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<p class=MsoNormal>Hi everyone (and apologies for the cross posts!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Leading up to the first couple of VITTA PD events this year,
there was quite a bit of discussion on the lists about VITTA’s support (or
lack of) for those of you in regional and rural Victoria. Last year we
tried to offer more regional PD than we had previously but encountered the same
sorts of barriers that we have in previous years (mostly being related to cost
of holding face to face PD). Being an IT teachers association – we should
be able to do better. I know this and you all know this!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Our desire has always been to do the best we can in this
regard – but what we have been able to offer has not come even close to
meeting your needs. As President – and on behalf of the VITTA
committee – we are determined to do better in 2008. This may all
sound like rhetoric – so you may just have to see how it all pans out –
but you have our promise that we are working hard and have already spent quite
a bit of time on this issue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Firstly, (and thanks goes to <span lang=EN style='color:
black'>Geoff Hutchinson, Kevin Feely, David Doolan and Kent Beveridge for their
willingness to help out – and their input), VITTA is in the process of
establishing regional reps who will better be able to gauge the needs of their
areas, coordinate venues and communicate with teachers in their area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'>Thank you for your input
in regards to the PD times that we set for Metro PD sessions. Many of you
asked that the times be more reasonable for those that need to travel long
distances (and are making the effort to do so!). I must confess that this
was not an issue that we had considered (and yes – I do take on board the
criticism that we are very ‘Metro-centric’ when organising these
events – guilty as charged). From this point onward, we will endeavour
to start our PD at 10am (instead of 9am) – which I know is only a small
concession, but one which I know will make a difference to many of you.
In addition to this, VITTA is prepared to offer a subsidy (on application) to
anyone that is travelling to a VITTA metro PD more than 100km in one direction.
We know that making the effort to come to a metro PD incurs a number of
additional costs that make it far less attractive a prospect – so we want
to do what we can to help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'>VITTA will produce
recordings of our most popular PD sessions – and these will be made
available via an online facility that will shortly be launched on our website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'>In other news, we are in
the process of applying for a grant that will allow us to set up a
communication portal – which will hopefully excellent teleconferencing
and collaboration to take place – at no additional cost or complication
to those wanting to attend. More news on that later! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='color:black'>Hopefully these
initiatives are a step in the right direction! Stay tuned for more news
in the months to come! All the best!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Adrian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Adrian
Janson, <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>VITTA
President<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Director
of ICT, <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Melbourne
High School, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Forrest
Hill, South Yarra 3141 Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Phone:
03 9826 0711 International: +61 3 9826 0711<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Fax: 03
9826 8767 International: +61 3 9826 8767<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>E-mail: <a
href="mailto:janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au">janson.adrian.a@edumail.vic.gov.au</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Website:
<a href="http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au">http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Blog: <a
href="http://jansona.edublogs.org/">http://jansona.edublogs.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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