User:Milasunshine

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Professional Background
Hello all. My name is Ludmilla Smirnova. I am an Associate Professor at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY. I came to the U.S. from Russia 9 years ago. I grew up, got my education in Russia. I was Dean of School of Foreign Languages at Volgograd State Pedagogical University. My school is celebrating its 60th anniversary in October. Here is the picture of me among other four deans of the school - now the Institute of Foreign Languages. Volgograd State Pedagogical University/ Institute of Foreign Languages Scroll down the page to see the photo, look and guess where I am among the 3 women on the picture.

Education
I graduated from:
 * 1) Volgograd State Pedagogical University (VSPU) in 1977 with the specialization in Teaching English and German.
 * 2) The VSPU Ph.D Post Graduate School in 1987.

I continued my learning by doing:


 * In May of 1987 I successfully defended my theses in Pedagogical Theory and Practice in the Russian Academy of Pedagogical Science in Moscow and continuted working at the Department of Pedagogics at VSPU. I taught theoretical courses in Pedagogy and Methodology of teaching, led practical seminars in the Art of Teaching, supervised student teaching and the research diploma work of the graduate students. I was also responsible for the study abroad programs of the University.
 * In 1994 I was unanimously (students, faculty, and veteran professors, etc.) elected Dean of School of Foreign Languages and worked in this position till 2000.
 * In May, 2000 I was enrolled in the 3 year Post Doctorate School at VSPU with the 75% completed research proposal in Comparative Studies in Education and in July of 2000 I moved to the U.S.

I am an active learner. Back in Russia, I attended numerous seminars, such as Business Management, led by the America Businessman Charles Clark, Positive Therapy conducted by a German pshychologist, etc. I was interested in the humanistic systems of education and got excited about Montessori method. I immediately requested to give me an opportunity to visit Montessori schools and Montessori Training Center in Nijmegen, Holland where I was invited to teach Russian and prepare a group of 12 students to come to Russia for their Internship on Social work. I got my Montessori training in May-June of 1994 in Ahrnem, NL and in July-August in Montessori Center of Chesterfield Day school in Saint Luis and on my return to my native city I opened 2 schools of Montessori. It was a long-term project with 2 principals of the schools in two different districts of the city. Both schools are flourishing and still represent the innovative approaches in teaching in my city, back in Russia. Exploring Montessori education allowed me discovering my own philosophy of teaching. I am a constructivist and a collaborator. That's why I embraced technology and excelled in this field.

Professional Experience
Visit My web page on the MSMC website

My Latest Publications

My Wikieducator 2010 UPE Award

Family

 * I am married to a wonderful person - Michael Edelstein. He opened America for me. Michael is my co-thinker, collaborator, and an inspiration. We share our love for teaching and research. Mike supports me in my educational initiatives and projects.

Boris lives in the U.S., he is married, has a wonderful wife, Mia, and a precious daughter, Aliyah. In December, 2009 their family increased in one more person, Amin!
 * I have two sons, Boris and Ruslan. Both of my sons are "digital natives." They grew up with computers, Internet, and art. They both are computer artists and web designers.

Boris and Ruslan share their love for technology with me. Boris worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in a web development team. He is a web developer. Now he works for a big company Hertz. He has a websiteArtiststranger.com where he shares his love to Digital Graphics, Art, and web design.

My other son, Ruslan, is still in struggling Russia. He owns his design business Design history. It is very difficult for him to maintain his company because of economical instability in Russia but he is surviving with our help.

Love for Teaching

 * Celebration of Learning with the Russian Hospitality

Travels
Venice Adventures


 * Glimpses of Italy

Family Events
Michael's Big Birthday

Aliyah Grows

My Blog

 * Teaching to the Future

My Pre-WE Wikis

 * Courses wikis


 * My Moodle wiki

Creating with Web 2.0 Tools

 * Tutorials with Screencast-o-matic


 * How to create Folders for Assignments on Your Computer


 * How to Convert Files into PDF using Free Software CutePDF


 * WiZiQ Presentations


 * Exploding Education's Limits: Unlocking Learning with Web 2.0

WiZiQ WE Session

 * |WikiEducator: An International Community for Open Education, Aug. 28,2009

Moodle WE Workshop Development
I was invited by Nellie Deutsch to co-design and facilitate the Moodle workshop on WikiEducator and on Integrating Technology: Exploring New Domains Moodle site

My Sandbox
/My sandbox/

Tip Collection

Why WikiEducator?
 My understanding of WE "WE" for me is not just the abbreviation of WikiEducator. It is a metaphor for learning in  We learn from each other, support each other, inspire and boost each other's professional esteem.

My WE Reflections
Since my exploration of Maria Montessori, J. Piaget, L. Vygotsky, and later J. Bruner, S. Pappert and other educators I felt I belonged to the constructivist/progressivist school of thought! I follow its principles in my teaching philosophy.

My current studies are around teaching and learning with technology. I quickly realized that the new emergent technologies are based on the premise of constructivism and connectionism. The WikiEducator's environment reflects just that. People create things, share, collaborate, teach each other and at the same time actively learn.

Feedback & Notes from my WikiNeighbours
** Thanks Gita! I wouldn't even know that my page was featured on WE. I am honored! It inspires me more to be creative and contribute to WE! --Dr. Ludmila Smirnova  Madam,I have registered my self foron 24th Dec 09 ('Integrating Technology for Active Life-long Learning (IT4ALL)'Moodle for Teachers (M4T-3): January 4, 2010 - January 31, 2010,Blended Online Learning (BOL): Asynchronous & Synchronous Workshop on Learning to Moodle,but now there is problem in getting enrollment key and futher working this is problem with others also.please help us because we want to join this now.User:Pooja Tyagi

Hi Ludmila. I couldn't wait to check out your user page after that great introduction you gave! This page is great! I can learn a lot from you and this user page. All the best to you, and thanks. Rebecca --Rkinakin 21:26, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for facilitating.
 * Very nice to meet you in the online class yesterday (Research 2.0). It is a very warm and fuzzy community. --Phil Bartle 07:25, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Thank you Phil for your kind words! The pleasure was all mine! It is rewarding to be part of this community!--Ludmila Smirnova


 * Excellent start, Ludmilla. I started your info box so you can continue. --Nellie Deutsch 01:11, 26 August 2009 (UTC)


 *  Wow, Ludmila, I love what I see. I guess you won't have time for our google chats,anymore. :)--Nellie Deutsch 04:37, 26 August 2009 (UTC)


 * I like your page it's great start Ludmilla if you need any help just ask me -- Rima 11:54, 26 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks Rima! It inspires!--Dr. Ludmila Smirnova


 * Thanks Gita for the encouragement!--Dr. Ludmila Smirnova
 * You have a wonderful page Ludmilla. All the best Janet--Janet Bianchini 16:34, 1 September 2009 (UTC)
 * It is so wonderful to feel the support from co-learners and facilitators! Thanks Janet!--Ludmila


 * Happy to hear that you enjoyed visiting Russia, Richard! Hope you will visit it again.--Ludmila Smirnova


 * Hello Ludmila, it's so fascinating to read about you. Thank you for sharing =). --Gladys Gahona begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting 06:52, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Thank you Gladys! Sharing is caring! It is a pleasure to learn from you! --Dr. Ludmila Smirnova 07:19, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

Great page Ludmilla, I didn't realise you were in WikiEducator, I learnt so much from you in Moodle thanks, we have something in common a lovely grand daughter.--Nadia El Borai 07:39, 5 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Congratulation Ludmilla, for the UPE Award. It is such a pleasure to visit your page, you are very innovative. CHEERS! Warm wishes. --Abdul Halim, Bangladesh