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Organising a TeachMeet. The # TMBelfast Experience. History, Timeline ideas and hints!. What’s different about Northern Ireland? How did we get going? Creating a social network Creating interest Getting backers Pulling it off! Tech – ‘Dos and Don’ts’ Getting feedback.
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Organising a TeachMeet The #TMBelfast Experience
History, Timeline ideas and hints! • What’s different about Northern Ireland? • How did we get going? • Creating a social network • Creating interest • Getting backers • Pulling it off! • Tech – ‘Dos and Don’ts’ • Getting feedback
What’s different about Northern Ireland? • Inherently conservative about education and collaboration • Three main education systems – Maintained, Controlled and Integrated • There can be general mistrust across sectors • #TMBelfast included teachers from these three sectors, across both Primary and Post-Primary (including Grammar and Secondary)
How did we get going? • It started with a Tweet – 7th November 2010 • A year later (I know) five of us met in a coffee shop to plan! • Creating a Social Network buzz • ‘Just wondering if there are many NI teachers using Twitter for Ed purposes! Could we organise a TeachMeet? Is there an interest? Pls RT. Thx’ • ‘RT @daithimurray: Great meeting this morning to begin planning TeachMeetBelfast2012. Lovely to meet @amandasalt @curriculumni #tmbelfast +1’
Creating a Social Network • Twitter: Short and Snappy hashtag, asking others to RT as necessary. • Using some of the ‘famous’ Education Tweeters helps - @deputymitchell • Endlessly tweeting and retweeting to build atmosphere and expectation • Facebook Profile – can be linked to the Twitter account, too. Creates more of a buzz, information can be ‘shared’ and ‘liked’ to build a wider audience
Generating Interest • Tweet and be Tweeted about! • Email distribution lists (LEA lists?) • Go big! • Pretend it isn’t work! • Get fliers / posters out early
Putting it all together Why? No money involved in the enterprise – organisers don’t feel under pressure / Teachers don’t feel ‘sold to.’ If companies are interesting – these are the teachers that are interested. Nobody feels that they have to justify their ‘money’s worth.’ Support • Food and accommodation have been supported by others – makes the experience more relaxing – Digital Circle (NI) / Microsoft / iTeach-UK / British Council • Interested parties given chance to meet with teachers – in the room where the buffet organised. • Displays are ‘paid for’ by a donation to the raffle.
The Wiki • The Wiki – www.tmbelfast.wikispaces.com gave us a number of things: • Somewhere to refer people to to get more information • An idea of numbers in the early days • Somewhere to organise speakers and the lengths of presentations they are prepared to give • Post relevant videos of the concept of the TeachMeet to introduce our new members! • Stream a feed of the TeachMeet that evening • Post the videos from that night for future references
On the night – Pulling it off! • Tickets – We use eventbrite.co.uk as the source of our online tickets. It is free for events where there is no charge, it keeps track of everything on the night through apps – Android / iOS / W8(?) • Give everyone a job – That’s why it is a team: checking tickets; putting up signs; checking the tech; meeting and greeting the supporters; meeting and greeting your new friends; checking and rechecking the Stream. • We used two screens – one for the presentations / raffle and one for a steady stream of tweets – www.visibletweets.com
Keeping It Flowing • Raffle prize draw in between each presenter • Use the Random Name Generator for both the prize draw and the speakers! • Two presenters on the evening – one to keep the ‘banter’ flowing and the other to organise the next raffle / speakers, etc.
Streaming and AV Reliable connection required. Use LAN cable instead of relying on wireless Good streaming site is essential www.livestream.com www.ustream.com Google Hangout – now has the ability to record a session through Google Air We had a building with excellent Bandwidth to facilitate a stream
Feedback • www.surveymonkey.com was used for our original feedback • Google Drive (Forms) also a good way of gauging feedback • Good to have evaluation for future events!
Follow Up! • Link to presentation > http://goo.gl/4oFgx • Link to me! > @mrmalcontent • Email > barrycorrigan@outlook.com