"Youth Online" (New England Writers Centre)
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:19 pm
This morning I experienced a delightful 'first'. I was asked to present a one hour poetry session to primary school students. Nothing unusual in that, you might say. However, this was a poetry session with a difference!
It was part of the "Youth Online" programme organised by the New England Writers Centre.
The idea is that by allowing artists to enter school classrooms 'online', schools that are too small to afford incursions can have one. The session was hosted by one tiny primary school (total of 19 students), with another four small schools also plugged into the session.
I was asked to purchase a microphone headset from Dick Smith, and become an "Adobe Connect" guest for the duration of the session. The original idea had been that we would all be able to see and hear each other. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out like that. They could all see and hear me, but I could not hear or see them. It was a little unnerving effectively 'talking to myself' for an hour, but I soon got into the swing of it.
I had worked out a programme in the event that this happened. I began with my own book - reciting some poems, and telling some of the stories behind the book - and then talked a little about C. J. Dennis (performing "The Ant Explorer" and "The Triantiwontigongolope"), Paterson and Lawson (performing "The Man From Ironbark"), then back to my book again.
A number of questions were typed onto the screen at the end of the session, which I was then able to answer, so at least there was that degree of interactivity.
I'm not sure exactly what went wrong, though I did hear afterwards that not all of the computers had cameras in them. In spite of the technical hitches, it was a enjoyable experience for me, and the feedback from the schools was all positive, too.
I am told that the students at one school were temporarily distracted when an echidna wandered into the classroom, so I guess there are some benefits in not having a camera at the other end!
It is a very new technology, and teething problems are inevitable. It is fascinating to have this glimpse of the future, though. How wonderful that such small, isolated schools can also now receive visiting writers and artists!
It was part of the "Youth Online" programme organised by the New England Writers Centre.
The idea is that by allowing artists to enter school classrooms 'online', schools that are too small to afford incursions can have one. The session was hosted by one tiny primary school (total of 19 students), with another four small schools also plugged into the session.
I was asked to purchase a microphone headset from Dick Smith, and become an "Adobe Connect" guest for the duration of the session. The original idea had been that we would all be able to see and hear each other. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out like that. They could all see and hear me, but I could not hear or see them. It was a little unnerving effectively 'talking to myself' for an hour, but I soon got into the swing of it.
I had worked out a programme in the event that this happened. I began with my own book - reciting some poems, and telling some of the stories behind the book - and then talked a little about C. J. Dennis (performing "The Ant Explorer" and "The Triantiwontigongolope"), Paterson and Lawson (performing "The Man From Ironbark"), then back to my book again.
A number of questions were typed onto the screen at the end of the session, which I was then able to answer, so at least there was that degree of interactivity.
I'm not sure exactly what went wrong, though I did hear afterwards that not all of the computers had cameras in them. In spite of the technical hitches, it was a enjoyable experience for me, and the feedback from the schools was all positive, too.
I am told that the students at one school were temporarily distracted when an echidna wandered into the classroom, so I guess there are some benefits in not having a camera at the other end!
It is a very new technology, and teething problems are inevitable. It is fascinating to have this glimpse of the future, though. How wonderful that such small, isolated schools can also now receive visiting writers and artists!