Jenny Ashby, who lives in Bendigo, Australia tweeted out a request to collaboratively work on a Google Doc presentation about Comic Life this morning. Well actually, it was an evening tweet for her as I'm half way across the world in Ontario, Canada.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that stuff like this happens nowadays.
After all I remember my first on-line collaboration with a teacher from Oz. It was 14 years ago! I was teaching a 5/6 split back then and made contact with our only internet enabled computer, which was in the library. The 14 400 baud days. Remember?
It took me two weeks to find someone to collaborate with and we connected once a week and decided to do a weather study, what else. The kids were thrilled that the seasons were opposite and we posted chart paper on the wall to compare. Those were the days.
Now, just this morning (and evening across the world) Jenny and I were able to start collaborating instantly. Not only that, but it is really neat to see the document change right before your eyes.
It is as if Jenny and I are sitting next to each other in the same room working on the presentation. We conduct our "side bar" conversation by DMs on Twitter.
Anyway, I don't think I'll ever get tired of collaborating with other teachers on projects. Especially when we can work with each other any time and any place.
Thin walls, flat classrooms, call them what you will, but count me in!!!
Update: @brettelockyer was in on our first collaborations today. Thanks to @aforgrave for edits to this post.
6 comments:
Thanks Kent, it certainly was magic seeing the work happen and just appear. Today's teachers and students all need personal learning networks. (PLN's) However most social networking sites are blocked in our schools. I'm glad google docs isn't blocked.
I'm looking forward to checking the site tomorrow after the night crew have been. It's so good being on the other side of the world or down under (Australia) as you have 24/7 workers.
Cheers!
Thank you Kent. Not only has Jenny prodded me to think more deeply about useful ways we can use ComicLife, she has enabled me to connect with like-minded educators around the world.
I realise that most of my professional learning is done late at night, at home, on my own computer, with colleagues online. Strangely, I have found it easier to have conversations about issues that matter with online colleagues than with the people I work with. It's just a metter of available time and clear thinking space. As I say to myself now, 'the world is my classroom'.
I am not a regular blogger any more. I make the occasional Twitter post. However I enjoy the challenge of responding to others' blogs. Joining in a collaborative project such as Jenny's is satisfying becuase it's pretty quick, and involves reflection on my own practice.
Jenny - and all other contributors have helped me to learn more about Google Docs, and dream up future possibilities - both online and within my own school.
Cheers
Brette
Hey Comic Kent! King of Collaboration!
Ok, I'll stop now, but amazing how you have been using online social networking as such a ubiquitous part of your learning strategies since the time of Babbage;)
Seriously, can I come and play at your house? Ok that was quasi-serious, what I am serious about is capturing the rich ideas that this discussion will generate.
Also I wonder if Wave is a forum for these discussions. OR wikis, OR Twitter... I am thinking next steps here, consolidation and reflection on how to harness the power of social networks.
Bienvenue to your Australian PLN!
Jenny.
I quite agree that teachers and students all need personal learning networks. If we could all continue the conversation in areas which interest us, we'd all be better off.
Thank you again for allowing the world to collaborate on your Comic Life resource.
Enjoyed it...
Brette.
Isn't it great when we meet folks who allow us to go deeper? Anytime, anywhere learning is a good way to go. Now we need to get our schools to move in that direction.
Here's to future possibilities! Thank you for your thoughts and insights.
Kent
B.
Yes, collaborating has been as you describe it" "being able to capture rich ideas"
And to think it was reinforced way back at our event last February!
Looking forward to our next collaboration at ECOO 2009.
K.
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