Adobe Connecting August 28, 2008
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I have used Adobe Connect for meetings a few times this year, but I used it for the first time with one of my students today. Tanya is new to the course and wanted an overview of how the Moodle works. My Classics course on the Moodle site is designed as a one stop shop for all the learning and each block represents a week’s work, but could be a bit overwhelming if you come in cold near the end of the year (which it is really).
So I opened a meeting room so I could share my desktop and demonstrate how to approach using the site. Tanya had no mic or web cam so just used the chat feature to ask me questions as we went along. It actually worked very well and was so easy. It made me realise that I could use this as a way to quickly catch up with students if they are having difficulties.
Much easier than having to travel to use a VC – which might actually be booked anyway!
Collaboration? August 27, 2008
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I spent most of today at Amuri Area School selling Moodle to the principal Neil. Neil was the main principal to push VC meetings between teachers across the cluster before I came along. We had a discussion on collaboration and connectivity and how it should be approached. There is no doubt that there is a need for teachers to connect with others in our more isolated schools, but the problem is actually getting the teachers to do this. While they might be keen to do this the reality of actually turning up for a meeting is sometimes another thing all together.
There are two ways I see you could approach this. Make it part of appraisal and an expectation or target those that are keen in the hope that the benefits cause it to spread. Either way, it needs to become part of the culture of a school. The trouble is that teachers have meetings coming out their ears, so I can’t really blame them if they are rather reticent to attend more.
The plan was to build collaborative areas on the Moodle in conjunction with VC meetings. It is taking some time to get the Cantatech Moodle to that level and even then staff need to know how to do the basics. I have decided to try and get some keen groups together and calendar some VC meetings. Also going to trial a listerv with one group of teachers.
I don’t think you can force teachers into these things. Even if you manage to get them along to a meeting, it doesn’t mean they are actually ‘present’. The reality is they have to want to do it…a bit like our students really!
Googling August 24, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in Uncategorized.Tags: collaboration
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I thought it was about time I started posting regularly again as it has been a while. Busy is not the word to describe this job – hectic is perhaps more apt. I am going to try and make sure it becomes part of my regular work as it is important to spend time reflecting.
There is lots to catch up on, but what has been occupying my mind today is Google Applications. While I have played around with Google docs in the past I recently worked collaboratively on a 25 page proposal to the Ministry of Education. We used a Google doc. It was easy, and a great way of working.
This spurred me on to use this in my online Classics course. The students are working in groups to prepare a presentation on a particular house from Pompeii. The idea is to take the viewer on a visual tour of the house. I have set up each presentation using Google docs and invited the students. They take it from there.
What have I found today…well it’s filtered by schoolzone of course. Anyway I am in the process of getting it unfiltered. What a rich resource and its filtered!
I was also interested to read this article which highlights how quickly educational institutions are getting on to Google Applications. This idea has appealed to me for some time. It is the way of the future. No hassles with hard drives, softwar, hardware…just access through the internet. Easy. Probably some connection issues for schools at the moment, but I would like to start talking to Principals about the possibitlities. If you want collaboration across a cluster (which we do) what a great way of doing it.
Great vid August 11, 2008
Posted by mrsuds in video.add a comment
Have a look at this vid
