Apologies in advance...this is a long post! I have just copied and pasted the text from the 'unauthorised!' SKYPE chat from last week, if anyone is interested. Have to admit this is not the most userfriendly post I have ever done.

x Frances 

Anne Maree Jones added David and Frances Schwarz to this chat
26/03/2008 09:58
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:05
Hi Frances r u around or on Yard Duty?
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:05
on holidays!!!
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:05
Yes Same here!!!!!!!!!
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:05
Just trying to find out where the chat is today
26/03/2008 10:06
 
do u know
26/03/2008 10:06
 
?
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:06
Hi Frances - Ive wondered the same thing - thought I might catch a few here
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:06
Don't think there is actually a session...according to the dates back on the 2nd
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:06
hi sue, hi fances
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:06
just getting on to lms
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:06
frances even
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:07
hi
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:07
Hi all - I now can see everyone
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:07
 these skype action buttons!
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:07
i dont think we are meeting tonight by the looks of things????
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:07
Great How is everyone going with the assignment Getting head around it!
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:07
No but we still can have an informal one
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:08
i am still far behind on the assignment, hoping to spend next three weeks catching up
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:08
good idea
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:08
I am really enjoying the 'new' and interesting tools to play with
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:08
I don't think you are behind..it is just baby steps...we have not really started yet...
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:08
i find i am learning more each day..great to try new things
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:09
do we have to link all the social software on the same theme?
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:09
i agree anne maree
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:09
Must admit I love testing new tools but am keen to get the educational value behind web 2 tools etc
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:09
I am cross linking things - but basically calling it flexible learning and Personal learning environments
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:09
for kids or for you?
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:10
Yes - I am hoping to get the year 5/6 class blogging next term
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:10
so your social software links will be for the kids
26/03/2008 10:10
 
?
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:10
i am the same as sue, exploring/linking PLE
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:10
The minor and major assignment have a different focus...I think assig ! is all about YOUR personal learning where assaig 2 can focus more on your students
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:11
i plan to add both, social software for the learner and teacher
26/03/2008 10:11
 
ahh good point
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:11
thanks anne m, that is helpful
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:11
At the moment my blog is well under construction, now I am working on facebook, a wiki and EctoLearning which claoms to be a PLE
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:11
Ectolearning? Have not heard of it?
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:11
Do u want to expalin urther Sue
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:11
I put it on the Uni blog www.ectolearning.com
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:12
Cool guys I am really enjoying everyones input...
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:12
this looks good. are you using this as your main PLE and linking from it?
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:12
It is a PLE which allows you to create collaborate and is a LMS all in one.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:13
have you used it on a school wide scale
26/03/2008 10:13
 
thinking beyond this subject now
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:13
I think I will once I get a handle on it. At the moment my Blog is my main one but I tend to think Ted wants something more.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:13
ok so thinking of 'cooler' PLE's....hmmmm
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:13
Not as yet - I have used a Blog on a school level but not his. Will try to though once I get a handle on it.
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:14
I think Ted wants us to explore a range of learning environments..blogs are a good strat but only the tip of the iceberg...i think he wants us to investigate a variety of options and in this discovery teach each other ..open up the possibilities
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:14
what about this...http://www.flock.com/
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:15
Yes I agree (as we discussed) Anne Maree.
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:15
What is Flock?
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:15
What is 'flock' ?
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:15
like a mini universe
26/03/2008 10:15
 
* Reach friends across multiple networks
* Stay fully connected, no matter where you are on the web
* Be the first to see changes in your universe
26/03/2008 10:16
 
Flock lets you easily share webpages, images and articles with a simple click-to-compose share function. When you have a new message waiting for you, Flock gives you a polite, visual nudge with a glowing mail icon to let you know that somebody loves you.
26/03/2008 10:16
 
from their website
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:16
OK - how could we use it in a school environment. The trouble is with the NSW DET they block so much
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:16
I suppose we need to think of the learning opportunity /communication/ collaborating etc engaging activity we want so then we can choose the tool to achieve this.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:17
i am looking for something other than facebook for kids. not sure if this is an appropriate primary school medium
26/03/2008 10:17
 
absolutely activity first then tool to achieve it
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:17
I will take a look and see what it is all about - nothing like registering with lots and lots of different tools
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:18
exactly, it is an appealing interface
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:19
On a different note found a great site ...particularly fior boys called bitstrip...an online comic maker... my Grade 5 boys LOVE ME and it teachers great 'direct speech' and also good for narrative making charcaters and settings..it is a web 2 tool
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:19
What is the URL ?
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:20
Yes i have registred for sooooo many i need to write all my passwirds down in a book...and not lose IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:20
this might be useful...http://simslearningconnections.com/ple/ray_ple.html
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:20
sounds great anne maree. i found something similar for interactive whiteboards the other day - same thing comic strips
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:20
I have made a link on mt blog
26/03/2008 10:20
 
Cool what was your whiteboard link
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:21
also this...http://del.icio.us/tag/PLE_Workshop_2006
26/03/2008 10:21
 
i find de.icio.us very helpful
26/03/2008 10:21
 
has everyone joined?
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:22
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/schooled/school_theme_pages/pid/544
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:22
Just on passwords - I know it is risky but I have kept them all the same - I have soooo many it drives me nuts
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:22
thats the url for the interactive links
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:22
Thanks
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:22
de.icio.us is an example of a learning link that Ted Might like to see posted on a blog/wiki
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:22
really handy as it breaks them up into focus areas
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:23
I have yet to use del.icio.us
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:23
Have u tried TOPMMARKs for interactive links ...some great sites here
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:23
Is this link on your blog?
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:23
it is very helpful, you can search otherpeople best links and add your own. great when you move jobs and then lose your computer
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:24
sounds good i will have a look
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:24
What does everyone think of Wikis ..I noticed some people have worked with them quite extensively.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:25
love them!
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:25
Does anyone have one that offers more UMMMPH I tried WETPAINT Best i have found for me
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:25
I have just started one - making it very basic - definitions etc. I don't want to burn out
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:25
i have used both pbwiki and wikispaces, wikispaces looks more professional and otr shool now delivers the intranet using the site
26/03/2008 10:25
 
my boys made one on the planets
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:26
My wiki was with pbwiki - pretty ordinary
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:26
http://www.westminsterunder.wikispaces.net/
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:26
Thanks - I will try that one too
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:26
you should be able to look at the planets stuff and the french teacher is doing a exhange link with a french school
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:26
I have tried wikispaces and pbwikis and now wetpaint but i find them alittle limited but that could well be me not using them proerly.. would love to see some good examples
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:27
that might be a nice idea, if anyone is interested in linking their primary clas with mine
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:27
Sounds a fantastic idea !
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:27
i have a booklet i produced on how to use wikispaces. did some teacher training on it, will post online
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:27
Yes love to I have a 4/5
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:27
i have a year4 class of 21 boys
26/03/2008 10:27
 
gifted and talented
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:27
Thanks Francis that sounds really cool ..love to share
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:27
I have both a year 3/4 and 5/6 class (I teach computers) to all grades
sarah talbot
26/03/2008 10:28
thanks for all the great ideas! i gained a lot of resources to check out. thanks! must go....
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:28
which school are you at
26/03/2008 10:28
 
could be good to link to specfic subject
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:28
St Joseph's in Boronia Melbourne
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:29
eg -exchanging stories -editing/adding to each others???
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:29
I work at Rous Public - 84 students and Pearces creek 7 students ( yes 7 - 4 boys and 3 girls) North Coast NSW)
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:29
anne marie, how many students do you have?
sarah talbot has left the chat
26/03/2008 10:29
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:29
Maybe we could all work on a blog or web page across schools with a common topic?/ Olympics Sustainability...????
29
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:30
what topics are you doing this term?
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:30
Anne Maree sounds like that is a 2 teacher school with 29 students
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:30
i agree!!!
26/03/2008 10:30
 
history -examining paintings in art
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:31
Great Kids keen to learn love computers well behaved I am Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:31
science -habitats
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:31
NSW is still in Term 1 but finishing soon- our focus next term is Governmetn and Antarctica - but as computer and library teacher I can do anything I want.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:31
i dont teach ict at the moment so it would have to be curriculum linked
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:31
Olympics could be a good common topic
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:32
We have just hatched chickens and have built a kitchen garden looks great and are working at becoming a 5 star sustainable school
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:32
not something that we are focusing on though, sorry not trying to be difficult
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:32
Environment concerns and water
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:32
what about something more general such as writing skills
26/03/2008 10:32
 
link to english
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:32
Even if we set up a page of greta site we find PD for teachers
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:32
that is not a bad idea
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:32
Writing skills sounds good!
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:33
I am not a classroom teacher - T/L and Computers and for 5/6 HSIE and Science
26/03/2008 10:33
 
I could incorprate writing into both library and computers
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:33
this is something i tried out last semester http://3fshabs.blogspot.com/
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:34
If we get a wiki happening then writing will definitely be part of the deal
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:34
it is on writing skills and has the basics there but really wanted to do more with it
26/03/2008 10:34
 
The aim of this Blog is to help us communicate better with our friends about our writing. Mrs Schwarz will post our stories on this site for our friends to read and then we will be able to make thoughtful comment on their work. In class we have talked about how to make helpful and supportive comments to our friends. By reading work that others have done we also hope to improve our own writing.
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:35
I like that idea - as said earlier I am doing blogs next term for 3/4 and 5/6 will experiment with that idea
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:35
All this sounds great but we don't want to exhaust ourselves we still have to complete our assignments but maybe theses ideas could he;lp us great our pages focus so we are helpinbg each other
Sue Austin
26/03/2008 10:35
Anyway must go - eyes are getting tired - been sitting here since 6pm
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:35
i think the trick is not to overload kids. too many forums and they stop communicating
Sue Austin has left the chat
26/03/2008 10:35
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:36
Glad that we could catch up Frances... r u on holidays next week as well?
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:37
we have three weeks and 5 days off, not that i am counting!
26/03/2008 10:37
 
can we post this for others to read? do you know how to do that?
26/03/2008 10:37
 
guess we could just copy and paste
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:38
I think Ted has to do it and since it is not an official week I am not sure that he can . But it will stay on line if you go back through the history ( last 30 days)
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:38
i will try copying and pasting, basic but might work. could be helpful to other students
26/03/2008 10:39
 
anyway, nice to chat. Let's keep in touch about the joint class activity, i think that has legs!
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:39
Thanks for all the great links I will go and check them out now. See ya..Good luck with your assignemnts.
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:40
likewise!
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:40
Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David and Frances Schwarz
26/03/2008 10:41

26/03/2008 10:41
 
bye!
Anne Maree Jones
26/03/2008 10:41
 Finally Raining In Melbourne YEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BYE
David and Frances Schwarz has left the chat
26/03/2008 10:42

Ted

Thank you for explaining how to link a comment I made on another blog back in to my blog. I have just spent time doing all of them! However, instead of in the posts (as you demonstrated) I managed to create a new page (Linking my comments) and put them all in there. Thereby it took up less room on my page - and wouldn't go into the archives.

Help please

If you or any other clever student could explain step by step how to place a youtube or video clip straight into my blog or comments that would be appreciated. I have tried a number of different ways but yet to succeed.

Cheers

Sue 

Hi Guys,

I have finally launched my blog. It is at

http://francesschwarz.blogspot.com/

'Speak' on Wednesday.

x Frances 

 Hi Everyone,

 I have created my blog, check it out on http://raghdafle.blogspot.com

leave comments and tell me what you think

 Cheers :o)

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Good evening, everyone 

Just to let you know that I have created a different blog for this unit where I do not sound as flippant as usual.

Please add me to your own blogs if possible and I look forward to exchanging blog comment links with you.

You can find me at: http://billoldhamflexiblelearningenvironment.blogspot.com/

Regards, Bill Oldham 

Hi all

Since Sarah's blog post on the PLE - in a visual format I have been trying to track down something of similar nature to 'contain' all the information I use and make it portable to pick up when I am not on my own PC or Laptop. I firstly listed (in Sarahs comments) Mindomo which was free but had a few issues I wasn't quite satisfied with. I have now located Visual mind 9.1 which gives you a 30 day free tiral then purchase for home or business, It seems to be going along OK - I am in the first stages of building my entire work/study/social PLE on it. Do others know of anything better?

Ted - would this be suitable for organising my PLE assignment?   (I can't seem to get it to paste as an image!!!)

Overview of PLE.docx

http://www.visual-mind.com/index.html

Cheers Sue

Not sure where the best place to post this question / comment is, but I am away on a business trip next week - going on the Apple Bus tour around the North Island of New Zealand, and as such will be unavailable for the next week's discussions, etc.  Should I make sure I do double posts to my blog and wiki this week and the following week?  What are people's thoughts?

Thanks,
Betina

I have just (and I really mean JUST) started my wiki - elearn-alive to complement my blog elearn-alive

I will be adding to both but please email me at przybylak.b@gmail.com if you'd like to join the class wiki I mention on both sites.  It isa wiki called 'Events that Changed the World'.  Well worth a look but only members can view, etc.

Thanks.

Betina

Thursday, March 27, 2008

This is more of a mundane question.

Are all of you that are using eBlogger paying the  $8.95/month to use it?

Any suggestions for a free blog site to try? 

Regards, Bill Oldham 

Try to avoid paying for anything try setting up a free account at blogger.com or at edublogs.org. the instructions on each are straigthforward and they have all the neccessary features.

sorry...forgot another very useful link to interactive resources..i use with my grade 5/6 students

 http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/schooled/school_theme_pages/pid/544

cheers

Hi everyone,

 i have come across some interesting diagrams (i am a visual learner!)  i have included a couple here and a link below. These are also on my bolg  www.sarahtalbotflexiblelearning.blogspot.com.

This diagram is interesting.....

And another take on PLE...

Useful Link

http://cit.nus.edu.sg/IDEAS/spotlight/web-20-personal-learning-envir.html

Hi All

 I found this link which is a video link from the

World Economic Forum

http://gaia.world-television.com/wef/worldeconomicforum_annualmeeting2007/default.aspx?sn=19781&lang=en

On  this webcast which lasts about 40 minutes it has a panel eg Chad Hurley, Bill Gates.... and brings to discussion ...what we are doing now as compared to the first generation (Web 1) but mainly concentrating on Web 2.0... what it means and where we are NOW and where going... without using lack of creation and calling it Web 3. It discusses  enabling a shift of power ...giving it to the people .. concepts of engaging, connecting, creating, collaborate...leveridging the power....I found it fascinating and certainly covered Ted's questions  re Web 1,2and Social Networking ..and other posts people have made. I would love people to look at it... even bits of it if you do not have time for all of it  and bring to discussion( if you think it is worth discussing). I  was intrigued so watched to the end. ..lots of names mentioned like Tim O'Reily,Jimmy)(Wikipedia) ..talked about collective intelligence, tools, two way dialogue, empowerment etc   ....anyway though I'd share. See what you think.

The Panel consisted of :

• Caterina Fake, Founder, Flickr, USA
• William H. Gates III, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation, USA
• Chad Hurley, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, YouTube, USA
• Mark G. Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nike, USA
• Viviane Reding, Commissioner, Information Society and Media, European Commission, Brussels

Have also posted as YouTube on my blog  http://www.fleanneannemaree.blogspot.com/

Cheers

One of the things that is particularly difficult now as an educator is keeping up with all the technology and the various software environments that have become available.  I suppose that is so obvious and has been so obvious for so long that it is not really worth stating. But is the case that during this subject you do have to try out at least some of the available environments - even quite early on as part of assignment one I am expecting that you will be trying to keep track of your learning somehow even if it is not online and you were just kkeping notes in a word document that would be a good starting point for an electronic form of a personal learning environment for the first assignment

I hope you are not getting the feeling that you need to finalise a personal learning environment immediately, however you do need to start a least one sort of space you can add to subtract from of mutate into another form later.

Despite my just saying that you do not need to choose the final PLE spaces that you will use throughout the semester right away. Just think about one and maybe try it out and add your learning or questions to it.

It is heartening to see some student blogs have begun reflection on things to do with the subject. (and even to see facebook and myspace referred to as PLEs) These are great and are already examples of PLEs

But blogs are hopefully simple enough for most to see their potential as learning spaces that can help organise at least some sort of reflective writing or not taking. They are great ways to get introduced to the idea of personal learning spaces but they are not the be all and end all of PLEs if you know what I mean. You can always move on or add various features to blogs to enrich the experience of learning or to personalise it for your own leaning style later.

If you have no idea what I am talking about or what a PLE is then try to set up your own blog as a first step do not expect it to be your only step and to get a good idea of what it is like you need to leave a few messages in your own blog and maybe leave it just a private one although an open or public blog has advantages for learning.

If you do not know where to start try to follow the steps for setting up an account at blogger.com or at edublogs.org.

Hi all

In an attempt to get started on my PLE Assignment I have decided to add facebook to my Blog (as well as a Wiki). If anyone would like to be 'a friend' could you email me at s.austin@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au  and I will add you to my friend list. I don't really want an entire collection of photographs but 1 or 2 might be nice.

Thanks

Sue