Hack to the Future organiser, Alan O'Donohoe

I was delighted to be able to speak to Alan O’Donahoe via Skype recently. In a wide-ranging conversation, Alan told me some fascinating things including:

The Hack Rap!

Hack to the Future

Alan on Twitter

Teach Computing blog

Alan’s Audioboos

Teknoteacher on YouTube

My new podcast - come and join me!

I’m very excited to announce my new podcast! http://www.yesmusicpodcast.com One fans’ exploration of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. Subscribe for free so you don’t miss any of the episodes where I feature one of Yes’ studio albums every week!

Why listen?

• If you don’t yet know the music, listen as an introduction to the fascinating story of the band.
• If you are already a fan, get involved with the conversation.

So, I’ve found myself organising TeachMeet Midlands 2011 with the incomparable @ssutherland and @tombarrett. Firstly, I need to make a confession – I’ve never been to a TeachMeet in person! I have attended several virtually by following Twitter hash tags and a variety of different streaming web video services but 20th May 20011 will be my first actual, physical appearance at one. No pressure then!

TeachMeet Midlands 2009 was also at the National College, Nottingham

However, as you’ll know if you have been lucky enough to attend a TeachMeet – this is actually the point of the movement. You don’t need to have presented at a TeachMeet before to offer a presentation at TM Midlands and you don’t need to have organised any kind of event before you take the plunge and set up your own TeachMeet. I am most fortunate to have Tom and Stuart as co-organisers, of course, as they have both set up TeachMeets before, so maybe there’s a challenge for you -

come to TeachMeet Midlands, find someone who has organised one before and lean on their expertise to set up your own!

Even if you’re not quite ready to organise an event yourself, you should definitely consider presenting at TMM11. Everyone I have ever spoken about TeachMeet to talks passionately about their first presentation experience. Most of us are in the business of presenting to some kind of audience at times but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to stand up at a TeachMeet. However, if you can share even the smallest experience from your classroom or work, you’ll get a great reception from your peers at a TeachMeet.

Don’t think what you have to share is obvious or that someone else has already covered it – there are bound to be lots of interested people in the audience.

TMs are so informal and supportive that everyone goes away energised, whether they have listened, shared or both. So sign up on the wiki and get involved!

TeachMeets – a great time and great CPD, guaranteed!

So the first of the ‘How to’ pages is ready now here – take a look and let me know what you think, please.

I’d also like to extend an open invitation to  anyone who would like to either suggest a topic for a tutorial (assuming I know anything about the subject!) or write a guest post – just leave a comment with some way of contacting you and I’ll set it up.

I’m looking forward to welcoming some guests as soon as possible, so please don’t be shy!

UPDATE:

My other half finished her night shifts successfully and I managed to hit my target of a quick tutorial every night. It was tiring but great fun. Do take a look and choose your favourite!

It shouldn't be like banging your head on one of these

I recently made a tweet about the procurement process which was picked up by @realprojects and @innerquest. As we have all been involved with the pain of procurement in various ways over the years, we decided to try and come up with some tips on how to stay sane – if you are tendering for work or managing the process of appointing suppliers.

A shared Google doc helped us to collaborate on the tips and this is what we came up with after a bit of chopping and editing:

Let us know what you think – does any of this sound familiar?

Creative Commons image credit – grungetextures

Stuart Ridout

It’s time for part 6 already!

@stuartridout is the generous participant this time. Stuart is about to start a new Assistant Head job and is currently putting together the remarkable #newleaders Twitter project.

In addition to offering some terrific insights into digital identity, personal and private use of Twitter and Twitter for new starters, our conversation covers the phenomenal #pgcetips, the TeachMeet movement, social media safety concerns and the ways schools use Twitter.

Listen to Stuart and then please leave a comment!

Music: Kevin MacLeod Can’t use this flash audio player? Here’s a link directly to the mp3 –  Stuart Ridout on Twitter

Look out for part 7 (if it comes to pass!) – I might come and ask you to take part. If you’d like to be interviewed, please add a comment below or contact me on Twitter – @kevinmulryne

Iain Gilmour

Part 5 features a Skype call via iPhone (with CallBurner of course) with headteacher, @iangilmour. He kindly gave up some holiday time to speak to me about his use of Twitter.

Iain has some very interesting things to say about how his use of Twitter has changed over the years and about his developing attitude to digital identity. Iain has been a dedicated and prolific user of the National College’s private, professional online  community but points out the differences between this ‘walled garden’ and interacting as a headteacher in an open social setting like Twitter.

Truly fascinating stuff. Do listen and leave a comment!

Music: Kevin MacLeod Can’t use this flash audio player? Here’s a link directly to the mp3 –  Iain Gilmour on Twitter

Look out for part 6 – I might come and ask you to take part. If you’d like to be interviewed, please add a comment below or contact me on Twitter – @kevinmulryne

Jan Webb

Incredibly, we are now on to part 4 of this mini-series! Perhaps it will turn into a maxi-series. This time I am indebted to @janwebb21 who gave up part of her holiday to talk about Twitter use from the point-of-view of a practising primary teacher. Once again, CallBurner was marvellous.

As you will hear, she has some perceptive and persuasive points to make and manages to coin a number of useful phrases along the way including my favourite, in reference to business and organisational use of Twitter,  ”There’s a balance to be struck between nuisance and information.”

We spoke about an article on the Reuters website you may have seen – Consumers say: “In tweets we trust” Have a read of this and then listen to what Jan as to say.

Music: Kevin MacLeod Can’t use this flash audio player? Here’s a link to download the mp3 - Jan Webb on Twitter

Look out for part 5 – I might come and ask you to take part. If you’d like to be interviewed, please add a comment below or contact me on Twitter – @kevinmulryne

Judith Christian-Carter

Part 3 of this series features Judith Christian-Carter, JudithELS on Twitter.  (Also, thanks are due to CallBurner, which coped brilliantly with my connection dropping out!).

Once again, I have not met Judith even though she lives very close to me. As part of my seemingly ever-willing PLN, Judith was keen to help (or so she said) and the resulting conversation is full of insights from a daily user of Twitter both for work and play.

Judith is company director of Effective Learning Solutions and is actively trying to persuade her business partner to embrace social media, as you will hear, so let’s hope this recording will help her in her quest!

Many thanks are due to Judith for agreeing to take part.

Music: Kevin MacLeod Can’t use this flash audio player? Here’s a link to download the mp3 - Judith Christian-Carter on Twitter

Look out for part 4 – I might come and ask you to take part. If you’d like to be interviewed, please add a comment below or contact me on Twitter – @kevinmulryne

Susan Banister

After the success of the audio recording I did with @chrisrat (thanks CallBurner!), it seems obvious that talking to as many people as possible about their prvate/personal use of Twitter and other social media is going to be really productive.

So here’s the next in a growing series – @susanbanister who works for Channel 4 Learning.

Her company is at the beginning of its journey into social media and Susan has some fascinating insights to share in Part 2:

Music: Kevin MacLeod Can’t use this flash audio player? Here’s a link to download the mp3 - Susan Banister  on Twitter

Look out for part 3 – I might come and ask you to take part. If you’d like to be interviewed, please add a comment below or contact me on Twitter – @kevinmulryne