It has been a cold and wet weekend in Melbourne and my ‘geek’ status has been given a bit of an elevation in my household, as I sat by my laptop at different stages ‘attending’ the online conference Reform Symposium. An amazing collaborative effort from inspirational educators around the globe. All conducted through the Elluminate on-line conference system, groups collected at allotted times to be led by volunteers who offered to lead discussion. Lots of good humour from both presenters, moderators and participants made for interesting and entertaining sessions. A short review of some quotes I noted :

Reform Symposium on PhotoPeach

I have come away with more homework, points to ponder, sites to visit and many recording of sessions I did not attend to view.

Notes from blogging session

• Best practice for blogging – need to model it first
• Start with a class blog
• Connecting blogs to authentic audience
• Write posts on class blog
• Then have their own – blog licence
• Install a bloggers’ lounge/cafe in a classroom
• Children get ‘right’ to blog after showing good practice
• Then children get their own
• Bloggers café time in Literacy

Notes from research session

• Research is not different – just different ways to do it
• Research was individual – now it is collaborative (Google Docs, WikiPedia)
• Taking a lot and making it into less = synthesising

Sites mentioned that I need to look at later

Try out Scribble Maps http://www.scribblemaps.com

Try out Stupeflix – video with text

Try out Answergarden

Try out FotoBabble.com

What is Symbaloo ?
What is Engrade ?
What is Zotero ?

…… and it’s not over yet …. maybe one more before bed ??