She checked in to make sure I could hear what was going on. Once the event began, my buddy ensured I had a good view of the presenters and their presentations on the big screen. This really helped me feel that I was “there” and part of the group. The participants were finishing up breakfast as Gina toured me around the room and introduced me to people around her. On the day of the event, at the time allotted on the schedule - about 10 minutes prior to the start - Gina Skyped me and we established an issue-free video connection. We had a quick email exchange to confirm and organize.
That pre-existing relationship helped cement the buddyship. I was lucky enough to be able to buddy up with Gina Bennett, whom I already knew as a facilitator of an online course I had participated in. It included a coordinating table that we could use to input our Skype/contact details and to buddy up. The responsibility for accessibility shifted from the event to the individual.Ī Google Doc outlining the Tech Buddy process was emailed to all event participants. All that was required was a Skype video connection to a buddy at the event with a mobile device that could be used to carry you into the activities. It was a simpler and less labour-intensive solution. When she responded proposing Tech Buddies, things quickly shifted. Offering to set up the tech that would let me access an event that I otherwise couldn’t have attended - an opportunity to exchange with other online learning wonks, no less - was a no-brainer.Īs I sent that email to Sylvia, I was thinking in terms of a web conference - which would have obliged the event presenters and activities to cater in some way to that broadcast medium. “I’d be happy to volunteer to help set up/administer some of the tech required - if BCcampus would be willing to share its tech resources for this purpose.”Īsif also coined the term “buddyship,” which perfectly captures this experience of teaming up to bring a remote participant into an event.Īsif’s experience as a remote participant: Immediately after sending out the invitation, requests started to roll in from very enthusiastic enthusiasts asking about the possibility of remote participation because they were unable to make the journey to Kamloops.Īt BCcampus, we have experimented with a Tech Buddy format at events based on first-hand experiences with the “I’ll take you with me…” approach developed by Beverly and Etienne Wenger-Trayner. These face-to-face meetings that bring together a group of facilitators who typically interact in online spaces have become an (almost) annual event.īy Asif Devji, Gina Bennett, and Sylvia Currie On June 19 th, a group of FLO Enthusiasts gathered together at Thompson Rivers University to share experiences and plan next steps for the FLO family of courses.
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