Inspired by the work of Alex Blagona and Chris Fuller, Language teacher Chris Holbrook from Drayton Manor High School in Ealing contacted me this week about some amazing moblogging he has been doing on a school skiing trip to the States over Easter.
I was delighted when he agree to do an interview and share his experiences and successes with others, particularly as this is the first moblogging, Chris has ever done.
Listening to our discussion, it is clear that the experiment has paid off incredibly well and the reaction from parents, relatives and the senior managment team from his school has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, Chris is already thinking about how he can build on what he has achieved so far by moblogging future school trips and doing more podcasting and vodcasting while away.
Along with Alex's excellent video blogging from St Etienne recently, this is another great example of how moblogging can truly enhance a school trip abroad for all concerned.
Hope you find the advice useful and that you feel encouraged to try out some of these moblogging ideas for yourself. No doubt, you'd get the same reaction.
Download Chris_Holbrook_on_moblogging.mp3
Summary
- being inspired by the moblogging experiences of other MFL colleagues from my talk at BETT 08
- wanting to moblog school ski trip to the States
- seeking permission from parents and setting some blog rules
- choosing a blogging platform and setting up the moblog prior to leaving to give parents and pupils access to information about the trip
- using a mobile phone and laptop to moblog with
- moblogging upon arrival at the airport in San Francisco and to reassure parents
- the power of the moblog to link with parents and share the experience of being on a trip
- using the mobile phone to write posts and the laptop to upload photos, video and audio produced by colleagues and pupils
- finding the time to moblog on a trip and dealing with a slow connection
- seeing a very positive reaction to the moblog from the parents, school and local community
- receiving 3500 hits in just over a week
- enjoying the power of podcasting and vodcasting on a school trip
- choosing the right equipment for the right job
- ideas for moblogging on French exchange to La Rochelle
- mobile phone v laptop for easy moblogging
- using free moblogging services such as ShoZu and GabCast
- deciding who pays for the blog subscription and mobile phone bill
- encouraging pupils to moblog
- explaining the term Wally of the Day
- scripted v non-scripted podcasts
- a few final thoughts
Show Notes
Alex Blagona's guide to moblogging with a Sony Ericsson
Interview with Chris Fuller on wikispaces, moblogging and mobile phones
BETT 2008 - Blogs and Podcasts: ICT in your Pocket
Setting your moblogging preferences in Typepad
A quick note about the Olympic Torch in San Francisco
Technology, designed to make life easier!
Celebrating the New Year with GabCast
A really good interview Joe, and I'm delighted for Chris with the success of his blog - I think the idea of moblogging is certainly becoming a lot easier, and whereas before I may have just used a mobile phone, it's certainly cheaper if you can bring your laptop and get some sort of internet connection. O2 have hiked up the cost of data on my contract, so I may have to find internet cafes in future. The thing I've noticed most about moblogging is how parents and friends can feel a part of exchanges and visits, and can see within minutes what everyone has been up to!
Posted by: Alex Blagona | 28/04/2008 at 00:36
Thanks for your comment Alex and for being one of the first teachers in England to get into moblogging.
I really enjoyed interviewing Chris about his moblogging adventures and how he organised himself. It was interesting the way in which he combined theuse of laptop and mobile phone for different purposes and as a way of minimising costs.
It's given me food for thought for sure for when we go to France in June.
:)
Posted by: Joe Dale | 28/04/2008 at 22:01
I hope you don't mind me adding a moblog to your list. I was inspired by your talk at CESI conference (Feb 08) to moblog using my Sony Ericsson phone. Although it costs nearly €2 to post an entry over my GPRS, I have found it great for using with my class: http://edumoblog.blogspot.com
Posted by: Simon Lewis | 13/05/2008 at 23:54
Hi Simon,
Thanks a million for sharing your edumoblogging experiences here. Your blog looks great.
Posted by: Joe Dale | 14/05/2008 at 07:19