...Collaboration

I recall being taught how to 'collaborate' an interactive whiteboard. The trainer was actually demonstrating calibration, and was clearly unaware of her error. But although little collaboration occurred that day I learned a great deal.

I facilitate collaboration as part of my job, often setting activities which I believe depend on team-work for success. However, I found myself questioning its value during some digital media sessions I ran last week, for trainee teachers on the PGCE.

...E-learning

I frequently come across heated online discussions about how to make the best use of technology in the classroom. Recent themes include:
How to get the best use out of an interactive whiteboard
The impact of introducing tablets into schools, and
All children in all schools must blog, because...

...Blogging

For a number of years I had been considering adding to the world's 152 million* blogs on the Internet. My introduction to twitter (encouraged by @sharoneden, 'Just start tweeting, Daniel!') meant that I was exploring the nature of self-broadcasting, & settled quickly & comfortably into tweeting & re-tweeting education-related posts, links & articles.

But what to blog? Continue to share (re-share?) other people's links?

Well, for me there seemed to be an initial, straightforward decision between personal or professional. Having said that, twitter already blurred this simple division of interests when I became aware that Stamford The Lion twittered. Also, I am aware that successful bloggers, & micro-bloggers alike, share a little personality... consciously or unconsciously.

For instance, Diana Adams' conversational easy-access style (example: trying to translate humour online) makes her writing highly consumable... share-able... re-tweetable... and of great value to novicebloggers like me!
 

* http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/01/12/internet-2010-in-numbers/ as tracked by BlogPulse

geek and poke: http://geekandpoke.typepad.com/geekandpoke/2007/11/page/3/
 

...Podcasting

After one or two trials & the odd erroneous attempt, have recorded first podcast...

Yes, have taken first tentative steps toward broadcasting self around globe.  Should add, made the decision to podcast some years ago. Until this point however have been more comfortable 'lurking' enthusiastically behind the web pages, blogs & podcasts of others.