Organising a TeachMeet The #TMBelfast Experience

History, Timeline ideas and hints! Whats different about Northern Ireland? How did we get going? Creating a social network Creating interest Getting backers Pulling it off! Tech – Dos and Donts Getting feedback

Whats different about Northern Ireland? Inherently conservative about education and collaboration Three main education systems – Maintained, Controlled and Integrated There can be general mistrust across sectors #TMBelfast included teachers from these three sectors, across both Primary and Post-Primary (including Grammar and Secondary)

How did we get going? It started with a Tweet – 7 th November 2010 A year later (I know) five of us met in a coffee shop to plan! Creating a Social Network buzz Just wondering if there are many NI teachers using Twitter for Ed purposes! Could we organise a TeachMeet? Is there an interest? Pls RT. Thx Great meeting this morning to begin planning TeachMeetBelfast2012. Lovely #tmbelfast +1

Creating a Social Network Twitter: Short and Snappy hashtag, asking others to RT as necessary. Using some of the famous Education Tweeters helps Endlessly tweeting and retweeting to build atmosphere and expectation Facebook Profile – can be linked to the Twitter account, too. Creates more of a buzz, information can be shared and liked to build a wider audience

Generating Interest Tweet and be Tweeted about! distribution lists (LEA lists?) Go big! Pretend it isnt work! Get fliers / posters out early

Putting it all together Food and accommodation have been supported by others – makes the experience more relaxing – Digital Circle (NI) / Microsoft / iTeach-UK / British Council Interested parties given chance to meet with teachers – in the room where the buffet organised. Displays are paid for by a donation to the raffle. Why? No money involved in the enterprise – organisers dont feel under pressure / Teachers dont feel sold to. If companies are interesting – these are the teachers that are interested. Nobody feels that they have to justify their moneys worth. Support

The Wiki The Wiki – gave us a number of things: Somewhere to refer people to to get more information An idea of numbers in the early days Somewhere to organise speakers and the lengths of presentations they are prepared to give Post relevant videos of the concept of the TeachMeet to introduce our new members! Stream a feed of the TeachMeet that evening Post the videos from that night for future references

On the night – Pulling it off! Tickets – We use eventbrite.co.uk as the source of our online tickets. It is free for events where there is no charge, it keeps track of everything on the night through apps – Android / iOS / W8(?)eventbrite.co.uk Give everyone a job – Thats why it is a team: checking tickets; putting up signs; checking the tech; meeting and greeting the supporters; meeting and greeting your new friends; checking and rechecking the Stream. We used two screens – one for the presentations / raffle and one for a steady stream of tweets –

Keeping It Flowing Raffle prize draw in between each presenter Use the Random Name Generator for both the prize draw and the speakers!Random Name Generator Two presenters on the evening – one to keep the banter flowing and the other to organise the next raffle / speakers, etc.

Streaming and AV Reliable connection required. Use LAN cable instead of relying on wireless Good streaming site is essential Google Hangout – now has the ability to record a session through Google Air We had a building with excellent Bandwidth to facilitate a stream

Feedback was used for our original feedback Google Drive (Forms) also a good way of gauging feedback Google Drive Good to have evaluation for future events!

Follow Up! Link to presentation > Link to me! >