IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
Internet Relay Chat is a chat system that enables people connected anywhere on the Internet to join in live discussions. To join an IRC discussion, you need an IRC client and Internet access. The client I use is mIRC written by Khaled Mardam-Bey I have many online friends and I meet them at Starlink-IRC.org. A page devoted to my life on line is found here
Toastmasters
I am an active member at Eastside Toastmasters in Hamilton New Zealand Clicking here will take you to the websiite I built for our club. The club info section will tell you all about our meetings and programmes.
Web Site Development
Website Development has been an evolving interest which grew as I set up email and Web access for the students and staff at Matamata Christian School. As the teacher with ICT responsibility, and the considered expert, I visited many school based sites both in New Zealand and around the world to see how they set out their sites. I found some very impressive web sites, which provided a very enjoyable ‘surf’ however many, seemed to lack any real student content. It seemed to me that many sites if not professionally developed are are a static monument to an enthusiastic teacher (Now that I am no longer employed by the MCS board, despite my offer of help, it may just be that.)
My intention was that the site would be a virtual publishing arena for our students. I wanted it to be living, dynamic and ever changing. Unfortunately, my colleagues were not as enthusiastic and I met a bit of resistance. (There are a lot of prophets of doom out there and they spread fear among the ignorant). After a few set backs, I neglected the base site and concentrated on my own classroom and then decided to build my own site and about the same time a site for Eastside Toastmasters.
I am now working in a small rural school where I have a class full of enthusiasts who want to develop their own websites.
(Addenda 2007: Having moved on from the school and working in the tertiary education sector, I now also have a small web development and hosting business which services a number of clients.)P4C (Philosophy for Children)
Until recently philosophy for children in New Zealand was isolated to a few scattered schools around the country. Now the Philosophy for Children Association of New Zealand (P4CNZ) has been organised and the number of schools involved with philosophy for children is rapidly expanding. It is now possible for schools and teachers to get specific training in philosophy for children teaching in New Zealand. . P4CNZ can provide teacher education teams from a pool of five people who hold teacher education qualifications from the Federation of Australasian Philosophy for Children Associations
I have long held the view and been concerned that we ought to teach children how to think rather than what to think. Within education there is a great abuse of power when teachers with hold knowledge or deprive their students the opportunity to explore new ideas. P4C is a tool to help students engage in dialogue that will enable them to develop ideas and the ability to think.