Altilab2005 - Distance Education Blog

The Sakai conference is over.

It's been an amazing experience in a lot of ways:

• went to sessions where I received some great info
• had a Sakai elder spend 3 hours showing me 'under the hood' of Sakai - brain melt down but not impossible
• met some very cool people from Universities in USA and South Africa.
• gave out a lot of SKIL2 business cards - everyone thinks they are beautiful and love them.
• made an IBM contact which I really wanted to do.

Tres successful.

Totally worth the time and money - and having to travel through Dublin Airport (spit).

This afternoon I continued my wandering.

Went to the Rue des Ecoles in search of contemporary cinemas.

I wanted to get Lynda and Derek flyers of movies that were on.

Would you believe - July is French Film Month!!

I went to 4 cinemas and got some cool flyers, postcards & film guides.

Wandered to Rue Dante which has all the comic and manga shops.

Marc - can't find the ones you want - yet. I'll keep looking.

Got some great women warrior comics;-

• Witchblade
• Tomb Raider
• Elektra
• She Hulk
• Red Sonja

Landed up in a great cafe ( La Fourmi Ailee) that's 3 minutes from me - just along the Rue Dante.

Acid green couches ... walls of books ... jazz playing

SIpped on a sauv blanc and tasted an amazing tarte citron with a fig base - and a great pot of lapsang souchong.

All was well in the world.

I'm having lunch there tomorrow with Amy from Uni Indiana.

Then I thought I'd go on a nostalgic walk to the Ille St Louis - where I stayed on my last visit to Paris.

I went to the restaurant where I had eaten alone - and loved it.

Brent & Mary (Moo bar) - I had forgottent that the restaurant was called The Cow - in french.

How could I forget all the different cows in the window!!!

Took photos and will be posing Bo there tomorrow.

Home now and sipping a glass of Grenache Cinsault.

I've drunk less wine in a week than I do on a night in the wine bar in Ballinamore with Mags, Adrian, Derek & Lynda.

It's the neighbours leading me astray dear reader - I'm so impressionable!!

I'm having a quiet night tonight.

A glass of wine - some hummous and greek bread - a salad - spanakopita and tsaziki. All bought yesterday.

I spent about 30 euro in a Greek cafe take away yesterday and have had 4 meals from it.

Hope you've had a lovely day wherever you are dear reader.

Liz

Hi great readers.

I'm blogging live from the Sakai conference.

There are heaps of IT geeks (me too) typing away and chatting.

Feeling much more energised after my lolling day yesterday.

In the last hour I've chatted with two great women from the Uni of Indiana - Rita Pavolka and Uni Michigan - Linda Place.

They are really interested in SKIL2 and Rita has invited me to lunch with some other people so I can chat about SKIL2 and my perception of Sakai.

As a newbie - my sense is that the Sakai brand message says 'Sakai is for universities'.

That could act as a barrier to entry for organisations - say non profits - who think it's too complicated or only has tools that universities will use.

My sense is that Sakai has a steep learning curve but a lot of great tools that would build SKIL2.

The other added advantage of Sakai is the strong community.

Many top universities have provided their teams to build and test Sakai tools - it's always evolving.

I'll be contacting the people I have met in a number of universities in America and South Africa - and ask them if they will be SKIL2 support/partners.

Regardless of whether you are interested in open source or learning management systems - this journey is interesting as it's like all new journeys we take.

It has

• risks,
  
• excitement,
  
• frustration,
  
• chaos,
  
• creativity,
  
• fear,
  

I have a very clear vision for this SKIL2 journey.

I can actually see what the SKIL2 learning space will look like.

The steps to the realisation of SKIL2 will be counted in the millions.

And I'll need patience, persistence, a sense of humour & lots of champagne.

Still blogging live folks.

Sitting at this table is really useful.

People come up and link their computers and then say hi.

Just finished chatting with Patricia Sullivan - IBM exec from San Fran.

She is off to Dublin tonight and tomorrow night. She asked for some hints on Dublin.

She wants me to contact her when I get home. Cool. I'd love IBM as a support/partner.

Funny - I was sitting here thinking ' I've met some of the key universities. All I want to do now is meet someone from IBM' and voila - IBM turns up.

Happens to me all the time - so I'm very careful who I think about.

I think I'll just sit here at the table and see who else I meet.

So - how's Ballinamore going?

Maggie- is it still raining? How's the Sunny Funny Garden? Any more strawberries?

Lynda & Derek - I have found a street that has some contemporary film spaces. I'll be going to them to grab some free film postcards for you.

After lunch I'm off for a wander to the Jardin des Plantes and maybe across to the Right Bank - to the Marais.

Have a lovely day.

Liz

Yesterday was super busy with the Sakai conference.

I went to a great session on how the Uni of Indiana is using podcasts as a learning tool. Liked their process a lot and can see real applications for SKIL2.

One of the Sakai committee members - Jim - gave me 3 hours of his time to show me how Sakai works.

Folks - it's both really clear and totally complicated.

When Jim started showing me computer code to reconfigure elements of Sakai tools - my brain got a little woozy - but I could follow him.

By 3pm I was bushed so went back to the studio for a shower and siesta - it was about 30C and really hot.

Up and about for the Sakai reception - a 45 minute walk from the studio.

Walking up the Boulevard St Germain and then Bvd. St Michel - it's so lovely. I walked past the Luxembourg Gardens and watched kids playing in the park.

The reception was fun and I got talking with some great people from South Africa, America and Spain.

A few of us went out to dinner later. got something to eat but I wouldn't rave about the cafes on these roads - high prices and mediocre food.

Woke today and was totally exhausted.

I think all the walking (2 to 3 hours a day in the heat) and the intensity of my brain trying to take in a mountain of new information - just made me tired.

I stayed in bed and slept for ages and then went out to get some food in the afternoon. It was raining (Maggie don't get mad - but I loved the rain after all the heat) and the place was cooling down.

I walked along a street that has an amazing number of comic stores. I had no idea the French loved comics - and many of them are hardback.

Bought some lovely food from a Greek takeaway around the corner as I was getting very wet.

Spent the rest of the afternoon lolling.

Will be more energetic tomorrow as there is a really interesting session on mashups at the conference.

And I have a free day on Friday and will wander and buy some chocolate and comics.

Decided not to come to Paris in October.

I'm going to Singapore for 2 weeks to work with Marc and some of his developers to start to build the SKIL2 foundations.

Whether I use Sakai or another OS CMS/LMS is yet to be seen. I need to review a few more.

EIther way I'm going to have to learn about:

• Apache Maven
• My SQL
• Tom Cat
• Java

Yeh - scarey.

But - that's why it's called a learning curve.

New knowledge and skills doesn't just wander into our heads fully formed.

We have to struggle with some stuff, find other stuff easy -and just be patient and persistent.

Oh yeh - and get all the help and support I can.

The SKIL2 vision I have is very clear.

Now it's time for some of the baby steps.

Hope your day has gone well.

Loving Paris and looking forward to getting back to Ballinamore and my friends and the Sunny Funny Garden.

Liz

How long can a day be?

Last time I wrote I was sharing my new girl nerves.

I got over them and went to my Intro to Sakai session.

We were a small but gorgeous group so we introduced ourselves and then settled in for the next 3.5 hours.

At the break I said Hi to the guy in front of me who's from Oz. Turns out he lives in Perth - Scarborough!

Yup - small world. He's a Brit who has an Irish mum and moved to Oz.

I'm a hybrid with Irish parents who moved to Ireland - a kind of karmic people balance.

The Sakai introduction was great and made me feel both shit scared and excited.

Thank God/dess they have the same physical manifestations (increased heart rate and breathing) or I would have been in trouble.

I can see the real potential for Sakai to be the base for the SKIL2 learning space.

And - I have to learn a lot. So much that my head may explode.

And -I do not exclude the possibility that after a year I may not be able to build the vision of SKIL2 that I have ... but that's a very worst case scenario.

What I am experiencing is totally common in any new learning experience ... that sense of the huge chasm between what you want to know ... and knowing how much you don't know and have to learn.

Then Mike and me and Amy (one of the presenters) walked the 40 minutes to the newbie reception. It was fun chatting and laughing as we went along.

Paris is really beautiful and a walking city. Every corner has beautiful buildings and little cafes ....

Met a few really nice people who have offered any help I need to build SKIL2.

They weren't just saying it - they were asking for time to chat with me during the conference ... and was there anyone I wanted to meet ... too sweet.

An aside - we find it easy to dump on Americans (and darlin's some of them really don't help themselves. I listened to a couple at my gelato stand say things - very loudly - like ' there's no bell,,, I bet we wait here for ever,,').

Well - Mags and my neighbours (Lynda and Derek) are fab and two of my favourite people.

And the Sakai folks are American - and totally delightful.

I have a feeling that if I asked nicely - they'd pretty much build SKIL2 for me.

I think the real sense of community and support appeals to me.

I'm deeply value driven so it's a real buzz to have people offering their time and skills for free.

Apart from me - there were 2 things people loved at the reception when I chatted with them - the SKIL2 business card (got rave reviews from everyone - beautiful,cool, love it ... ) and Diva (my new 7 inch laptop)

People were asking if they could borrow her to show their mates.

If I was on commission to sell the Asus Eee 701 - I'd be able to finance SKIL2.

I left the reception and walked for over an hour home.

Lolling Liz not happy.

Even with a map I get lost - but what a city to get lost in.

I wandered past the Luxemborg Gardens and down the Boulevard Saint Michel - then into the Boulevaard Saint Germain and into my street - Rue Maitre Albert.

Went to the Creperie for a so so dinner.

I realised around 9.30 that all I'd eaten was a fruit salad for breakfast. I tend to forget food when I am energised.

Drinking about 3 litres of water a day and walking about 3hours.

Tired Lizzy.

What no photos!!!!!! - I hear you yell.

Yeh - and when exactly have I had the time to upload and resize the photos my dear reader?

No time at all at all.

Patience mon ami - I will get it sorted soon.

Love Paris and will be renting this studio for a month either in the Autumn or next year - early Spring.

If people want the contact I will share it only with my devoted readers. And I'm booking it for October.

I feel really comfortable here - as I do in Ballinamore.

Should have heard me raving about Ballinamore at the conference drinks - I love living there.

I don't speak a lot of French but I say hello, and good, and bye, and thank you instinctively - not just verbally but in my head.

Off to sleep now. Tired ... tired,

Sweet dreams.

Bon nuit.

Liz

So - here I am at the conference at the Marie Curie Uni.

Lots of men and a few women. Lots of American accents talking programming talk. Some french men across at another table - probably talking about dinner.

Me?

I've got my conference pack and a wireless connection. They have set up this huge room with tables and connections. There are a few people typing away on their computers.

My Diva laptop is the prettiest.

Feels a bit like being the new girl at the new school (something I have had a lot of experience doing - 6 or so schools when I was a kid). Everyone has someone to play with but me.

And I'll just sit back and watch people for a while.

I'll find some playmates real soon.

The newbie reception tonight will be a good place to start meeting people.

I'm also about to go to an 'Introduction to Sakai' session for 3 hours. The room will be full of newbies like me.

Hot and sunny outside.

liz

Bonjour mes amis

Sorry it's been a few days since my last blog ... it's taken me all weekend to find an adapter for the computer ... and ... get the computer linked to broadband.

I did get a chance to write some stuff offline so I'll paste it in here.

The trip from Dublin to Paris redefines nightmare.

The Dublin Airport Authority deserves a good thrashing.

There so called 'welcome helpers' sent me to the wrong line where I waited for an hour only to be then told to go to another line.

It's like the 9th pit of hell combined with what I think Limbo must have been like.

Folks - it is a rare thing to see me in a rage ... and it's a cold and scarey thing.

I seethed.

Anyway - read what I wrote on the plane as I was living it.

June 27 In Dublin the day before going to Paris.

Lolling in Brown Thomas restaurant waiting for my sauv blanc and duck roll.

So - here I am sipping on the sauv blanc and eating the yum duck roll - and - I'm watching the well dressed women around me leaning forward to each other and chatting about who knows what.

Its hot as hell in here and in Dublin.

I left Ballinamore wrapped up and cold. Thanks Cathy for the lift and great chatting to Mrs Smith & Siobhan - they're off to party in Cork.

Look at the new banner again.

Does anyone remember the tv series - Bewitched?

I thought the type face and design had a resonance of that show. I loved the show and I wonder if Marc thinks I'm a witch.

Did I mention I'm off to Paris?

I'm pretty sure that Maggie and the rest of the neighbourhood is sick of hearing about this Paris trip.

Somehow I've been able to bring it into every conversation

' Ah - your dog died. Did I tell you I'm off to Paris.'

'Great to hear about your bypass surgery ... love affair ...new book (congrats Derek) ... Spain being in the final ... Did I tell you I'm off to Paris?'

28^th June - Saturday - 7am.

And here I sit in the Aer Lingus plane.

After a long, long, long wait in the wrong line (thank you customer care at Dublin Airport - not - you big stupid people) and then another wait in another line - and then a run to get on the plane .... we wait.

We wait for an hour in the plane to get a berth to take off.

The plane is full ... of big and small people ... goddess bless them for their patience.

I did the quick check in online. And then we all had to line up to get our baggage checked in - yup - that's efficient - not.

To say I'm a little irritated would be to understate my feelings ... I'm an easy going woman but stupidity and bad service do my head in .... breathe ... breathe ... breathe... breathe

Oh - and did I tell you I have a middle seat?

And I'm deeply claustrophobic.

Yup - that's me screaming at the back of the plane .... breathe ....

And did I have an early night last night?

Not at all.

I was at Eden restaurant with Mary & Jo eating and drinking more white wine.

The cab woke me at 5am. I had about 3 minutes to get ready.

Looking forward to getting into my studio apartment in Paris and just lying down.

Folks - this is hell.

Breathe ....

I may never fly again ...

I think I'll go by ferry or swim or grow wings.

Staying strangely calm ...

They are playing classical music ... a brave attempt to sublimely calm us all.

Please get me out of here.

Your soon to be Paris blogger .... HELP .... help ....whimper ...sigh

Later that day - in Paris

I'm in love- with Paris.

Got ripped off by a dodgy cab - 90 euro.

Arrived early at Rue Maitre Albert where my studio apartment is ... and climbed the 6 flights of stairs with my huge case.

and then life just went blissful from there on

The studio was ready and it's a dote ... on a quiet street literally across from Notre Dame. It's kitted out with everything and a chaise lounge.

Liz is in heaven.

I went wandering around the neighbourhood and bought some lovely greek food and some french rose (6 euro a bottle).

After my late night, early morning and fraught flight ...I lay my head down for a siesta.

Was woken to the sound of pounding music and remembered that it's the Gay Pride parade .

It ran all the way down the Boulevard Saint Germain - which is 10 steps away from the apartment.

Thousands and thousands of people ... all celebrating (photos to follow when I can work out the new photo software on this laptop).

Great fun and I danced away and celebrated along with everyone else. It went on for hours.

In Paris they have these huge open trucks and organisations all dance on them. Between each truck was a few hundred people walking.

When the noise got too much I wandered off and explored the streets around my neighbourhood.

So far I have found:

• a creperie on the corner - think I'll have breakfast there in the morning. Also had a citron gelato - nice and cold
• a few lovely shops - bought a great necklace
• A comic shop that sells manga and tin tin. Which ones do you want Marc?
• an asian grocery across the street where I bought a mango

And here's a spooky/serendipity/synchronicity thing...

Literally 20 steps from my apartment is a shop that sells computer books and magazines!! And the guy knew about the Sakai conference!

I kid you not.

Sipping a glass of rose and eating olives stuffed with orange - yum.

It was 30 C today but is lovely and cool now.

I have my balcony window open and I can hear the sounds of people talking and walking ... really lovely.

And on the hour I hear the bells .... the bells ... of Notre Dame.

I love Paris.

Bon nuit from your Ballinamore Paris correspondent.

p.s. James - if you're reading this let me know if the sunny funny garden kids were able to garden yesterday after the rain. Just leave a comment here.

Sunday June 29

Wandered up the Rue Mouffetard which has lots of cheese, wine, chocolate, pastry shops - and an open vege and fruit market.

The feast to the senses is quite amazing and I will post photos soon.

For 14 euro I bought bags of cherries, peaches, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes ... huge handfuls of basil, mint and lambs lettuce.

Came back to the apartment and ate an amazing salad.

It's in the high 20's here and hot. So - I had a siesta.

Wandered out again and strolled along the Seine watching people in outdoor cafes sipping wine and others browsing through the booksellers wares.

Me?

I'd bought a citron sorbet at the creperie at the bottom of my street and happily ate it as I wandered along.

My destination was the university where the conference is being held. About 15 minutes walk along the Seine.

Found the Uni and wandered in to see if there were any Sakai signs up.

As I was making my way out I was approached by 2 security guards who asked me something in French.

I replied that I didn't speak French .. smiled.

They replied that they didn't speak English ... smiled.

I wandered out.

June 30 Monday

Some of the preconference sessions started at 8am this morning.

Yeh right.

I will be attending the afternoon session and then a reception for newbies like me this evening.

Sunny and warm here today as I walked along the Boulevard Saint Michel looking for an electrical store.

I really am enjoying just wandering Paris. There's so much to look at.

The buildings in this arrondisement are really beautiful and my apartment feels like it's all part of the neighbourhood.

It's central to the Seine and the Marais (great shopping) and all the Left Bank bookshops and tea shops.

And - it was only 550 euro for the week.

I'd say that it's just right for 1 person or 2 people who are very very very close.

I think I'll come here for a month next year and write and wander.

Will post photos tonight dear reader.

Au revoir

Liz

p.s - Lynda & Derek. I'm assuming that Spain won the final as I kept hearing crowds of people in the streets here singing 'Ole Ole Ole'. You guys must be delighted.

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