Final evaluation

First week:

I wrote an introduction of myself and and sent it to my peer.

I had to frame my expectations on the web skill training.

Brigitte talked (wrote) to us about the rules for writing and speaking in "English only".

I was pleased to get such detailed information about the training. It was up to me to write how much I want and when I want. The trainer only gave a deadline for Sunday. Writing in English was unfamiliar at the beginning. I received Brigitte’s correction of typing, grammar and wording mistakes promptly.

Proposal: To write the text in a word document enables to set adjustments and comments directly on the right position of the text. In e-mail writing the corrections slip out of place eg when printing the e-mail.

Week two:

I took a look at the teachers blog to become an idea what a blog is.

I read the manual “Creating a Blog at Blogger” carefully.

I created my own blog and posted the two texts from week one.

I sent the address of my new blog to my trainer and my peer.

The manual was very helpful. It was no problem to create the blog and the postings. My peer Franz helped me with the layout. Collaboration with Franz always worked in best manner.

Week three:

I allowed follow/like buttons in my blog.

I added a gadget for useful links and inserted 5 links.

I followed Franz' and Brigitte's blogs.

I commented a posting on Franz' blog.

I wrote a reflection about this web skill training up to now and posted it on my blog.

I had problems to find the gadget “Follower”. I couldn’t solve it myself or with help of the peer. So I needed support from Brigitte. She explained it to Franz in a Skype-session, further Franz explained it to me.

Retrospectively the content of my reflection is still relevant.

Week four:

I joined the bookmarking system “Delicious”.

Writing a manual for Delicious like “the Blogger manual”.

Writing about netiquette in e-mail writing and blog commenting.

To register on delicious was no problem at all, even without a manual. Franz and I did “job-sharing” on the other two tasks: Franz did the manual and I wrote the Netiquette sheet. To make it in teamwork was not to handle per e-mail. But each got the draft version from the peer to give inputs.

Week five:

I posted the two new documents to blog.

I posted a summary to blog.

I wrote a summary about the last week’s tasks, the advantages and disadvantages of Delicious and about netiquette in e-mail writing with Franz.

Summary:

My expectations on this web skill training were exceeded.

I learnt a lot of new terms.
I didn’t know what a blog is, now I have created one.
I didn’t know, that bookmarking systems exist, I didn’t notice this short icons on the web pages, now I can use them when I want.

I didn’t know what flash mobs are, I got to know them from Franz’s blog and I like them.

I feel more confident in e-mail writing now and I use online-dictionaries.

I learnt something about netiquette.

To improve writing skills, especially e-mail writing and web skills together this kind of training is ideally suitable.

But this method misses spontaneity and I think a feeling for the language I only can get when I see the person speaking with facial expression and body language.

I basically enjoy learning autonomously, and I am sure that I therefore gave more input than I would have done it otherwise, but a benchmark for the time needed would help with time management.

To my teacher Brigitte I want to say that I like her detailed instructions, her friendly and prompt corrections and most of all her compliments were very motivating.

I’m glad that I was part of this project team.

Summary of the week

Our tasks of this week were:

1. To register in the social bookmarking service "delicious" and to add links like podcasts, videos, grammarlinks, etc. to our account.
   Delicious enables the user to store, share and discover bookmarks. It is easy to handle and you can get to know a wide range of websites. I couldn't find any disadvantages, unless you loose the overview.
2. To create a manual how to set up and use a delicious account - result see posting
3. To think about netiquette in email writing and blog commenting - result see posting

E-mail writing with Franz makes fun. It always comes up to netiquette. 

He is very reliable.

His writing is always polite and on the point.

His comments are helpful.

Using the bookmark system “delicious”

Quick Start:

•  Open the www.delicious.com  website
• Sign in or Join Delicious (Create a new account)
• Add an image to the profile
• Add a new link to Delicious
• Search for links on Delicious.
• Use the help facility for more information

Detailed Walkthrough:

Step 1

Go to www.delicious.com

Step 2

If you sign in successfully, just skip to Step 4.

If not, you can create a new account by clicking on “Join Delicious”

                    

The “Join Delicious” screen appears:

                                                    

I suggest the “Create an account” button:

After filling in the form, you have joined Delicious successfully.

Step 3

Add an image to the profile:

It is not necessary to insert an image, but each follower likes watching pictures. I think a picture cheers up the session.

In the upper right corner next to the welcome message is an arrow. Pressing this one leads to a short menu. Choose the first one, the “Settings” item.

The new screen offers “Choose image”. After pressing this button the windows explorer with the screen name “File upload” appears.  Select a picture from your PC (its size should not be larger the 2 MB) and your task is done.

Step 4

Add a new link to Delicious:

After clicking “Add link”  the “Add a new link to Delicious” screen appears. Insert the wanted URL (link) into the gap and press “Add link”. 

The next screen displays the link title.

“Your comment” is an area that is ready to contain your comments (1000 characters possible).

The third part is the Tag area. When you check the “insert recommended tags” checkbox, the included tags appear.  Drop the tags that you don’t want or add new tags (insert the name of it into the free space).

If the Private Checkbox is checked, the link is hidden; no other users can see the link.

Commit the new link by pressing “Add link”. That is it.

Step 5

Search for links on Delicious:

The upper left gap (next to the logo), the “Search Delicious” area, is ready to receive the research criteria.

The question mark offers “Delicious tips and tricks” receiving better results.

       

REMEMBER:

Displays all the links you have added.

NETWORK:

        All links from all your followers are displayed.

DISCOVER:

        All Delicious links are displayed.

Entering a tag, for example “#dictionary”, divides the result in three parts:

        You:                                          your links that matches the criteria.

        Network:                                  your follower’s links

        More links on Delicious:        all other matching links on Delicious

                  

RELATED TAGS:

The “Related tags” list offers tags that you have used in your added links.

Step 6

Use the help facility for more information:

At the left column at the bottom of the page is the “Help” entry. A lot of “Frequently Asked Questions” support the curious user.

Netiquette

Relationship building:

We build relationships through language. As a relationship develops, the style of English can change to become more informal and conversational. Recognize the style others use.

Addressing:

Remember that email isn’t private. Do not use email to discuss confidential matters.
Check the receiver’s address when replying on an e-mail.
Send group emails only when it is useful.
On www-boards you can use an alias-address, but never use the name of another person.

Subject:

Always use the subject field to indicate content and purpose.

Message:

Keep messages brief and on the point, not longer than necessary.
Be polite and professional in business emails, polite  but more informal in private e-mails. You should try to phrase positive.
Do use proper spelling and punctuation. Be clear, but not loud. Using all capital letters looks as if you are shouting. In intercultural writing be careful with joking.
Don’t use the “German umlaute”.
When you had asked for support on www-boards be so kind to thank the provider of the required help.

Attachment:

Do not attach unnecessary documents.

My reflection

When I started with this web skill training I was curious and I had secret doubts that I would understand the tasks.

Therefore I was really happy, how easy it was to create the blog and to do the first posting.

When I got the problem with creating gadgets I was a little bit disappointed, but I was sure to receive the necessary help, so I wasn't really worried.

It had no negative consequence on my motivation and it didn't stress me, because there was no pressure of time.

I like getting the instructions and the helpful hints by email. I can go through it step by step, and when I have problems with the understanding I can easily go one step back and try again.

I imagine it would be more difficult to follow the spoken explanations espacially on the phone, when you can't see the person speaking.

On summary I think learning by email is effective when you get tasks to be performed, in our way to learn "blogging".

When I want to improve my conversation skills I would prefer to participate a conversation class.

My expectations

Dear Brigitte,

regarding to the third point of your list I tell you my expectations to the web skill training:

* I want to polish up my English  

* I'm curious to learn what a blog is for and how to use it.

* I'm interested in web skills, but up to now I used the www only for online search in google and for mail order and for emailing with friends prviately and at work.

Best regards

Anita

My introduction

I'm 43 years old and I live in a one family house in Waizenkirchen in Brigitte's neighbourhood. 

I'm married  to Robert and we have got three children. My older son David is almost 15 years old and he is in the first class of HTL  Ried since September 2012. My second son Stefan is 13 years old and he visits the 3rd class of secondary school Waizenkirchen and our nestling is Hanna, 9 years old. She is in the 4th class of primary school Waizenkirchen.

                                                                                                                                                       

I grew up in Grieskirchen, were I visited the groundschool. After that I  finished the commercial highschool in Wels.

                                                                                                                                                    

At the beginning of the 90th, I worked for  some different companies. Since 1996 I have been working for Raiffeisenlandesbank OÖ as assistant in the legal department. Now, I usually work there for 15 hours per week (sometimes more).  Once a month I work in the public library in Waizenkirchen on a honorary capacity .

So you can surely  imagine that I am quite busy. When I have some time for myself, than I like to go in for sports (tennis, nordic walking, zumba dancing) or to relax with a book.

Unfortunately I took less time to improve my English in the last years, so I am out of practice. I hope you will pardon this.

I look forward to a pleasant teamwork.