In the past couple of years interest in technology at our school has been highly focused on the 1:1 project.  However, prior to 1:1 our school was heavily involved in web based projects, collaborative projects and webcasts of special events.

These webcasts allowed students in other, perhaps more remote, areas to access people and events that they would normally have little contact with.  They might be politicians, musicians, whomever might have a special story to tell that could help our students learn.

Last week we got back into the webcast game.  It was my first experience with this tool.  WOW!  As part of National Science and Technology Week, we were asked to partner with Natural Resources Canada (Atlantic Region) in a webcast that would wrap up their S&T Frontliners project.  The project allowed students in classes across Atlantic Canada to follow a group of scientists during the week as they posted daily updates on blogs and videos. 

The webcast gave almost 3000 students in 60 schools an opportunity to meet (at least in cyberspace), hear from and pose questions to these scientists in the hopes that this might encourage more students to explore careers in science and technology.

The technology worked flawlessly (thanks mostly to our provincial governments investments in technology infrastructure and the work of our crack tech team!) but, more importantly, my colleagues involved here at Nashwaaksis Middle have begun to see more opportunities for knocking down the walls in our school. 

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