Tuanz Edu Conference 2007

VOIP Alternatives to Skype

I was catching up on my reading from the Tuanz conference and came across this post from Ernie on the Tuanz blog Downstream. Ernie says-

A highlight of Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach's keynote presentation at the education conference is the Skype calls she makes to educators around the world. One hardy colleague in Shanghai rose at 4am last week in order chat to the New Zealand audience.

It's a technique popular with delegates because it shows just how easy it is to bring experts into the classroom. But for some teachers it appears that Skype isn't possible under SchoolZone.

Turns out it is a platform issue according to Ministry of Education senior ICT consultant Douglas HarrÃ. He says that it depends on whether schools have the PC or Macintosh version of Skype.

If that is the case, I would turn to similar products like Skype and see if platform is still an issue.
One such product is Gizmo.  Google Talk is another and a new comer is Jabber. SightSpeed is another and it is also getting great reviews. Macintosh computers have IChat which is a great alternative to use when collaborating with another Mac user.

I have been delighted that several Kiwis have added me to their Skype contact list. Feel free to do so if you would like to brainstorm ideas for how you can use Skype and Skype like tools in your instruction.

In fact, let's brainstorm some possibilities here. Please add a comment letting me know how you are thinking of using Skype to bring content experts into your classroom.

Wondering

I had a brief moment to Skype Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach late afternoon yesterday, and she shared she'd just arrived in New Zealand. She's posted a few pictures via Flickr, and I found this one to be the most curious:

I'm hoping we'll get a chance to see more of what Sheryl is doing, as well as listen to a few podcasts! My wife reminded me, though, that Sheryl was probably catching up on sleep and was too busy to podcast...the excitement is palpable, as I experience New Zealand through Sheryl's eyes. I hope New Zealanders will share their experiences!

In the meantime, if you spot Sheryl, please snap a picture and send it in to Flickr with the tag of "tuanz2007" without the quotes. This will bring the image up over at HitchHikr.com or http://hitchhikr.com/index.php?conf_id=172

Elluminating in New Zealand

Last night a group of educators in New Zealand, TUANZ conference organizers, and Miguel Guhlin and I gathered in Elluminate to talk about ICT implementation in New Zealand schools. You can listen/watch the Webcast here. Participants from NZ included Janice ( a principal), Craig Hayman, Wayne and Tom from NSC (Camp Te Anau), Allanah, Rachel, Sarah Putt (TUANZ 2007 organizer), and Jane Nicholls (an e-Fellow)

 

The Conversation was Incredible
We kicked off the night with each participant's two min. speech that they would make to the Ministry of Education scoring the importance of using ICT applications in the classroom. I was moved with the enthusiasm and conviction I heard in the voices of those who shared.  Next, Miguel and I took turns asking the burning questions we had of the Kiwis in attendance. As these incredible educators shared their articulate responses, I realized that the world really is "flat"! So many points of celebration and concern were similar to  my own!

So here are the questions we asked... We hope you will take a moment to add your answers to those in attendance yesterday afternoon.  Please  weigh-in  on any of these questions in the comment section of this blog!

Questions for Discussion

What is the most exciting example of how you currently use the read/write Web in your classrooms?

What are New Zealand’s strengths in ICT implementation?

Describe your school’s demographic in terms of learners and how many of your students would you estimate have connectivity at home?

What is a personal learning goal you have in terms of ICT use (not necessarily related to the classroom)?

What kind of obstacles do you encounter as NZ educators?

How do you assess the level of technology implementation in NZ? What instrument do you use?

What are some of the ways in which you have helped teachers overcome their reluctance to use technology?

What would you like to learn at TUANZ that will make the conference a successful one for you?

How Do You Use Technology in Your Schools?

I was inspired by the latest Infinite Thinking Machine video to  ask you--  How are you using technology in your classrooms? The  ITM piece is Google heavy because it is part of Google for Educators, and while the Google tools are wonderful-- let's get out beyond that. How are New Zealand teachers using technology in the classroom? Please... do tell.

Photo credit: http://flickr.com/photos/43204815@N00/309780689

New Zealand Here We Come

At the request of the Tuanz Educational Conference organizers, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Miguel Guhlin have created a blog for the conference, Tuanz Educational Conference 2007 which will be available once the conference begins. We hope you will join us in lively discussion as we look at improving teaching, learning and thinking skills with ICT.

The TUANZ Education Conference is not simply about technology. This nationwide conference focuses on ways in which ICT can be integrated into the curricula and brought into the classroom. As keynote presenters, Miguel and I hope to engage you here within the blog.

Virtual handout
If you’re planning on attending the TUANZ Education Conference this month, you might want to do an audit of your technology before you get there. Along with your pen, paper and laptop, make sure you’re up for broadband connectivity, because this year the TUANZ Education Conference is going online.

The conference wiki
A wiki has been created as a collection point for all the blogs, presentations and other material gathered before, during and after the conference, you can find it at http://tuanz2007.wikispaces.com.

It can also be accessed via the website www.hitchhikr.com. Log on and look on the home page under the heading ‘Imminent conferences’ for the tag ‘tuanz2007’. Click on this tag and it will take you to the TUANZ Education Conference 2007 wiki. Information has already been posted by Nussbaum-Beach and Guhlin and presenters have been invited to post their material before, during and after the conference as a permanent record of what occurred.

Blogs
If you are attending the conference and would to write about it on your blog, we invite you to tag the entry tuanz2007. If your blog has an RSS feed, then this tag will automatically connect to the Education Conference in the wiki and via the hitchhikr site. To follow all blogs using this tag for their Tuanz conference posts simply search for tuanz2007.

Even if you can't make it
If you don’t get a chance to attend the conference in person – then make a contribution online by adding your comments and insights into the topics discussed.

We look forward to growing with and learning from all of you online!