Ibrahim’s Blog

GCE ICT Summer Camp in Varzob has started

Find more photos like this on Шабакаи Таълимӣ - Educational Network

ATutor Social is now available for testing and feedback. This Beta version can either be downloaded from the atutor.ca Web site, or for those using ATutor 1.6.2+. it can be installed directly from the Module Repository using the administrator’s Module Manager. The final release of the module should come about the same time as the next major ATutor release (June 09).

*Download ATutor Social Beta*
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/modules/index.php

ATutor Social is an implementation of the Google OpenSocial Container Specification. In addition to introducing basic social networking capabilities, such as keeping contacts, group participation, and social graphing, ATutor Social can leverage thousands of existing social applications that can be added each person’s social networking environment with the click of a button. All of a sudden there are thousands of new modules for ATutor.

*To learn more about ATutor Social, visit the Web site*
http://www.atutor.ca/social/

*Try the ATutor Social Demo*
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/demo.php

Tajik Wordpress

I am currently localizing into Tajik one of the world top used free blogging software known as Wordpress. Those who might want to join me localizing this amazing open soucre software, please download language file by clicking here. Please post your suggestions and comments here so together will localize it. Tajik Wordpress Localization in Progress.

Elgg Social Networking

Elgg is a good social networking open source platform known Elgg. It is mostly used by universities and rapidly becoming popular among enthusiastic community members who develop plugins and templates for it. If you run or interested to localize it. Here is my Tajik localizing language files to make your Elgg based site into Tajik. Learn more at Elgg.org

Atutor

Atutor is another Moodle like Leaning Content Management System LCMS which I like very much thanks to its amazing features. It is like Moodle but lighter and has such features like creating multiple choice tests, forums, chatrooms and easily enables educators to create their own courses for students. It is a very nice platfrom to run distance courses on your own website. I have also localized Atutor into Tajik and at the same time improving its translations. Anyone willing to join me localing educational scripts are welcome. Learn more about Atutor

I always wish to keep my blog updated, but due to so many works to do which are almost like blogging and speaking, as well as going out and paper works, I am not able to keep this blog updated. I will try to keep blogging or at least write something offline at night and then post in the mornings.

So today in the morning while having my breakfast my colleague called me to join him together to go by his car to work, so I hurred to dring my tea and take my laptop to run. So near a block of apartments I counted my money hoping to send to my mother and wife, so they could buy something as my present for the International Women’s Day which is celebrated each year in my country. So I joined my colleague with his kids and came to work and found out that my wallet fall down when I counted my money before sitting to his car. It was not my day to loose my salary with some business cards, ATM card and my ID card. This day was another lesson for me to keep my wallet secure and make sure I put it properly into my jacket’s inside pocket. Of course, the lucky one who found my wallet will probably not return it and throw away my documents and ATM card. I blocked the card and hope at least I will not be starving during March month.

Here I write all about it for those folks who might be face the same problem and let it be the first and last lesson like this. It is better to loose a cap than loosing a head.
I hope at least my ID card will be found soon…if not it is up to that lucky one…

Today I was introduced with another exciting tool www.rafi.ki which I found very interesting tool for teachers to create virtual school. Rafi.ki is a platform where teachers can create school page and make fill out their profile. I found the platform as a desktop with windows where you can easily drag images and save your pages.

Rafi.ki is absolutely free for schools outside UK and very secure for those who are concerned about privacy.

And for those who have limited time to create projects there hundreds of already running projects to which your school can join for free and interact with other schools and classes.

I will be posting about my rafi.ki experience while learning about its features and upgrades.

Competition for Middle School and High School Students: “Doors to Diplomacy”The Department of State and the Global SchoolNet Foundation announce the 2009 “Doors to Diplomacy” award competition, recognizing the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy.

To qualify, middle school and high school students will work in small teams with teacher-coaches. Projects must be completed by March 15, 2009, and winners will be announced in May 2009. Every team that enters a project will receive a special “Doors to Diplomacy” certificate recognizing their achievement. Each student member of the two winning teams – one American and one international – will also receive a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches’ schools will each receive a $500 cash award.

For a complete description and information about eligibility and judging criteria, visit http://globalschoolnet.org/gsndoors/.

The Development Gateway is now accepting submissions for the 2008 photo contest. The top 10 photographs will be posted on the Web site. The winner will receive $1,000. We are looking for compelling photographs of socio-economic development in developing countries. Four types of photographs will be accepted. 1) The images may show information and communications technologies helping ordinary people. 2) The images may show people making something, selling wares, working in a field, constructing a building or type of infrastructure, or acquiring knowledge. 3) The images could be abstract images representing hope, the future, or capacity building. 4) The photographs may also include images of original artwork from a developing country. Please do not include photographs of groups of people posing.

Closing date: September 19

http://www.dgfoundation.org/news-events/photo-contest-backup.html

Though not long ago I have taken TOEFL paper based test once again I tried to take TOEFL IBT (Internet based test). It is a test that measures your ability not only to write, read, speak and listen in English but also requires good vocabulary. The maximum IBT score is 120.

For those who wish to study in English speaking countries, here is a link where you can find out more about TOEFL test www.ets.org

Яке аз талаботҳои таҳсил дар макотиб ва донишнгоҳҳои хориҷӣ ин донистани забони англисӣ мебошад ва барои ин донишҷӯе, ки забони модариаш англисӣ нест бояд санҷиши TOEFL супорад. Дар Мактаби Байналхалқии Душанбе воқеъ дар кӯчаи Бофанда метавон маълумоти пурра дар бораи TOEFL дастрас кард ва ё ба супоридани он номнависӣ намуд.  Мактаби Байналхалқии Душанбе

More than thirty students including some volunteers are enjoying the International Summer Camp under the motto “Friendship Without Borders” with three US students and a teacher. Mr. Martin Drozdoff, a US teacher who came with with students is a very nice man and he is one of the trainers in the camp. Together with Mr. Drozdoff and my colleague Gulnoz we have split students into three teams and conduct trainings about Community Service - Volunteering, Environment, Public Speaking and others. Every day our camp has some kind of activities including interesting energizers.

Since we have no Internet connection, I will not be able to blog, but Mr. Drozdoff’s blog might be updated frequently. http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/exchange

Now I need to go to local bazaar to buy shoes and back to the camp!

Back to blogging. Due to large amount of work I could not take time to go online and blog. Now here I am. Tomorrow I am going to one of the beautiful summer camp sites in Varzob valley with a group of students. The camp where we are going to spend our ten days is called “Lira” and it is located between mountains. In other words the camp is located in the heart of mountains and it may take half hour of walk to reach the camp.

The weather in Dushanbe is very hot these days above 40 Celsius not allowing me to sleep well at night. I hope the next winter will not be like the one we had last time here in Tajikistan, so from another side it is better to value and enjoy sunny days at least leaving for a while to countryside.