As education and blogging working environments go, South Florida has a lot going for it. In the few days run up to the South East and Mid-Atlantic Language and Technology Conference in Fort Lauderdale, I've been teleworking down the road in Boca Raton, in the warmth and generosity of our host, Frank Kruger-Robbins. It's got me thinking (again) about the need for places of work and learning, and how schools might evolve in the future.
It's been a treat here, and the time difference has been far less harrowing to work with than the one I had trouble catching up with in New Zealand. I'm up early, from about 6am, to work six hours or so through to midday. I can then spend the rest of the afternoon out in the sun, down by the pool or on the beach, or having a read in Barnes and Noble around the corner. Come early evening, I'm able to catch up in 20 minutes or so with the emails over-enthusiastic colleagues have thumped out before they, at their 10pm, head off to bed, leaving plenty of time to sample the Cuban treats, a Mojito or two, or the amazing food and drink of a crazy steak house.
What can be 'tele-worked'?
So what kind of work can be done by teleworking? Exactly the same kind of work that can be done when I'm working from home in Edinburgh, in the office in Glasgow or out in a school. Here's how today's worked out so far:
4.00am: Catriona woke up with a bit of a teething temperature. We gave her some Calpol to bring her down (it worked) and, waiting to see how she got on, I tweeted for any advice. Six points came in within five minutes from colleagues in the UK just starting their first lessons - good for the next time. I also picked up on some emails just starting to come in from Glasgow, setting people off so that they could get on with their next moves.
8.30am: With some coffee on brew I emptied the rest of my emails, a few Local Authority requests for help on mobile phone strategies. David Muir Skypes in for a chat, and to talk about the superb Apple Institutes taking place at the University in March.
9.30am: I spent an hour on the phone with Don Tapscott's ThinkTank in Toronto. For two weeks we've had trouble fixing up a meeting because the UK time difference tends to work against US-Canada-UK working. Fascinating stuff on social media and how it transforms leadership.
10.30am: Spent some time working with one of Scotland's biggest teaching union on digital literacy, collaboratively on a Google doc between colleagues in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
11.00am: Started downloading and reading the latest research reports on social media in education and new learning spaces, including some interesting European research beginning to emerge from the Commission. It also gave a chance to work out what articles I need to be writing, for whom and for when. There are a fair few, plus a stack of trains and planes to book up for the next bout of work.
12.30: As the baby naps, and Morgane watches French television on the balcony (wifi everywhere), the emails and Skypes begin to draw back. The UK is setting off home into the dark for its tea. Time to lay down the laptop, recharge the batteries in all senses, and head out for some more Barnes and Noble. Come 4.30pm, I'll be back to wipe the slate clean (again). Who knows, I might even get some of my own work done...
And just look at you in your short sleeves. Show off!
Posted by: Karyn Romeis | January 29, 2008 at 11:51 PM