Blogging from Sydney

I've spent the first 3.5 days in Sydney feeling very disconnected - the Hotel only has dialup (very Sloooow dialup at that), and my Vodafone 3G Data costs $10/MB on roaming!
I tried every Telco in Australia to signup for data for 2 months - but no joy - they all want you to sign up for at least 2 years! and you have to have an Australian credit rating (bank account), and Australian employment! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!! This is so neanderthal.
Anyway, the Chilli iburst wireless broadband package finally arrived today - so I'm connected again! A nice service - very similar technology to WOOSH in NZ, but much better coverage.

Photoblog of Sydney available at http://picasaweb.google.com/thomcochrane/Sydney2007

My Office

IT Helpdesk & new technology - an age old problem ;-)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek

Get With The Program

An article in the latest New Zealand TUANZ Topics magazine asks "Are web2 communication tools such as blogs, wikis, webcasts and podcasts now an essential part of the teacher's toolkit?" (From a secondary school perspective)

They conclude:

"You and I are the last generation that has the perogative of deciding whether or not we're going to embrace technology. But the kids we are teaching noe, the ones that are under my watch in the classroom, they aren't given that same perogative. If they don't master these skills, I'm actually dooming them to a lower level of opportunity...

The thing we need to understand about the type of learners coming to us today is that not only do they have different tools, but they actually process differently.

Most kids are walking around with one or two cellphones in their pocket, using them to text their friends, surf the Web, take photos, and post to their blogs. And yet as soon as they get to school they're told to turn the cellphones off.

If we'd just let students work to their strengths, instead of their weaknesses, we'll start to celebrate what they can do, and what they come to the classroom with - and that is a propensity toward technology."

Putt, S. (2007, March/April). Get with the program. TUANZ Topics, 17, 35-38.

Welcome to Treemo - Treemo: Media Sharing on a Mission

Welcome to Treemo - Treemo: Media Sharing on a Mission: "Treemo is an online and mobile community dedicated to sharing digital media, empowering self-expression, and transforming creativity into action."

Treemo looks rather interesting - all content is mobile friendly, and they provide multiple ways of accessing content & uploading content via mobile devices without requiring a client application:

1. Via Cell Phone Number


2. Via Mobile Web Browser


3. Via MMS


4. Via email


5. Or from PC online

Definitely worth checking out. They are also quite strict on content - copyright, etc...

TechWatch Report: What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education.

TechWatch Report: What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education.: "A new TechWatch report by Paul Anderson explores the Web 2.0 phenomenon and asks what are the implications for education?"

(Via JISC e-Learning Focus.)