Book now for Autumn term FlashMeetings

A third trial meeting has now taken place; teachers from around Scotland continue to register; and those with problems accessing FlashMeeting are seeking solutions.

As the holidays approach, I thought it timely to give details of the FlashMeetings from August to the end of the year. To participate, email me at noble_d@hillsideschool.co.uk with the session number/s.

1. Support for Learning - a discussion on ways to carry out initial assessment of pupils with Additional Support Needs (30/8/07)
2. FlashMeeting trial - Never participated in an online conference? Want to try out the technology first? This session will help you get started (6/9/07)
3. Access Maths - a one hour online discussion (13/9/07)
4. A Curriculum for Excellence - sit back and listen to our Keynote speaker, then stay, ask questions, and contribute to a discussion with colleagues (this FlashMeeting will be recorded) (27/9/07)
5. Access resources - come along and find out about three products that could enhance your teaching and learning (this FlashMeeting will be recorded) (11/10/07)
6. Access Science - a one hour online discussion (1/11/07)
7. 'Show and Tell' - come along and be inspired as three teachers showcase a resource or stategy (15/11/07)
8. Access surgery - issues regarding delivery of Access courses; see if other teachers can assist. This time - teaching Access 3 and Intermediate 1 together (29/11/07)
9. Access English - a one hour online discussion (13/12/07)
10. 'Fireside chat' - a chance to talk with other teachers of Access; no prior agenda (10/1/08).

Further details eg start times, speakers will be published nearer the time. It is likely that most sessions will start at around 4pm.

Reflections on second trial FlashMeeting

This week's meeting was attended by seven colleagues from Moray to East Lothian to East Dunbartonshire. Despite everyone being new to this method of communication, all became comfortable with the functions of the FlashMeeting really quickly and we managed to discuss a few education topics within the hour (teaching different levels in the same class, Health Promoting Schools, initial assessment). Attendees spoke of their backgrounds and which issues they would like to see covered by the Network.

Having passed on further advice from those running the FlashMeeting site well in advance, many of those who wished to participate but were unable to do so had informed me in the hours and days beforehand. Many teachers are actively seeking out solutions to the current blocking of their participation. From certain quarters, I'm hearing that IT support have been helpful and just need time to arrange the opening of ports. I am asking those who are blocked to tell me if they are going to pursue the solution or if I can assist in some way.

Some things for me to think about:

• should at least some of the meetings be recorded so that participants can revisit discussions, chat log, links etc?
• colleagues should be invited to have a pen and paper to hand if the meeting is not being recorded
• as the content of meetings becomes important, I will probably take brief notes that can be shared with the rest of the Network
• what does a web conference host do differently from one hosting an in-room conference?
• a brief questionnaire before the end of term which mainly allows teachers to book for one or more of the Autumn FlashMeetings, but also allows for feedback, flagging-up of issues, and agreement to share details with others on the Network.

I'm close to putting together details of the first six online meetings (August to December); there will be general meet-ups, subject specific ones, further trials, 'show and tell' etc Keep an eye on this blog during next week!

Second Access Network FlashMeeting this Thursday

Up to twenty-five teachers from around Scotland will take part in the second trial Flashmeeting. This includes teachers of Access units and courses from secondary, FE, special ed, and learning centres. Colleagues will have their headsets and webcams at the ready, hoping that nothing 'fiddly' gets in the way of the connection.

I have been in regular contact with the guys at FlashMeeting, passing on advice to participants on how to test their connection well in advance of the meeting. Some IT support staff from local authorities have been in touch to go over details about ports and firewalls, following support requests from teachers.

I'm confident that a higher proportion of participants will manage to get access to the meeting this time (with advice having been sent out well in advance), although the benefit is that any issues regarding access can be looked into this side of the holidays.

Over 100 teachers have now registered an interest in the Network. With this in mind, I have pencilled-in a final test conference, at 4.10pm on Thursday, 28th June. Email me at noble_d@hillsideschool.co.uk to register (there are webcams and headsets still available). This meeting will feature the use of FlashBoard; a shared whiteboard/presentation tool.

Finally, I intend to issue details of the first six FlashMeetings for the Autumn term by Friday 29th June.

Reflections on first trial FlashMeeting

Six teachers from around Scotland met late this afternoon, to participate in a trial FlashMeeting. The event 'kicked off' on time even though I was running about a minute before trying to get two other computers in the school to work with the webcam, headset and FlashMeeting website (but more on this later!).

Colleagues (from a range of provision) were introduced to the various functions within the meeting - chat, vote, emoticons. Later, we successfully used the webpage sharing tool. In typing a web address that I wanted to highlight, it appeared in the chat panel (where it could be copied), with those who allow pop-ups on their computer seeing the website appear on their screen automatically.

More that half of those who planned to attend were unable to do so. This appeared to result from one problem; that of the website being unable find the correct ports during the setting up and testing (of the webcam and headset) step just before entry into the meeting. For some this seemed unusual as it appeared previously that this was not going to be an issue. I emailed the organisers of the site for urgent advice on this matter, particularly because there is a further meeting next Thursday (all of those who didn't 'make it' will be invited to this).

Despite this, and the fact that I spent much time on the mobile to those facing the difficulties, attendees got on with discussing their initial impressions, comparing courses that they run, how to bring more colleagues 'on board', and how the Network might operate. This last part included the sharing of email addresses among those registered (with further permission, of course), and a suggestion that colleagues could act as a 'critical friend' to those introducing new units and courses or help with verifying pupil evidence.

The Access Network - participants prepare...

Going into the final couple of days before the first (trial-run) FlashMeeting for The Access Network, I have, this week, been emailing those who have registered to either: provide them with technical information for themselves and IT Support; provide a free webcam and headset for the 21st June 'meet up' (15 colleagues so far have indicated that they will attend); check that everything is OK with the 15 colleagues who are 'attending' the 14th June conference; and giving others a brief update ie that I'll be back in touch at the end of August with the topics and curriculum areas lined up to be covered in the Autumn term FlashMeetings (of which should be at least 4, very varied).

The vast majority of respondents have indicated that they wish to try an online conference. So far 5 have stated that in-room meetings would also be helpful. I will keep a check on this.

As we stand at Monday lunchtime, 91 teachers from around Scotland have indicated an interest in this project.

FlashMeeting preparation

Tonight I set up a 'dummy' conference via FlashMeeting, with no attendees and myself as facilitator. This was to give me an idea of how to interact with a FlashMeeting prior to dozens of colleagues attending the trial Network meetings over the next couple of weeks.

Just before the start time, I visited the web address that I had been given. The site asked to check my webcam and headset which I agreed to. I then typed in the name that I wanted to be known by during the meeting and clicked on 'Enter'. Immediately, I was presented with a screen which had an area to the left where the person talking would be seen. To the right, was where you would see the list (or webcam image) of those who would be 'in' the meeting. A button in the middle of the screen would be pressed to ask for the microphone, with a easy-to-follow queue forming if more than one person requested to speak.

Beyond this, over time I would hope that participants could make use of the vote, web page sharing, and chat facilities.