What a Corker

I'm just back from a lively 5 days in Cork where we (the Atlantis Project team) have been involved in the first of two weeks of intensive study. And it has been quite intensive, with research workshops, seminars and project work from morning through to late afternoon, followed by social events around the city and beyond. I stayed at the wonderful Fernroyd House B & B where I was looked after very well indeed (Thanks Tony). For a group of computer specialists there were students with some interesting and relevant names such as Peter Google, Gareth Excell and Herr Flickr (OK.... I made the last one up, but the other two are real). The Irish are such wonderfully warm and friendly people, and we have all made some great new friends whilst there. We have been on several field trips, including a visit to the astounding high tech astrophysics centre and simulation basin at Black Rock Castle Observatory, near Kinsale (pictured above).

Yesterday I took my 9 education students on a visit to St Columba's National Primary School, in Dughlas, just outside Cork (picture below). In the 90 minutes or so we spent at the school, we saw a number of innovative practices which involved technologies such as interactive white boards. Every classroom has one - the result of determined fund raising within the community. We were all very impressed with the dedication of the staff (particularly those who were teaching the special needs children) and their innovative practices. The children were engaged and enthusiastic and were clearly enjoying their studies. Our thanks go to Coleen and the rest of the team for taking the time out to show us around and answer all our questions.

From the school, I went directly to University College Cork, and walked in to the oak panelled room followed by my entourage of 5 students. I introduced them as my 'research assistants', but I couldn't keep a straight face. I did a dry run using the 'It's personal' slides, which I was to use later for the PLE/PLN online symposium. The 50 or so academic staff present seemed to enjoy my presentation and there ensued a lively discussion/ Q and A session. My thanks to Rob Cosgrave for the unexpected invitation, which arose from his reading of my blog and realising I was in Cork this week.

The evening Elluminate session for the PLE/PLN online symposium, organised by Stephen Downes, George Siemens and Rita Kop, was a different affair entirely. It took place at the Atlantis base in Cork Institute of Technology. I had a few difficulties setting up the system and then uploading my slides, but the technology eventually worked in time for my presentation, and Stephen, who moderated, was in good form. The 30 or so German and Polish students and colleagues from the Atlantis project, who watched as my local audience couldn't grasp much of the conversation due to the audio quality, but generally they all found the presentation stimulating and some discussion followed after the online session had closed.

We have had a corking good time, and it's not over yet. I'm back in the UK until Sunday when I fly down to Barcelona for the Open EdTech Summit meeting, before flying up to Frankfurt on Wednesday where I rejoin the Atlantis team for week 2 of the intensive programme. If it's as productive and enjoyable as Cork was, I will be very happy indeed... and all the travel will be worth it. Even the Ryan Air part.

See Naples and blog

Well, now I know the difference between a piazza and a pizza. Not a lot - they are both expensive and difficult to get through/across. Only difference is that a piazza is square and a pizza is round (except on EasyJet flights where they actually sell square pizzas - shame on them). Well, here I am in Napoli, home of the pizza, a place that is at once both beautiful and horrific. It's beautiful because the Amalfi coast, Vesuvius, Sorento, Capri, and the Bay of Naples are all naturally beautiful, scenic and the names evocative of romance and amore. It's horrific (at least where I'm staying, in and around Piazza Garibaldi) because there is garbage piled high everywhere you look, and hookers and addicts loitering on the seedy street corners outside my hotel. Must have chosen the wrong place to stay, and reminds me of a week I spent in Copenhagen a few years back.

I'm here in Napoli for the EDEN 2007 Conference, held at the Citta della Scienza (City of Science) which is not a city at all, more a repurposed complex of factory warehouses. It's ugly on the outside, very pleasant inside..... (don't). It took me over an hour to get there from the centre of Napoli today. I spent the day with my mate Palitha Edirisingha seeing the sights of Pompeii, before a long walk, dodging the taxis and scooters to the metro, a metro ride (where we were crammed like sardines inside an overheated and airless compartment for almost an hour) and then a bus ride (where we were crammed like sardines inside an overheated and airless compartment) for a few miles more. Citta della Scienza is 'off the beaten track' I would say, and many delegates arrived tonight for registration and the opening welcome party 'hot under the collar'. Not a good start, EDEN. Let's hope the content is a little better than the location.....