TeachMeet09 @BETT Friday 16th January

[Lisa Stevens]

This time next week, I will be reflecting back on TeachMeet09 and the subsequent pizza feast with accompanying networking and discussions. And I can't wait!

As Drew Buddie has put it so eloquently on his blog, I'll leave it to him to explain -

The TeachMeet model is one which encourages anyone with something of interest regarding the use of technology in the classroom to talk about, to speak to a gathered audience of people who (in a nutshell)want to be inspired. It makes for an excellent antidote to the BETT Show which is effectively a showcase for hundreds of companies trying to sell teachers their products. This is because you know that the people talking are genuinely talking about THEIR classroom practice, as opposed to a salesman peddling their latest tool or software package.

Last year I went to BETT (the big ICT fest that takes place over 4 days from next Wednesday to Saturday at Kensington Olympia) for the first time and must say that I got far more out of TeachMeet than I did from BETT. I love the fact that each presentation is short - 2 or 7 minutes - and that everything is based on classroom practice! And because presenters are chosen by random generator from the list of volunteers, you're never sure what's coming next.

Last year, I (and Jo Rhys-Jones) watched in awe of everyone, rather like a rabbit in headlights. One year on, I'm helping to organise the event and have volunteered to speak - name is down for 7 minutes as I was told by several people that there was no way I would be able to limit myself to 2 minutes!! And that's what I'm going to talk about - how I got from one to the other!

So, if you're coming to BETT next Friday, sign up on the wiki - it's free!

And if you can't be in London, why not join in virtually? As Drew also points out, there are Facebook , Twitter & Flickr groups and a Ustream feed already set up for the event as well as a Flashmeeting providing a backchannel which will run throughout the event so that attendees all around the world can participate in the event, and there are plans afoot to have all videos hosted on a TEDTalks-like portal so that the talks can be used to inspire others once the event is over.

There are lots more details on the wiki - well worth a look to find out what's going on. And I'll try and blog as much as I can on ¡Vámonos!

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

I really want to get there after work on Friday but have no-one to look after my girls for the evening - if I possibly can I will. I'll wear a striped jumper and carry chocolate because I AM my weemee.

[Lisa Stevens]

PS make sure you say Hi at TeachMeet - I'll be the small mad woman mugging people as they finish speaking to sign bits of paper! xx

[Lisa Stevens]

Hi Mark
Made it in Widgetbox - very simple! http://www.widgetbox.com/ Just fill in details of your blog / site etc and then embed it. Jo's put the ¡Vámonos! one and one for Isabelle Jones' site My languages on the front page of Talkabout this way.

[Mark Purves]

Just tweaking my own newbie blog site and found a widget for your site and a similar one from Jo for this site. I added them so that should increase your traffic by at least 2 people a year! How did you get this widget made up?

[Lisa Stevens]

I look vaguely like my WeeMee - minus the bull ;o)

[Mark Purves]

See you there Lisa (I don't look anything like the puppet!)
Mark