Fulbright pre-departure orientation 2009

Fulbright kindly invited me to D.C. from June 24-26, 2009. I was asked to take part in three country sessions (West Bank was put in with Syria, since there were only two scholars going, but we ended up meeting separately since our small meeting room at the Marriot Renaissance could not accommodate two simultaneous discussions.) A number of students and a handful of scholars were going to Syria.

In addition, on Thursday morning three of us who had recently returned from our Fulbrights in Jordan, Oman, and the West Bank were asked to speak for about 10 minutes and then answer questions. I briefly explained my original proposal to Fulbright and to what extent I had achieved my three goals.

Goodbye Jerusalem, back to the States

Thank you to all my new friends at Birzeit University for making my Fulbright semester interesting, enjoyable, and stimulating. I would particularly like to thank Marwan Tarazi and Osama Mimi, directors of the Center for Continuing Education and the Unit for Innovative Learning, respectively, for allowing me to join the team for four months.

I spent my time at the ULI learning how e-learning methodologies and technologies are applied in the professional courses that the CCE puts on. The paper that we presented on e-learning came out of the research that we did on the current state of e-learning in Palestinian universities.

More importantly for the future, however, were the connections we were able to establish between our institutions and with Birzeit faculty and personnel, so that we can continue working cooperatively into the future. With numerous electronic educational tools at our disposal, we will be able to work together in cyberspace.

I envision projects between academic students in the English Department at Birzeit and my students at Mankato, but also OL meetings in which we meet to discuss e-learning topics. At Birzeit, the watch word is "blended" or "e-enabled" pedagogy, meaning that they use both the classroom (F2F) and Moodle to deliver their course materials to students or trainees. At Mankato we do not blend, but rather teach either F2F or online. Perhaps we can serve as advisors to each other!

Launch for local e-learning product

I delivered these remarks today at the product launch for In-Touch, a locally produced e-learning software tool @ Best Eastern Hotel, Ramallah.


"E-learning, distance learning, online pedagogy, and blended learning are all variations on a theme. This theme is that we are using technology of teaching and learning materials to join instructors and students who are located in different places. My remarks are based on my own experience. I have learned these four points (BLIP) in 5 years of teaching 100% online courses in technical communication at Minnesota State University, Mankato:

1. Be sure that my Internet connection is sufficient.

o Just because your son or daughter can do Facebook on your computer does not mean that you can take an online course that uses audio and video.
o Is the Internet connection appropriate to the software you are using?
o Is the Internet connection reliable?

2. Learn the tools and the strategies.

o Have I tested new tools for appropriateness?
o Is the software and hardware installed and tested on my computer?

Example: Skype has a conferencing feature, but the outgoing audio is not as good as Gmail video/audio chat.

3. Incorporate feedback from the students to develop the online delivery of course material.

o I solicit feedback from the students each time I teach online. If the students have a good idea, follow it.
o Adjust for the students without compromising the quality of the course. Don’t worry about giving some control to the students in online courses.

4. Prepare the students in e-learning pedagogy.

o Acquaint the students with the tools.
o Prepare them for the time management issues.
o Explain all course procedures very clearly.
o Offer online office hours for students to ask questions."

In the photo below, Reem is answering my question about a feature of InTouch.

Invisible runner

Yesterday and today I was able to complete my 7.5 kilometer run around the Old City despite the heavy security for the Pope’s visit. Yesterday, May 12, the security was particularly heavy. As I ran, beginning at 6:15 a.m. I saw at least 500 soldiers and police out around the Old City. Apparently the Pope was going to be arriving from the direction of the Mt. of Olives, because the east side of the Old City was particularly heavily guarded. As I went by the Herod’s Gate, the Damascus Gate, and the New Gate, I didn’t see much out of the ordinary. However, when I got to Jaffa Gate, the Western Wall, and Lions' Gate, there was very heavy security. As a runner, I was able to follow my usual morning route and in some cases it was actually easier since the automobile traffic was pretty much limited to police trucks, vans, and buses transporting soldiers. Moving around the area is not this easy for some Palestinian Arab residents, for example, Sameer and Nadine.

For more on the reception the Pope Benedictus the 16th is receiving by the locals see Cool reception for Pope in Holy City. Today the Pope is in Bethlehem, Pope celebrates Mass in Bethlehem. Check the Pope's itinerary also.

More football, in Ras al-Amoud this time

Yesterday I found more football (It's not too easy to find published schedules. My landlord found these games in the Thursday's sport section of the newspaper.) I was told that there would be a match at the field at Abdel Qader al-Husseini school in Ras al-Amoud in Arab East Jerusalem. All four teams I saw where from Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. I got there late and found Silwan in green playing Mt. of Olives in red. They were adults playing 30 minutes halves. I was told that they usually play 35 minute halves, but today because there was a second match, they shortened up the game. Abu Fadi, the referee, in white, played in the second match. He had two assistant referees who did a good job with offside, I thought. The score ended up with Mt. of Olives winning 1-0. The pitch was not nearly as nice as the artificial turf at al-Bireh, where I watched matches two weeks ago. It looked like it was about 45 meters long by 30 meters wide. The lines were chalk or lime of some kind.

In the second match, Sur Baher, in blue, played Isawiya, in red. I left at halftime when the score was evened up at 1-1. Sur Baher dominated the first half. I talked for a while with some teenage boys who were watching. They had the usual questions about which teams in Europe I support. We talked for a little while about the upcoming match between ManU and Barcelona for the UEFA Champions League title. One of the kids thought that Messi and company would prevail.

Artas lettuce

I attended the 15th annual Artas Lettuce Festival yesterday. Artas is a beautiful town just south of Bethlehem.

The banner reads:
The president and the members of the Artas Town Council welcome their honored guests to the activities of the annual Lettuce Festival.

We walked to the first of the three Burak Suleiman (Solomon's Pools) lying at the head of the valley where Artas is located. From there we followed a group of locals and visitors as they hiked down the valley to the town. After lunch we went to watch several debke troupes perform. In addition there were poetry recitations and a fashion show of traditional Palestinian thobs (traditional women's dresses).

$4.70 a gallon for gasoline?

Yes, that's what we pay here for gasoline, $4.70 a gallon. The last time I filled my little rented Chevy, I put in 29.28 liters (7.73 gallons) and paid 162.97 New Israeli Shekels (36.36 USD) which comes out to $4.70 gallon. For that fill I got 21.78 miles per gallon although on trips I have gotten much better mileage. For example, on a trip in late March I got 34.75 miles per gallon.

Back home in Iowa, according to www.iowastategasprices.com, we are paying $1.89/gallon in the Ames area so the same fill in Ames would have cost me $14.60. That is a difference of $2.81 a gallon or $21.76 for that fill.