Transcript of August 25, 2009 Second Life Roundtable Discussion
Topic: Best Practices: hosting or moderating a meeting or event
Photos by Olivia Hotshot (visit Olivia's blog and Flickr photostream). See Olivia's Flickr group for the SLER to add your own photos.
Links Mentioned:
AJ Brooks: Hi everyone, and welcome to this weeks SL Education Roundtable.
AJ Brooks: These meetings are made possible by the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State University.
AJ Brooks: We meet here each week at 2:30pm SLT for an hour.
AJ Brooks: The SL Education Roundtable is a forum to educate and inform the community about issues that are important and relevant to education.
AJ Brooks: The views and opinions of any of our special guests or visitors do not necessarily represent those who volunteer or organize these meetings, or of
AJ Brooks: Montclair State University or the College of Humanities and Social Sciences or Office of Information Technology at Montclair State.
AJ Brooks: Our meetings are roundtable style, so those in the theater seats please come down and join us at the table.
AJ Brooks: Our magic expanding table will always have an empty seat, located closest to the ramp.
AJ Brooks: Our topic/theme today is "Best Practices: hosting or moderating a meeting or event"
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi AJ
AJ Brooks: Those attending will be encouraged to share what tips and techniques they use, or enjoy about, a hosted or moderated event.
Zotarah Shepherd: I have a Dr appt at 3:30 slt so will have to leave early to get there today.
AJ Brooks: This is a public meeting, so we do keep a transcript of what is said in local chat.
Jarrad Voom: Hi Zotarah
Mimi Muircastle: Hi Z :)
AJ Brooks: For a copy of transcripts, please visit http://www.virtualworldsedu.info/slroundtable/
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi Jaarad
Olivia Hotshot: hi zotarah
AJ Brooks: Special thanks to our resident scribe, Iggy Onomatopoeia, for taking care of this. If you've not seen the transcripts, you should check them out - they are a great information asset.
Birdie Newcomb: Hi Zo
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi Mimi
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi Olivia
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi Birdie
AJ Brooks: :-)
AJ Brooks: Special thanks to Margaret Michalski for standing in for Iggy today as our Scribe.
AJ Brooks: Information on FUTURE MEETINGS is available from the notecard giver on the West wall of the Amphitheater.
Mimi Muircastle: Hi Ericc :)
AJ Brooks: We have an amazing lineup of meeting for you, with topics set (subject to change) between now and the end of December.
AJ Brooks: Next Tuesday, September 1st, don't miss our Special 1st of the Month meeting.
Zotarah Shepherd: Yay Margaret!
ericcgcc Yootz: greetings
AJ Brooks: Our guest will be Tom Boellstroff (SL: Tom Bukowski), author of "Coming of Age in Second Life"
Mimi Muircastle: hey Ashy !
Ashy Viper: hi everyone
Ashy Viper: hey Mimi
AJ Brooks: The SL Education Roundtable meeting happens each week and we are looking to develop a community of educators from around the world with a variety of thoughts, needs, and ideas.
AJ Brooks: Please join the SL EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE group. If you have problems finding it in search, here inside the amphitheater, on the Eastern wall, you will see a display
AJ Brooks: Clicking and follow the instruction in local chat on how to join the group.
AJ Brooks: As the group grows, there will be announcements, surveys, and decisions made that will be exclusive to the group.
AJ Brooks: Aside from the island we are currently on, Monclair State University also has two other educational islands adjoining to the north.
AJ Brooks: There are also numerous learning areas on these adjoining islands, Montclair State CHSS, which is home to our Quidditch pitch and the SL MSU Library,
AJ Brooks: and Montclair State CEHSADP, which is home to The Theorist Project and Wilber Middle School Library. Wander around and enjoy.
AJ Brooks: If you are on Facebook, please join our group there - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44078263753&ref=share
AJ Brooks: Thanks to Olivia Hotshot for putting together a Flickr group for the SLER. I encourage everyone to join the group and to take pictures from our meeting and add them to the group. Its agreat way to show, and grow, our community.
AJ Brooks: Finally, if you have Mystitool on, or other similar tool, please put it to sleep or detach it for now. :-) It tends to lag things.
AJ Brooks: As a hint, it is better to have "local chat" open for these meetings, it will help you follow the conversation better.
AJ Brooks: You can find local chat by clicking COMMUNICATE in the bottom navigation bar and you'll find LOCAL CHAT as one of the tabs at the bottom of the Communicate window.
AJ Brooks: I'd also like to remind folks to come on down and join us around the table, there's always an open seat closest to the ramp.
AJ Brooks: Why don't we get started they way we usually do, by introducing ourselves. No need to wait, go ahead and type who you are, where you are, and your ties to education into local chat.
AJ Brooks: I am AJ Kelton, Director of Emerging Instructional Technology for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University
AJ Brooks: and the Coordinator of the Second Life Project for the College of Education and Human Services, also at MSU. We're located in northern New Jersey, just fourteen miles from midtown Manhattan.
Birdie Newcomb: Birdie Newcomb/Newborn, college publisher
Zotarah Shepherd: I am a MA in Education (technology and psychology) student at Sonoma State University in northern California working an a curriculum project: Teaching and Learning Life-Skills in Second Life. I am working on an Immersive Interactive Educational build about Life-skills like the one still on Koru. I am working on a new educational sim now - Ralanora. You are welcome to see it but far from finished.
Margaret Michalski: Margaret Czart, Research Information Specialski, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Mimi Muircastle: Mimi muircastle, charter school counselor, retired middle school principal - oh Charlotte
Grinn Pidgeon: Barbara Pittman, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio. Faculty Development/Instructional technology
Jarrad Voom: Jarrad Voom learning
Olivia Hotshot: Ann Steckel, Cal State Chico - techie and educator
Geoff Lumley is Geoff Barker-Read from the University of Leeds, UK.
Grey Breil: Grey Burkart in Seattle, business continuity analyst/planner and freelance curriculum designer for independent studies
Dagmar Kojishi: I'm Donnell King, associate prof. of speech at Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, TN, USA, and also manager of our two islands in SL.
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Rosanna Brown, Lassen Community College Librarian, northeastern California
JeanClaude Vollmar: I'm JC, Jeff Le Blanc in RL. I work at the University of Northwestern Ohio, in Lima, as their VP for IT.
Dusty Artaud: Randi Kopp, Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, NJ
LoCE99C8 Morpork: In SL, just call me Lo.
Kennesaw Landar: ALoha Admin Ava for Kennesaw Satae University, Georgia currently alt for Gwenette Writer (campus developer and event coordinator) who is here in me today:))
Olivia Hotshot waves to Lassen from Chico
Alan Sandalwood: Alan Haywood Education & Technology. EFL Brazil
ericcgcc Yootz: eric greene adjunct fac columbia gorge cc
Carolrb Roux: Carol Rainbow ICT COnsultant Oxfordshire UK
Lolly Dovgal: Laura Sederberg, manager of the Technology and Learning Program at CSU, Chico.
zamfir Paule: Spenc erLe, Ph.D. Student at Virginia Tech (Computer Science)
Profdan Netizen: Dan Holt, Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI.
Ahlan Oh: Alan Epstein, Robotics Team Advisor, Watertown Public Schools (k-12), MA, USA
Kimbeau Surveryor: Kim Spence-Jones. Technical Director of a company developing technology for smart homes and smart communities.
Ignatius Alchemi: Rafael Velez. Instructor of English at Bethune-Cookman University.
Ashy Viper: Ashraf Al-Allaf, MA English, Mosul University, Iraq
Jerod Bagley: Jerry Stapleton - University of Illinois at Chicago
Rebekah Cavan: Pat Rapp, Center for Virtual Worlds Education and Research
Jennette Forager: Janalee Redmond, The Epoch Institute, Washington, DC.
Spiral Theas: Robin Heyden, Science Writer and Educator in Boston, MA
AJ Brooks: Ashy - we need to work to reschedule you SLER session
Zotarah Shepherd: Hi Oro
Ashy Viper: yes AJ, no problem
Oronoque Westland: hi Z and everyone
AJ Brooks: who hasn't introduced themselves
AJ Brooks: going once
Oronoque Westland: Roberta Kilkenny, Hunter College, NYC
AJ Brooks: going twice
Mimi Muircastle: must be gone !
AJ Brooks: Sold, to the tall guy in the top hat
Olivia Hotshot: is that a pole ?
AJ Brooks: ok - so - folks in teh amphitheater, come on down and join us
AJ Brooks: but first
AJ Brooks: let me fixt the chairs
Jarrad Voom: No a lithuainian
AJ Brooks: everyone hold on
Oronoque Westland: yikes!
Zotarah Shepherd waves to Gus.
AJ Brooks: wheeeeee
AJ Brooks: get ready
Kimbeau Surveryor: Ah, it's not that I've not rezzed the world yet!
lynsey Fleury: hello everybody:)
JeanClaude Vollmar: Wee!
Oronoque Westland: AJ must be a card dealer
Birdie Newcomb: woops
Kimbeau Surveryor: hope I'm not sitting on anyone!
Gus Plisskin: hi Zotarah!
Kennesaw Landar: Like a bday aprty musical chairs
AJ Brooks: ok - so that solved the gap problem
Birdie Newcomb: musical chair chairs
Ahlan Oh: virtual musical chairs.... without the music!
AJ Brooks: the empty chair is closest to the ramp
Dagmar Kojishi: It's OK, I only threw up electrons.
AJ Brooks: always on that side
Oronoque Westland: if only the other problems in the world were so easy
Ahlan Oh: I'll see you and raise you $25
AJ Brooks: so - before we get started, I'd like to give Olivia a second to talk about Flickr
Olivia Hotshot: Thanks AJ.
Olivia Hotshot: First of all, everyone is encouraged to share their photos of educators involved in SLER events.
Olivia Hotshot: The URL for the group is: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sler/
Olivia Hotshot: I think it is important for us to document what we do and who participates. It is also a great way to let other know about the work we are doing in SL.
Zotarah Shepherd: Yes thanks Olivia
Mimi Muircastle: plus the pics are just kind of fun to look at :)
Olivia Hotshot: I would like it if you could go to the page and add your name to any you appear in. I try to get a shot of each person.
Zotarah Shepherd: I might have some Photos for you.
AJ Brooks: How does one "tag" oneself?
Olivia Hotshot: I think a great idea would be to make a "yearbook" at the end of 2009 and give you all copies.
Mimi Muircastle: good ques. AJ - I would like to know too
Olivia Hotshot: You join the SLER Flickr gorup, AJ.
Zotarah Shepherd: What a great idea Olivia
Grey Breil: Do you want our names added as a comment or a tagged note (on the photo itself)?
Mimi Muircastle: oh, duh!
Olivia Hotshot: They you simply add a "note" or add a comment to let me know youre in the photo.
Mimi Muircastle: thanks, Olivia
Olivia Hotshot: You need to be a member of the group to do it.
AJ Brooks: can we clikc on the photo and tag ourselves that way
AJ Brooks: or can only teh owner of teh group do that?
Olivia Hotshot: Anyone who needs help should just send me an IM after this meeting and i will send explicit directions.
AJ Brooks: awesome
Olivia Hotshot: No, everyone who joins the group and add a note.
AJ Brooks: I'm putting my feet on the fire here
Grey Breil: thanks, Olivia
AJ Brooks: by next meeting, I will tag myself in all photos in the SLER group
Olivia Hotshot rins at AJ.
Olivia Hotshot: Well, i know who you are, but others may not, AJ.
Olivia Hotshot: Plus this is a great way for us to promote our group to others.
Spiral Theas: And we'll be watching!
AJ Brooks: I encourage all to go and tag yourself in the photos
Oronoque Westland thinks AJs feet must be wet in preparation
Olivia Hotshot: Any more from me?
AJ Brooks: ty Olivia
Olivia Hotshot: You're welcome, AJ.
Olivia Hotshot: once again: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sler/
AJ Brooks: Everyone, you don't want to miss next weeks special 1st of the month meeting
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Sorry I was late. Is this all text chat today?
Olivia Hotshot: Yes, Lo
AJ Brooks: yes - all text
AJ Brooks: I'll be interviewing Tom Boellstroff
AJ Brooks: author of Coming of Age in Second Life
AJ Brooks: anyone here read it?
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Excellent! Ready-made notes to review.
AJ Brooks: no?
Mimi Muircastle: where are the notes are they online?
AJ Brooks: yes?
Ashy Viper: I havent read it but would love to
Margaret Michalski: no
Grey Breil: haven't read it yet
Ashy Viper: where can I find it AJ?
Mimi Muircastle: I want to read it too
AJ Brooks: well - its a excellent book
AJ Brooks: and Tom is a fascinating man
AJ Brooks: I'm looking forward to our chat
Oronoque Westland has skimmed it
Mimi Muircastle: when was it published?
AJ Brooks: and to hearing what questions you have of him
AJ Brooks: 2008
Mimi Muircastle: ty
Ashy Viper: where can I find it AJ?
AJ Brooks: lastly - before we get to out topic
Adra Letov: try your library
AJ Brooks: I want to update you on something fdrom last week
AJ Brooks: Barnes & Noble
Rebekah Cavan: Ashy, try the library
Rebekah Cavan: or amazon
AJ Brooks: or bookstore
AJ Brooks: or amazon
Jennette Forager: Tom was a guest on Metanomics, lovely man and very interesting book.
AJ Brooks: so - last week the case study review group presented
Margaret Michalski: Thanks!
AJ Brooks: and since that time
AJ Brooks: we've completed our online nomination form
AJ Brooks: ://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dExsRkVmQ01jcVZqaDh0Uzc0QXpJM2c6MA..
Mimi Muircastle: thanks in large part to AJ!
AJ Brooks: but only SIX are required
AJ Brooks: there are many questions
AJ Brooks: and most of them involved your name, etc...
AJ Brooks: that said, the more information you can provide the work group, the better
AJ Brooks: please share this URL with folks
AJ Brooks: nominate projects
AJ Brooks: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dExsRkVmQ01jcVZqaDh0Uzc0QXpJM2c6MA..
Jennette Forager: Awesome use of Google Docs!
AJ Brooks: we'll be talking more int he coming weeks and months about what will come of this whole effort
AJ Brooks: don't be shy
AJ Brooks: nominate yourself
Margaret Michalski: Can you also snd it n a notice?
AJ Brooks: or a project you really like
AJ Brooks: it will get shared more broadly after the meeting
AJ Brooks: this gropu is ALWAYS the first to know about stuff
AJ Brooks: :-)
AJ Brooks: a plus to coming to the meetings
AJ Brooks: :-)
AJ Brooks: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dExsRkVmQ01jcVZqaDh0Uzc0QXpJM2c6MA..
AJ Brooks: ok - enough plugs
Mimi Muircastle: if you already sent one of us a nomination, we will be getting in touch with you soon, right group?
AJ Brooks: if a nomination was submitted by notecard, they should use the form INSTEAD
Spiral Theas: Right!
Olivia Hotshot: Mimi, should i just redo the one i submitted?
AJ Brooks: yes, Olivia
Olivia Hotshot: Thanks AJ, will resubmit.
Mimi Muircastle: yes, if you could use the form that would be great :)
Spiral Theas: Thanks, Olivia.
AJ Brooks: those who already submitted, please use the form
AJ Brooks: so - on to today's topic
AJ Brooks: best practices for meeting and event planning and moderating
AJ Brooks: I'd like to talk a littel abotu what I do here
AJ Brooks: and then open it up for others to share
AJ Brooks: either how they do things
AJ Brooks: or what they like about meetings or events they attend
AJ Brooks: when I'm done
AJ Brooks: I'm going to put out a notecard I give to guest moderators
AJ Brooks: telling them how I promote and run the event
AJ Brooks: so - what makes a good meeting or event
AJ Brooks: well - first
AJ Brooks: it needs to be defined properly
AJ Brooks: those coming need to know what to expect
AJ Brooks: people have asked why we meet here all the time
AJ Brooks: and never go elsewhere
AJ Brooks: well - people EXPECT to meet here
AJ Brooks: so they know where to go for the meeting, they don't have to think about it
AJ Brooks: they know the format - most of them
AJ Brooks: we maintain a certainly consistency
AJ Brooks: people know what to expect
AJ Brooks: I think that is VERY important
AJ Brooks: I also try to prvide peopel with as much information as possible
AJ Brooks: so they can be prepared
AJ Brooks: especially if you want interaction
AJ Brooks: people will have had time to think about the topic
AJ Brooks: I used to send out reminders to my lists the day of the meeting
AJ Brooks: some on the SLED list asked that I do it at least a day before
AJ Brooks: since they get the sled list on digest
AJ Brooks: and doing it the day of means they get it too late
AJ Brooks: this is really all about customer service
AJ Brooks: the folks on the sled list are the "clients' for this meeting
AJ Brooks: so I listened to their needs
Olivia Hotshot: good way to read the SLED list instead of email: http://n2.nabble.com/SLED-f577505.html
AJ Brooks: and started posting the meeting announcements on Monday
AJ Brooks: I post it to two lists
AJ Brooks: SLED and an EDUCAUSE list
AJ Brooks: I don't post it to any lists it might not be welcome at
AJ Brooks: this is important, especially when you talk about posting group notices
AJ Brooks: never post a group notice if it is off topic
AJ Brooks: for the group
AJ Brooks: I belong to 25 groups
AJ Brooks: but I only send the group notice to about 7
AJ Brooks: the others don't want or need it, its not appropriate
AJ Brooks: so don't confuse mass notification with reaching your audience
AJ Brooks: next
AJ Brooks: on Tuesday morning, the day of the event
Birdie Newcomb: AJ, how do you build the group?
AJ Brooks: Good question, can I answer it in a minute or two?
AJ Brooks: will you remind me? :-)
Birdie Newcomb: Surely
AJ Brooks: on tue morning, the day of the event
AJ Brooks: I send out group notices
AJ Brooks: most people get group notice to their email also
AJ Brooks: so I make sure to include a SLURL or LM
AJ Brooks: I do that about 8 or 9 hours before the meeting
AJ Brooks: then - about 10 minutes before
AJ Brooks: I send an group chat to all my groups
AJ Brooks: including the URL
AJ Brooks: how many peopel here get those group chat notices
AJ Brooks: ?
Dagmar Kojishi: /raises hand
Birdie Newcomb: I get about three.
Adra Letov: yes
Jarrad Voom: me
Carolrb Roux: yes
JeanClaude Vollmar: I do
Margaret Michalski: I do
Aquiel Aero: yes
Joy Rembrandt: yes
Geoff Lumley does - twice
LoCE99C8 Morpork: yes
Grey Breil: yes, once
Elani Matova: me
Mary Roussel: yes
Jarrad Voom: I get two
Zotarah Shepherd: I do
Grinn Pidgeon: yes
Kimbeau Surveryor needs all three timeslot notices to get him here on time ;-)
Ahlan Oh: si
Profdan Netizen: yep
Mimi Muircastle: me too
Mary Roussel: Facebook too
Albert Gainsbourg: Aye.
zamfir Paule: yes~
Teri Boxen: yes
AJ Brooks: ok - so you see
Grey Breil: facebook one is best for me
AJ Brooks: now 0- a different question
AJ Brooks: how many of you use the SLURL in the notice to get you here?
Alan Sandalwood: I do
Jarrad Voom: I do
Carolrb Roux: yes
Kimbeau Surveryor: me
Aquiel Aero: i do
Mimi Muircastle: i do - love it
Mary Roussel: yes
Albert Gainsbourg: Aye
Profdan Netizen: not usually
Ahlan Oh: sometimes
Birdie Newcomb: no, I'm already on the sim.
JeanClaude Vollmar: I don't, have one saved already
Grinn Pidgeon: no Map
Kennesaw Landar: open mic someone??
Margaret Michalski: not me
Zotarah Shepherd: nope
Elani Matova: sometimes
Teri Boxen: no already here
Grey Breil: not usually
Jerod Bagley: I have a landmark on my hud.
Dagmar Kojishi: Today, used the LM from the group notice. Twice before, used SLURL.
Alan Sandalwood: No. I use a LM from my inventory
Dusty Artaud: slurl in ical
Geoff Lumley does not - use a landmark
Spiral Theas: I used the one you provided, AJ.
LoCE99C8 Morpork: yes! I am always glad to see it...considering the state of my inventory.
AJ Brooks: ok - so, you see - including the LM catches some, and the SLURL in the group chat catches others
Jarrad Voom: I have it saved but it is much easier to use the notice
Zotarah Shepherd: I have this LM * * * near the top of my Map LMs.
AJ Brooks: make it easy for people to get to your event, remind them of it, and they will come
Jarrad Voom: How do you delete items from the map lm?
AJ Brooks: now - one more thing before I get to the event itself
AJ Brooks: I saw facebook as a way to get more people - to inform them
AJ Brooks: oh - one thing
AJ Brooks: about group notices
AJ Brooks: and group chat
Zotarah Shepherd: It is amazing how many groups send notices without the time day or LM.
AJ Brooks: make 100% sure its ok to do both or either
AJ Brooks: some gropus get very upset about spam messages
AJ Brooks: and you'll lose people that way
AJ Brooks: for instance
AJ Brooks: notices and chat to the SLER group should ONLY be about SLER events
AJ Brooks: others are warned
AJ Brooks: and then banned
Zotarah Shepherd: You delete from Map in your LM inventory
AJ Brooks: it doesn't happen that often, so, it doesn't matter
AJ Brooks: but in some other groups, it does matter
AJ Brooks: so be sure, and if you're not sure, ask the group owner
AJ Brooks: So - back to facebook
AJ Brooks: I use ANY means I can to get the word out to people about the events
AJ Brooks: starting a facebook gropu was one way
AJ Brooks: so I have a facebook group for the SLER group
Flight Band: All Go
AJ Brooks: and then a generate events that are "sponsored" by the group
AJ Brooks: how many people here are part of the facebook group?
Aquiel Aero: i am
Dusty Artaud: yes
Grinn Pidgeon: yes
JeanClaude Vollmar: I am
Grey Breil: I am
Adra Letov: yes
Mary Roussel: yes
Teri Boxen: me
Mimi Muircastle: i am
Profdan Netizen: y
Dagmar Kojishi raises hand.
Geoff Lumley: yes
Elani Matova: me
zamfir Paule: I'm~
Kimbeau Surveryor: me
LoCE99C8 Morpork: not yet
Margaret Michalski: yes
Olivia Hotshot: me
Lolly Dovgal: I'm going to join
ericcgcc Yootz: yes
Kennesaw Landar: I hae one well GW des never use it tho
AJ Brooks: excellent
AJ Brooks: so - that is ALL before the meeting or event even happens
AJ Brooks: and I use the same set up for ALL meetings I run (before hand stuff)
AJ Brooks: EDUCAUSE in world meetings, Montclair STate meetings
AJ Brooks: the process is pretty much the same no matter what the meeting
Kimbeau Surveryor: All these things are particularly important for people like me who don't always make it to every meeting. i could easily fall by the wayside if it wasn't for the flow of information.
AJ Brooks: where things will be different is in the meeting itself
AJ Brooks: I only want to talk about that for a second, and then get to questions and thoughts from others
Jarrad Voom: faCEBOOK YES
AJ Brooks: there is not too much I can tell you about how I moderate meetings
AJ Brooks: except that I follow along and try to keep things on track
AJ Brooks: saying something that brings the group back into focus if it starts to get OFF track
AJ Brooks: I think the mistake most peopel make is
AJ Brooks: they don't want to interrupt the flow
AJ Brooks: but flow in teh wrong direction is counterproductive
Olivia Hotshot: <-- when i moderated this meeting - just tried to pose questions and let the pot simmer until a new questioned needed to be asked or to keep people on topic.
AJ Brooks: there is a fine line between encourage and disrupting
Zotarah Shepherd: I like that you have all the usual announcements ready to put in chat weather you use Voice or not AJ.
Zotarah Shepherd: It is good to have a set format too.
AJ Brooks: and the only way to get good at these is to do them
AJ Brooks: so - practice with your friends
AJ Brooks: invite 5 people to your parcel and have a small meeting
Kimbeau Surveryor thinks AJ rocks at this job.
AJ Brooks: if you want to get good at this, you have to practice
AJ Brooks: and find your own way
Jennette Forager agrees with Kimbeau.
AJ Brooks blushes
AJ Brooks: thanks
AJ Brooks: I love doing this
AJ Brooks: its fun, and you folks make it an amazing experience
Mimi Muircastle: it shows that you love it AJ
Teri Boxen: it comes through that you enjoy this
Olivia Hotshot starts making I <3 AJ t-shirts
AJ Brooks: :-)
AJ Brooks: LOL
Grey Breil: hear, hear
Kimbeau Surveryor: rofl
Adra Letov: \o/!
AJ Brooks: so - let me start with Birdie, and then we can open it up
Dagmar Kojishi says, "Amen!"
AJ Brooks: what was the ? again
Ahlan Oh: raises his hand with a question: What do you use to automatically flow out the preliminary messages at the beginning? Some script or tool?
Zotarah Shepherd: Maybe not appropriate for all meetings, classes and presentations but having us all say who we are at the start lets us know who is here and also makes us feel included.
Birdie Newcomb: recruiting
AJ Brooks: recruiting?
Olivia Hotshot: only thing i don't like about the names is that we get quoted on Google.
Birdie Newcomb: how do you create the group?
Profdan Netizen: Agreed, Zo.
Mimi Muircastle: how do you build the group, right birdie
AJ Brooks: build the SLER group
AJ Brooks: it just happened over time
AJ Brooks: I invited people
AJ Brooks: I talk about it
AJ Brooks: I tell people to join
AJ Brooks: I encourage them to join
AJ Brooks: and I make it as easy as possible to do so
AJ Brooks: I also make sure that ANYONE in the group can also invite others to join
LoCE99C8 Morpork: friends tell friends
AJ Brooks: which is part of the group roles
AJ Brooks: its all about promoting it
Olivia Hotshot: AJ, may i ask the group a question?
AJ Brooks: everything is marketing, to some degree
AJ Brooks: one sec Olivia
Mimi Muircastle: and you make the meetings worthwhile which makes the group grow
AJ Brooks: well - the topics come from you guys
AJ Brooks: so - Ahlan, what was your question?
Kimbeau Surveryor thinks he first arrived here because he clicked on a "Join SLER" board whilst exploring.
Ahlan Oh: What do you use to automatically flow out the preliminary messages at the begining? Some script or tool?
AJ Brooks: A product called SPEAKEASY
Ahlan Oh: ahhh. thanks
AJ Brooks: Do a search
AJ Brooks: if you can't find it, let me know
AJ Brooks: its a rocking tool
AJ Brooks: I love it
Mimi Muircastle: love the name of it :)
AJ Brooks: Olivia, what was your question?
Olivia Hotshot: If we were to give a landmark giver to you to promote the meetings, would you like on your sim? Or would the givers be a waste of time?
Margaret Michalski: Any major advantage over just copy and paste?
Profesora Farigoule: i also have an open source reader - if you want one IM me
Olivia Hotshot: ack, chat lag - cannot type
AJ Brooks: try again, Olivia
Grinn Pidgeon: Comment on prep work for meetings: All the preparation work/info is very much like setting up an online course--anticipating what students need.
Mimi Muircastle: good pt. Grinn
AJ Brooks: [15:10] Olivia Hotshot: If we were to give a landmark giver to you to promote the meetings, would you like on your sim? Or would the givers be a waste of time?
Olivia Hotshot: IF we handed out a landmark giver - would anyone want one for their sim?
Grey Breil: so very tru, Grinn
Olivia Hotshot: we are thinking of doing this.
AJ Brooks: like the one below the big MSU sign
Olivia Hotshot: ty AJ.
AJ Brooks: here in the amphi
AJ Brooks: would anyone put something like that out on their parcel?
AJ Brooks: or no room - no prims
AJ Brooks: etc...
Teri Boxen: yes
Margaret Michalski: SURE!
Olivia Hotshot: it would be a single prim.
Grinn Pidgeon: I would if low prim
Olivia Hotshot: hmmm
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Perhaps some of the other educational sims would use one?
Margaret Michalski: I think a copy of the thing outside would be best. It gives a picture of the group.
Ahlan Oh: (Thanks, Firery, got it already)
Olivia Hotshot: Yes, Lo.
AJ Brooks: Margaret asked....
Olivia Hotshot: To promote the group on other areas.
AJ Brooks: what are the advantage of SpeakEasy of cut/paste
Kennesaw Landar gave you SpeakEasy README.
AJ Brooks: its much faster and easier to click the HUD then to copy paste
AJ Brooks: so - let me ask you all
Kennesaw Landar gave you Speakeasy Notecard Reader.
AJ Brooks: when you've attended other meetings you like, or you thought were good
AJ Brooks: what was it about them that you liked or thought was good?
Albert Gainsbourg: Agenda, agenda, agenda. With appoximate times per item.
Mimi Muircastle: agree Albert
Birdie Newcomb: responsiveness to audience, involvement
Zotarah Shepherd: eeps I have to go Bye
Ahlan Oh: (Thanks, Olivia, got it already)
Olivia Hotshot: ok
AJ Brooks: ok - what else?
Olivia Hotshot: anyone else want speak easy?
AJ Brooks: what makes an SL meeting or event good?
Mimi Muircastle: keeping us to the agenda
Kennesaw Landar: prepared I was inworld tech for an slcc and I was receiving slides in PP format 15 mins before the presentation hahah I gave up haha
Grey Breil: Actually covering the topic in the time allotted, overview notecards of the topic, and audience involvement.
Carolrb Roux: I think that the speakers using voice helps
Teri Boxen: yes
Birdie Newcomb: I've used speakeasy, very hand -- from Dudeney Ge
LoCE99C8 Morpork: A model for other groups publicizing together is the Alexandrian Free Library consortium.
Teri Boxen: please
Profdan Netizen: Openness--making attendees welcome, feel like they can contribute.
Albert Gainsbourg: Personal preference: No voice.
Mimi Muircastle: good pt. ProfDan
Lolly Dovgal: I prefer audio to text participation.
Mimi Muircastle: yes, no voice
Kimbeau Surveryor: One of the things that makes sl meetings different is the possibility of audience interaction without destroying the flow as much as it would in an rl meeting
Kennesaw Landar: there is also a notecard reader that allows you to use multiple sets of cards in same reader searching tory - is very handy
Jarrad Voom: Good point Profdan making me feel welcome is always big
Margaret Michalski: @ profdan - agreed you are not telling the group what to talk about step by step. Just general.
AJ Brooks: so - what DON'T you like about in world meetings or events?
Rebekah Cavan: I have to run. bye everyone, and thanks!
Birdie Newcomb: lag
Mimi Muircastle: bye rebekah
Grinn Pidgeon: sitting in chair like all other meetings
Spiral Theas: Could I ask why people don't like voice in these meetings?
Jarrad Voom: bye rebekah
Birdie Newcomb: no record
Mimi Muircastle: voice is difficult when ppl talk at the same time
Kennesaw Landar: umm a Host HUD usually a club tool there are several can be handy for greeting personally and allows you to track who you have not greeted
Grinn Pidgeon: i prefer voice
Olivia Hotshot: Teri did you want it too? Im me please - cannot find you.
Profdan Netizen: simulcast--with rl, where SL participants are invisible, not really a part
Birdie Newcomb: multiple conversations
Spiral Theas: Me too, Grinn.
\Carolrb Roux: I am not keen on having to either mute other groups or sort the text entries
Oronoque Westland: in a big meeting where there is no contingency planning (e.g. what to do when the slide presenter doesn't work)
Albert Gainsbourg: It's hard to follow the side chats and the voice at the same time.
Birdie Newcomb: and you can go back and check on stuff
Margaret Michalski: @ Spiral, It depends where I am. I don't always have access to voice
Dagmar Kojishi: Spiral: no record, plus texting requires slowdown--which helps the more introverted participants get a word in edgewise. :)
Kimbeau Surveryor: I prefer to be able to lose concentration then catch up. Makes the meeting semi-asynchronous when no voice.
Ahlan Oh: Text slows things down, especially for non-native English speakers. Also, it provides a record. Finally, it allows people to step all over each other with their comments but it doesn't matter.
Profesora Farigoule: me either - not all my locations in teaching are voice equipped
Birdie Newcomb: A main speaker ought to use voice, with an assistant to hand chat
Spiral Theas: Interesting, Dagmar. Thanks.
Birdie Newcomb: handle
Mimi Muircastle: good idea Birdie
Raloc Dorado: it's easier to understand text, and better throughput when there are many people speaking
Spiral Theas: I have to get used to it. I find the text hard to follow sometimes.
AJ Brooks: for me, the record is the big thing
Chimera Cosmos: does mean you can't listen while doing something else tho...
Jarrad Voom: With voice I can listen while I grade papers
AJ Brooks: its hard to find transcribers willing to help out
Spiral Theas: That is the thoughts are continuous...you know? interrupted.
Mimi Muircastle: me to I like the record
Lolly Dovgal: I prefer voice, and text.
Spiral Theas: Probably just takes practice.
Chimera Cosmos: precisely Jarrad :-)
Grinn Pidgeon: in about two minutes I will have reached the end of my patience with chat topics stepping on each other--just saying
Birdie Newcomb: Even with text, I will sometimes IM someone else in the audience
Margaret Michalski: Just voice would be difficult to keep transcripts for those [who] donÕt attend
Kennesaw Landar: Spiral you can set preferences to show your chat text in diff color allows you to "se" better
Spiral Theas: Exactly, Grinn!
Firery Broome: I would put a notegive on Delaware
Ahlan Oh: In a lecture, voice may be preferable
Kennesaw Landar: separates things in clumps for you
Spiral Theas: Ah! Nice, Kennesaw.
Profesora Farigoule: I've always like the diversity of free form chat going alongsiede a voice presenter
Profesora Farigoule: makes whole experience richer
Spiral Theas: Me too, Profesora.
Ahlan Oh: (I would put a notecard on my new sublet at Lighthouse Learning Island)
Profdan Netizen: Voice is great for small groups more difficult with larger--I know, blinding flash of the obvious.
AJ Brooks: so - OTHER THAN VOICE
AJ Brooks: :-)
Ahlan Oh: (notecard giver)
Kennesaw Landar: backchat critical part of culture here
Olivia Hotshot: in a word - back channel (well 2 words)
AJ Brooks: What don't you like about meetings or events you've been to
Kennesaw Landar: culture as is typonese our own language haha
Profdan Netizen: Someone just reading slides.
Carolrb Roux: speakers who do not respond to back channel
Olivia Hotshot: People who attend wearing huge laggy avatar attachments.
Carolrb Roux: yes
Profesora Farigoule: when they've discouraged the local chat - just reading slides too
Kimbeau Surveryor: One voice is OK. I agree with AJ(?) that text gives more equal voice to particpants of all intro/extro-vertedness
Ahlan Oh: I don't like: rambling off topic chat direction, unnecessary chit chat, unprepared leaders
AJ Brooks: Carol, in defense, it is REALLY hard to run a meeting and watch the backchannel too
Spiral Theas: Meetings that don't seem to go anywhere....
Spiral Theas: Or provide anything new?
Carolrb Roux: true
Olivia Hotshot: was at a sloodle meeting that was great til a dragon landed on the object we were editing.
Carolrb Roux: :-)
Profdan Netizen: Esp. with voice, Aj?
Margaret Michalski: I hate chit chat
Profesora Farigoule agrees w/ AJ - need assistant to monitor back chat if presenting
Spiral Theas: Clubiness can be a problem in some (not here!)
AJ Brooks: especially with Voice, Dan
AJ Brooks: volunteers are REALLY important
Margaret Michalski: before or after meetings it is ok but during it may get annoying.
Carolrb Roux: but I always try to respond to something that is relevant to the meeting
AJ Brooks: I don't know what I would do without Iggy, Margaret, and Olivia
AJ Brooks: for the weekly meetings
Olivia Hotshot polishes nails.
AJ Brooks: they each play a regular and important role in the structure of the SLER
Mimi Muircastle: yes, they make these meetings go well
AJ Brooks: not to mention all the great folks who come each week also
Lolly Dovgal: Assistants are very necessary.
Spiral Theas: Good that you have that to depend on.
AJ Brooks: so - in the few minutes we have left
Margaret Michalski: We can not forget the transcribers for the voice meetings
AJ Brooks: before people need to start heading out
Olivia Hotshot: I think inclusiveness is necessary in meetings.
AJ Brooks: I'd like to try something different
AJ Brooks: instead of just having a transcript of this meeting
AJ Brooks: I'd like there to be a product
Chimera Cosmos: backchat is an essential feature of SL - also the side jokes-- it's cultural I think
AJ Brooks: a white paper of sorts
Olivia Hotshot: machinima
Profesora Farigoule agrees w/ Olivia - need to actively promote inclusiveness - regularly
Olivia Hotshot: IF lag was not an issue or space to create it.
Profdan Netizen: I think sitting in a circle like we do is important.
AJ Brooks: If you'd be interested in working on a white paper about best practices on meetings and event planning
Birdie Newcomb: what sort of product, AJ?
Margaret Michalski: AJ, Interesting idea
AJ Brooks: pelase let me know
Kimbeau Surveryor wants AJ to explain "product"
Olivia Hotshot: ty Professora.
AJ Brooks: we will use today's transcript as a base
AJ Brooks: and work from there
Profesora Farigoule: ok AJ sign me up -= I"ve already been thinking on this too
AJ Brooks: please IM me
Carolrb Roux: I dont think sitting in an amphitheatre is important - the beach would be nice
Margaret Michalski: any specifics on that?
AJ Brooks: oh - :-)
Oronoque Westland: I get frustrated when at big meetings there is no contingency planning for technical problems
LoCE99C8 Morpork: @Oronoque: at any meetings!
AJ Brooks: Other than Professor, if you are interested, please IM Me
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj, I think it is a great idea
Kennesaw Landar: i have started a 3d model tool that allows folks to set out so to speak all the people and pieces with data pathways between rl & sl simul events . . it helps i think for a group working together in sl to be able to walk it out
Olivia Hotshot: actually sitting is not necessary - but it gives people the perception of "order" so maybe an amphitheater is needed.
Chimera Cosmos: I don't like group meetings all in voice -- but I do like it if there is a main speaker, w/voice just for them during their intro remarks
Kennesaw Landar: agree Chimera
AJ Brooks: Chimera!
Chimera Cosmos: howdy AJ :-)
Kennesaw Landar: i like panels with voice and Q&A tho
Chimera Cosmos: been on too much travel lately LOL
AJ Brooks: lol
AJ Brooks: ok - so, last thoughts on best practices of meeting and event hosting or moderating
Kimbeau Surveryor wonders if the meeting format that works best is dictated a lot by the nature of the audience members, as much as by the subject and objective.
Mimi Muircastle: part of it is up to the group to help the leader stay on task, etc.
AJ Brooks: interesting question, Kimbeau
Lolly Dovgal: Sure it is.
AJ Brooks: say more on that
Grey Breil: have backups for people if for some reason (tech/schedule) they can't attend (transcribers, moderators, etc)
Kimbeau Surveryor: these meetings work well because we are basically peers, albeit from different backgrounds.
LoCE99C8 Morpork: I go to a lot of storytelling sessions at West of Ireland.
Mimi Muircastle: I think Kim is correct
LoCE99C8 Morpork: They are always in voice.
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Form follows function?
Kimbeau Surveryor: If you have a high proportion of "idiots" in a meeting, this format would be a disaster.
Adams Rubble: :)
AJ Brooks: wow
Mimi Muircastle: :)))
Profdan Netizen: true
Olivia Hotshot: yikes.
AJ Brooks: idiots?
AJ Brooks: hmmmm
Ahlan Oh: Hey! Some of my best friends are idiots! (uh oh..... :-)
Birdie Newcomb: teabagging?
Kimbeau Surveryor begs forgiveness for shorthand
Grey Breil: griefers, then instead?
Olivia Hotshot: -stops-
Profesora Farigoule agrees w/ Kimbeau - audience has to shape format
AJ Brooks: well - wait a minute
Albert Gainsbourg: It's still a cognitive dissonance to be shifting back and forth between listening and reading.
AJ Brooks: I didn't shape these meetings on the audience
AJ Brooks: I disagree with audience shaping meeting format
AJ Brooks: I think - for a regulr meeting
Lolly Dovgal: You already know your audience.
AJ Brooks: you set the format
AJ Brooks: and people will self select
Margaret Michalski: You ma not kow who your audience is
Kimbeau Surveryor: I didn't mean idiots in the sense of people finding it hard to operate, i mean in the sense of missing the point.
AJ Brooks: Lolly, I don't know my audience
Profdan Netizen: Educators?
AJ Brooks: and I don't change a thing unless the whole group wants it changed
Profesora Farigoule grins
AJ Brooks: there are people who refuse to come to these meetings because of the format
AJ Brooks: which is fine with me
AJ Brooks: there are other meetings
AJ Brooks: or they can start one of their own
Olivia Hotshot: <-- rule for moderators - watch what you say.
Ahlan Oh: I like this meeting because I can practice my speed reading, comprehension and recall skills.
AJ Brooks: for instance, Olivia?
Albert Gainsbourg: Which can be better observed if you are typing.
Wena Merlin: gosh... it's difficult to keep up reading... you type too fast!
Birdie Newcomb: there's just enough civilization here to keep the meetings from going wild...
Chimera Cosmos: being too picky about format can men you miss out on various perspectives
Olivia Hotshot: esp with so many cultural differences. like using the word 'idiots"
Olivia Hotshot: you spend more time explaining what you meant
Chimera Cosmos: most SLers are pretty flexible by nature
Kennesaw Landar: wishes sl provided an evr other speaker diff color choice in preferences
Profdan Netizen: Good point, Olivia.
Olivia Hotshot: ty Profdan.
AJ Brooks: well folks, our time is up for this week
Ahlan Oh: That would be very useful, KL
Jarrad Voom: Good point Olivia
AJ Brooks: don't forget our nomination page
Kimbeau Surveryor: wow it's gone fast today.
Olivia Hotshot: ty Jarrod.
AJ Brooks: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dExsRkVmQ01jcVZqaDh0Uzc0QXpJM2c6MA..
Lolly Dovgal: Nice job,
Lolly Dovgal: AJ
Ahlan Oh: I bet there is a simple script that could enable such a thing.... Maybe ...
AJ Brooks: most details are there
Olivia Hotshot: Thank you AJ.
AJ Brooks: or you can IM me
Mimi Muircastle: good meeting and the discussion was great :)
Olivia Hotshot: Anyone else want Speak Easy before i dash?
Teri Boxen: ty
AJ Brooks: we have three people to work on the white paper, so hopefully we'll have something to share soon enough
Carolrb Roux: thanks very much
Ahlan Oh: Thanks, AJ, for keeping the lid on this powerful and articulate group!
Profdan Netizen: I do, Olivia.
LoCE99C8 Morpork: Thank you all for a thought-provoking meeting, as usual.
Wena Merlin: I do, Olivia.