WikiEducator

I've just finished a WikiEducator basic training coure. If you've never heard of WikiEducator - it is a system where educators all over the world can collaborate on the development of open educational resources. There are tens of thousands of people involved and the resources can be shared and used by anone. I've achieved Wiki Apprentice Level 2 and I'm hoping to get Level 1 when our facilitator takes a final look at my wiki page.

You can see it here... http://www.wikieducator.org/User:Alisonmead

It still needs a lot of work - but of course, I'm just a beginner!!

It's a good course (and ANYONE can do it) so I do recommend you try if, like me, you need to have wiki demystified. Go to www.wikieducator.org to find out more

I have just learned the basic skills and now I need to start using them - or losing them - if I am really going to 'know' how to use a wiki. Now, where am I ging to find time for that?

credit where it's due

Tom was in Vancouver this week ... en route to his new job in Mexico ... and we failed to meet up - very sad.

I'm thinking of Lesley and remembering my birthday party in Francistown which was arranged by dear Danielle. So here's a photo of Les, Dan & I at said event and yes, we are stuffing our faces with the most gorgeous chocolate cake made by Sally. We are actually dining on Sally's stoep - and she cooked the whole meal ... fabulous chef that she is. I seem to remember that I might have had one too many glasses of Veuve Clicquot that night!

Here's to friends...

I can't believe ...

... it has been so long since I last wrote on this blog ... and I have so much to tell you all that I don't know where to start!

I think I need to approach this in a more systematic way but here are the (very) edited highlights ...
* furniture arrived in Vancouver while I was in Solomons - John was not happy!
* mad panic when I got back to get unpacked and clear the guest room in time for Christmas
* Laurence & Aleisha came for Christmas - loads to share with you there
* we've taken up ice-skating!
* have been on snowy mountain walks
* we miss Sid and George - who are happy and healthy and still living in Francistown
* we miss our friends from Francistown - but at least Danielle and Tom are in Canada
* work at Commonwealth of Learning is exciting, challenging and frantic!
* Rwanda was accepted into the Commonwealth - yay!

Lowlights
All other news pales into insignificance against the news we received at the beginning of January that our friend Lesley had finally succumbed to the brain tumour which was diagnosed last year. Very sad for everyone who knows this remarkable family. Our love and thoughts go to Guy, Tess and Maggie - and we will always remember Les as the vibrant, funny, thoughtful, lovely person that she was. This is my favourite photo - taken of Les and I on my birthday.

Greetings from Groundhog Day

For those who've never seen the movie, the guy from Ghostbusters and Lost in Translation (forgotten his name) keeps living the same day over and over again in the movie Groundhog Day - which is what I've done today, 4th December. Right now I'm in Honolulu, having started the day in Solomon Islands. I flew to Fiji on Friday afternoon, then overnight via Samoa to Hawaii. Early on Friday morning, I hired a car and drove to Waikiki beach ... seemed like a plan!

Spent the morning (again) wandering along the beach, reading my book and browsing the shops. Waikiki wasn't a bit like I imagined ... much smaller. Sorry - no pictures, I forgot the new laptop doesn't have a card reader and didn't bring the camera cable. Have just sent the olds a postcard and am now in a hotel where I can rest before the flight to Vancouver tonight. Eish!!!!

Ahhh ... I remember his name - Bill Murray!

Being in Honiara

It's good to be back in Honiara. This is such a small place I find that I know quite a lot of people and have been happy to see them again. I am also working with an old friend and it is such a change to have someone to work with as usually I am on my own. It also means I have someone to have dinner with each evening ... yay!

For the past couple of weeks Greville & I have been talking to different stakeholders in education in an effort to come up with some sensible suggestions for how they might use distance and flexible learning programmes.

Tomorrow we have to facilitate a workshop and try to get a large group of people to agree on what SI should be doing. Then I guess we'll spend the weekend writing it all up for our report. We also have to generate the actual policy - that's a tricky bit! We are funded by European Union - and their reporting requirements can be a bit cumbersome ... booh!

Maybe next week we'll get a day off - but I doubt it ...

Tech nightmare in Honiara

Just to let you know that I have not been in contact because I am having huge problems with my new laptop from COL. It is locked down so tightly that I have no administrator rights to it - and for some reason I can't get onto the local internet prepaid service here. I am SO frustrated!!!

I had to come to my friend Katie's house so that our tech service in Vancouver could call me and talk me through how to fix the problem - but they were unable to do it. Now they've gone away to scratch their heads!

The project here is VERY challenging - we are trying to write national policy and strategic framework for the use of open and distance learning. Lots of consultations with stakeholders. I am working with a friend and colleague who I have known for many years - so it's good not to be on my own.

So just to let you all know I'm fine - but will not be in contact much while I am here. Due back in Vancouver on Saturday 5th December - after a whole day layover in Honolulu! It's a tough job but someone has to do it :-)

my first video

I've been busy making a video for the technology course I'm studying. It's taken me several weeks of on-off activity - but I've just finished it. The video is about a local tourist spot that John & I visited when we first arrived in Vancouver - Capilano Suspension Bridge.

The full story is on the other blog - detechnophile - but if you just want to watch the video - try this!

The movie is pretty amateur but I had fun doing it and I've learned how to use Windows Movie Maker - which isn't as hard as you might think.