OK, I'm getting real excited about this! First, have a look at a film on diversity that my students and I made in 2006, my first year teaching in Memphis. We ended up winning a big grant - $17,500 - from Best Buy (electronics and appliances retailer) for our use of technology. Let me know what you think: http://web.me.com/knrgreene/RMSMusicMediaNetwork/Diversity_Film.html. I was really struggling during that first year and this film project marked he moment things turned around for me. I like to tell other educators that "technology saved my life... or at least, my career."

Next, have you had a chance to check out Voicethread? If so, I hope you like it as much as I do for its education/communication potential. If you want to start with something as simple as having your students add comments to our greeting voicethread, visit this link: http://voicethread.com/#u406170.b674819.i3567443. You will see that we have received posts from educators and students in New York and South Dakota (USA), and Switzerland. For info on using voicethread, go here (if you haven't already found it): http://voicethread.com/#u406170.b409.

Take a look at this video on our blog of the live Google Video Chat session we had with a class of elementary string students in Fairfax, Virginia: http://rmsmm8.blogspot.com/2009/11/rms-general-music-class-holds-fi.... I met the string teacher at a workshop I held at MENC Music Week last summer (I work for the Yamaha Corporation as an education technology consultant). The Google exchange was awesome! If I have my time conversions correct, it will be 8:00 AM on a Friday there in New Zealand when it's 1:00 PM Thursday here in Memphis (please correct me if I'm incorrect). If possible, we could attempt to hold a similar live exchange of our own! It would not have to be completely related to music, as I like to connect to other disciplines through our music lessons. Could be something like this project my students did on their "visions of the future": http://web.me.com/knrgreene/RMSMusicMediaNetwork/My_Vision.html. Let me know what you think. Maybe you and I could test it out before we include our students - this worked well for me and Maggie, the Virginia string teacher.

Sorry for the long message. There just seems to be so much to discuss and share and I have seen my students transform as a result of these new web-based classroom components. Hope to hear from you soon. Ken

Hello.
My name is Sopaporn.
My My nickname is Ray.
I study at Datdaruni School inThailand.
i'm in Grade 11.

I want to be have a new friend for advice on computer programming.
I need advice from you.


THANK YOU
:}

Hi Vikki. Hope I didn't scare you of with that long message :) I wanted to let you know that I just organized a year-long student club dedicated to global collaborations and special multimedia projects. We're ready and anxious to begin connecting with your group. Hope all is well. Look forward to hearing from you. ken