Tell me you see a difference between board and screen..?

If there is no difference, then we need to talk. This video by mokmcdaniel – Online Student Experience – highlights in grim tones, how depressing it is to be in a world in which exciting teaching and learning (with and without technology) is possible, but not happening for him. While part of me can appreciate […]

How to write a ‘social media’ strategy without calling it ‘social media’: Part 1

Do you have a company strategy for using the telephone? Sending email? Probably not. And a strategy for ‘using social media’ is the same. It misses the bigger picture. That is, that social media is just one type of channel through which a modern company can choose to engage with its clients and networks. Call […]

Barcamp 2010: It’s the people, stupid!

Today I attended the BarCamp 2010, on online communities, organised the wonderful folk at Ideasshop in Wellington. It felt like a wee homecoming, talking with other people who ‘get’ the online community passions and pitfalls. Largely Comms and PR folk, there were also some very switched on Gen-Y+ students (have you worked on your personal […]

Get the party started on your community page

Have you got the sound of tumbleweed blowing across your online community? Too many lurkers and too few livewires? In short, just because you’ve built that online community space doesn’t mean they will come (even if it looks beautiful). Why won’t they talk to me? It’s a real challenge when people feel exposed online. People […]

3 reasons why online privacy may be the best gift we can give our children

I was recently asked to complete a survey about children (say, under 13) and blogging and I’ve also had a conversation this week about people posting photos of their children online behind limited or no privacy settings. Is this post a hysterical reaction – or common sense? Here are three questions for us to consider […]

Why banning cellphones won’t ban bullies

I read the two articles on mobile phones in Sunday Star Times this week with some amazement, and a wee bit of irritation. The emotive story, about the student bullied on his cellphone on the front page, aimed to paint modern technology as something to be feared or banned unless it could be actively managed […]

A dead blog

This blog is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t added this last post ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, […]

Herding ducks in a barrel (Part 1)

The NCEA standards review, in English, has begun. And about time, too. As challenging as lining up ducks or herding cats? As easy as shooting those fish? Whichever way it goes, it’s got to be done. According to the NZQA website: The review will be carried out according to six principles developed by the expert […]

Death by bullet (point)

“Students need to be effective oral, written and visual communicators” (revised NZC, English, p. 18) and “they recognise how choices of language, symbol and text affect people’s understanding” (Using Language, Symbols and Texts KC, p. 12) With so many of us using PowerPoint presentations these days, how can we make sure that they (and we!) […]

Sssh…it’s the ‘s’ word

What did you say? Your subject is English? Tsk, tsk. Don’t you know we not allowed to say ‘subject’ now? How very siloed and partisan of you. ‘Subject’ is now a forbidden word, something only to be whispered when no-one can hear you. For now we live in the days of cross-curricular, integrated learning in […]