New Tablet experience
Hello, this is my little “story” about my first experience with this new device that EOI has provided to us…
Tablet Experience #mlearning @eoi
Wow, first of all I couldn’t believe that we get a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 until I held it in my hand! Thanks a lot to EOI, I really had fun with it the first days. This present shows me how important mobilelearning @eoi is. It simplifies to be updated with news around the world and from my friends. I connected my Facebook, Twitter and LinkdIn accounts with googlemail, updated my calender, syncronised music and pictures and browsed for apps. Here are some I installed:
- Skype
- Remember the Milk (to-do list)
- Packing List (don’t forget anything for Christmas!)
- Wikitude World Browser (City guide and search engine)
- Dropbox
- Google Goggles (Image recognition)
- Madrid Metro
Which apps can you recommend?
Here is a short movie about my first day with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, enjoy it
If you cannot access it via youtube you can download it here: My first day with my Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
DP 1: Development. Development?
In Development Perspectives class we approached the word development and its meaning in a very interesting and inspiring way, even if we mentioned and debated several examples for the misuse of this word and its original definition.
When we learnt about Rostow’s 5 phase development model (traditional society, precondition for takeoff, the takeoff process, the drive to maturity, and high mass consumption society) (1), I immediately formulated the question, why this model a one-way model is, which stops at the fifth stage. Today it is apparent that people in the so called developed countries (or North) are searching for ways to get out of the mass consumption handcuffs and turn back to older ideas used by traditional societies (output usually consumed by producers, barter trade, traditional methods of agriculture production). An example is the spreading of the permacultures. “The – permaculture- principles are based on observations of nature”(2) and “were derived from…study of pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use”(3). This was done the same way by our ancients and still being implemented by some indigenous groups. Developed citizens look curious and highly interested at this knowledge. This fact makes me rethink Rostow’s model to a circle form, where societies from phase 5 can get again to phase 1, stating that the mass consumption society is not necessarily the most developed, most wanted stage. A spiral form might be even more adequate projecting an advanced version of phase 1. However, this unique knowledge of the traditional society is about to disappear because of the so called development, if we think of development as a continuous economical growth, like in modernization theory. Societies are forced to take the “development” path of catching up, leaving behind all their valuable knowledge and experience to fit into a model. This can cause not only a big loss for the global society but is also incompatible with substantive freedom, which again is not depending from industrialization, according to Sen(4).
I believe that one’s freedom and dignity is hurt when not given fair chances for life. As we mentioned in the class, people need freedom to choose what they want to do and how they want to live their life happily. Like many criticizing voices, I do not support the way of development that we, developed people show the poor underdeveloped persons how to progress. As an example for another possible mode, I would like to mention my volunteering experience in Guatemala. I helped a local NGO (established and directed by a local person) to implement its educational goals for the local community (children, youth, adults) on its own way, knowing the needs of its people. International volunteers did not want to change the world or the way of life of Guatemalan people, but rather help them to achieve their own goals offering extra resources (knowledge, time, money). Parents appreciated when we took care of their children during the day, youth and adults took advantage of our free English classes offered to them, noticing the importance of it for their own future, and young mothers were grateful when they were taught how to cook healthier but still affordable meals. I believe that this way we did not force local people to do something they did not want but gave more or rather more equal opportunities to choose from in their future. Involving local teachers, cook, parents and the director we hoped to accomplish participatory development(5) in a small scope.
I look forward to learning more about the „rules of the game” to be able to empower more those in need.
Finally, I would like to share with you my favorite painting with its message: „Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (from Norman Rockwell, original in UN HQ NY,NY). I hope many of you can identify yourselves with the persons on the painting.
Resources:
(1) Rostow(1959): The stages of economic growth
(2) http://www.permaculture.org.uk/knowledge-base/article/what-is-permaculture
(3) Holmgren(1997): Weeds or wild nature
(4) Sen(1999): Development as Freedom
(5) Chambers(1983): Rural development
Inspire, don’t impose
So far into my EOI experience, there have been many classes that I enjoyed, but I must say there is one I loved the most: Managerial Skills.
I don’t know if it is the energy and the professionalism of my teacher, or the subject matter and how it relates to psychology (which I love!), that makes me like the class so much. Honestly, in the end, none of that matters, what does matter is the way the class makes me feel.
Attending this class has given me new ideas, inspired me to see life in a new way, gave me the skills to become a better leader, and most importantly a better communicator. As my teacher, Christopher Metcalfe, told the class: “If you are not getting the results you want, then there must be a problem with your communication.” Since life is all about sharing ideas, interacting with others and exposing ourselves to new things, effective communication is truly vital in all spheres of our life.
One thing this class really clarified for me is that in life, if you want anything done, you shouldn’t impose your desires and wishes on others. In fact, you must do the opposite. You have to give the other individual choices, options and the freedom to pick the thing they want the most. This makes sense, because giving the other individual freedom to choose will make them more responsible towards their decision. Forcing someone into submission, instead, will result in short-term commitment, and lack of responsibility for the future.
In conclusion, the only thing any individual can control is the way he/she approaches life and their daily experiences. Living life with positivity and enthusiasm can help us feel good about ourselves, which can then attract other positive people and their ideas. Everybody wants to have a happy life, inspiring others to do what you want through positivity and freedom of choice can get you far!
So how do you stay positive? It is simple: approach life as a one big lesson, where every experience was meant to happen, for it will provide you with valuable information for later, to help you lead the life you wanted.
This clip of King Julien from Madagascar II is my favorite example of how positivity, support, empathy for others, and motivation can help any of us get out from our hole and go after things that matter. After all, life is SHORT! =)
New tablet experience #mlearning@eoi
El día de hoy la Escuela tomó la iniciativa de darnos una tableta. En el mundo actual los canales informativos han mutado hasta convertirse prácticamente omnipresentes y desde hace un tiempo vivimos en un mundo de tiempo real.
Tal y como la información ha cambiado en relación a sus canales, de la misma manera el tener acceso a esta nueva herramienta cambiará mi manera de trabajar, formarme e informarme. Tener en la mano una herramienta como esta me confirma una vez más lo afortunados que somos, es raro que nos detengamos a pensar en el porcentaje mundial en que nos encontramos sólo por oportunidades como estas.
En mis manos tengo una nueva herramienta, que sirva para devolverle al mundo mejores resultados, al final se trata de sumar y optimizar, más en el tiempo en el que estamos viviendo.
Today the School gave us a tablet. Nowadays the information channels have changed till becoming almost omnipresent and science some time already, we live in a real time world.
Equally as information has changed its channels, having access to this tool will change my way of working, form myself and inform myself. The fact of having in my hand a tool like this confirms me once again how fortunate we are, is scarce that we stop to think in the global percentage we’re at just by opportunities like this.
In my hand I see a great device, I hope it works to give the world back better results, at the end it’s about adding and optimizing, specially looking at our time!
#mlearning@eoi
DP: Civil Society and State in development
Latin America is the most unequal region in the planet. States tends to be responsible for solving inequalities. It’s important to ask ourselves if States in Latin America count with the necessary resources to accomplish the commitments they’ve been given. Poverty is multifactorial, and so are solutions. The participations of society becomes a key factor in this sense, synergies come from individual efforts placed together.
When it comes to breaking inequalities in Latin America, it’s necessary to think in mass. So State, normally in charge of all the warranties and all referring to Human Rights (Education, basic services, work, etc) has to suffer a deep transformation where it keeps having this responsibilities, but where it also admits the participation of other sectors like enterprises and Non Governamental Organizations (NGO’s). In this way, enterprises and NGO’s itself would be committed to their own countries (In their communities more likely), defending their own rights and warranties, becoming active in the duties that those warranties actually imply.
The necessary synergy to change inequalities starts by including. Productive factors and initiatives, expressed through projects and organizations need to be taken in account to start adding. The separate papers of both sphere (State on one hand and Civil Society on the other) has to find other links more than taxes. In the Distribution of responsibilities is an answer, in including independent ideas and plans to the agenda we have a way how.
From this point of view, we can see that inequalities not only are solved via State. Governmental institutions were designed to give answers to the social, politic and economic inputs, nonetheless, in Latin America sometimes States can’t reach to all their responsibilities. In the way that society becomes active in this type of dynamics we will have a progressive improvement in the effectiveness of our warranties
PNUD. Informe Regional sobre Dsarrollo Humano para América Latina y el Caribe (2010). Available at: http://www.idhalc-actuarsobreelfuturo.org/site/index.php. Recovered the 07/11/11
Entorno Económico: ¿Culpa popular en la crisis española?
La crisis española se le ha atribuido a la banca. Este argumento ha sido sustentado con especial foco sobre la situación inmobiliaria, y la relación evidente que tiene la banca sobre este sector. Los Estados de Bienestar han entrado en serios cuestionamientos en los países europeos, no obstante, al ver el impacto de las políticas restrictivas en países como Irlanda, conviene cuestionarse si sólo se puede reducir todo a un punto de vista y a un (o un par) de culpables y analizar si España es lo mismo que cualquier otro país de la Unión.
La banca en España se acuda de haber hundido al país en la crisis actual, dado que do dinero a quienes no lo pudieron retribuir ¿Qué pasa si lo vemos desde el lado del solicitante? Las personas en decisiones individuales decidieron igualmente optar por un crédito que sabían que no podían pagar, ya que sus compromisos terminaban superando sus ingresos, desprendiéndose una irresponsabilidad masiva desde ese punto de vista. La cosa se vuelve peor en el momento que la banca se encuentra “desbancada” y no presta dinero, cayendo la economía en una evidente situación restrictiva, en vista que los fondos para políticas expansivas siguen aún puestos en los ladrillos de los edificios, es decir, sin liquidez.
Irlanda ante la crisis, ha respondido con evidente lógica pero sin estimar las consecuencias (nadie sabe lo que va a pasar, tan sólo se puede estimar). Por su parte, el recorte en el gasto público fue el primero en ser afectado, viéndose reducido en Estado de Bienestar. Al verse afectado, la imposibilidad de dinamizar el economía bajo políticas expansivas ha disparado el desempleo, generándose menos impuestos (aunque hay menos que pagar por los recortes).
Quizás no sea un tema de culpables en las altas esferas sino también de cambios individuales que sumen masa crítica. Si cambiamos nuestros patrones de consumo y prioridades, la economía también cambiará (el consumidor cambia y el ofertante buscará alternativas igualmente, por ejemplo). La banca tiene que reestructurarse en sus políticas prestamistas, los criterios tienen que ser distintos ya que las circunstancias no son las mismas. Los Estados
también tendrán que analizar sus papeles en la dinámica moderna, no obstante, el individuo tiene que valorar su poder de generar, y en la generación de soluciones individuales está la sinergia para no repetir cíclicamente la tragegia colectiva.
Paul Krugman. En el diario El País. Publicado el 13/11/11. Disponible en http://www.elpais.com/articulo/primer/plano/Leyendas/fracaso/elpepueconeg/20111113elpneglse_3/Tes . Recuperado el 14/11/11
M-Learning
Earlier today, my colleagues and I each received a Samsung Galaxy Tab from EOI!
We were so intrigued with our new device that we wasted no time in taking it out of its box to explore the look and feel of its internal operating system and external features.
So there I was, sitting in the classroom with my iPhone, iPad, and Galaxy Tab all laid out on the desk infront of me. I was literally surrounded by smart technology!

me & my new Galaxy Tab! (taken from my iPhone)
Before the tablets were distributed to us in class, we were given a brief talk in the auditorium on M-learning A.K.A. mobile learning. Although a major part of the talk was delivered in Spanish, I was able to understand the main points that the speakers were trying to convey.
It really made me think of how the use of mobile technology has changed the way I function and live my life in recent years.
Certainly, M-learning is nothing new to me, and to a lot of Malaysians at this point of our nation’s rapid stage of development. In Kuala Lumpur, for example, one can witness people young and old – business men and women, academics, civil servants, students, teens – using various brands of smartphones and tablets, on cars and public transportation and at the airport, offices, universities, cafes, malls, etc. It seems as though everyone is always connected, even when we’re on the go, and that there is no excuse for ignorance since access to information is readily available at the touch or tap of our fingertips.
At my last place of employment, I worked at a government agency in a department that specifically focused on developing the skills and knowledge of our country’s ICT talent pool. Thus, I was always in the presence of those carrying tablets, smartphones, and laptops with the latest software programmes to meetings, discussions, and conferences. I was also exposed to the most visually eye-catching and creative Powerpoint presentations, and often overheard my superiors rave over the latest tech updates and insider stories on upcoming gadgets from industry partners. I remembered attending a meeting at a university and finding out that there were many students who went to class without textbooks, but instead with digital books that they downloaded onto their respective tablets.
Although I still love the feel and smell of a binded book in my hand, I am at the same time amazed at how fast our societies are picking up this concept of mobile living and learning, and embracing the introduction of new forms of technologies in our lives. Before I left for Spain, 3D television was beginning to catch on in my country, and now I wonder if our future generation would gain their education in a 3D-enabled classroom.
At the moment, I am absolutely thrilled with my new tablet because it has a front and back camera, the resolution seems to be very sharp, and the touch sensor is also quite precise. I have yet to explore its apps and other features, and am trying my best to manage all the smart devices I have with me here. My only concern, of course, is making sure that they all stay fully charged!
From point A to point B
The overall message is fixed in mind: Raise Awareness! And yes, the course raised my awareness. It helped me a lot to talk about why we conduct presentations. Why do we present? We present mainly to get people from point A to point B. To manage this it is important to mind the benefit for the audience and to keep it simple. Interesting for me was the question: why am I nervous before a presentation? It is not because I don’t like it to present, actually I enjoy it. But what makes me to blush even though I prepared it carefully? I will bear it in mind and question myself before each presentation to find it out.
The second part was about Negotiations and we discussed two different approaches: The Win-Lose and Win-Win approach. After our exercise I realized how easy people can start competing during a negotiation. It is all about psychology and the course helped me to extend my knowledge about it. I think the most important is to look for common ground and to make people say YES!
During the third part about Effective Leadership we distinguished between the different focus of manager and leader. The manager focuses more on tasks and the leader more on humans. I already knew about this but didn’t bring it to paper that structured. The point really caught me was “The Golden Cycle” by Simon Sinek. Why do I what I do? I thought about this before and it made me think again. The same happened with the question on what are my values. I think it is very important to know why you do what you do but only a few know it.
The course definitely brought me from point A to point B: I am more aware of my environment and use the tools we have received. I am eager to improve my presentation skills and to concentrate on the purpose why I do what I do. Thanks for the inspiring class!
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” Abraham Lincoln
Renewable Energies ( Javier Solano, Aitana Leret, Aida Zhilkibayeva and Antonio Moreno)
Renewable Energies Spain:
Renewable energy supplied in 2010 the 35% of electricity consumed. We produced: Wind power, Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic, Solar Thermoelectric, Biomass, Biogas, Biofuels, Small hydro, Marine Energy and Geothermal.
Wind power alone supplied 16 percent of electricity. At 1st January 2010, accumulated wind energy capacity in Spain stood at 19,050 MW, a figure that is only surpassed by the United States, Germany and China and close to the target of 20,155 MW established in the Renewable Energies Plan for the end of 2010. Having generated close to 36,000 GWh of electricity during 2009, wind power which on occasions covered more than 50% of total electricity demand at specific times met 14% of total electricity demand in Spain. in other words, wind power in Spain provides enough electricity in a year to meet the demand of almost nine million homes.
Solar Thermal Three quarters (232 MW) of the 307 MW of solar thermal electric capacity installed in the last decade around the world is in Spain, and more than 1,346 MW is under construction (around 400 MW of which will be commissioned during 2010) and 843MW at an advanced stage of development. This will result in an installed capacity of more than 2,400 MW in Spain by 2013.The first commercial central tower plant supplying power to the grid was the PS10 plant (Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville), which was commissioned in 2006. Since then, the solar thermal electric industry has not stopped growing in our country.
All four solar thermal electric technologies are in use in Spain. The most widely developed at a commercial scale is the parabolic trough receiver, which makes up 93% of the 2,500 MW that will be rolled out by 2013. Central tower receivers account for close to 3%, as do parabolic disks that are normally connected to Sterling engines, while linear Fresnel receivers make up little more than 1% of all plants
Solar Photovoltaic Spain has the second largest installed capacity in European and is world leader in terms of capacity per habitant, with 75.2 watts per capita. This technology truly took off in Spain in 2008. In that year, 2,715 MW of capacity was installed, representing an increase of 500% from that installed in 2007.
Constantly falling photovoltaic panel prices, which reflect the economies of scale and improvements in the technological learning curve on a day-to-day basis, coincided with financial optimism, the diversification of many companies’ activities, and regulatory changes, to drive this technology to levels that were unimaginable a few years previously. This was true not just in Spain but across Europe, where installed capacity was doubled in 2008, with 4.6 GW being added to take total accumulated photovoltaic capacity to 9.5 GW, according to EurObserv’ER data.
Biomass: Spain has experienced recent but rapid growth in the use of biomass for heating applications, which has given rise to a new economic activity involving the manufacture of densified fuels.
Numerous industrialists from a variety of sectors are making investments, enabling production capacity to multiply approximately ten-fold in recent years from 60,000 t/year in 2004 to close to 600,000 t/year in 2009. Meanwhile, in relation to biomass heat applications, a number of equipment suppliers exist, especially in the low to medium power range, that sell notable amounts of technology and capacity, chiefly through exports to the American continent
Geothermal: A number of extensive studies and research conducted between the 1970s and beginning of the 1990s showed that Spain has substantial geothermal resources in its subsoil. This work detected and identified several geographical areas with considerable potential. As part of the work to draw up the 2011-2020 Renewable Energies Plan, additional studies are being conducted to complete this information and provide a better assessment of Spain’s geothermal potential.
In contrast to previous plans, the new Renewable Energies Plan will include a specific section on geothermal energy, with specific targets for each temperature gradient: very high temperature, associated with climatisation and the use of heat pumps; low and medium temperature for district or individual heating or other heating applications involving hot water fields; and high temperature for the generation of electricity or other thermal processes using stimulated or dry rock field
Hydro: In 2009, Spain had 13,521 MW of hydropower in plants of over 50 MW. A further 3,077 MW of capacity was installed in plants ranging from 10 to 50 MW, while 1,920 MW was installed in small hydroelectric plants with a capacity of less than 10 MW.Spain has companies that manufacture equipment for this type of power stations.
New advances are being made in turbine design to generate power from small heads, control systems, etc. which will boost plant performance and enable them to adapt to an increasingly scarce and variable resource. In the future, efforts will focus on new installations that use existing hydraulic infrastructures, and on developing a fleet of pure and mixed pumping stations that help in the management of the Spanish electricity system
Marine energies: The most outstanding Spanish projects under way are: the project in Santoña (Cantabria) involving a 40 kW prototype buoy: the first phase of a larger project involving the installation of 10 buoys with a total capacity of 1.4 MW; Project “Calma” in Asturias: an innovative and unique project using home-grown technology to install a 50-MW electricity generation facility developed by the Spanish company, Hidroflot; Project “Pasajes” (Asturias) to commission a highly efficient and cost competitive wave energy device with 500 kW of power; the new seawall in the port of Mutriku (Guipuzcoa) which is based on the oscillating water column principal and involves 16 turbines with a total capacity of 300 kW; a project in Galicia to demonstrate the Pelamis technology; another project to integrate two types of oscillating water column turbines in the La Guardia seawall (Galicia), etc
Renewable Energies Costa Rica:
About 92.6% of Costa Rica’s power comes from renewable energies. In order of importance these would be hydroelectric, geothermal, wind power and solar.
Hydroelectric: Costa Rica is mostly powered by hydroelectric energy in 2010 76.4% of its energy came from this source. (7,247,960 MWh). In this type of energy 78% is produced by the public sector and 22% by the private sector.
Important hidroelectric plants
· Garita 1958.
· Río Macho 1963
· Cachí 1966
· Arenal 1978
· Ingeniero Miguel Pablo Dengo 1982
· Lic. Alberto Echandi 1990
· Sandillal 1992
· Toro l y Toro ll 1995, 1996.
· Angostura 2002.
· Peñas Blancas 2002.
· Plantas hidroeléctricas del sistema Miller
· Cacao 1928
· Pirrís 2007
· Cariblanco
· Garabito 2007.
Geothermal: By 2010 12.4% of its energy was supplied by this type of energy. (1,176,016 MWh). Of this energy 82% is produced by the public sector and 18% by the private sector.
Geothermic Plant Las Pailas of Costa Rica can produce 35 MW through the extraction of wáter vapor, in a field near by Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste. Las Pailas will be the second geothermic proyect in Costa Rica after the Miravalles plant, which last phase concluded in 2004.
Wind power: 3.8% of Costa Rica’s energy comes from a aeolic wind farms (358,483 MWh). Tilaran is the are with the mos aeolic potential. Of this wind energy produced 82% is produced by the private sector and 18% by the public sector.
No wind map was found.
Renewable Energies in Kazakhstan
Wind: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and Global Environmental Agency, as in the “Kazakstan—wind power market development initiative” (2004-2011), with the Government of Kazakhstan prepare to launch first wind-power stations in Almaty, Astana, Mangystau, Atyrau, Taraz and Karaganda Oblast. The estimated total capacity may reach 500 wind megawatts.
Geothermal: Sub-thermal waters with temperatures below 40С are used for early watering of farmlands in spring (Pavlodar, Almaty, Taraz and Southern Kazakhstan oblasts).
Solar: The solar energy resource potential is quite great for the vast territory of the largest Central Asian Republic. The number of sunny hours is 2,200-3,000 per year, and the energy of solar radiation is 1,300-1,800 kW/m2/year. Despite the very favorable conditions for solar energy, there is little use of the resource (as in EBRD Renewable Energy Initiative).
Hydroelectric: Hydropower accounts for approximately 12 percent of Kazakhstan’s total generating capacity. Average annual hydropower generation in Kazakhstan amounts to 7.78 billion kWh (as in EBRD Renewable Energy Initiative).
Solid biomass (includes fuel wood): Energy consumption in 1999 (as the most available information on this energy source) was 73 thousand of metric tons of oil equivalent.