Visit to Paul's place

Hokulele
Originally uploaded by d.brooks.

 There are photos from 2007 or 2008. I  stopped by Paul's place to get my camping gear. I probably stay with Wendi and Russell (my sister) since they have wifi.  Everything is fine here.  (sent from cellphone)

Instant Moodle I: Set up your online class today (45 minutes / PC or Mac lab)

A summary of the workshop by David Brooks
at Hawaii TESOL Conference
Feb.14, 2009 12:40-1:20 UCB 114 (lab).

Handout: Moodle Quickstart Guide for AUB Faculty - PDF 836 Kb
This quickstart introduces you to the Moodle resources.
Find here the PDF version

This workshop puts teachers through basic steps involved in setting up, constructing learning activities, and managing an online course using Moodle. The free Moodle hosting service, Ninehub, has several advantages over trying to do so yourself. The presenter will briefly explain what a learning management system (LMS) like Moodle offers. He provides guidelines for choosing a selecting a Moodle host, and leads you through hands-on steps to accomplish enrolling students, organizing the course content, and managing assignments.


Moodle is an increasingly popular learning management system for schools and colleges, which exceeds its expensive rivals, Blackboard and WebCT. Not only is it free Open Source software, but it is based on a social constructivist theory of education. There is a simple-to-use test-making module within it for creating powerful online tests that include use of media files, multiple question formats, and both simple and sophisticated grading functions. Further, it has several useful activity modules for enhancing communication and student-teacher feedback, such as the forum, journal, and survey.


The presenter is using Moodle to help Japanese college students learn international communication in an EFL course. The workshop will be appropriate for teachers of any experience level wanting to add online components to a course or who would like to create a fully online classroom. Since it’s free to start and develop the course, you can begin small and build up your repertoire of skills and the level of student involvement.

Instant Moodle: Basic Hands-on Workshop in Moodle LMS

These links are used in the Instant Moodle workshop, given at the Hawaii TESOL 2009 Conference, held at the University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus, on February 14, 2009.

Originally posted on another my blogs: LEON (Learning English On the Net) February, 2009.

Following and learning from these existing (semi-permanent) resources will put participants through the basic steps needed and equip them with the knowledge involved in setting up, adding basic content, and managing an online course using Moodle. A course can be created quickly and easily for free on Ninehub. (see link below). The live workshop presentation offers guidance for building learning activities and assignments to make an online classroom that can be an integral component of anyone’s teaching.

List of Quick Start Links:

• Quick Start Guide to Moodle - a one-page beginner's guide and overview
  
• AUB's Moodle Tutorial and Tips page - absolutely the best starting point
  
• Teaching with Moodle (Moodle.org Docs page)
• Teaching Documention (Moodle.org Doc page)
• E-learning MyMoodle Tutorial Books, American University of Beirut (AUB)

Print Resources and Video:

• Moodle Quickstart Guide for AUB Faculty - PDF 836 Kb
• Treadwell.cce.cornell.edu | MOODLE Documentation - video lessons for students and teachers
• Video Tutorials on how to use Moodle (go to the Learning Moodle (Making Hybrid Classes section) and login as guest) - There are a series of many video tutorials on each major step of making a Moodle course.
  
• Example of a course teaching checklist - part of the Lappian Moodle site of tutorials and useful Moodle information

Hands-on Moodle:
Try it out for yourself. These answer the question: Where can I actually try Moodle?

• Moodle.org Demonstration Site
• Ninehub.com - create your own instant Moodle site and add courses. It's free (but may become limited soon). You'll have full admin rights which is great to find out what features and capabilities exist, but it can be a bit daunting - at first. Use the basic tutorials (text and video) first to understand the basics of using and setting up a course and activities with it.
• D.Brooks' Edvantix.ninehub.com -- The Moodle Training Course for ESL Teachers is a course that already exists - so set-up isn't needed. You'll be a TEACHER once you sign up and have the rights to add content and create activities.
• Try setting up some Moodle activities. Remember in some cases, you may need to upload some necessary files( Office documents, audio or video media, etc) in the Files areas.
  

Luna, our Toy Manchest Terrier

PC140001
Originally uploaded by d.brooks

Luna is a sweet but also naughty little female dog. She's just one year old but she's already a fashionable lady.

Kehena Black Sand Beach

Kehena Black Sand Beach
Originally uploaded by konakoka

Photograph and text by Scott Flickr: konakoka http://www.flickr.com/people/scottkoka

A clothing optional beach in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii. Alot of the sand is still offshore from the winter waves but will return for the summer and cover up alot of the exposed rocks that you see here. This area of the island is known for its "hippie like" type of people. Im not sure what the correct word is for "todays" hippie. You have nudity, pot smoking, pot growing. People here often chose to not use razors or deodorant and you can buy incense at the local Ace hardware store. I am not judging just trying to paint you a mental picture. Did I paint a good picture? I love this part of the island, It has incredible natural beauty and reminds me of the Steve Miller song Jungle Love.

Blogged by D. Brooks from konakoka's Flickr page - photo uploaded on 6 Jun 07, 4.22AM PDT.

This image is used by written permission of Scottkoka
It is from his Flickr photostream at: http:www.flickr.com/people/scottkoka
All copyrights reserved to the photographer.

Hale Lanipuna: Our vacation rental house on the Big Island

For more detailed info, visit the full site: Hale Lanipuna or for rental inquiries, go to VRBO Property ID: 202216.

Hale Lanipuna - the little pink vacation house in the Puna forest!

Our Pohoiki vacation rental home is near Pahoa (in Puna District south of Hilo). It is not far from the Volcanoes National Park, and offers secluded privacy, a natural eco-friendly lifestyle in the Puna rain forest, and a diversity-friendly community. You'll love Puna so much you'll want to buy your own land and build a second home here too.

This brand-new, cozy one bedroom house in Pohoiki is a brand-new Vacation Rental Home, specifically designed for vacationers. It located in a secluded tropical forest only 3.5 miles for the ocean at Pohoiki Bay (Issac Hale Beach Park) and about 8 miles from where the lava from Kilauea is flowing into the ocean. You can find our listing on VRBO.com #202216 Please go to this VRBO link when are you ready to reserve your vacation stay in our home.

Summary:
NEW ON THE MARKET. Enjoy a quiet holiday stay in our newly-built small but elegant vacation home with all the modern conveniences: 1 bedroom / 1 bath (sleeps 2 – 4 people)(up to 6 is possible using the floor futons). It has a fully equipped kitchen connected to public water system. Very reasonable rates. Located in lush rain forest south of Hilo on the eastern side of Hawaii, the Big Island – about 25 miles from Hilo Airport. Within 5 minutes of Pahoa town for shopping and dining, and 3.5 from the ocean. Close to some spectacular natural sights – see the lava flows at Kalapana (what you won’t be able to see inside Volcanoes National Park), near Kapoho Thermal Ponds, and not far from clothing-optional Kehena Black Sands Beach.



Details about our vacation rental home:

NEW ON THE MARKET September 2008!

Details: Puna has rapidly become the newest Big Island destination for an authentic Hawaiian-style vacation. Our newly-built Big Island vacation home was designed specifically for that purpose by the local general contractor, Paul Baillie and Sons, Inc. Unlike many Hawaiian vacation rentals, you will not be cramped in a small condo, hotel-like quarters or living in a room adjoining the owner’s private house. Ours was built to be a vacation home. It affords comfort, privacy and a good location for a reasonable price – starting at $50 a night. Daily rentals possible (please inquire).

This house was recently built and furnished as a vacation home in the summer of 2008. Consequently, you will benefit by renting from us during our ‘new on the market’ discounted rental rate period – from now through March 2009. Repeat renters will be given a discount off the published rental rates. Booking now can also save you money in the future. There will be discounts for advanced booking and also for early payment. Our check-in days and times are completely flexible. Be sure to check our reservation calendar online – drop us a note even if your desired dates appear to be full. At times, these dates are my own or my family members’ tentative dates. Arrangements can even be made for private or group tours, airport pick-up, and housekeeping services to make your stay at Hale Lanipuna even more amenable. (Inquire at time of booking or afterward).

This modern-style Hawaiian hale has all the conveniences of home – with the exception of TV channels – the lack of which is a conscious choice. Why would you come thousands of miles to seek paradise on the truly dynamic and inspiring island of Hawaii – the Big Island – just to watch TV.

If you plan on getting some work done while you are here, please know that most mobile phones work fine (ATT seems to have the best reception). Free high-speed DSL Internet is available in the house. (plug in or wirelessly). There is a computer desk in the bedroom along with a Canon printer/fax/scanner that you can set up easily to use with your laptop.

Our one-bedroom, one bath vacation home is a small but space-efficient home. It has 700 sq ft inside plus a large covered lanai (porch) across the front of the house. There is one separate bedroom with an extra-firm queen size mattress along with a bathroom with tub/shower. If there are more than two people staying, the living room sofa-sleeper opens into a full queen size bed – with an extra mattress pad and pillow-soft mattress topper available so that it makes into a quite comfortable bed. In addition, if you have children or teens along, you could squeeze in extra sleeping areas by using the two twin-size Japanese-style floor futons. (foam pad with cotton padded mattress).

The house does not have central air conditioning. Most nights are rather cool (68-72 degree F) so the ceiling fans (living room, bedroom), floor fans, and attic exhaust fans should make it cool and breezy enough – except the most finicky.

The house is elegantly furnished inside and fully ready to satisfy your needs for comfort and for enjoying life while on vacation. The living room –dining room - kitchen areas are in one great room with a vaulted ceiling. There is a large center counter to which everyone will undoubtedly gravitate – to talk, nibble as food is prepared, and to relax. An Indonesian glass-top rattan table completes the dining area. The kitchen is fully equipped with appliances, pots and utensils, dishware and flatware for six. There is lots of extra storage space, a large capacity refrigerator, and storage containers to help you organize your food preparation and economize while here. You could even hold a dinner party since the home’s layout is perfect for cooking and entertaining. The kitchen is designed and equipped well for both the complete chef and the casual microwave ‘cook’, too.

A washer machine and dryer have recently been installed (Feb 2009).

For your daily excursions to the beach or sightseeing spots in the area or around the Big Island, you will find a water jugs, a cooler, a portable BBQ, beach chairs, and picnic table available for your use. When you get back to the house, be sure to wash off the sand at the outside shower near the back door.

Tuesday in Waikiki

Tuesday in Waikiki
Originally uploaded by d.brooks.

Shizuko how are you doing? I moved to the hostel just a few doors down. We have Hawaiian language immersion school in the morning and my presentation in the afternoon. I fly to the Big Island on Thursday. Love, David

View of Waikiki

View of Waikiki
Originally uploaded by d.brooks.

Taken during a late afternoon walk along the Kapiolani Park side of Waikiki.