It Just Keeps Getting Better

I have decided I was born at the perfect time! I use to think I was born for a gentler time than this and only if I could have lived in the late 1800s, I would have fit in perfectly. But the ability to communicate with and learn from people around the globe at the drop of a hat, at no cost except time invested, still rocks my world.

Here is a story to illustrate what I mean. So I am on Twitter and I see that Jason Hando, a Head Teacher in a high school in Sydney, Australia is trying to organize a teacher 2.0 inservice. I quickly add him to Skype and ask him to accept me. He does. We start chatting about his ideas for his inservice. I start throwing out a few thoughts and then I get this idea. Why don't we set up something akin to virtual speed dating and move folks through a series of speakers quickly who can intro themselves and chat a bit about Web 2.0 tools they use? We both liked the idea immediately. I have decided to do it in a large NY workshop I am doing in a few days. I suggested that he create a wiki where each of his "speed dating" participants could list their information and serve as a follow-up.

Last night, at 11am on Friday in Sydney, 6pm on Thursday in Calif, 9pm on Thursday in Va Beach, and 1pm and snowing in New Zealand we all convened via Skype. First together, with Jason Hando, Quentin Hordern, Jill Stovell, Dave Jenkins and Neil Davies sitting near by listening as Jason kicked us off and then in two Skype stations- the NZ channel with my friend Allanah King and the US channel with the amazing Jen Wagner and myself. The conversations were relaxed and revolved around who we are and what we do (all of us) and branched off from there. Jason and Allanah recorded and Jason uploaded the recording to podomatic! You are welcome to listen below or add the podcast to your collection through this feed.  If you would like to be pat of my NY virtual teacher 2.0 "speed dating" adventure- please leave me a comment below!

 

 

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Comments

[Jason Hando]

Sheryl,

Very good account of things .... but you missed one very important aspect of this wonderful hookup - it was the highlight of all the presentations at our two day staff conference, as attested by all the Aussie teachers involved.

You see, this came at the end of our staff development days, and while the other presenters were reputable and had some worthwhile things to say, this by far was superior simply because of the engagement. You just don't get that level of personal interaction and questoning when you are sitting up-straight (dare I say slouched over) in a lecture theatre for 2 hours of talks aided only by bullet points and attempted humour.

There is something very special here my friends - with the simple, free software we have at our fingertips we are simply a question away from connecting with someone who knows more than us and is willing to engage.

What are you waiting for? Get onto twitter/ning/whatever network containing innovative educators and ask your questions NOW!

Cheers,
Jason Hando
(grateful Aussie teacher and convert to this thing called 21st century collaboration.)

[Paul Harrington]

Sheryl I found your easy 'fireside chat' albeit over a distance of some 6,000 miles truly inspirational and believe that it would be for other teachers - I know that you are a very busy person, but it would make a great series of PD podcasts of you chatting with people in your global network. You make a naturally good host, and you have the ability to let your guests talk and tell their stories.... thank you for posting this podcast.
Paul

[Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach]

Jason,

Thanks so much for sharing the outcomes. It was a blast. Great fun. I look forward to your chat with my NY group.

Paul,

I have thought about how great that would be -- but life is really crazy right now. I will keep it on my too do list. You will be one of the first educators I interview. Thanks for your faith in me.

[Allanah]

Another great idea- thanks Sheryl. The NZ contingent are ready and waiting for the next session.

My version is podcast at

www.allanah.podomatic.com

Cheers

Allanah

[Toni Twiss]

Hi Sheryl,

I have started listening to your podcasts and I am hooked.

I was really interested in what Cathy Sheilds had to say about getting involved - writing the blogs and wikis, chatting over Skype, using social bookmarking tools etc.

It is exactly what I believe teachers need to do - even if it is just so as we know what type of world it is that our students are growing up in and the new way they are interacting with both new content and social networking in a way that is completely beyond what many in older generations can understand.

To this end I have created a website for teachers at my school where I post all of my favourite Web2.0 sites. My aim is to give them a starting point and to get new people excited and interested in the web. I am also running voluntary lunchtime demonstrations (interactive of course!) for those interested to try and combat those words that many teachers seem to say so quickly - "but I don't have time". Slowly people are coming on board and getting excited about this - which is really exciting for me!

Sorry this ended up being a really long post. All that I wanted to say was - I am really interested in being a part of your Skype conversations!

Toni Twiss in New Zealand