Joanne Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Oooff what a kicker. I've just been looking at pictures of carrot cake too.
Popular Post GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Popular Post Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) I think there was another forum called 'schooltechnicians.co.uk' or something similar (that I thought was better at the time ). Its still there Schooltechnician.co.uk but not as a forum. There have been a number of good forums and groups over the years and they tend to drift off for a few reasons. 1- They were set up for one purpose alone and once that had been fulfilled, or replaced with a different purpose, then the group drifted away. To be honest, this can be a good thing or bad thing. A group is set up to do a task, works on it, produces something as a report or output and then the group is archived. The downside is that not a lot of archiving happened, even on things like the Becta forums. We have lost a lot of good conversations as a result. 2 - The person setting it up is doing it on their own as they have seen a possible gap, but there isn't enough of a groundswell to sustain it and so you rely on one person driving. Sometimes they don't let others play either ... So we *all* have to be very thankful that @Dos_Box not only let others play ... He has encouraged it. 3 - The person driving moves on. There have been a number of good groups out there where the person hosting and driving things has had to pull the plug due to their existing employer or a new employer. ICTTechnician.com was one example, where the owner went to work for Becta so had to toe the line to some extent, and where other 'active' members have had to scale back involvement due to work commitments or pressure. Because EduGeek is scaled very well it can lose key people and adapt ... because @Dos_Box has allowed it to grow that way. Just think, in 10 years we could be talking about that search engine thing, Google, and wondering what happened to it. Edited June 9, 2015 by vikpaw 5
Dos_Box Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) There have been a number of good forums and groups over the years and they tend to drift off for a few reasons. 1- They were set up for one purpose alone and once that had been fulfilled, or replaced with a different purpose, then the group drifted away. To be honest, this can be a good thing or bad thing. A group is set up to do a task, works on it, produces something as a report or output and then the group is archived. The downside is that not a lot of archiving happened, even on things like the Becta forums. We have lost a lot of good conversations as a result. 2 - The person setting it up is doing it on their own as they have seen a possible gap, but there isn't enough of a groundswell to sustain it and so you rely on one person driving. Sometimes they don't let others play either ... So we *all* have to be very thankful that @Dos_Box not only let others play ... He has encouraged it. 3 - The person driving moves on. There have been a number of good groups out there where the person hosting and driving things has had to pull the plug due to their existing employer or a new employer. ICTTechnician.com was one example, where the owner went to work for Becta so had to toe the line to some extent, and where other 'active' members have had to scale back involvement due to work commitments or pressure. Because EduGeek is scaled very well it can lose key people and adapt ... because @Dos_Box has allowed it to grow that way. Just think, in 10 years we could be talking about that search engine thing, Google, and wondering what happened to it. We had a talk with BECTA when they had received notice that they were to close and offered to host their forums, but were told that because they were govt 'property' they were to be archived for reference purposes and could not be passed on to a third party for continued use. You can still see the BECTA site here: [ARCHIVED CONTENT] Becta home I suspect this was largely to drive final nails in the BECTA coffin to prevent it ever being ressurected rather than create a situation where it still lived on in some form. Edited June 9, 2015 by vikpaw 2
GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Yep, and I am looking forward to the new version of EG so that I can delve into the National Archives and retrieve as much of the relevant stuff that is still available to be reused under Open Government Licence.
Dos_Box Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 I'll still never forget Art Lader turning up on the stand at BETT (2008?)! This was the first BETT where we finally had everyone all together on the stand (IIRC 2007 was the first year we ran the technical help point there but I couldn't be on full time as my employers still neeed me there in a professional capacity). I think it was on the second day a guy who looked a lot like Mario (sorry if you are reading this Art, but I have to set the scene) turns up and by teh way he is speaking is clearly American. The conversation goes as follows: Art: Hi, I'm Art Lader Me: Hi Art, I'm Chris Byers, what can I do for you? Art: Well I've just landed a couple of hours ago dropped my bags off at the hotel and I'm ready to start Me: Erm...Start? Art: Helping you? By this stage I was beginning to get a little worried. Who was this man who had come to help, why had he come so far and more importanmtly I really, really hoped he hadn't thought we were going to reimburse his flight and hotel as we had no money! More details were required I think, so I asked: Me: You're here to help? Art: That's right, you asked for help on the forums and here I am We had indeed asked for volunteers to help out at BETT on the forums in November/December. We also said that we would cover hotels and travel if we could. This was not looking good. Me: Oh...right...um Art: I think it was a Tony Sheppard who asked for this help? Yay, someone to blame! Me: TONY!! It was at this point I sort of got the first inkling about just how far EduGeek was beginning to reach It turned out that @GrumbleDook had asked on the Moodle forums if anyone would like to come to BETT and help out on the stand. Art had volunteered and had been flown out and accomodated all at the expense of Sun Microsystems (before their aquisition by Oracle). No one had told us. IIRC I don't think even Tony had been told! Anyway, Art was a lovely guy and was an absolute demon with his Moodle knowlege. If we'd known he was coming I think we would have been better prepared! 3
vikpaw Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) IIRC we didn't even get the same hotels in those days, i remember being in a far off corner of london with @GrumbleDook; i had to reconcile putting up with the snoring against the bonus of only having to share pizza with one other person! Edited June 9, 2015 by vikpaw 2
Dos_Box Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 That's right, we'd ask different companies to help out with costs. RM had very kindly paid for rooms at the Holiday Inn on Cromwell road and when we needed more rooms we had to get someone else to put you guys up in a Travel Lodge near Euston! I miss that Holiday Inn. Especially the Sunday mornings when we all parted ways sat exhausted in the lobby! 1
GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 ART!!! Now there was a guy who could shake Moodle about. Yes, those early days at BETT and conferences were rough and ready, with all sorts of folk pitching in. One day, when I have a few hours spare (and not when I am waiting for software to update so I can get back to work) I will try to list everyone who helped out in the beginning. A few weeks ago I even found a copy of the schedule for the first conference (kindly produced by @russdev, IIRC) where some of the prizes where donated by O'Reilly!
HarryMonkey Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Congratulations to everyone involved. Here's to the next ten years
hallb15 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Happy Birthday - I'm getting a cake for lunch to celebrate. Anyone in the Leeds area up for a slice?? Meet you in Morrisons in 5...
StevieM Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Pop some in a Tupperware box and float it down the canal. I'll pick it up at the other end.
russdev Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Following on from @elsiegee40 , I joined a few weeks after EG started ... mainly because one of the newsgroups went very quiet ... turns out that some of the techie regulars had started to investigate a new forum. I think it was @Roberto that pointed me over here ... And the first person I spotted was @russdev. How did everyone else discover EG? How did I find EG think via education UK Usenet list and as Tony pointed out pretty much spotted each other first and then life took a strange turn after that day Few moments I remember over years: - The first conference me and Tony organised. I also remember Dave from RM getting very nervous every time we used the ASUS netbook (as only 2/3 in country at the time). - Only one of two Smart tables in UK breaking on BETT stand and guy from a technician from Scotland (I think) had to come down as he was only one in UK who knew how to fix it. - Meeting Tony/Chris for first time at BETT on the ICT Register stand - After I put phone down after had Conversation with BETT organisers after we agreed we would do technical help stand. That moment of sinking feeling.. - What will be ever known between me and @GrumbleDook as the "Christmas eve catholic incident" where a few years back we spent most of Christmas Evev day and night dealing with problem thread. - The now very famous when "EduGeek visited RM" meeting where we had all gone in shirt/ties etc and meeting with RM board members who where all in jeans and t-shirt (as was dress down Friday). - However the thing that stands out to me is people that I meet over years and still meet to this day. I do often feel like part of some weird "Hellfire club" when I go down BETT etc. Russell 4
hallb15 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Pop some in a Tupperware box and float it down the canal. I'll pick it up at the other end. Mmm, best type of cake, most suited to a 127 mile canal trip? I don't know. Answers on a post card to... @Joanne - eating anything that's been in the canal is not a good idea
sonofsanta Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Mmm, best type of cake, most suited to a 127 mile canal trip? I don't know. Answers on a post card to... @Joanne - eating anything that's been in the canal is not a good idea Parkin. It's the HobNob of the cake world
GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) How did I find EG think via education UK Usenet list and as Tony pointed out pretty much spotted each other first and then life took a strange turn after that day Few moments I remember over years: - The first conference me and Tony organised. I also remember Dave from RM getting very nervous every time we used the ASUS netbook (as only 2/3 in country at the time). and I pretended to drop it IIRC :-) {quick edit} It was the 3rd conference IIRC ... the first one was in Corby, the second was hosted by Colin Small in Camden, then back to Corby, before starting them rest off up north! - Only one of two Smart tables in UK breaking on BETT stand and guy from a technician from Scotland (I think) had to come down as he was only one in UK who knew how to fix it. Now, that wasn't me! - Meeting Tony/Chris for first time at BETT on the ICT Register stand You mean this one? https://www.facebook.com/edugeek.net/photos/a.10155700823125105.1073741840.257758620104/10155700823165105/?type=3&theater - After I put phone down after had Conversation with BETT organisers after we agreed we would do technical help stand. That moment of sinking feeling.. ... yes ... we all know who to blame for that! - What will be ever known between me and @GrumbleDook as the "Christmas eve catholic incident" where a few years back we spent most of Christmas Evev day and night dealing with problem thread. Oh yes ... the rabid person who threatened me, you, Chris and every user who posted on a thread with being sued ... and since he was in the process of suing Jim Gamble he was happy to add more people on to the list! - The now very famous when "EduGeek visited RM" meeting where we had all gone in shirt/ties etc and meeting with RM board members who where all in jeans and t-shirt (as was dress down Friday). I *had* to be suited and booted ... school policy. - However the thing that stands out to me is people that I meet over years and still meet to this day. I do often feel like part of some weird "Hellfire club" when I go down BETT etc. Russell Edited June 9, 2015 by GrumbleDook
vikpaw Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 ...I do often feel like part of some weird "Hellfire club" ... We'll have none of that impropriety here! Unless you're talking about Impero 1
sted Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Happy Birthday - I'm getting a cake for lunch to celebrate. Anyone in the Leeds area up for a slice?? Meet you in Morrisons in 5... see if they have that thorntons double toffee delight cake they are lovely but addictive shame im in pudsey atm ps happy birthday edugeek saved my bacon a few times
russdev Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 @GrumbleDook You right was third one as the schedule for first one is here 26.10.2005 - Lodge Park Community College, Corby, Northants - Wiki Russ
vikpaw Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I think my first one must have been the third one in corby then. Did we do a Joomla workshop? That was when we had a lady from Becta tell us that we were scum if we had long hair and wore t-shirts to work...
X-13 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 That was when we had a lady from Becta tell us that we were scum if we had long hair and wore t-shirts to work... That isn't even the worst thing I've been called. [Currently sitting here in my Iron-man t-shirt and having long hair.]
GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 @GrumbleDook You right was third one as the schedule for first one is here 26.10.2005 - Lodge Park Community College, Corby, Northants - Wiki Russ Must have been the 4th one ... I thought the Rochdale one was after Camden ... but possibly not. Corby, Rochdale, Camden, Corby or Corby, Camden, Rochdale, Corby ... Anyone else remember? Colin Small (can't find his EG handle) ?
john Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 That's right, we'd ask different companies to help out with costs. RM had very kindly paid for rooms at the Holiday Inn on Cromwell road and when we needed more rooms we had to get someone else to put you guys up in a Travel Lodge near Euston! I miss that Holiday Inn. Especially the Sunday mornings when we all parted ways sat exhausted in the lobby! We still do that now sit in a lobby looking dead and part ways, well some of us do some just find some local transport and go die in our own beds and avoid train trips, high speed taxi journeys that nearly make vomiting and yeh such good times and memory's Thanks all for making them amazing times over the last 10 years 1
GrumbleDook Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I think my first one must have been the third one in corby then. Did we do a Joomla workshop? That was when we had a lady from Becta tell us that we were scum if we had long hair and wore t-shirts to work... Oh yes ... Debbie ... She was asked to talk about IT professionals being recognised for being professionals and it was taken as an attack on everything from attire to accent. It was actually a number of points about how we have to conform to what everyone else thinks if normal to even start being accepted as professionals ... and once that is there it removes a barrier that some SLT and Teachers had/have about folk doing IT, making them more likely to listen to what you are saying and even praise the direction you are going in. This was based on recent surveys of SLT in schools deemed successful for IT and those struggling. Or was it that she just called you scum? ;-)
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