Some random observations of my first few days in Oz:
First, how is it Qantas can serve a free hot meal and free beverages on a 55 minute trip from Melbourne to Sydney when most US airlines I fly on can barely provide a cold, stale sandwich on a cross country flight? It’s also cool, by the way, that the people meeting you off the flight can do so at the gate instead of being relegated to baggage claim. Overall, flying has been much more pleasant here, kiss of death I know for tonight’s flight back to Melbourne.
Surprisingly, what hasn’t been great is the Internet. The connection at my workshops thus far has been spotty or nearly non-existent, and buying it in airports or hotels is insanely expensive. From everything I’ve heard from folks here and others answering questions on Twitter, access is very uneven and, in general, pricey. In fact, many state right out that they are worse off than some third world countries in the connection respect.
As always, the Aussies that I’ve met have been exceedingly generous, helpful, and complimentary. Just like our trip here last year, I’ve felt very welcomed. It’s definitely a place that I would highly recommend making a journey to, despite the fact that our currencies have almost reached parity making things a bit more expensive here than in the past. (Obviously, that’s the case for us Yanks no matter where we go these days.)
While the new government has allocated some significant funds to getting all high school students on a computer in short order, the amazing thing from what I hear is those computers are going to be desktops. Just as in the states, there is not a lot of vision at the top in terms of where to spend technology dollars and what the future might look like.
My “Small World” moment came when my phone suddenly rang and it was Tess calling from back home. Nothing special these days, I know, but a first for me. I just can’t get my brain around how many wireless signals we must be floating in if her phone call found me here in Sydney. Amazing.
And one last: when I was in Brisbane the other day, I was walking down the street when I saw a long line slinking around the corner, dozens of people queued up to get, believe it or not, Krispy Kreme donuts. I kid you not. People were walking out of the store with boxed dozens of the things, and apparently, it is the latest American sensation to hit the continent. Let’s hope it’s not followed by those other sensations that we’re getting more and more famous for: obesity and diabetes.
Finally, one very cool moment: when in my keynote I was discussing the fact that my kids had been taught to use Scratch by Neil Winton’s son Andrew from Scotland during one of our “extended classroom” sessions, it turned out that Neil and Andrew were watching live from Scotland. I only wish I would have known when it happened; what a great model-able moment that would have been.
I’ll try to carve out a few more observations this weekend before my final presentation in Melbourne on Monday. Then back to the states on Tuesday.
In case anyone is interested, my keynote was Ustreamed here, and the other sessions are on this page. Enjoy!
I do seem to remember talk like, :…anybody want to do that for my kid(s)?” Your supplemental schooling idea is spreading! We were just talking about that in the latest Driving Questions podcast….
Hi Will,
I attended your seminar on Thursday May 8 in Melbourne. Although the wireless connection issues were frustrating, your content and enthusiasm was really inspiring. When I got home afterwards I checked out many of the links you spoke about and have set up a blog, google reader feed and am looking to start up a wiki in the next week.
Once I get the hang of it all I will move onto trying to include some of these tools in my 3/4 class.
Thanks for introducing us to web 2.0. I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to hear you speak.
Safe travels back to the US.
Cheers,
Ingrid.
Wow! Sounds like you are having a great time there. I love the cool moments you have mentioned but I was thrilled to hear that Krispy Kreme donuts is a hit there too. I love those things! Thanks for sharing the link to your keynote too.
Great presentation today in Sydney Will – thank you. Love the question you ask school administrators: “what are you doing for your students that ensures a positive outcome when future employers google them for information?” Answer: “Nothing!” Sad.
Yes, lots of developing countries have faster, cheaper fraudband than we do. I guess they didn’t have old infrastructure to try and patch the web onto. That’s what happened here. Plus political handballing and a lack of will and resources to improve the situation.
For the record, I think Australia is running second to the US in the obesity stakes. 🙁
I missed seeing you speak in person – stuck in the States – but just listened to your remarks…very impressive. I work in the world of Web 2.0 as well, and I hope that teachers and schools really make a push to integrate lesson plans and their cirriculum into a more web-friendly format. Along those lines, I wanted to let you know about another great program going on next week in Atlanta – Intel’s ISEF! The world’s best young scientists, including many Georgia students, will be “Uniting the World through Science†in Atlanta at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2008 (Intel ISEF) May 11-16, 2008, and I encourage you and your readers to check it out! Some great work being done by superb young minds – truly the next generation to carry out Web 3.0, 4.0, etc.
Flying domestic in Australia is “how it used to be” in the US 15 years or so ago. In addition to your notes, I liked how you can show up 30 minutes before your flight, virtually no security lines, no pestering you because you have a 4 oz tube of toothpaste. I also liked how the flights boarded civilly without any “groups”, people just quietly lined up, and boarded (also not forcing large sized bags in the carry-ons).
I was lucky in my presentations there at mostly TAFE sites- all had very robust internet, but yeah it is spotty.
And need I say anything about being able to register an unlocked GSM phone with a cheap SIM card?
Most importantly, you are spot on about the generosity and creativity of Australian educators.
oz is a great place… i am a dual citizen (US/Aus) and can speak from experience that australia has one big advantage the US is too far from now… the population is small enough in australia to actually make social engineering work. they can actually legislate social change. hence, it shares a common characteristic with other smaller, highly successful democratic countries (norway, denmark, canada… etc). the US is too big. something good for bangor isn’t necessarily good for carmel, or lincoln, or atlanta…
Pure synchronicity! I’ve no idea why I decided to drop in on your talk (apart from the obvious joy of hearing you speak!).
There appears to be a lot of really interesting work going on in Australia despite the whole Al Upton thing. It’s a sign of the times that we are no longer working in isolation. The next idea that might have a profound impact on your work can come from anywhere…
Im jealous, Australia is my dream trip.
Welcome to the ‘lucky country’ and I hope your stay continues to be enjoyable here. I am looking forward to hearing you speak tomorrow in Melbourne at the Telstra Dome. I have found blogging to be such a rich medium in improving my classroom outcomes and hope to learn even more about its possible applications through you. Melbourne has often been voted the ‘world’s most liveable city’ Check out the amazing public art galleries in some of the laneways (public grafitti) and enjoy the wonderful food hall at the Queen Victoria market.
I was knocked out by the service on Qantas. On one flight they announced free beer and wine for all. there were cheers and applause!
Will,
When you say that your children were taught Scratch online, what does that mean?
What have they produced with Scratch since? What did they learn? Have they continued building upon the knowledge disseminated during the first tutorial or was the real objective to be online?
-=Gary
PS: I have experienced some of the worst customer service in the universe courtesy of Qantas. I could fill a coffee table book with nightmare stories based on a hundred or so flights, including being held hostage for 9 hours with no food, apologies or employees not hiding from customers.
If the US Government favored one airline at the expense of competitors, you’d get a warm meal here as well.
Hi Will
By chance I was fortunate enough to be at the Web 2.0 session in Sydney last Friday.
As a 29 year old Libraian I thought I was fairly up-to-date with technology & embrace learning from my students.
However, your valuable insight into the current state of Education & Technology made me realise how far we are yet to travel inorder to prepare our students for the ‘real world’.
Your positive spin on the challenges of technology & our kids was inspiring & I look forward to being a blogger asap 🙂
Hi Will
you were presenting in Brisbane with Westley, from our school (MLC). I just wanted to say that i am using your book – BLogs, Wikis and Podcasts – and it’s fabulous. I like the fact that it isn’t just about being online but the pedagogy that it enables is clearly articulated.
thanks
maree