Talk It Tuesdays

A much smaller group gathered this week for the Knowledge Bank Talk it Tuesdays.  Discussions centred around keeping year 7 and 8s motivated. Despite trialling the latest technology, students can be happy with pen and paper tasks. Ways in which live blogging using CoverITlive was also discussed. The applications for both the classroom and general professional development were all looked at.

As we were a small group, we experimented with the new online software woices. This has potential for very interesting applications for classroom use – soundscapes, geography, bushwalks, novel plotting etc. Kate who was our host for the afternoon, shared the web application, so we were all able to listen and watch simultaneously. The chatroom was vibrant with great conversations.

Talk It Tuesday

The opening slide on elluminate for this Tuesday’s Talk it Tuesday, displayed a circle of differing types of chairs. Participants chose a chair as they came online, then typed their name and location on the chair. (Great idea and worked well). This way they get to know people, had a conversation topic (what do they think about their chair or other object etc), plus they get used to using some of the whiteboard tools.
Next, participants wrote on a blank whiteboard potential discussion topics for the meeting.
Discussions centred around:-
1. Using elluminate for student interaction and collaboration.
DELTA have used it for student workgroups – collaborative student sessions in preparation for student presentations.
Use of voice chat and whiteboard preloads for students in language classes – students in pairs and record practice dialogues e.g. Spanish grammar
Concerns were raised about the cost of using elluminate with students. Licenses are as follows:- only 3 in a V room, 10 in a Lite room, 20 + in an Academic or Enterprise room. Training can be completed through knowledgebank.
2. Using Second Life in education. Concerns about losing the ‘walled garden’ safety aspect. SL is being used in TAFE with success. They create their own walled garden  and take students on a guided  tour.  (GIPPS TAFE)

3. Quest Atlantis, a virtual world for younger children and SuperclubsPLUS, an online social networking site  were then discussed. Both are free at present. email superclubs.plus@edumail.vic.gov.au or see their website.

4. Suz Arnott talked about getting teaching staff to use web2.0 tools  http://ictatemc.edublogs.org  5. the new Social E-learning site and 43 steps.

Talk It Tuesdays – Inaugural event

Tuesday, 14th October – the first day trialling an informal get together of educationalists – sharing, learning, connecting and communicating.

After a brief introduction, the following discussions took place:-

• blocking of websites in schools
• cyber safety for students (Harriet led a really interesting discussion here.)
• netiquette and appropriate behaviour for online professional development eg ellluminate sessions (possibility of setting up and presenting appropiate guidelines at the beginning of a session)
• appropriate use of and possible options for backchannels or chat
• Jess McCulloch spoke about some of the mobile technology projects that she is trialling whilst in NanJing in China.
• Quick discussion of superpluskids (social networking site for primary students, new stats feature of edublogs and globalstudent blogs, wordle, blog action day and k12 Online Conference
• Upcoming knowledge bank online events

Evaluation of the session and suggested use of breakout sessions to concentrate on learning web2.0 tools completed the event.

Talk-It-Tuesdays

It all started with an idea of Jess McCulloch and was fully supported by me, that we apply for professional leave to research “Laying the eplanks in a web2.0 school”. That idea has taken us on a rather incredulous journey, whereby our staff after taking ‘baby steps’ are embracing the use of web2.0 tools wholeheartedly. One of the reasons for this success was our “Walk In Walk Out Wednesdays”, where staff can come into the computer lab for an hour after school and seek advice for any computer related issues. Staff from neighbouring schools have also taken up this option. However, they ‘Drive In Drive Out’!

Now look where those planks have led us………………… “Talk It Tuesdays” with Knowledge Bank, hosted by Tamara Carpenter.

Talk-It Tuesdays are informal online gatherings for educators interested in using social media, or Web 2.0 tools, in their work. These collaborative sessions take place every second Tuesday and will focus on:

• Sharing stories of what we are experimenting with and learning about
• Teaching each other about what we’re finding useful and exciting
• Listening to each other’s experiences
• Connecting people, tools and ideas
• Helping each other sort out problems and get started

Everyone is welcome, the format will be open, respectful and flexible, and there is no prerequisite knowledge for attending. You can drop-in for part or all of the session. You are equally welcome if you are the greatest Web 2.0 Whizz ever, or just trying to find out ‘What it’s all about.’ The sessions will be loosely facilitated by Anne Mirtschin, Jess McCulloch and Tamara Carpenter.

The first session is Tuesday 14 October at 3.30pm

Register your interest at Knowledge Bank.

It is hoped that Jess can make it today all the way from Nanjing, China (riding her eplank, of course!)