Archive for November 1st, 2011
Busuu
Today, at the WISE Conference, I felt that we needed some Babelfish implants to automatically translate some of the wonderful languages spoken by the 1200 delegates, from 120 countries.
(Of course, we could have tried Babelfish the website which took its name from Douglas Adams’ wondrous invention).
I was reminded of busuu.com, another way picking up new languages.
busuu.com is an online social network service that serves as a community language learning platform, where users can help each other to improve their language skills.
The website provides learning units for several different languages: Busuu*, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian, French, Polish, Turkish. Learners can set up a profile, add one or more of these languages to their learning portfolio, work through the units at their own pace and keep track of their progress.
( *Busuu is an unclassified Southern Bantoid language of Cameroon).
We have not used this extensively, and would value any reflections from those that have tried it, or do use it.
World Innovation Summit for Education 2011, Doha, Qatar
An honour to be invited back to Qatar, for the third World Innovation Summit for Education, (WISE) in Doha.
This WISE Summit explores the theme of “Changing Societies, Changing Education”.
The first session, an open panel debate chaired by Kirsty Lang, broadcaster and journalist, UK featuredHer Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation, Dr. Vartan Gregorian, President, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Her Excellency Naledi Pandor, MP, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa, and Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute; Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Columbia University. Continue Reading
As well as our events, we like to share interesting, and more often than not, FREE tools, resources and ideas, some old, some new, and we hope you might find something useful. We'd love your thoughts. Tim & Sarah
