Why not hold a TeachMeet in your area?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Submitted by Fiona Beal</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can hear you asking, “A TeachMeet? What is that?” I asked the same question before attending the Partners in Learning Institute in July 2011. Baldev Singh, one of our presenters, who is a founder of imagineeducation.org in the UK introduced the idea to us. He said this informal type of professional development is starting to supercede other forms of professional development in the UK.  If there is one way to enhance the spread of technology integration in the classroom, this is it!  We soon discovered that TeachMeets are also popular in the USA (where they are often called EdCamps) and all over Europe. Oooh, I’d love to introduce this idea in South Africa!</span></div></div> <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/AVvXsEh1KYjJNSo1odxDMC56UxSK0PF2TpTB6YrFlQ5SemwK4gpKaAb5IhUQeYjDwtLg-NYxYEA623GbxffxYUsahAVPzdHTnGAxj67iA_bucSxTnQBPtcUGo0bKgkbByOJYJ8vxbDBVtwB3oOM/s1600/baldev+singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KYjJNSo1odxDMC56UxSK0PF2TpTB6YrFlQ5SemwK4gpKaAb5IhUQeYjDwtLg-NYxYEA623GbxffxYUsahAVPzdHTnGAxj67iA_bucSxTnQBPtcUGo0bKgkbByOJYJ8vxbDBVtwB3oOM/s320/baldev+singh.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Baldev Singh from </span><a href="http://www.imagineeducation.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">www.imagineeducation.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what is a TeachMeet?</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a nutshell, teachers choose a successful lesson they have done in technology integration, and depending on the time limits set by the TeachMeet organizers (can be 2 minutes, 3 minutes or 7 minutes), they use a data projector and computer and share their lesson. TeachMeets can be held anywhere and at any time. <br /><br />Before leaving for the PIL Institute week we were asked to watch this YouTube video on TeachMeets by Brainpop. </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://youtu.be/53KUW79lhrg">http://youtu.be/53KUW79lhrg</a></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/53KUW79lhrg" width="425"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the ‘rules’</span></b></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />*<span id="goog_1400297682"></span><span id="goog_1400297683"></span>The teachers listening take notes, photos, videos, they tweet or just listen.<br /><span id="goog_165567202"></span><span id="goog_165567203"></span>*Presentations need to be short and sharp<br />*Can use technology to present i.e.  PowerPoint, video, photos etc.<br />*It is fine to hold up a poster or even sing a song.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> *You need to plan before the time</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of our teachmeets at the PIL Institute week</span></strong></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We loved the TeachMeet session where we presented to the USA Innovative Teacher finalists. If I can find any of the presentations on video I'll post them here. One that I did find on YouTube was from Dan Roberts from the UK. He cleverly got us singing a Songsmith song together using wireless microphones scattered around the room.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u4EIVDZAH0U" width="425"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/u4EIVDZAH0U"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://youtu.be/u4EIVDZAH0U</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happens if there are too many people wanting to share something?</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The organiser uses some kind of random selector so that you never know who is next. If you are not selected this time, there will be another time…the next TeachMeet.  I found this random name generator on the internet:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine">http://classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The organiser could alternatively draw names from a box, or use an Excel spread sheet random selector. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TeachMeets from our PIL group on other occasions</span></strong></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some more examples of TeachMeets given by two of our PIL Institute group members on other occasions back in the UK. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan Web, a teacher from the UK,  organises TeachMeets. Here is a video from YouTube where she is presenting a TeachMeet on using Microsoft's free tool called Mouse Mischief.</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3xCzQe8pTCU" width="560"></iframe><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/3xCzQe8pTCU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://youtu.be/3xCzQe8pTCU</span></a><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact Dan Roberts from the UK  presented a TeachMeet at the Bett Show this year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jq8IuB5ijAU" width="560"></iframe></div><a href="http://youtu.be/Jq8IuB5ijAU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://youtu.be/Jq8IuB5ijAU</span></a><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other examples of TeachMeets found on YouTube</span></strong></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are a few more TeachMeet videos from YouTube illustrating the essence of a TeachMeet. You’ll notice that these are slightly longer – 7 minutes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kerry Turner on a Schools' History Project teachmeet</span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N_Di1PB02X0" width="425"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/N_Di1PB02X0"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://youtu.be/N_Di1PB02X0</span></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Julian Wood on 'What is a PLN?' (‘We' is better than ‘me’)</span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VMisdq38P_M" width="425"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/VMisdq38P_M"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://youtu.be/VMisdq38P_M</span></a></div><div 425?="" allowfullscreen="" class="Mso<iframe width=" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VMisdq38P_M"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happens if the teacher talking goes on too long?</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The organiser has some way of telling them time is up. They stop immediately, hard as it is. A stopwatch is essential for an organiser. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How long does a TeachMeet session last?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the UK apparently they are very common in pubs from 5 – 7pm.  The length of time depends on who is organizing but often it is a two hour session.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are the benefits?</span> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems like there are so many benefits in our social media age. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Teachers meet teachers from other schools.<br />*Teachers share their great ideas and learn from others. <br />*After the TeachMeet you mingle and ask questions from people who shared something you liked.<br />*They are great fun. <br />*Teachers love building on ideas, and in the wave of technology integration that is happening they will be encouraged to integrate technology with the curriculum which benefits our digitally-minded learners. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Baldev Singh told us, every teacher is a source of knowledge and its our simple ideas which can transform another teacher’s classroom. It’s the power of collective wisdom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you show us a preparation template?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the one created by Baldev Singh:</span></div><br /><div id="__ss_8789545" style="width: 425px;"><strong style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/teachmeet-template" target="_blank" title="TeachMeet template">TeachMeet template</a></strong> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/8789545" 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> </div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please comment here about TeachMeets if you have attended one.  If you live in South Africa and introduce one, please let me know how it went.  If you happen live in Cape Town and introduce one, <em>please</em> invite me!  If you want me to help you organise one in Cape Town please contact me! (schoolnetsablog@gmail.com)</span></div>

teachmeets Why not hold a TeachMeet in your area?

Submitted by Fiona BealI can hear you asking, “A TeachMeet? What is that?” I asked the same question before attending the Partners in Learning Institute in July 2011. Baldev Singh, one of our presenters, who is a founder of imagineeducation.org in th…

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