Off the cuff idea...

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

I just had an email from the head of the scholl where I will be teaching in Brazil....

She says that we are about to get a share of a satellite connection and, by coincidence, I had recently read about a local school here that has formed ties with a school abroad by chatting with them using webcams.

Maybe CH, if this is not already being done, would like to undertake a similar project with my school in Brazil? I don't exactly know how this would work, but does anyone know who runs IT or whatever its called at CH that I could contact to get the ball rolling?

[DavebytheSea]

Over to you, Mrs C

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

Mrs C?

[sejintenej]

Tim,

you must appreciate that where electronic technology is concerned the UK is lightyears behind Brazil; I am frankly amazed that a school in a major centre like Manaus was not already fully connected five years ago.

In my business the UK was / is 20 years behind France in many areas (like Chip and Pin) but they are far behind Brazil. An example from the 80's - go into a branch of a different bank 2000 miles from your branch and pay in some cheques; thay should be cleared and credited to your account ready to be drawn in cash from an ATM in two to three hours. Our inter-branch communications system was all satellite-based running through supercomputers in 1984!

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

Are you implying that CH is not very computer literate?

The school is on the very outskirts of Manaus and is only small, so no broadband likely there for a few years.

I have had webcam and broadband (2mb atm, 8mb if I want it) in Uk for 3 years and the college where I teach has inter-class conferencing with dedicated landline, electronic whiteboards, laptops for many staff, every member of staff has access to an internet PC in their staffroom. Most classrooms have an internet PC.

I chat online to people from all over the world everyday. The local small First school has its 7-8 yr old pupils making the school's website....

Maybe my experience of IT technology comes from a different perspective.

[DavebytheSea]

Mrs C?

Try a PM to her, Tim

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

No rush, just wondering what the connection was... I see she is a regular contributor, maybe just busy atm.

[Jeeves]

The C.H. IT department is the best place to start. However they are very restrictive about pupil Internet access and ban many suitable websites such as this one. Good luck!

[DavebytheSea]

The C.H. IT department is the best place to start. However they are very restrictive about pupil Internet access and ban many suitable websites such as this one. Good luck!

There seems to be fairly general access to this site now, even below the GE. Perhaps it is because we are now behaving better than we did!

[Mrs C.]

I`ve sent you a PM, Tim.

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

thx

[J.R.]

The C.H. IT department is the best place to start. However they are very restrictive about pupil Internet access and ban many suitable websites such as this one. Good luck!

There seems to be fairly general access to this site now, even below the GE. Perhaps it is because we are now behaving better than we did!

I think there were only 2 'members' who abused the site, Dave ! I understand from a couple of the pupils at CH that they are NOT restricted from here, though I find it odd that a couple of staff members who used to contribute on here have been absent for ages.

Shades of 'Big Brother' one wonders ?

Keep up the good work Mrs C and keep invigilating ! (You can't get done for it !)

[marty]

I just had an email from the head of the scholl where I will be teaching in Brazil....

I hope you're going to learn how to spell 'school' before you start teaching!

[Tim_MaA_MidB]

Doh... I new i shuda editd taht poste when I spoted the misake.

But, I am not going to be teaching English so....

[DavebytheSea]

I just had an email from the head of the scholl where I will be teaching in Brazil....

I hope you're going to learn how to spell 'school' before you start teaching!

Isn't it something to do with sandals? I expect they wear them a lot in Brazil - I believe the climate there is quite tropical and conducive to summer clothes.