Flash Meeting OZNZ

This morning I had the pleasure of joining about twenty or so teachers from Australia and New Zealand in their regular weekly 'flash meeting'. The span of distances on the far side of the world from me is so great that for teachers to travel to meet is impossible so this informal but very informative platform gives and shares information across distances.

While we were chatting in the Flash meeting many of us were also talking privately to people in the meeting on Skype or Twitter a real development of communications.

Today's meeting spent time discussing the new Flip Video cameras and how great they were for educational use. This lead us on to the use of ustream across the countries and how lack of broadband connectivity was, in more ways than one, slowing down engagement with this powerful tool.

In a couple of weeks time we (they said I could join in) are going to meet in Second Life rather than use Flash Meeting ...

The hour past quickly, was engaging and informative and I felt connected to like minded people on the other side of the world.

Al Upton

I don't know if you are aware of Al Upton ... Australian educators will be !
On the blogs comes the sad and crazy news and on his miniLegends blog that:

Order for Closure
This blog has been disabled in compliance with DECS wishes (Department of Education and Children’s Services - South Australia)

It seems that this blog in particular is being investigated regarding risk and management issues. What procedures should be taken for the use/non-use of blogs to enhance student learning will be considered.

Just how this fits in with Article 13 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child:

13. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice. ... I am not sure !

Please go to the blog and read what has happened, and, if you wish, post a message of support.

PS

It is heartening to read in the comments on the blog that the parents of the miniLegends are now voicing their support for Al.