA.  I work with Smart Start Virtual Academy to provide cutting edge technology and course material to the students.  We learned a lot about the technical aspects of working together in our Virtual Biology Course trough the Learning Management System called MOODLE. We learned the course material and helped each other with some of the challenging topics in Biology.  Best of all, We learned how to relate to one another and become partners in education as well as validate that we are working together just as well as we would when working in the same room.  With the excellent support from the Virtual Academy Team, most of the students now understand that virtual communication, shared work and project goals, and sharing results are extremely important skills for the future workplace in a Global sense, We were able to open up our worlds to each other, and appreciate that because of the diversity of the United States, we are all Americans, rather than only citizens of our State. We learn about the unique and wonderful places and natural environments in our states, thus becoming closer as Americans.

We learned how to communicate using:

• Video Chat-creates an excellent opportunity for one on one focused and productive conversations without distraction-visually, verbally.
• Message Chat through the Moodle System-daily messages between the students and I to clarify instruction, answer questions, and general conversation about our lives-teaches us how to communicate clearly typing the though to the chat box.
• Email-we used email for exchanging information that is important to save, as well as attaching documents when needed. Our Virtual Academy Team communicates primarily in this way.  
• Moodle Assignment Submission-students upload their assignments so that I can grade and comment within a 24 hour period, which give students a quick indication of all of their grades which they can see in the system, thus eliminating the mystery of what their current grade is
• Phone-sometimes we talk to each other on the phone to say hello

Our best communication became evident when we created the same experiment in our locations, and shared the results of that experiment- Passive Transport Osmosis.  

We set up our experiments on the same day, and  we then shared results via Video Chat, Messaging, and a written assignment. 

See an example of student's written assignment submitted through Moodle describing what she learned from the demonstration:

My Goal as a Virtual Educator and Online Tutor is to prevent us from just looking a computer screen while learning.  I hope to pass along a sense of collaboration by observing our worlds and sharing them using a multitude of wonderful online tools for further study. Experiences we can Share to create a sense of Global Community...that's my goal!

Visit www.clare-computer-tutor.com for more information.

Thank you for reading!

Virtual Education/Online Tutoring-Some Misconceptions and Validations about Summer Vacation

Ah..Summer Time (reprieve from living in the Boston area Tundra over winter-0-5 degree mornings still fresh in my mind) and the Living is Easy-Teachers have the Summer "off" 

So...
Why do I mention this obvious fact?

As an Virtual Educator, my job continues.  My work continues. Always. 7 days a week.

Why do I say this?

Many people mention to me on a daily basis how great it must be to be a teacher and not have to work in the summer. In my particular job as Virtual Educator, I do NOT get paid for months lost to summer break. (I am extremely Against Summer Break).

Usually this conversation occurs at 7:00 AM while I am walking my dog and doing the best I can to NOT communicate with others doing the same.

I start to stammer-not know how to express that as an Online Educator, that I am ALWAYS working! But not necessarily collecting a paycheck from my Virtual Academy Biology Teacher Job, which is NONE of their business anyway!

Please see my flow chart (which I just learned how to do in Google Docs as of this writing) of the work I do and I may have forgotten like constantly making You Tube videos-channel name-Clare G and updating my web site 
www.clare-computer-tutor.com

I DO NOT get paid for this WORK IN THE SUMMER MONTHS-all of this takes hours on my computer as well as my smart phone, where I get a steady stream of twitters from other educators as excited about new technologies (yesterday I just learned about Augmented Reality on my smart phone) but the benefits of figuring out how to do all of this stuff defines a success that far exceeds the concept of getting paid for the work. Perhaps not having much money to go away or sit by fancy pools, no kids (I am truly glad that teachers get to spend more time with their kids in the summer), and simple lifestyle and a few hobbies (oh ya I can go fishing! forgot about that!) lends me the opportunity to really put quality time, energy, and fun into my summer en devours. 
Experiential Learning through Virtual Education and Online Learning-Learning the most effective ways to communicate with students takes A LOT of work! 

Thank you for reading!

Please visit www.clare-computer-tutor.com

Virtual Education-How do we Communicate when the World is the Classroom?

The world of education is changing rapidly with the advent of learning virtually-a worldly approach to teaching which decentralizes the classroom setting out of the brick and mortar.  The world becomes the classroom.  You may be thinking, well all we are doing is staring at computer screens, and you may be correct..this funny picture represents old school communication before the internet social media craze...So many ways to communicate and connect globally...but which one is most appropriate for Virtual Education?

I could show you lists upon lists of different internet tools for best practices for the Virtual Classroom...but if you are anything like me your head would be spinning and you would want to use ALL of them in your virtual education classes to make it look like you are reaching every student based on their learning and communication preference!  It baffles the mind! That's what communication is like these days, and you almost have to become a People Pleaser when you meet new people..
I often find myself asking, so which is your preferred method of communication?

• Text?
• Email? 
• Facebook posts and chat?
• Twitter?
• Old Fashion talking on the Phone?
• Skype or Google Hangout Video Chat? 
• or the classic Write a Letter or Card, put it in an envelop, put a stamp on it and put it in a Mail Box? (or as we now cleverly know it as Snail Mail)

 Did I miss Any?

I really do ask these questions of people, and I really do communicate with them in the only way they will communicate with me, which makes Me communicate in Every Way Humanly Possible these days-especially with my Virtual Students..you really got to think on your feet and be on your toes to reach them!
My goal as a modern day communicator with Everyone in my World is "Keepin it Simple"
My blog will explore how to choose and accomplish this in hopefully the most simple way possible.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy my blogs, and I am committed to brevity and simplicity!
Please visit my web site www.clare-computer-tutor.com
Let's start Communicating Today!