An Eventful Life!

Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra - Fantasia

This concert was in collaboration with Urban Arts Base and included screening of original artworks developed by young artists in response to particular pieces and used as a multimedia pictorial backdrop.

Original artwork, multimedia production and an orchestra, each on their own a rich treat, but together are absolutely a Fantasia!

Anselm Kiefer, NSW Art Gallery

Mixed media including clay, thorns, oxide and straw. Shattered glass, plastered Victorian dresses with headless form. This exhibition has expanded my experience and understanding of art. Not to mention the mounted propeller inscribed with Love, Hope, Belief on each of the three blades. The propeller has come off the plane, the plane has crashed, when Love Hope and Belief come away from our lives, then we crash.

Sydney Youth Orchestra - Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Not just because my son plays the trumpet for the SYO, but because even a newbie to the orchestral scene like I am couldnt fail to be moved by and appreciate the power and passion of the Shostakovich piece played in the second half. Very tight and professional, I guess all the other mothers of SYO members are as proud as I am and delighted that their offspring are in such delightful and talented company!

Winksite, Twitter, a Wiki and a Shoutbox

I think these four tools might give me everything I need for a blended mlearning and elearning connected teaching and learning strategy.

Winksite gives you the blog and blogroll for access via mobile phone - gives learners ability to consume information from mobile phone, twitter gives an instant communication tool for linking learners and collaborative learning and sharing, also accessible by phone or pc.

Add a wiki with a shoutbox to the mix and each learner can have their own page to load their own content (content possibly generated from the mobile multimedia features) from a pc, the shoutbox allowing easy contact with other learners and teachers right from the page.

We have the tools to build this, if we build it they will come........!

As it is in Heaven

I have heard angels sing and they sounded just like the closing scene of this movie.
The lead character, Daniel, urges his choir to just 'listen' and then pull the sound down from heaven. To me this movie represented a many faceted prism of humanity - such pure love in all its forms from Lena,the story of courage from Gabrielle emerging from being beaten in her marriage to re-claiming her life, Ingers released sexuality and her husbands Stig, the pastors' repressed sexuality. Arne, Tore, Olga,Siv - each character a part of a rich community psyche.Each character finds their self as they find their sound. Self discovery, singing and soul. Daniel dies at the moment he realises his greatest dream - of people hearing the sounds of heaven.

Mlearning Leadership Network - straightening out communications

Its ironic that as the facilitator of the mobile learning leadership network, with the idea of 'always on' and easy communication that I have opened up the communication channels to the point where I think I may have created some confusion about points of contact for our team.

I will straighten this out now!

The main contact point for communication is http://nswlearnscope.wikispaces.com. Go to the Leadership link and then click on MLearning. Here you will find the main project page. The idea is that members build their own page on the wiki, or link to their main pages elsewhere. You will see I am linking to this blog, and that this is the second blog post to the team.

I started using a group email, then changed to a google group - but I am still not sure if everyone is receiving messages, will try once more with the google group! Ideally I will get everyone to join Skype for ready contact.

Twitter is being experimented with by some members of the group that have received emails. If the whole team can get on Twitter and activate their phones then we can instantly link to each other for inspiration, advice or just to share new links! I have asked members to load their twitter badges to the wiki home page so we have a display of twitter text from everyone that is in one spot and always updated. Its also interesting to think about how twitter might be used in a teaching and learning context, although I understand that this is a twist on what it is intended for.

Did anyone get to follow up the links from my last post? Any thoughts, anything to add?

We will have an online meeting very soon, but first I need to make sure the communication channel is working for everyone! It is my plan to call everyone in the next day or two!!