A day once only imagined has arrived - a virtual International TeachMeet!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">S<i>ubmitted by Fiona Beal</i><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"> If you had told me several years back that the time would come when teachers around the world could share ideas in a group verbally, visually and virtually right from the comfort of their own homes, I would probably have laughed (to myself). But the day HAS come! I experienced it myself on Saturday 17^th December. Bart Verswijvel from Belgium, one of the organisers of this International TeachMeet said, prior to the occasion, “On Saturday I will have more than 25 visitors coming to my house (virtually). The visitors come from 15 different countries and they are from the 5 continents of the world. They are all teachers and they have a great story to tell. Doesn’t this sound amazing?” As it turned out there were actually 60 attendees, including 22 presenters from 15 countries and 5 continents.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Previous posts about TeachMeets</b></span><br /><br />Face to face TeachMeets are already happening in South Africa and I have written about them before on this blog, on several occasions, in the following order:<br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-not-hold-teachmeet-in-your-area.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-not-hold-teachmeet-in-your-area.html</span></a><br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-teachmeet-ideas-from-partners-in.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-teachmeet-ideas-from-partners-in.html</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/microsoft-introduces-teachmeets-into.html">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/microsoft-introduces-teachmeets-into.html</a><br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/elkanah-house-runs-with-teachmeet-idea.html">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/elkanah-house-runs-with-teachmeet-idea.html</a><br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/report-back-on-elkanah-house-teachmeet.html">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/report-back-on-elkanah-house-teachmeet.html</a></span><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also created a TeachMeet – South Africa wiki (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://teachmeet-southafrica.wikispaces.com/">http://teachmeet-southafrica.wikispaces.com/</a>) e</span><span style="font-size: small;">arlier this year for anyone in South Africa to use if they organise a TeachMeet. This is a way of possibly keeping a record of our Teachmeets in South Africa,  </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Organisers and Presenters of the virtual International TeachMeet<br /></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />However, this is the first virtual International Teachmeet that I know of. It was organised by two of my Partners in Learning Institute (Seattle, July) colleagues, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">namely <a href="http://traveloteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-vibrations.html">Arjana</a> (@abfromz) from Croatia and <a href="http://teacherinresidence.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/wonderful-world/">Bart</a> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">@BartVerswijvel)</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from Belgium. Microsoft's Partners in Learning, Croatia,  have kindly sponsored the use of Microsoft Live meeting to host this and further International TeachMeets. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFN4qjEI2uQCJZtpfSkIrJiFE24nEUhltmWouCF0urAnYAAkbBmFemy7NmkqpJPBBKX1s4_l8hnqiMCZydJXJDYJUHSuMCGmuk5XB6mnGdCxfTe0SGSZPe2xG7ZJmB6M6hlK4fbqI229I/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuD34NuZmFy1LbtIDDzbiu07A33UDQ-j4KPTuo4HfcSDvZcRjb8nWAn4NRiMdIVpOyFs_v-BeLZ1bvaAgO6YCV2de7EE0_dLQ6eXFbOgBbkKHteuMuYDAGcniEdu4LuX5V3HaH2HIqCw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The organisers and presenters at the first virtual TeachMeet</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">You can find the presenters' details here </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><a href="http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/Presenters">http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/Presenters</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What happens at a TeachMeet?</b></span><br /><br />At a TeachMeet the participants give a micro presentation lasting, in this case, 3 minutes of something they have done that combines the curriculum with technology and that really works well.<br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A summary of the presentations</b></span><br /><br />Here is a summary of the presentations, compiled by Sonja from Croatia (@sonjalr):<br /><div id="__ss_10635684" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/TeachMeet_International/teachmeet-international" target="_blank" title="TeachMeet International">TeachMeet International</a></b> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10635684" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/TeachMeet_International" target="_blank">TeachMeet_International</a> </div></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span> <br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A video about the occasion</b></span><br /><br />Bart from Belgium made a video from the afternoon’s proceedings<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DG_P22X-7U4" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blogposts about the this international event</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />Some of the presenters and attendees have already written blogposts about the event</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Vicky Loras (Switzerland): <a href="http://vickyloras.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/itdi-and-teachmeet-professional-development-at-its-very-best/">Professional Development At Its Very Best</a><br />Jeannette James (Australia): <a href="http://currentsofmyriver.blogspot.com/2011/12/live-meeting-international-teachmeet.html">Live Meeting #teachmeet webinar</a><br />Arjana Blazic (Croatia): <a href="http://traveloteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-vibrations.html">Good vibrations</a><br />Bart Verswijvel (Belgium): <a href="http://teacherinresidence.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/wonderful-world/">Wonderful world</a><br />Elinda Gjondeda (Greece): <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/rKWli">Reflections from #TeachMeet International</a><br />Chiew Pang (Spain): <a href="http://acliltoclimb.blogspot.com/2011/12/two-for-price-of-none.html">Two for the price of none</a></span><br /><br />In fact to get the summary and feel of the event you can look at the TeachMeet wiki that Arjana from Croatia created especially for the event. <a href="http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/">http://teachmeetinternational.wikispaces.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some of the Slideshare presentations </b></span><br /><br />Some of the presenters have made Slideshare or Authorstream presentations about their offering. There will be more I am sure.<br /><br />1) <b>Chew Piang from Spain</b><br /><div id="__ss_10639983" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/acLiLtocLiMB/wordle-your-imaginations-the-limit" target="_blank" title="Wordle: Your imagination's the limit!">Wordle: Your imagination's the limit!</a></b> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10639983" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/acLiLtocLiMB" target="_blank">Chiew Pang</a> <br /><br />2) <b>John Putt, a Head teacher from Wales</b></div><b style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/wjputt/john-putttm-int171211" target="_blank" title="John putttm int171211">John putttm int171211</a></b><br /><div id="__ss_10621765" style="width: 425px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10621765" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/wjputt" target="_blank">wjputt</a> <br /><br />3) <b>Fiona Beal from South Africa</b></div></div></div><div id="__ss_10644966" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/a-blog-can-be-a-fantastic-teaching-tool" target="_blank" title="A blog can be a fantastic teaching tool ">A blog can be a fantastic teaching tool </a></b><iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10644966" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">fionabeal</a> <br /><br />I'm sure there will be more, soon. Ah, here are three more:<br /><br />4) Anna Loseva from Russia<br /><b>ELT workplaces with posterous blogs</b><br /><div id="__ss_10624957" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/annloseva/eltworkplaces" target="_blank" title="#ELTworkplaces">#ELTworkplaces</a></b> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10624957" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/annloseva" target="_blank">Ann Loseva</a> </div></div>5) Yitzha Sarwona from Jakarta in Indonesia<br /><b>Applying Dogma teaching in a Montessori kindergarten classroom</b><br /><div id="__ss_10646529" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/yitzhasarwono/teachmeetinternational-icha" target="_blank" title="Teachmeetinternational icha">Teachmeetinternational icha</a></b> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10646529" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/yitzhasarwono" target="_blank">Yitzha Sarwono</a> </div></div>6) Bookmark your dreams with Vladimira Michalkova from Slovakia<br /><div id="__ss_10631324" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/VladimiraMichalkova/bookmark-10631324" target="_blank" title="Bookmark Your Dreams">Bookmark Your Dreams</a></b> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10631324" width="425"></iframe> <br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" target="_blank">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/VladimiraMichalkova" target="_blank">Vladimira Michalkova</a></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Further International TeachMeets?</b></span><br /><br />Next one? Of course there will be more, possibly in  February 2012. The next event to follow in this line is the first International Student TeachMeet that Bart is setting up for 7 February 2012. Details can be found here: <a href="http://studentsmeet.org/">http://studentsmeet.org/</a><br /><br />To conclude, I personally think that the benefits of using technology in education will be widely spread through the the TeachMeet concept. I love Teachmeets!</div><br /></div>

teachmeets A day once only imagined has arrived - a virtual International TeachMeet!

S ubmitted by Fiona Beal If you had told me several years back that the time would come when teachers around the world could share ideas in...

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