Tapped In Newsletter: November2002

...ON THE TAPIS
November 2002
Issue 60

In This Issue

[1] Don't read this...
[2] Member Perspective: Aiden Yeh
[3] Technology Tips
[4] TAPPED IN News Nuggets
[5] About ...On the TAPIS

Quote of the Month - "Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind." - Lionel Hampton

[1] Don't read this... - by BJ Berquist

Yikes, it's that time of year again... Don't read this if you have never spoken to a newbie in TAPPED IN (or been a newbie yourself). Don't read this if you have never participated in an After School Online TAPPED IN event. Don't read this if you have never received an email with information about coming events in TAPPED IN. Don't read this if you've never been helped by one of the TAPPED IN Helpdesk Volunteers. And, most of all, don't read this if you have never been a member or guest of the TAPPED IN Community of Practice.

You're still here? Good! Before we all become overwhelmed with obligations and responsibilities during the busy holiday season, please take a moment to think about those memories stored in your heart that Lionel Hampton refers to in the quote of the month. I have often been asked what I feel is the most important feature of TAPPED IN, and I always reply, without hesitation, that it is the PEOPLE. This includes the staff who provide the environment we have come to love (and who are preparing the exciting new interface that will be introduced after the first of the year), and the discussion leaders who volunteer their time to bring the best practices in education to our community. It also includes the volunteers who sit at the helpdesk calming the fears of the newbies who enter TAPPED IN and answering questions from guests and members, and of course it also includes the members who selflessly take the time to offer advice and guidance to guests. I don't know about you, but my heart is overflowing with gratitude - from the TAPPED IN Staff - thank you all!

[2] Member Perspective: Aiden Yeh

Aiden Yeh (AidenY) teaches EFL in Shih Chien University and National Kaoshiung First University of Science and Technology. He received his MS degree in ELT (English Language Teaching) Management from the University of Surrey and TESOL Certificate from University of Leicester. He is an active member of TESOL and IATEFL and a die-hard Webhead. (Webheads is an online community of students and teachers who have been communicating and interacting since 1989.)

Aiden's Perspective

I cannot remember exactly the first time I visited TAPPED IN. However, I am pretty sure that it was Vance Stevens (the man behind Webheads) who introduced me to TAPPED IN. At that time, both Vance and I were moderating our own respective EV online sessions (see http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/evonline). I joined Vance's session, "Webheads in Action: Community formation online and its role in language learning" (see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evonline2002_webheads) and I was hooked right away, not only to the use of technology, but also the people that make the community alive and vibrant. Webheads meet regularly online every Sunday, 12 noon GMT and these meetings are held at TAPPED IN. It was at one of those special meetings with the other Webheads when I got to learn more about TAPPED IN and meet the people behind the helpdesk (BJ, KeikoS, and SusanneN) who were/are always there for newbies like me.

See all our member perspectives.

[3] Technology Tips

Sense of Place
The TAPPED IN virtual environment is more than just bits and bytes on a computer program. Transition from the real world to the virtual world is facilitated by the "sense of place" that is prevalent in the TAPPED IN environment. This month's tech tip is actually a non-tech tip...forget the tech and think about the place: the buildings, the rooms, and the people that occupy the space. When you approach TAPPED IN this way, the transition is a snap!

Advanced Tech Tip of the Month: Staff Development Training Tips
Whether you are leading a staff development training session, or bringing a class of college or graduate students online, these tips may be helpful for you in introducing TAPPED IN. See www.tappedin.org/info/trainingtips.html.

[4] TAPPED IN News Nugget

Derrel Fincher is doing a session and a workshop at the Minneapolis, Minnesota TIES Conference (see http://tchlrn.ties.k12.mn.us/ties2002/main/details.asp). He has a stand-by presentation called "Beyond Chat: Teaching Students Professional Discourse" in which he will discuss TAPPED IN and how it helps in the classroom.
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If you have RealPlayer, and feel up to braving ten minutes of French, there is an online interview with Phil Benz and Christine Nucci about the Viva project, from a conference in Marseille a few weeks ago. http://www.ftpress.com/orme/06-nucci-benz.html
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Kudos to editors Gwen Solomon and TAPPED IN members Paul Resta and Nancy Allen on the publication of their new book, "Toward Digital Equity: Challenges of Bridging the Divide in Education". The chapter authors represent many PT3 grants.
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The November 2002 issue of Leading and learning with Technology Feature Article: Oh, What Wonders You Will See / Distance Education - Past, Present, and Future was written by TAPPED IN member Lynne Schrum.
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TAPPED IN member Debra Sprague presented a webcast through George Mason University on Assistive Technology for people with disabilities that provided an overview of these technologies with hands-on demonstrations. The webcast is archived at http://www.techmentor.org/webcasts.html
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Teachers College Press announced the publication of, The Virtual High School - Teaching Generation V, by TAPPED IN members Andrew Zucker and Robert Kozma, with a forward by TAPPED IN member Chris Dede.
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Do you have a News Nugget about yourself or another member of the TAPPED IN Community? Send your News Nugget to BJ Berquist at bjb@tappedin.org.

[5] About ...On the TAPIS

Postings of all ...ON THE TAPIS issues are available on the TAPPED IN website. Contact us if you have any questions about your subscription, password or user name, or if you have any news items that you want to share with the community for ...ON THE TAPIS.