May 04 2013
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Design, Japan, Living in, Travel

Mashiko Pottery Festival

I have spent a wonderful day in Mashiko, a little pottery town in Tochigi Prefecture located apprx. 120km north of Tokyo. It took me and my friend Angela 3 hours to get there by changing four trains. For detailed information, please check this page.

Around three hundred potters’ works were showcased in shops and stalls around this beautiful little town. One of the most interesting things for me was to see the different kinds of glazes that potters used. Some shiny, some mat, and the various colors and shades that I did not existed in pottery. Moreover I was amazed by the detailed thought given designing everyday objects and the mastery in producing them. Each one of them was unique in its own way. One other observation of mine was that the feeling in the air; the zen, tranquil, bohemian state of being… just being… floating in time and space…  And most of all, I realized today how much I miss breathing the same air  with artists and craftsmen…

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Apr 29 2013
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ESTech, Grade 2, ICT, Twitter

Making Twitter Visible

Grade 2 has been trialling Twitter for the past month. Homeroom teacher Ms. Czubak and I decide it is time to ask kids what they think about Twitter and prepared three questions.

1. What is the purpose of Twitter?

2. What are some examples of things that you would tweet?

3. How do you use Twitter?

Then we asked them to give us the answers using a black marker on a piece of A4 size paper.

And this is what we have:

 

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Apr 16 2013
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ESTech, ICT, Skype, Social Networking

Grade 5 Skype Connection with Mark Wood

This afternoon Grade 5′s had a great chat with Mark Wood, the polar explorer who is at the moment in Mount Everest Bas Camp getting ready for his descent. As a part of his expedition he connects with schools and classes from all around the world. Grade 5′s as a part of their Exhibition Unit on Passion have applied to have a chat with him and has been selected by him. As well as the chat we had today, Mark will be in contact with the classes t the end of his journey when he gets back to England.

During our conversaton today, Mark told the students about his expedition and introduced us his team mates,  Peter the doctor and Marc the cameraman. 3 students asked questions to him and he replied enthusiastically. Mark and Kai even had a Skype Virtual Handshake! he talked  about his passion fo climbing, what kinds of gear he has with him and what challenges he came across so far.

The students, teachers, admin and some reporters from Japanese Media were all very excited to have this great oppportunity to connect with an explorer on his way to the world’s highest mountain!

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