Skype, Facebook and other toys!

Hi there,

Things have been very hectic in my life and I am writing this blog prior to flying off to oz with my family for a much deserved break. I am wishing for dry and sunny weather (it has been very wet here!). I have attended the midwifery conference recently in Rotorua and am suitably inspired now.

I have managed to work through the course schedule for online facilitation. There are times when it all makes sense and I feel I really understand the importance of facilitation and its applicability to me but other times I have the realisation that I am such a beginner in all of this and doubt that it will be ever something that I am able to do sucessfully. I wonder whether I have a natural ability to weave networks? Some of these readings seem to fly over my head.

However I have been thinking about how I could start a network for the already formed community of student midwives in my class in Palmerston North. Perhaps start one for next year? We currently get together once a week face to face and catch up via email. But I am wondering whether we could use things such as skype, facebook and elluminate as well. I had a student who contacted me and wanted to go over some individual assignment work. I initially said we could meet up face to face, but she had said she had a cold and might just leave it for the next week.. And then I thought...aaahhha. We could use skype! I would then be able to discuss her concerns and it would be more resource friendly as both her and I wouldn't have to leave our homes and I wouldn't risk catching her lurgys...

I have joined skype and have had a few conversations (one with a very experienced student skyper who showed me the basics). It was fun and I think I took about a hundred photo shots of myself pulling faces for just the novelty factor.. And I told my partner it was work related. Ha. I can see the advantages of a facebook account as I am sure that all 8 of my students feel reasonably confident and comfortable with facebook. It almost has its own culture and im sure they use it daily. This could be a quick and easy way to communicate and post new learnings etc. However the down side could be that facebook is such a SOCIAL network. Professional boundaries could be blurred and ground rules broken. Also security and privacy issues may arise especially when discussing the nature of our training.

Sarah has asked me to facilitate a session in a few weeks. Eek. Sorry Sarah that we have missed each others calls so often. Kind of like playing phone tag! But I can see that this will be a great opportunity for me. And even better when Sarah is there to hold my hand and help me along. I actually don't know why I would be nervous as I have learnt that I should actually have little input and simply encourage participation. I have taken tips from http://synchfacilitation.wikispaces.com/. I need to ideally meet with the presenter before hand, audio check, be familiar with my environment (easier said than done), let people speak, have ground rules, watch chat and lurkers, have fun. Take notes for summarising later, finish on time, thank everyone and discuss how to access the recording. (oh, and tell them they are being recorded). Does that sum it up? Have I missed something? Will keep you posted.

Here ozzie ozzie ozzie!!

Jade