"Double-Time: FLY!" Call for Live Skype / Google Earth Guests for Parent Presentation

Arapahoe HS (Denver – Karl Fisch’s Digs)

I know this is short notice, but that’s half the fun.

I’ve been quiet this week because life hasn’t been. We’re in our first week of school as a 1:1 Apple Laptop school; I’m in my first week as Tech Coordinator / AP Literature teacher; our IT Manager is in his first week managing the Apple Servers at school (poor guy); I’ve been wasting time doing “schooly” homework for that blasted UCLA online AP workshop; and tomorrow night (GMT +9 in Seoul, Thursday 16 AUG 07), we’re giving . . . .

A “Why 1:1?” Parent Presentation. You’re Invited (If….)

Here’s the plan: after the principal gives his speech, and Apple Asia’s representative gives his, I’ve got a half-hour or so to give a presentation.

I’m going to steal Patrick Higgins’ idea and employ that old English teacher’s advice to “show, don’t tell” our parents this new world. Patrick hosted Carolyn Foote, Konrad Glogowski, and me in a staff PD blogging workshop / podcast last month on Skype, and he deserves the flattery of my theft of his idea.

So I’ve made a Google Earth “fly around the world” tour of schools and educators in my network. Each of those educators has agreed to show the parents our Cool New World by joining me in a live Skype conference call for a quick, 5 minute “hello” and “expert voices” interview based on the simple (?!) question, “What can a 1:1 school offer your child that traditional schools can’t?”

Since the presentation will be in our beautiful school theater-auditorium, I’ve created a Google Earth tour of each Skype-guest’s school to project on our Big Screen on stage. Skype will share that screen with Google Earth, and so will GarageBand. The plan is to go round-robin to allow each guest to give his/her 60 seconds or less of “expert testimony,” and “fly” on Google Earth to his/her school as each speaker speaks.

I’ve already enlisted the following people from the following places:

I’d like to add New Zealand, Japan, Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia!

So if you read this in time (by 0800 GMT on Thursday, 16 August – just add or subtract the +/- digit of your time zone’s GMT) to leave a reply with your Skype username (or add me to your contacts: I’m cburell) and school name and address (or, better, co-ordinates), come on in. It’s easy enough for me to add your school to the Google Earth World Tour. (And yes, that’s the clumsiest sentence I’ve ever written. Okay, I’m lying: it’s typical. Sorry.)

The entire presentation will be filmed and video-podcasted. I’d love to have all interested parties – especially long-time “lurkers” on this blog (yes, Doug Belshaw, I’m talking about you ;-) join in. It’s “getting to know you” with a purpose. (If you prefer, you can email me at clayburell [at] gmail [dot] com.)

Video or only audio chat – no problem. Just drop in and help us have some fun.


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6 Responses to “"Double-Time: FLY!" Call for Live Skype / Google Earth Guests for Parent Presentation”

  1. Doug Belshaw writes:

    Well I was going to be washing my hair, but seeing as you asked nicely… OK! Don’t know what I’ll be able to contribute seeing as my school’s about as far away from 1:1 as you can possibly imagine.

    But I am typing this on a Macbook… :-D

    Reply

  2. Clay Burell writes:

    Ha! Great Doug. I got your Skype and school info from your blog, so I’ll give you a 7.30p (Seoul time) dry run on Skype so we can set our conference mic levels, etc.

    Quick in, quick out, good fun! Thanks for playing and look forward to real time.

    Reply

  3. Konrad Glogowski writes:

    If you still need a voice from Canada, and are not tired of hearing mine :-) , I would be honoured to contribute! Let me know. Skype: teachandlearn.

    Reply

  4. Clay Burell writes:

    Hi Konrad! I’ve added you to Skype, and will look for your school to put on Google Earth. Expect a 7.30p GMT+9 call to set mics, then I’ll call you all back a few minutes later. Thanks much:)

    Reply

  5. Carolyn Foote writes:

    Clay,

    I may pop in and listen in as well!

    Hope it goes well! GREAT idea!

    Reply

  6. Carolyn Foote writes:

    I’m techno.foote by the way.

    Reply

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