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Helen Otway

, Female

Melbourne

Australia

Profile Information:

School / Work Affiliation: New job! AP for ICT/Student Learning. I was an Ultranet Coach for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Western Metropolitan Region.
Blog: http://helenotway.edublogs.org/
Favored IM Account: helenotway@gtalk
Skype Account: helenotway
Twitter / Plurk / Other Account: http://twitter.com/helenotway
About Me: I am very interested in creating learning environments that are real and purposeful for our kids. I am a teacher and peer coach and love to support teachers in their journey in integrating IT into their classrooms. I run PD for my school and for others - usually around the themes of powerful learning with ICT.
I have taken on a new role this year and will be working with a variety of schools within my region to support their adoption of the 'Ultranet'.
New role for 2009! Obviously have itchy feet. Assistant principal for ICT & Student Learning.

Comment Wall:

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Raenette Taljaard

Thanks! I would love to do a collaborative project with your class next term. Do you think we could do some video conferencing or something. It would be a huge learning experience for both my class and myself!

Apr 13, 2008
Jeff Utecht

Very cool!

Glad you like the podcast...I'm still amazed anyone listens. :)

Jeff

Apr 14, 2008
Michelle Norton

Thanks for the welcome Helen. I can tell this network is going to be a huge support and really help me move forward with web 2.0.
How is life as an ultranet coach?

Apr 16, 2008
Michelle Norton

Can you help me to add my photo to my profile? i didn't have a suitable one when i first signed up and now i can't find how to add one. i don't like looking like a shadowy anonymous man!

Apr 16, 2008
Vincent Mespoulet

Hi Elen,

you know i LOOOOVE your claymations: have you explained somewhere how you do, and specially what's the degree of involvement of your students . We have many members in School Beyond the Walls who are interested by your videos, specially inside the group "Creativity"

Vincent

Apr 19, 2008
Kevin D. Boutelle

Thanks for the welcome! I can't belive it took me so long to find this site. Just when you think you are informed/connected something even more interesting pops up. :-)

Apr 19, 2008
Herodoto F. Bento-DeMello

Hi Helen,
it's good to hear from someone from Melbourne, Australia.
Thank you to be the first to wellcome me.
I hope to learn and share pedagogical experiences with all .

Apr 20, 2008
Irene

Thanks Helen. I also enjoyed the session-have uploaded a pic for my profile.....it will do for the time being...and have been looking around the site. Will head to edublog a little later. Cheers...Irene

Apr 24, 2008
Sally McLaughlin

Thanks for the greeting Helen! I'm what you'd call "an old dog learning new tricks"...and while I'm not all that tech-savvy - I'm learning loads and loving every minute of it. Seattle Girls' School is an innovative, student-centered, hands-ons learning environment with a commitment to technology, math, science and anti-bias work. The latter is among my passions, though learning my way around Web 2.0 is becoming an interest as well. Thus my recent membership in Classroom 2.0!! Again, thanks for your friendly message...the closest I've come to Australia is Tahiti. But maybe someday! Sally

Apr 25, 2008
Alan Lutz

Thanks for welcoming me. With such a large group, it's nice to know there is a "welcoming committee". I also try to do that for my little Ning site but with only 46 members, it isn't too hard to keep up. Looking forward to learning lots here. See you online sometime. Alan

Apr 25, 2008
may

Hi Helen! Thank you very much for your message to me. Yeah, Classroom2.0 is an amazing place, wish I would have been known it earlier. Not bad, I'm here and meet you now, thanks God! Looking forword to talking with you and making friend with you.
I'm a teacher, work in the biggest distance educational university in the world, China Center Radio and TV University. If I say the Open University of China, you would understand what she is. I'm very interested online learning tools, these tools has broadened my sight and sharpened my information literacy.

Apr 27, 2008
Mary Donnelly

Thanks, Helen. You can see what we're doing by going to the iTunes Store -> iTunes U -> Broome Community College.

Apr 28, 2008
Remona Estep

Dear Helen,

I am writing an ethnography about CR20 for a grad class. I am having trouble figuring out the rules and mores as well as decision-making rules for CR20. Any help that you could offer on these topics would be greatly appreciated.

May 3, 2008
Remona Estep

Hi Helen. Thanks for the reply. I am interested in learning how often members of CR20 use the site; how long the site has been up and running; and why people decided to join CR20. Plus, any kind of subtle rules of behavior that the casual observer might miss. I would appreciate any insight that you could provide on these matters.

May 5, 2008
Stuart Fankhauser

Thanks for your welcome Helen. Sounds like you have a very cool job. I'm keeping an eye on the Ultranet rollout (but never really know where we actually end up standing in all this as part of the Catholic system)...

May 5, 2008
Norma Scagnoli

Thanks for your welcome message,I certainly hope to learn and be able to contribute to this community of inquiry 2.0

May 9, 2008
Rene Torres Visso

Good day Hellen,

Thank you for the welcome, I wait with my presence also could have contributed some ideas, as well as learning from the all-comers of the community Classroom 2.0, I promise to collaborate day by day in order that we can share our ideas and to make of education 2.0 a new ally for the teachers

Greetings,

Rene Torres.

May 10, 2008
Joyce Yeoh

Thank you very much.

May 10, 2008
Ryn Shane-Armstrong

Thanks, Helen! I'm very glad to be a part of this community. Actually, I never knew it existed until recently, and now I'm kicking myself for not connecting earlier. What a great find!

Anyway, I may call on your expertise sometime to guide me through the underbrush that is the Melbourne educational tech scene, etc. I love this city, but I know virtually nothing about what's going on out here with digital storytelling, for instance. Is it alright to consider you a comrade/resource in this regard?

Much respect,

Ryn

May 12, 2008
Chris Hebbard

Hi Helen,
Thanks for your help but I am stressing about not being able to do anything. I don't htink my page is working properly. I understand how everything should work, it just doesn't work. I cannot even sign out or change my profile photo. Is there a help desk?

May 12, 2008
Chris Hebbard

Helen,
It works. I have added you as a friend and have started playing with the web2.0 tools that I can find. I am very excited about the prospects for my teaching and the engagement of my kids!!

May 12, 2008
Chris Hebbard

Hi, yeahI have been having some fun playing around. (Note that I took some stuff from your page!) Perhaps you could help me with some ideas for setting my kids up with blogs. I know that this site is probably no good, but can you offer any suggestions??

May 13, 2008
Diana Nasution

Hi Helen...
Terima Kasih banyak, thank u very much!

May 19, 2008
Cathy Duffy

Thanks for the welcome Helen, I'm really enjoying 2.0.
Cathy

May 19, 2008
Ana Balboa-Guenthner

Hello Helen,

So nice to get a warm welcome from you. Your job sounds very meaningful too. I did notice that you have skype. Let me invite you and please ping me when you are online. It would be nice to exchange ideas. ~Ana

May 25, 2008
Gavin McLean

Hi Helen,
I really like your page - I am just starting out and experimenting with themes and stuff. I am an ICT facilitator based in Wellington NZ, although I taught for a while in Melbourne, I was the facilitator at a reggio amelia school in Dandenong, Wooranna Park primary School, you may have heard of it. Anyway, as I said just experimenting at the moment I'd love you to have a look at my page and make some suggestions. I specialise in working with students and teachers as creators of media. See ya. Gavin :)

Jun 2, 2008
Cathy Hainstock

Thanks for the welcome Helen, looking forward to finding more great ICTs and luring some of our more reluctant teachers onto the technology -- so many great things to explore, I sometimes feel like a kid in a lolly shop.
Wow, the ultranet! Sounds like you have a wonderful job.

Jun 3, 2008
Gavin McLean

Thanks for your comment Helen, just still playing around at the moment, but what a cool site. I ran the Da Vinci Centre at Wooranna Park for a while, I would have loved to have stayed there. They have redesigned the whole teaching and learning environment. I still embed the Reggio ideals into my teaching today! Say hi to Esme and Ray for me!

Jun 3, 2008
Gloria Brogdon

Hi Helen, thanks for the warm welcome. I've been researching (playing with) web2.0 apps for sometime now as part of my Ph.D. As a videographer and communications professor My Dissertation Project is creating digital learning objectives,and curriculum using Web 2.0 to empower the next generation. My focus is on empowering low income, inner city kids with the skills to survive and thrive a digital world.

Gloria

Jun 21, 2008
Danny Shields

Hey Helen-

Thanks for the complement regarding the photo. How are you? What’s your area of study? What brings you to Classroom 2.O?

About me! I’m fine, into instructional design, workshop facilitation and curricula development…looking at community informatics as a tool for better understanding communicative and open space technologies, which is my area of study.

What brings me to Classroom 2.0…a friend that suggested that I start my blog, network with like minded folks and contribute to the development of the site…I look forward in interacting with all of you and this experience…going in, seems life-long.

Danny

Jun 23, 2008
Myles Webb

Well as much as I love Hamilton, I had to take a teaching job in innner city Auckland when I first started. The kids are great and I really love working with them, the blogpage and associated work has really lit a fire with them. They dont have a particularly strong wordly view, so even a log onto the blog can produce a flurry of activity in an atlas to see exactly where some of the locations are... its been hugely beneficial to them, also a pretty big workload from myself but after teacing for 12 years its also motivated myself again after a couple of years of meandering. The amount of possibility from web 2.0 tools is really staggering...
Hamilton really is a neat place though!!!

Jun 29, 2008
Gavin McLean

Hey Helen, How's it going?
I have changed my page a bit and put up some more videos.
Cheers,
Gavin

Jul 1, 2008
Lynn Davie

Hi
People are doing some great things in their classrooms. Makes me miss schools.

Lynn

Jul 2, 2008
Kevin J.

Thanks. I am interested in checking out all the resources available.

Jul 11, 2008
Amanda Marrinan

Hi Helen. It's nice to be welcomed so warmly by a fellow Aussie - so thankyou!
I took the leap into blogging with my class (Yr 2's that I brought up from Yr 1) 18 months ago- and it's been an amazing journey! The kids, as young as they are, have really embraced Web2.0 tools as a way of sharing and reflecting on their learning and engaging in conversations - both local and global. The learning curve for us all has been huge and I've spent every spare minute reading blogs, listening to/watching podcasts/webcasts and playing with the tools (I can certainly relate to your 'PD during the Holidays' post). As an 'early adopter' in my context, I've certainly needed to draw on a PLN many times in the last year but haven't felt qualified to add my voice to the conversation - as silly as that seems from a teacher who is encouraging her class to do just that!
However, after spending 'all' of my holidays following the events at NECC08, I've decided the time has come to take another leap - so I've started to twitter and I've joined this community! I'm looking forward to the conversations and learning ahead.
Amanda

Jul 12, 2008
Julie Meierdirks

Hi Helen-
Thanks for the warm greeting from across the ocean! I'm really excited to see what people are doing and finding ways to get my kids out there and connected, while learning at the same time. Looking forward to learning a lot myself!
Julie

Jul 12, 2008
Francisco C. P. Fonseca

Hi, Helen,

I am looking for teaching practices in using Web 2.0. I am a professor of Natural Sciences, working with young people from 17 to 24 years in Brazil. I hope I can contribute and get good experience here in the Classroom 2.0.
Thank you very much.

Francisco

Jul 12, 2008
Keith Gephart

I am very new to this. I am trying to learn the web 2.0 but it is taking some time. I need to connect with someone to advise me on where to start. I am a principal of a high school and I am working to get my teachers to use these things and to create global collaborations between my students,teachers,myself and others. Can you help?

Jul 14, 2008
Wayne Perkins

Thanks Helen
Have already registered for the on-line conference and am currently organising the College e-learning team to do so. I am currently working my ways through Technology Toolkit. We are currently supporting some staff groups to work with blogs with their students and so I would ne interested in linking them with other secondary schools working with blogging and wikis.

Jul 14, 2008
Terry Smith

Hi Helen - I enjoyed the Knowledge Bank sessions tonight and thought the panel discussion was particularly good. Were you one of the organizers?

Jul 21, 2008
bobbartley

Hi Helen,
Thanks for the welcome. It is great to see teachers in touvh with the kids in their classrooms. This year has been an immense learning journey so far.

Would love to hear about some of your projects using web2.0

Jul 22, 2008
Anne Mirtschin

Hello Helen, I really liked your session and personal input yesterday. I was plagued with so many online problems today that I had trouble giving people moderator priveleges in the live blog. However, I thought the conference was excellent and it is great that the dept can now see the power of the web with the global presence that were in the elluminate room.

Jul 23, 2008
Clare Rafferty

Hi Helen

Thanks for the welcome. Great to see and hear what others are doing and have time to jump into the sandpit and play. I hope to do more of this especially after reading your fab page you have inspired me to spend a little more time playing . Thanks for the inspiration. Clare :)

Jul 23, 2008
kosh

I am from Ghana and I'm just here to learn, contribute as well as link up with like-minded people who will be willing to share their experiences as well as help in spreading the concept of distance learning and adult education to Africa, which lags behind as far as education is concerned. My company has developed a television program called 'ADULTS IN EDUCATION' which is used in teaching,especially adults, how to read and write as well as general tips on how to take care of oneself. We also treat social issues as well. Television is still the widest means of disseminating information here in Ghana

Jul 28, 2008
Becky Olanrewaju

Hi Helen,
i'm a will be teacher from Nigeria,hoping to commence work by September.
Can i send you an invite?
i have been making preparations for my new career as a teacher,I'm very much interested in learning more on intergrating IT into the classroom, as a young teacher, i would love to bring out the best in my students!

Aug 1, 2008
Becky Olanrewaju

Thanks Helen for the invite!
I am still taking my time to browse through your page,would you mind telling me how long you have been teaching?

Aug 4, 2008
samccoy

Helen, I didn't realize we weren't colleagues on CR2.0, and I appreciate you adding me to your friends. Your classroom pics look so inviting. I love your dog.

Aug 11, 2008
Hans Feldmeier

Hey Helen, yes I added a new one. You´ve got a lot of interesting stuff at your site.
Congrats!
Hugs
Hans

Aug 13, 2008
Colin Orton

Thanks Helen

Aug 27, 2008
Tim

Hi Helen
Yeah, saw that, thanks for highlighting it though.
Good to be part of the group! Cheers Tim.

Aug 28, 2008