Educating the Dragon

Isn’t it amazing what happens when you move out of your comfort zone. It appears I am not alone in the NZblogosphere to leave the classroom, permanently or otherwise.

I am now beginning a whole new adventure as an Educational Technology Advisor. It is what I have hoped to become and there appears to be some flexibility that I require right now and to be perfectly honest with you I want to see this venture grow, probably as much as the boss does! I love its vision and ethos. The whole team wants to affect change for the better in the classrooms of New Zealand, for the better, and for a bright shining future.

As you can gather, I’m rather excited about 2008… bring it on!

It is my privilege to introduce an new blogger to the edublogosphere. I was honoured to meet Amanda in a breakout at Ulearn. Please visit her site, encourage her by commenting, she’s putting all her notes from Ulearn on her blog, its well worth a read. 

I also need to thank Chrissy and Amanda for volunteering skyping me into Tony Ryan’s keynote. I was so disappointed about missing it and now thanks to Web 2.0, skype, twitter et al. I get two offers to let me listen.

Derek Asked for help with his closing remarks I thought I’d share these two….

“It is always good to get the bigger picture, we are not alone in our school, in our desire for progressing, personalising learning. Implimenting ICT in our schools. Its great to share ideas, try things out, get some direction and focus the mind.”

“Here there is space and time to become the reflective practisioners we wish we could be all the time.”

Thanks to Rachel for passing them along or was it Jane, someone’s battery died …Am writing this before he speaks so…. 

Tony Ryan its your responsibility as ‘part of the system’ – what are WE going to do about it…. No more moaning and complaining. Let’s just get on with the business we’re in…Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror spings to mind.

I don’t remember where the story comes from but a grandson asks his grandfather.“Were you hero in the war?” And the Grandfather answers “No, I just fought beside some.” 

It came to mind today as I sat and listened to the Minister of Education.

I’m sat beside Chrissy and AllanahK and Jane, on skype chat with Rachel Boyd and Durff.

 If anyone should ask I felt like saying “No, I sat with some.”

As I walked out of the session I was happily chatting to a Principal I know and got in the elevator.By the time the lift got to the ground floor I realised I did not have my coat. “Darn” 

So I go back up in the lift to the room and go to my place, no coat. “Darn”

I think to myself, where did I got earlier, that’s right, I had lunch with Jane and Chrissy at the Blogger café. I trip out of the

Crown
Plaza, across the road, up a couple of escalators, the blogger café. No coat. “Darn” 

Think Simon, think. Third row back in the main hall. Must of left it there, so I sneak in, trying not to look too obvious. Trying harder not to interrupt Tony Ryan while he prepares. I look. No coat. “Darn” 

I’m out of options, I text Chrissy and ask if she’s seen it this morning. I hit SEND. The second I do that. I remember, I took it off this morning and hid it under one of the stands. “DOH!” 

So Julia, am I right,left, half or no brained?

Here are few links for my presentation at Emmanual College in a couple of days:

I must confess this is more for me than anyone else.

My class’s thoughts on PRS

Talk and Write presentation