Becoming a Webhead 2012, better known as BaW12, was the ninth very successful round of this exclusively online workshop. Fernanda (Portugal), Larissa (Russia/USA) and I (Teresa in Portugal) coordinated a fabulous Team of Moderators, all of them former BaW participants: Anisoara (Romania), Ayat (Egypt), Hala (Saudi Arabia), Helen (France), Jose Antonio/JA (Brazil), Maria (Argentina), Marijana (Croatia), Mbarek (Morocco), Sharon (USA) and Svetlana (Czech Republic). Four of these mods were newbies at moderating and did a fabulous job. A very heartfelt "Thank you!" to all for a fantastic job, great enthusiasm and constant commitment to the last minute! And our symbolic token of appreciation. :-)
This team was backed up by an equally fantastic group of Guest Speakers, most of them Webheads, "longtime friends" and faithful collaborators: BJ Berquist, Michael Coghlan, Graham Stanley and Rita Zeinstejer. Arjana Blazic was a newcomer and, hopefully, will stay with us. Claudio Azevedo did his second appearance. We had a "surprise" joint presentation by four of our mods (Sharon, Ayat, Maria, Marijana) and Claudia, a participant, who did an excellent job talking about their blended learning projects soon after finishing BaW11, which goes to show how much these 5 weeks can change our participants' life at the professional and personal levels, not to mention their students' experiences while learning English. All the presentations were a huge success and extremely enlightening. Thank you to all our speakers! And our symbolic token of appreciation. :-)
Last but not least, a special word to our Participants, a group of very active, enthusiastic, committed and adventurous colleagues, eager to explore and absorb as much as possible in the shortest possible time, without whom BaW12 wouldn't have happened. They're a wonderful group of people from all corners of the globe, who gave life to a very active, hardworking, energetic, non-stoppable and wonderfully stressful 5 weeks. Kudos to you all!!! Hopefully, many of you will continue with us the rest of the year since all the resources will remain online and the mods will stay around to give timely help. Our symbolic token of appreciation. :-)
A "mini UN"
Baw 2012, with its 226 members from 55 countries spanning the 5 continents, is truly a global community or, as I have always defined it, a mini UN.
This year we had participants from Argentina (11), Australia (2), Bahrain, a first timer (1), Benin, a first timer (1), Brazil (9), Bulgaria (1), Canada (10), Colombia (3), Croatia (8) - great PR work, Marijana!! -, Czech Republic (4), Ecuador (3), Egypt (7), England (2), France (1), Germany (2), Greece (3), Honduras, a first timer (1), India (3), Indonesia (3), Iran (1), Israel (1), Italy (3), Japan (4), Kazakhstan (1), Macedonia (1), Malaysia (1), Mexico (3), Morocco (9) - great PR work once again, Mbarek!! -, Nicaragua, a first timer (1), Pakistan (1), Peru (4), Poland (2), Portugal (2), Qatar (1), Romania (1), Russia (3), Saudi Arabia (2), Scotland (1), Serbia (1), South Korea (4), Spain (3), Sri Lanka (1), Sudan (1), Suriname, a first timer (1), Togo (1), Trinidad and Tobago (1), Tunisia (2), Turkey (5), UAE (1), Uganda, a first timer (1), Ukraine (4), Uruguay (1), USA (21), Venezuela (3) and Vietnam (2). (Several participants never introduced themselves, so we have no concrete info about them to include here.) After such a great performance during these 5 weeks, I can only say that I just wish the authentic UN could work as well and as collaboratively as we do! We would definitely be living in a better world! :-)
After 9 rounds of BaW, we have reached approximately 2,750 colleagues in 104 countries! This is something very special, above all when we know that BaW has changed some people's careers for the better. Not to mention the influence in all the students involved. How rewarding that is! :-)
(Clickable map)
Kudos??!!
Kudos is a word often used by veteran BaWers. What does "kudos" mean? What better explanation can I give you but a poem, written for us "from the heart" by a very dear BaW06 participant, Analía Dobboletta, from Argentina, who gives us a very sensitive and heartfelt poetic definition.
Kudos is one of those words
that heightens the spirit.
Kudos means "you've done it"
It brings pleasure to the 'kuder'
because they're with you.
It's a compliment for the 'kuddee'
because they've overcome the hurdle.
Kudos brings joy to Bawers.
It's the password for 'way to go'!
It's the username for high achievers.
It's the thread for admiration.
It's the subscription to lol.
Kudos is Bawers' jargon,
a catchy jingle,
a tribute paid for courage,
and for perseverance,
and for bravery!
Kudos implies I'm so glad that you could,
so proud that you did,
so sure that you will!
Kudos to YOU!
Maria Teresa Ciaffaroni suggested that it be "used as BAW06 anthem". Dafne (my co-coordinator until last year) and I agreed and decided that it would become our anthem.
Hope you like the Becoming a Webhead (BaW) anthem! :-))
Time to party
A relevant part of our Graduation party is food, drinks and gifts that participants share with one another. Here's this year's Graduation Party page where you will find very nice messages and photos from all over the world as a token of BaW12ers' appreciation for these fabulous 5 weeks together, learning in a fun, F.U.N. (Frivolous Unanticipated Nonsense, an acronym coined by Vance Stevens, our Webheads in Action coordinator) and very collaborative way.
(Click the image to see the page)
BaW12 cake
There's no party without a cake and no virtual BaW Graduation party would be complete without a virtual cake to celebrate "not the end of a workshop, but the beginning of a new era... life after BaW 2012"! João, my husband, baked this BaW 2012 cake, this year with a different touch: nine candles for each year of BaW's existence, each one with its own very special meaning (instead of twelve candles for the year 2012)! Have a taste! Enjoy it!! :-)
Certificates
Finally, no BaW workshop is ever complete without additional and symbolic Certificates of Appreciation to the neglected family members. Yes, neglected husbands, wives and children weren't forgotten! Here's our token of appreciation for your patience and understanding! It was definitely worth it! :-)
Last but not least, for the first time ever in BaW history, and especially dedicated to CatherineB and Marijana, a well-deserved token of appreciation also goes to...
Join the Webheads in Action (WiA)
No, it's not over yet! There's still one final step for those of you who wish to do so.
Five weeks ago many of you probably didn't have a clue about what you were getting into. Five weeks later you have come of age and are "full-fledged Webheads", ready to join the Webheads in Action (WiA) community of practice. On behalf of Vance Stevens, our Webheads coordinator, Fernanda, Larissa and I now invite you to join our "mother group", the Webheads in Action.
Welcome! We hope you'll feel part of a big cyberfamily and as fulfilled and challenged as Fernanda, Larissa and I have been for several years!
As Webheads, you are now entitled to the "Proud to be a Webhead" badge that Ibrahim Rustamov, a participant-turned-friend from Tajikistan, created for us: his special gift to BaW08. It's very cute! You can embed it in your Web Web pages, blogs or wikis.
Before we call it "a Graduation ceremony and party", maybe you'd like to reflect a little about the meaning of BaW through the lenses of this presentation-turned-BaW classic.
Geese is a presentation about togetherness, collaboration and community spirit - some of the basic ingredients that are a big part of any "Becoming a Webhead" workshop and family!
And BaW12 continues...
We all know that "Rome wasn't built in a day" and we know even better what a teacher's life is like. The BaW12 team doesn't strive for the impossible, but.... almost. ;-)
Naturally, we know that it isn't possible to cover everything we have to offer in the 5 weeks, but it's all there because we like to give participants flexibility and freedom of choice each week. And because we know it's not humanly possible to explore and experiment all the tools, all the materials remain online ad eternum (or as long as the platforms exist!). And the BaW12 Team stays around for the rest of the year to help, collaborate and... continue learning with everyone. After all, we are a group of lifelong learners.
By the time BaW13 comes along, I hope you'll all feel like Natasa Bozic:
"I'll probably keep returning to BaW to lurk. This place is home" (17Feb10)
Stay with us, return as lurkers, as active participants... whichever way you choose, but do return. It means that you enjoyed the ride as much as we did and that learning happened, and strong bonds and friendships were built. :-)
Thank you!
Before we turn the BaW12 page today and face "the first day of life after BaW" tomorrow, Fernanda, Larissa and I would like to heartily say a last "Thank you" to all our fabulous guest speakers, moderators, and participants for a fantastic job and perseverance to the last day, and for having made this 9th round of the Becoming a Webhead workshop the success and life-changing event it was for several of you, no doubt. Without you all, none of this would have happened.
Here's to you all!!
Peace, Health, Happiness and... many tech successes in your classrooms! :-)
Teresa, Fernanda and Larissa on behalf of the BaW 2012 Team!
See you in life after BaW12!
Graduation Party
Coordinators: Teresa (Portugal), Fernanda (Portugal and Larissa (Russia/USA)
Moderators: Anisoara (Romania), Ayat (Egypt), Hala (Saudi Arabia), Helen (France), JA/Jose Antionio (Brazil), Maria (Argentina), Marijana (Croatia), Mbarek (Morocco), Sharon (USA) and Svetlana (Czech Republic)
16:11 Marijana [undisclosed]: have the sound on, Domi is eating dinner, he had his insulin shot so we are ok now
16:11 branko [Branko]: i can see
16:11 branko [Branko]: ok
16:11 Marijana [undisclosed]: fo hubbies, fo hubbies I need
16:11 Marijana [undisclosed]: LOL
16:11 lawandal [Lawan ]: lol
16:11 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): thanks, Catherine!
16:11 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: lovely
16:11 hala [hala]: I loved laundry
16:11 catherineB [catherine] 1: yes!!!
16:11 lolesova [Larissa]: Teresa thanks a lot for your hard work on the certificates - they look great
16:11 Marijana [undisclosed]: will print this out .)
16:11 hala [hala]: lol
16:11 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): lol!
16:12 lawandal [Lawan ]: lol
16:12 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: LOL
16:12 branko [Branko]: waaaauuuuuu
16:12 KarenF02 [Karen]: i like the neglected spouses and children.....ha ha to the neglected laundry!!
16:12 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: Now I cant hear you!
16:12 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: LOL
16:12 lolesova [Larissa]: neglectes Laundry is about me LOL
16:12 catherineB [catherine] 1: lost the sound
16:12 KarenF02 [Karen]: That is great!
16:12 Marijana [undisclosed]: cheers
16:12 lolesova [Larissa]: Catherina - go through Tools-Audio and Audio Setup wizard
16:13 Marijana [undisclosed]: My orehnja?a is ready, just in time, to taste it with the champaine
16:13 Marijana [undisclosed]: super cake!
16:13 lawandal [Lawan ]:
16:13 hala [hala]: hey Jaoa
16:13 branko [Branko]: njami orehnja?a )))
16:13 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: wowowowowowowo.... i want champagne
16:13 Marijana [undisclosed]: Branko come around to my house, you are the closest
16:13 branko [Branko]: hehehe
16:13 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: I can hear you at last!
16:14 hala [hala]: Fabulous
16:14 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): great, Sneza!
16:14 Marijana [undisclosed]: super Sneza
16:14 hala [hala]: Thanks to him
16:14 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: awesome
16:14 lawandal [Lawan ]: wow!
16:14 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: I`ll check if you hear me later!
16:14 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): you must try your mike next, Sneza
16:14 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: that's amazing
16:14 hala [hala]: Yes
16:14 hala [hala]: We miss Daf
16:14 lolesova [Larissa]: Yes
16:14 KarenF02 [Karen]: yes
16:14 Moderator (Session Leader): yes
16:14 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: zes
16:15 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): yes, Sneza!
16:15 Moderator (Session Leader): great!
16:15 anisoara [anisoara]: yes Sneza
16:15 lolesova [Larissa]: Teresa, I love the picture of 3 of us with champaigne
16:15 Moderator (Session Leader): ty, larissa! me too
16:15 Marijana [undisclosed]: hello Karen
16:16 Marijana [undisclosed]: Hi Cholpon
16:16 Moderator (Session Leader): that's the best reward, karen
16:16 Cholponmusaeva [undisclosed]: Hi everyone
16:16 lolesova [Larissa]: Karen you will
16:16 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: thank you karen
16:16 Marijana [undisclosed]: thank you Karen
16:16 KarenF02 [Karen]: I sure will!
16:16 Marijana [undisclosed]: you too Karen
16:16 lawandal [Lawan ]: thanks karen
16:16 Moderator (Session Leader): hop you do join us next year, karen!
16:16 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: i guess many of us will come back next year
16:16 KarenF02 [Karen]: I have enjoyed getting to know such a wonderfully diverse community of friends!!
16:16 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): All are very welcome next year!
16:17 KarenF02 [Karen]: Hi, Cholpon
16:17 anisoara [anisoara]: yes, Larisa
16:17 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: champagne, vodka, wine. pisco... anyt other drink we can share??
16:18 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): what's pisco?
16:18 anisoara [anisoara]: just go next room Maria to the GradParty page lol
16:18 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: sure i will
16:18 anisoara [anisoara]: biscoti, pisco I think
16:18 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: what's your twitter larisa?
16:19 hala [hala]: @Teresa. Could you remind me of who created the Geese presentation?
16:19 lolesova [Larissa]: lolesova - this is my twitter Maria
16:19 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: yes, see you soon!
16:19 lolesova [Larissa]: Maria - vodka should go first - LOL
16:19 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: i saw that! a big thank you!!
16:19 anisoara [anisoara]: yes, Helen too
16:20 Marijana [undisclosed]: I need to find that of laundry, she is Helen too
16:20 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: any is ok with me... they will all go to the same place, later
16:20 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: i will print it and put it on top of my bed!
16:20 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): you forgot to add one to Maria's neglected pigeons!!
16:21 lawandal [Lawan ]:
16:21 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: LOL
16:21 lolesova [Larissa]: I will put in my office to show all my colleagues - Maria you should it as well that others will see LOL
16:21 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: May I say something?
16:21 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: that's a good idea!!
16:21 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: my pigeons will be happy to see it
16:21 lolesova [Larissa]: Hi Svetlana
16:21 Moderator (Session Leader): when it's time to put up the Grad Party page, pls say so
16:21 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: can I have one for having pulled out the most hair in despair during the course??
16:22 Marijana [undisclosed]: LOL Cat
16:22 lolesova [Larissa]: Catherine LOL
16:22 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: LOL
16:22 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): we'll offer you a wig, Catherine!
16:22 Moderator (Session Leader): LOL catherine
16:22 lawandal [Lawan ]: lol cat
16:22 lolesova [Larissa]: My dear reindeer Svetlana - it was a lot of fun
16:22 lolesova [Larissa]: the most memorable moment of this year BAW
16:22 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: yesssssssss, we need to do it again
16:22 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: LOL Cath
16:22 anisoara [anisoara]: Hi Helen, we were just talking about you
16:22 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: helen has just arrived
16:23 Moderator (Session Leader): i'm so glad, svetlana
16:23 lawandal [Lawan ]: welcom helen
16:23 lolesova [Larissa]: Maria - yes, you made my day and I had so much fun but I was spoiled with Italian wine - mmmm -
16:23 helend [helen]: Hi everyone lovely to be here !!
16:23 KarenF02 [Karen]: Svetlana, thank you for sharing your earlier experience when you were so busy. It's encouraging to hear how others have taken this BAW learning step-by-step!
16:23 lolesova [Larissa]: Hi Helen
16:23 helend [helen]: Hi Larissa
16:23 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: LOL Larisa
16:23 Marijana [undisclosed]: Hello helen
16:23 helend [helen]: Hi Marijana
16:23 Moderator (Session Leader): welcome helen!
16:23 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: hello Helen
16:23 KarenF02 [Karen]: Hi Helen!
16:23 helend [helen]: Hi Maria and karen
16:23 Moderator (Session Leader): definitely svetlana
16:24 KarenF02 [Karen]: That's a great idea, Svetlana!
16:24 Moderator (Session Leader): big marker
16:24 Moderator (Session Leader): we'll make plans for that, svetlana. ty
16:24 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: thanks svetlana
16:25 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: Thanks
16:25 Marijana [undisclosed]: thx Svetlana
16:25 Marijana [undisclosed]: am tweeting so can't chat at th same time
16:26 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: oh come on marijana, you are multitasking
16:26 Marijana [undisclosed]: I love the geese ppt!
16:26 Marijana [undisclosed]: yes always Maria multitasking but my hubby says I don't do it very well, when it comes to ignoring him )
16:27 hala [hala]:
16:27 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: ooppss
16:27 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: She made me come here!
16:38 hala [hala]: Sadly, I have to leave now. Thank you all for a wonderul year
16:38 Marijana [undisclosed]: Hala love the dates, pls send some
16:38 Moderator (Session Leader): ty halinha! beijinhos
16:38 anisoara [anisoara]: can I say something?
16:38 Marijana [undisclosed]: bye Hala will send you email
16:38 Moderator (Session Leader): sure
16:38 hala [hala]: Hope to see you all again, not only in baw 2013, but see you around
16:38 Marijana [undisclosed]: yes Hala, for sure
16:38 hala [hala]: Sure Marijana
16:38 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: can i say something after anisoara?
16:38 hala [hala]: Tight hugs for all of you
16:38 hala [hala]: thanks and bye
16:38 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: thanks hala
16:39 Moderator (Session Leader): tears are in my eyes, anisoara. i'm very moved
16:39 svetlanaobe [undisclosed]: I will also have to apologise, I have to prepare dinner before we go to a concert tonight. Thank you all and see you in the life after BAW
16:39 lawandal [Lawan ]: thank you hala
16:39 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): thanks for coming, Svetlana!
16:39 Moderator (Session Leader): ty, svetlana. great having you here
16:39 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: bye sveltana - speak to you soon!
16:47 lolesova [Larissa] to Session Leader: Teresa can you open the whiteboard?
16:47 Marijana [undisclosed]: open in below
16:47 Marijana [undisclosed]: near folder another screen
16:48 Marijana [undisclosed]: a blank screen on the left of the white board
16:48 Marijana [undisclosed]: near folder icon
16:48 Marijana [undisclosed]: super
16:49 Cholponmusaeva [undisclosed]: How to add to whiteboard?
16:49 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: Can I draw something!
16:49 anisoara [anisoara]: Ty so much Teresa
16:50 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: no tears , teresa
16:50 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): yes, Sneza
16:50 erinrussia [undisclosed]: I'm grateful for this program. It's been such a gift!
16:50 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: and what a great job you've done
16:51 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): Thank you for understanding and supporting Teresa and Fernanda and all our mods
16:51 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): Yakutsk!!!!!!!!
16:51 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): Where twice - the third should come as well
16:51 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): as we say in Russian Teresa
16:52 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): in Portugal we say : não há 2 sem 3!
16:52 Marijana [undisclosed]: I just made some fresh "orehnja?a" for all!! It was a pleasure being here with you, thanks to all coordinators, participants and my co-mods
16:52 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: yes, ayat... always number one
16:52 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): Fernanda - almost the same in Russian
16:52 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: they were great mods
16:53 lawandal [Lawan ]: supr maria and ayat
16:53 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: thanks lawan
16:53 Moderator (lolesova [Larissa]): Mods did a wonderful job indeed 24/7
16:53 sneza.filipovic [undisclosed]: Great job!
16:53 Marijana [undisclosed]: thank you Teresa
16:53 catherineB [catherine] 1 #2: yep, they were full of energy
16:53 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: thanks larisa
16:53 Moderator (fernanda [Fernanda]): clap, clao, clap
16:53 helend [helen]: Clap clap clap ladies
16:54 smilingmaria [undisclosed]: i miss my twin sister here today
16:54 lawandal [Lawan ]: clap clap clap
16:54 Marijana [undisclosed]: Helen is here, and Helen love your humor
16:54 anisoara [anisoara]: Fabulous indeed Helen - so helpful
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