Today I have experienced a talk by Liz Murphy from LMGM about using the Internet for communication, collaboration and real life learning, as part of the ACEC2008.
Using video conferencing tools like Elluminate and Centra you can begin to incorporate many real life experiences. Simply by having a laptop, webcam, headset and a wireless card you can bring the real life situation to the classroom.
Normally the way I have used video conferencing is by setting up a virtual space or classroom where there is either one speaker or a few speakers to present or share their content and ideas. An example of this is our own NOW Online Conference scheduled for early October.
However, Liz explained how a teacher or an outside expert can present information that is within the context of the topic and create an online learning environment that is rich and real. In other words being on the ground where the action happens and then streaming back into the classroom. Liz has many examples on her website.
Global events can be captured by having presenters from any area of the world, collaborating on shared topics. The picture below is from Liz’s website demonstrating the locations of the presenters for her collaborative project for the International Year of the Dolphin
Working in this capacity allows for immediacy between experts and participants. Questions are asked and answered and ultimately learning is not just from the experts but also through the conversation and collaboration. The video conference media can be edited and archived for future reference.
Our very first online conference is fast approaching. The WMR Ultranet Team has been sponsored by the Knowledge Bank, DEECD to host an online conference.
The purpose of our conference is to support our teachers and leaders in the Western Metropolitan Region, as well as others from around the state and globe. Our three key themes are Create, Collaborate and Communicate. Our program is designed around these themes with a look at tools such as wikis and blogs, digital stories, mobile technologies, and strategies around thinking, cyber-safety, budgeting and resourcing for effective eLearning.
We have some wonderful presenters lined up with Kym Nadebaum as our keynote presenter. Kym’s session “The Song Remains the Same” is sure to raise as many ICT questions as it answers. Other presenters include Anne Mirtschin, Stephen Palmer, Tony Richards, Peter Davis, Trudy Brentnall, Louise Bowe, Rob Pyers, Colin Schot and Martin Mielimaka and the Ultranet Team.
Our online presentations run between October 7th and 9th. To support these sessions we have also planned hands on workshops between October 21st and 30th. So I guess, it is a hybrid – virtual and f2f.
A full program can be seen on our Ning and on our wiki. You can also join our Ning and create your own profile.
One of the things that I have found in my career is that there is always a stack of ‘reasons’ or ‘excuses’ for not being able to do something or to believe in something. This week was interesting and I found myself listening to the ‘but’ word over and over, and almost felt defeated by it.
I watched Kevin Kelly tonight on TED and what he said very much resonated with me. He said we ‘have to get better at believing the impossible’.
I feel I am an optimistic person, some might think naïve possibly. However, without believing that things can be done we will give up on trying to make them happen. Like with new technologies and new ideas. Why can’t we have laptops in classrooms? I’ve had them in my rooms. Why is this so hard for others to believe this possible? Why can’t we use the web2.0 for learning? Predators, paedophiles? Surely there is more than that out there for our students. Some believers are using blogs and online technologies to the highest advantage for student learning, whilst others ‘are not ready’.
No one else would ever need machines of their own, or would be able to afford to buy them. Thomas J. Watson, American President of IBM (Quote from Wikipedia)
I like to believe in the impossible and to give things a go. I think this is what makes education rich and authentic. And I applaud the teachers who are out there doing what most people say they can’t
