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Category Archives: community building


Setting Challenges

August 2, 2008 – 2:25 pm

Teachers, just like their students, need activities and challenges. They need the goal posts to shift just slightly so that they try something new.
That’s what I had in mind when, over on Blogging Corner in edna Groups, I set up the Blogging Corner Challenge 08 today. It will give participants in Blogging Corner a chance […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, blogs, edna Groups, bloggingcorner08 | Comments (1)

Developing and stimulating vibrant online communities

May 22, 2008 – 2:01 pm

In my job, I do a lot of thinking about how you make online communities work, how do you know they are “working”, and how do you know they have passed their “use-by” date?
I’m convinced that though the technology can assist, and obsolete technology can hinder, that the clue to success lies within the community […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, community development, virtual environments | Comments (1)

National Reconciliation Week (Australia) 27 May- 3 June 2008

May 19, 2008 – 8:51 am

Each year National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians. It’s the ideal time for all of us to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2008 […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau | Comments (0)

Better Blogging

May 7, 2008 – 3:49 pm

One of my aims all this year has been to become a better blogger.
I feel I have learnt a few lessons so far but have quite a way to go.
Here are some of the things I feel I’ve learnt:

choose topics that others want to know about
don’t make your postings too long
use a bit of white […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, professional learning, blogs, comment08, bloggingcorner08 | Comments (4)

In the company of critical friends

May 2, 2008 – 5:50 pm

I have just spent 2 days with colleagues Pru Mitchell, Cecily Wright, and Kim Edgar delivering edna workshops in Brisbane. There were 60 people yesterday and just over 40 people today. The keynote speaker was QSITE ICT Leader of the year, Dr. Margaret Lloyd from QUT, and she hit just the right spot. Her topic […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, edna workshops, ednaworkshops08 | Comments (1)

Importance of professional associations

April 3, 2008 – 12:54 pm

Professional associations in Australia typically have a volunteer committee and sometimes an employed executive officer. The state-based professional association is often affiliated with a national body, which is sometimes in turn affiliated with an international body.
Online communities can often complement the work of the professional association. However the face to face professional association often has […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, Australian education, professional development | Comments (0)

International Women’s Day, March 8

February 28, 2008 – 8:22 am

Celebrated on 8 March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, networking, International Women's Day, IWD | Comments (0)

Online Projects for School students

February 6, 2008 – 3:11 pm

For many years the OzProjects site has performed the function of a registry of online projects that are relevant to the Australian curriculum. While the majority of the projects registered are Australian, international projects have also been included.
Now edna is able to offer to host online projects for Australian educators, as well as running some […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, online technologies, Australian education, OzProjects, online projects | Comments (0)

No Internet Day - how will you cope?

January 18, 2008 – 7:30 am

For the last few years the last Sunday of January has been celebrated as International Internet-Free Day, a day for doing and being out in the real world. Have a real chat instead of a virtual chat room. Interact in real time with real live people! Be your own Home Page.
http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/news/index.php?articleId=186
My first reaction was - thank […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, digital footprint | Comments (5)

Do social networks have a positive impact on education?

January 17, 2008 – 9:23 am

This is the topic of the Economist.com Oxford style debate currently taking place. It is the third of a series of debates conducted at http://www.economist.com/debate/ on education and connected issues. The first two issues: Technology in Education, and University Recruiting, are no longer active but the third on Social Networking has just begun. The debate moderator […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, teaching and learning, Australian education, professional development, professional learning, learning environments, networking, social networking, me.edu.au, PLE, personal learning environments | Comments (3)