Hello Out There

[Maddi]

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

[Maddi]

Hi Terry,
I didn't find the clip on you tube, my mum told me about it so I went on the website. The video was probably the main thing that made me decide I was going to participate in the project. I am really glad I did because it is such a great feeling sending off the boxes.
I will have a look at your website, I am interested in ICT, I started this project last year but stayed on because I enjoyed it.
Also I am not sure whether the project is restricted to NZ and Australia.
Maddi

[Terry Freedman]

You enjoy ICT? I'd love to find out why? Would you like to write an article for my website and a newsletter? I can't pay you I'm afraid, but you would keep the copyright and it would be seen by potentially thousands of teachers. Discuss it with your parents if the idea appeals to you.

[Terry Freedman]

I should have said, Maddi, that the most recent issues of the newsletter are here: http://ymlp.com/archive_guybuwjgjgb.php, and the most recent issue is here: http://ymlp.com/zlnngQ

The website is new-ish. My old website is here:
http://www.terry-freedman.org.uk. That's got a lot more articles, but it's no longer easy to find stuff, so I just started a new website at www.ictineducation.org.

Also, if you fancy writing something, you should discuss it with your teacher too. I have to make sure that everyone involves feels comfortable.

All the best
Terry

[Maddi]

Hi Terry,
Sorry for the late reply but I have been pretty busy lately. I would love to write the article, my parents are fine with the idea and I don't have an ICT teacher this year, it isn't offered to year nines. It was last year and I really enjoyed it but my teacher Mrs Baird no longer attends this school. You may know Mrs. Baird, I think she has a similar job to you, not quite sure. Just a quick question, were you apart of the Flat Classroom Conference held in Qatar this year around January?
Anyway I have started writing the article, if its ok I am not going to put my last name or school in the article. Its fine about not being paid, I am really interested in doing it so I see myself benfiting from it! Is there a particular date you would like it in by?
Thanks,
Maddi

[Terry Freedman]

Dear Maddi

That's great news. Very sensible to not use last name or school, and I would have advised that if you hadn't said it. It would be nice to include a photo though if you're comfortable with that, like the one you use here, but it's absolutely fine if you or parents don't like the idea.

It would be good if you could look at this http://www.terry-freedman.org.uk/compics/!ICTinEducationContributor... and let me know if you and yr parents are OK with it. It basically states that you're not going to write anything that could cause trouble, and that you keep the copyright.

It wld also be good if you could put a bit of a biography at the end, eg Maddi is x years old and plays the trombone. She is hoping to go to university and study marine biology. If you have any sites or skills that you'd like people to know about, eg if you write fan fiction or poetry or play guitar at friends' parties, that would be the place to mention them.

No deadline, but I am hoping to get the next newsletter out next week, so as soon as poss would be good, but only if it's not going to put u under loads of pressure. Otherwise it will go in newsletter just before Christmas.

Other issues: I don't know Mrs Baird I'm afraid. I was invited to Qatar, but couldn't make it because of work commitments. I gave the keynote via an uploaded video instead. Why, did you go? If so, did you enjoy yourself?

Looking forward to reading your article, Maddi. Thanks once again :-)

Take care
Terry

[Julie Lindsay]

Maddi, I have been reading with interest your conversation with Terry over the past few weeks, and also the conversations in this discussion that have spanned over a year now!
I am also writing an article for the ISTE Learning and Leading Magazine on digital citizenship and wondered if you would like to provide me with a quote (you will get full credit of course). By the way, were you one of the presenters from Australia to Qatar during the Flat Classroom Conference? If so, I have a picture of the four of you presenting via Skype....this would be a great addition to the article alongside your quote.

I just read your profile and found this you had written last year:
"I really feel that this should be taught to all ages. Its never to late or to early to learn internet safety. The web is developing into an important part of our lives and if children aren't learning at a young age how dangerous it can be than their is going to be trouble. Adults also need to learn about the safety so they can pass on the information to children and also for their own safety. Just because you are over 40 doesn't mean that you aren't targeted.

I think the most important thing I learnt in this project was the language used when communicating with students and teachers from other countries. Sometimes I had to explain what a word meant or what something was and they would have to do the same to me. I think it was a really good experience communicating with so many different people."

I would like to use this for the article. Is that OK with you?

[Maddi]

Hi Julie,
Yes I was one of the reperasentatives for Wedderburn College last year. You can definitely use that for your article and I am sure the picture is fine to use to. I will get back to you soon but I am currently in class!
Thank you,
Maddi

[Terry Freedman]

hello stranger! How is that article coming along? I think it's fantastic that Julie has picked up on your thoughts!

all the best
Terry

[Maddi]

Hi Terry,
Sorry i haven't had a lot of time to go on lately because it is that time of year where it is really busy. I have finished the article and I will send it to year sometime during the next week. Yes it is fantastic that Julie has picked up on it, this discussion is over a year old!
Thanks,
Maddi

[Maddi]

Hi Terry, the article is ready to go, how would you like me to give it to you... I could just paste the text into one of these discussions or I could maybe email it to you?
Thanks,
Maddi
Oh and I am sure the article needs editing so I don't mind if you edit it or change things, that is so fine. I know that sometimes I get carried away with words so you might want to tone down some of my phrases haha. Oh and the language may be slightly different because it is Australian, not English, I don't think it will matter though.
Thanks again,
Maddi

[Terry Freedman]

Hi, Maddi
Funnily enough, I thought about the emailing side of things after my last message, but I was so tired I had to get to bed!

Please email it to me at [e-mail]. That will automatically get copied to my wife, Elaine (we set that up in case I missed important emails!). I'd rather you didn't paste it here because then it would be published here before appearing in my newsletter.

Do I take it then that you're happy with this contract?

Thanks for the go-ahead to change things if I want to, but as a general tip I would advise you against saying things like that to editors, because unscrupulous ones can actually change the meaning of what you were trying to say, or make it sound like you have different views to the ones you do. I would always assume that you would be asked to approve major changes. In this case, I may change it by changing formatting or the odd word or by adding a definition (see below), but if it's anything more substantial than that I will ask your permission, which is the way it should be.

As for Australian English, I think having different forms of English is an enriching experience, so I wouldn't want to change things except for clarification, like if you've used the word 'billabong' in your article! On that score, if you have used any terms like 'Year 9' could you just put in brackets afterwards what age group that is please? Similarly, if you have mentioned any exams, could you put in brackets what the initials stand for and what age they're taken at please? For example, in England I would write 'GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education, taken at 16 as a rule').

Could you also provide me a photo to use please (I think your pic here would be too low-res to make bigger)? I don't know the photo that Julie referred to, but I'd be happy to use that as long as you point out which one is you, or send me a different one if you prefer (or a link to one).

Also, add a few words about yourself, without mentioning your town or school.

Thanks for doing the article, I am really looking forward to reading it.

Take care
Terry

[Maddi]

Hi Terry,
I read the contract and I agree to everything, except the article is only 520 words long and the the contract 750-1000 I think... does that matter?
Also I think the photo of Julie's would be good to accompany it, I am the one wearing black with brown hair, the photo was from January this year and if you want I could give you a more updated one. I understand that I shouldn't give people the write to change my work because it could backfire but I trust that you aren't going to modify any of my statements. I would just like it if maybe you could fix the grammar errors or sentences that do not make any sense!
Thanks,
Maddi
Oh and also if the article isn't what you are after then I will not be offended if it isn't publised haha.