UStream.TV

If you're thinking how can we make use of these new technological developments of online collaboration?
Take a look at the Ustream.TV feed from the TechForum 2007 conference held today Friday 2nd November in Austin, Texas with Miguel Guhlin and Wes Fryer discussing the impact of and solutions for CyberBullying using new technologies - interesting stuff - and with 40 people in the room in Texas and up to 25 people taking the live stream in UK, Canada and Melbourne, Australia (3am!! Jo McLeay!) ..... is this the newest way to virtual conference??

One Way to Teach Poetry

This enterprising pair of teachers have fused Halloween and Harry Potter to help inspire their pupils with their Haiku Poems...... enjoy



..... need I say more ?

EdTechTalk UK Sunday 28th October 8.00GMT

Great to see that here in the UK, Doug Belshaw has taken the plunge in getting the UK involved in Webcasting - I know that this is late notice, but I only cuaght this today following a few days being involved in K12 Online 07 ...... well Mr B and team, I for one look forward to the discussion.

It sounds like John Johnston (Sandaig), David Noble (Booruch) and Kristian Still plus more will be there for edition 1 ( I will only be able to attend if my Sunday evening meal cooks very quickly!!!!)

EdTechTalk-style UK show

Posted By Doug Belshaw On 24th October 2007 @ 19:27 In Ideas | 5 Comments

[1]

Anyone who’s listened to [2] EdTechTalk, or indeed pretty much any of the shows on the [3] Worldbridges network, will know of the high-quality webcasting and podcasting that goes on there. However, those of us in the UK who listen to the show have to stay up past midnight if we want to listen live…

EdTechTalk UK has been mooted in the past, but hasn’t gained any traction due to the issue of time. It takes time to learn how to webcast, time to pull like-minded people together, and ultimately it takes time to record the shows. Last week I proposed via Twitter that a bunch of UK-based people get together to organise an EdTechTalk-style show. It won’t come under the Worldbridges umbrella, but I am very grateful to both Dave Cormier and Jeff Lebow for their quick and detailed and thoughtful responses to my questions.

What’s involved in being a co-host?

• Using [4] Skype to join in discussions about weekly/monthly goings-on in the edublogosphere
• Contributing to a conversation that will last between 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Joining in with planning/maintenance activities (e.g. brainstorming, wiki editing, uploading and linking to MP3 files, etc.)

I’m interested! What should I do?

I’ve already been contacted by [5] David Noble, [6] Kristian Still, [7] John Johnston, and a few others (sorry if I’ve forgotten you!) If you think you may want to take part, express your interest in the comments section below and then join us at 8pm GMT on Sunday 28th October 2007 (remember the clocks go back on Saturday night!)

dimdim (beta)

Thanks to Kristian Still for sending this link to DimDim - an opensource meeting application. Following a discussion of the relative merits of FlashMeeting and Elluminate.
dimdim looks like it may be another useful app - test it out and let's see how good it is :)

dimdim includes advanced collaboration features (audio, video, text, desktop sharing, virtual worlds, etc.) so that anyone and everyone can easily and instantly interact with anyone else, without the hassle of having to download and maintain software.

Features	dimdim
Scalability
Reliability
Upload & Share Presentations
Desktop & Application Sharing
WhiteBoard
Annotations on collabaration work space (Under development)
Multi User Chat
Audio
Video
Polls and Question Manager (Under development)
On Wire Security
Recording & Archiving (Under development)
Scheduling & Reports
Mood Indicator
Skins / Templates (Under development)
Private labelling
Active Directory Integration (Under development)
Outlook & Google Calendar Integration (Under development)
Localization
Email based support
Platform Certification
dimdim training
Integration With Learning Management system
Integration with customer relationship management system

A 'WOW' from K12 online 07

Liz Kolb's excellent Presentation on the use of mobile (cell) phones in education - this was one of the Conference Highlights for myself and many others. Here is Liz's pre-conference 'teaser video'





k12online07

Google Doc's and SpreadSheets by CommonCraft

De- mystify Google Documents and Spreadsheets thanks the Lee LeFever and those CommonCraft folks....

Blown Away by Derek Wenmouth !

All I can say is 'WOW!!!!' K12 Online 07 has just come alive for me with Derek's presentation today. What a great, simple message on enabling us to question and reflect on our practice in the use of ICT in our classrooms.
The E-P-S Landscape System that CORE through Derek and Dr Vince Ham have developed is going to be a must for my practice going forward.
It was interesting also to hear from the New Zealand based E-Fellows, explaining how their practice has been challenged and extended by having been able to carry out 12 months of action research into the use of ICT and how it should be embedded in pedagogy.

This Presentation will become a must for many driving Professional Development in their areas - it certainly will be for me - tomorrow I will be passing the url for this to all of the colleagues that I have who are ready to hear the message....

Thank You Derek and of course all at K12 Online 07

Find CORE here.
Link to the K12 online page for Derek's presentation here.


k12online07

Transglobal Teachers Forum

** A date for your Diary**
I have gone ahead and booked a FlashMeeting for this coming Saturday at 22.00 UK time (5pm US) (9am Sunday NZ).
When we were thinking about this session Jane Nicholls suggested everyone brings a friend, this makes it sound kind of cosy. There is no specific topic for the conversation, however with K12 Online being in full flow it would be great to hear views on the conference so far :) I will tweet this closer to time..... so go tell your online friends (the meeting is booked for 20 attendees)

Meeting Details
Main Help

Transglobal Teachers Forum
Date & Time
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:00:00 +0100Meeting duration is 1 hours 29 minutes

The meeting will start in 5 days 1 hours 37 minutes (this web page will refresh every 3 minutes on javascript enabled browsers)

Meeting Access

Go to the meeting

Download an ICScalendar file
Attendees can enter meetings as guests. However, in order to access all of FlashMeeting's functionality and to be able to fully participate in a meeting, attendees will need to 'Sign In'. To register for a new Sign In account click here
The replay of this meeting will be public. After the end of the meeting, access to the replay will be available from this web page, or, from the public pages

Chinswing is a global message board where anyone can add voice messages to ongoing topical discussions. Share your personal interests or hobbies, debate hot issues or find answers to questions. We've combined features of podcasting, text forums and live voice chat to create a whole new way to talk.
Following the demise of YackPack to subscription only Chinswing has been suggested as a viable alternative for those wishing to participate in the Creating a Global Communication Centre Project, it looks like a good alternative. Visit Chinswing and let's start the conversation.

Streamed Social Networking Web Video Sites

Intrigued by the phenomenon of online video streaming I have been looking at 2 such sites today.
I caught up with Will Richardson videocasting in Ustream this afternoon quite by accident when following up links from Kim Cofino's Delicious Links. Will had tried out Operator 11 previously and was broadcasting live on Saturday 13th October here is his feed. Todays Weblogg-ed Show was on video gaming at MediaTech


Will who is out there at the edge searching for new ways to deliver Web 2.0 technologies in an educational setting has been using Ustream for some time, tried out Operator 11 with some IT colleagues last week.


In the chat alongside UStream today I asked Will about his take on the two applications... there is an advantage in O11 that you can allow other participants to broadcast (operating like FlashMeeting with each person having air time to talk) - this does not appear to be available in UStream which seems to be what it says - you streaming (there is a chatroom also in UStream - so that participants can contribute - very like webcasting from Worldbridges.) However Will did have a problem in Operator11, even though you have the power as a 'director' to allow people in to participate, it appears that they can come in anyway and could try to take over the conversation - this reminded me of the live 'seat of the pants' When Night Falls, Skypecasts for K12Online06 which made them very difficult to control...
Neither site would not be appropriate spaces for students to access either, due to inappropriate content on start-up pages.
Presentations can be embedded as above though for use if necessary at a later date. Not really in the spirit of live interaction. It is interesting to see how these applications spring up, each having useful elements - both of these would be useful for teacher PD or Workshops with built in interactivity... Follow the developments by keeping up with people like Will, David Jakes et al.

David Jakes made an interesting observation in the chat today, suggesting that there have perhaps been too many new social networking applications recently which has taken educators away from their core role, I for one would agree with that remark. It is difficult enough to get tried and tested Web 2.0 technologies into everyday teaching, we must be looking long term for some of the latest developments to appear in a classroom near you.

Many Thanks to Kim Cofino for setting me off on this research. You can find more at Kim's Delicio.us links.

*apologies for earlier spelling/grammar - I blame it on feeling rotten with a cold when typing up this blog - that's my story anyway !!!! :-)

Delicious Links

K12 Online 07

K12 Online 07 is about to burst into life - The conference this year is focused on 'Playing with the Boundaries' and is aimed not only at the beginner, but also at showing those who have already begun to use Web 2.0 tools and are considering the ways in which they can use it creatively in classrooms, and also something which interests me - how we can use the new technology for teachers Professional Development and to develop Networks.
To find out where the strands of K12 Online07 are heading check out the wiki here.
The timetable of events began with David Warlick's keynote on 8th October and continues from 15th October until the closing event of the 24 hour When Night Falls session.

I would recommend everyone to dip in and listen to at least one of the presentations, I think that like me once you get in you will find many things to push your own boundaries, and tools which you will see a use for in your own classroom situation.

Thanks from me the Sharon and Lani and the rest of the K12 Online 07 Team for all of their efforts to pull the strings for the conference..... enjoy

Wiziq

"Use WiZiQ's virtual classroom
equipped with live audio-video communication, chat, content sharing, and session recording
capabilities. No download is required since it
works with any web browser and on any operating system."
I dropped in too late to join Jeff Utecht and company when they tried out WIZIQ last weekend, but having listened to the playback here, WiZiQ certainly looks like an excellent FREE video/audio conferencing virtual classroom - and will give FlashMeeting a run for its money. Wiziq offers IM chat, audio or video conferencing and an interactive whiteboard and the facility to upload ppt and swf files ahead of time into a store ready to import into your session. In addition it allows the upload of images. There do appear to be glitches with some uploads which I hope that the WiziQ people will be able to iron out( WiziQ didn't like some of my ppt files??) If you get to listen to the whole playback you will hear how The Teacher controls speakers and those able to interact with the whiteboard, it also allows The Teacher to 'buzz pupils' ahead of time to remind them to speak ( this is only heard by the specific student.
As far as those in the room were concerned the application seemed to press the correct buttons - the only drawback that some folks would have liked is the desktop sharing which is available in Elluminate - but and this is a big BUT - the application is FREE and does not require a download - give it a go sign up - I would very much like to get into the next WiZiQ session :)

Transglobal Edubloggers Meeting 3

Using the Open University's FlashMeeting Video Conferencing site, last night we held the 3rd informal discussion between Web 2.0 enthusiastic teachers. The discussion ranged across a variety of topics from why we blog and podcast, through possible pitfalls with the technology, to Mo-Blogging. I am grateful to all of the teachers who turned up -

Uploaded with Skitch!

Joe Dale (UK), Lisa (Spanish teacher from Sutton Coldfield UK), Kristin Hokanson (US), Joe Thibault (US), Lisa Durff (US), Jo Rhys Jones (UK),Jane Nicholls (NZ), Vinnie Vrotny (US), Allanah King (NZ), Kristian Still (UK),Iain Cook Bonney (NZ)and myself here in Wales.

As you can see from the Skitch screenshot above there was a great geographical spread of teachers. Here you can see this using FlashMeeting's excellent meeting details.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Below is a screenshot taken by Jane Nicholls during the meeting.


Image Courtesy of Jane Nicholls ICTUCAN
The next Skitch image is what the public relay now viewable looks like -

Uploaded with Skitch!

FlashMeeting also allows you to keep an eye on the pattern of viewers of the meeting-

Uploaded with Skitch!

The general feeling among those online last night was that there should be a further meeting, and everyone who wishes to attend is asked to bring along a friend - I will ensure that we are booked for 25 people.
If you need any information about FlashMeeting itself or on how to attend don't hesitate to contact myself, Jane or Joe Dale.

** Plug for Joe - on Saturday 13th October (and on Friday evening where there will be a Show and Tell in a local hostelry) at Nodehill Middle School Joe will be hosting The Isle of Wight ICT Conference. Joe has lined up an excellent group of presenters who will ensure that there is something for everyone - plus heaps of networking opportunities check it out here at Joe's Blog.**

What is Moodle ?

I came across this video description of Moodle at the Ning 'Coming of Age' pages, upoaded by Julien Ridden... Moodle Evangelist from Sydney Australia. I am trying to get my head around Moodle and this certainly helps.

Find more videos like this on Coming of Age

Podcast Stats

It is very heartening to find when logging on to our school Podomatic account that our stats are holding up so well, even though we haven't been podcasting for quite a while.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Uploaded with Skitch!

We can't wait to get podcasting again next week - new class very keen to seek their audience.... thank you to all of our loyal listeners :)

Embedded Podcast Audio

With thanks of course as always to the lady with her finger on the pulse of Web 2.0 - Allanah King and her 'Bling for your Blog' blog for her help with the code - the snippet needed to embed the podcast directly into your blog should be in the BOX.NET box in in the right side bar when you read this post - thanks AK you're a star:)
The UnPlug download is a Firefox plugin so beware all of you non-Firefox users it may not work for you.
One tip that I found is that you actually need to be on 'My Podcast Page' that is your actual podcast page before you engage the green frog (UnPlug) as this will then give you your mp3 or mp4/4a url for embedding then simply insert it into the code ( see BOX)

Wow what a long time Off-Line!!!

Isn't it strange the effect of returning to school after a long summer break. It has been so hectic getting used to working in a new team, with a new Year Group that it has taken this 'Old' Welsh Dragon over a week to get back to the life blood of blogging.
Not that I have been totally out of contact, I am taking part in a Skype based 'Speed Teaching' event on Thursday 13th September run in Dunedin by Jane Nicholls, I know that Allanah King from Nelson will also be taking part, I am really looking forward to talking to 'like minded' teachers again!
On Saturday 15th I have a Flashmeeting booked for any web 2.0 teachers to take part in, we hope to get Paul McMahon in on the conversation, Paul will be at the Web 2.0 Conference in Shanghai rather than his home in Hong Kong... the link is at FlashMeeting, the hope is that we extend the discussion to the use of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

In school we are about to re-enter the podcasting world, I have pairs of pupils trained and ready to roll, and I am about to introduce my Y6 pupils to Making the News the excellent on-line journalism/ newsreporting site run by E2BN

School !

This blog may be quiet for a day or two - no bad thing some may say :) As we are back in school and a certain Ddraig-Goch has a lot of setting up and planning to do.... so do bear with us until the first few days are over....... having spent the day throwing stuff out of my room and liberating space - I now have room for at least 2 pc's ( only 1 on the net) side by side in my room... I will post some pictures of the new working space ( with no teacher's desk in it - apparently they are not needed - just wonder where the rubbish will gather, we'll see.

If anyone is interested in coming in on the next FlashMeeting which will be on the 15th September at 10pm UK (16th for Aus and NZ). I am keen that we use the time to perhaps do a round up of new useful tools for Web 2.0 in schools or that we debate how to encourage more schools to join in... I am keen that we move forward from just discussing the merits of FlashMeeting itself again.

PodcampUK

A nearly live blog from PodcampUK Birmingham

The above shot was taken on the laptop iSight camera during the first session at PodcampUK when Trevor Dann ( search for podcampuk feeds - sorry no mac mouse!!!)from the Radio Academy gave a session on how Podcasting is just being recognised by 'institutional media outlets' and how liberating that is for Podcasters in the UK.
For the record in the foreground on the left is David Noble (Booruch) and Mark Pentleton(CoffeeBreak Spanish/French).... out of shot to my side was Joe Dale (TES Blog). David Noble deserves special mention as he had travelled down from Dalgetty Bay, Fife in Scotland ..... for the day!!!! ( by Coach).
The reason that it is almost live is that I had planned to live blog including iSight camera shots - unfortunately for me the organisers were streaming live to BlogTV ( and will be tomorrow if anyone wants to see us all in action!!) - this meant that there was such a strain on the network plus a firewall problem that apart from Twitter nothing else was accessible!!!
So live blogging failed unfortunately...... further short tale after a fine evening meal with the above mentioned gentleman - trying to blog from Hotel Room - airport failed to link to a network.... result laptop linked by old fashioned cable.... but hey link is now super fast :)

PodcampUk is an interesting mix of commercial podcasters, educational ( non profit making ) podcasters to newbies..... one great contact for me was Hugh Fraser from Storynory, we have loved listening to the Storynory output for a long while now and it was really good to be able to have an in depth discussion with Hugh.
Thoughts on the first day of PodcampUK - it was excellent to be able to chat with people who not only know what you are talking about with social networking and Web 2.0 tools, but actually know a great deal more than you do..... slight downside as an educator used to timetables is the true Un-Conference time keeping ( especially if you travel from home on the morning for an 8.30am start - and it doesn't actually begin until 10.10 am - one for the organisers next time ?)....
Hopefully more blogging/twitter from PodcampUK tomorrow and remember you can follow the live feeds from the presentation rooms at BlogTv.