an e-skilling odyssey in progress

This odyssey meeting continues the theme of the previous meetings: to explore the potential and affordability of electronic modes of communication to enable collective modes of organising and social activism. Thus we chose to meet as a group, along with our virtual voyagers, in a small scale domestic location and to make use of inexpensive and readily available technology - portable computers and telephone lines. Our intention is to see what we can develop speedily in terms of inclusory dissemination mechanisms and skills acquisition.

Living e-collectivism at Ely

Although we believe that these dissemination mechanisms can be speedily developed, an essential part of that development is looking for bridges to span the virtual boundary of our environment. What better way to develop our plans than to explore the locality?

David is the base of the tree of knowledge with Ian

The only way to understand the environment is by exploring it. This is true just as much for the virtual environment as it is for the physical. Here we are exploring the physical landscape but we invite you to explore with us the virtual landscape of this site.

Walking to Ely Cathedral and a visit to the museum

One of the key skills which we set ourselves to acquire is the use of the Lyceum virtual conferencing software. Why not join with us in discovering and understanding the potential of this Lyceum software? Steve Little is one of the developers of this pioneering software as well as being an Odyssey member.

Steve distracted from video conferencing by the printed word!

Other members of the group have found themselves readily able to understand and use this software. Here we find two members of the group, Dian Marie Hosking and Anne-Marie Greene using the video conferencing system in communication Darwin, Australia.

Dian Marie and Anne-Marie video conferencing using Lyceum

One offshoot of the Odyssey has been the formation of the Changeworks Group who are aiming to facilitate change through there activities. Why not explore their site and see if there is any resonance with their objectives? The wall hanging in the background is from Ghana, the location for the 2001 Odyssey.

The Changeworks Group contemplating change or work or both

Another skill developed during the workshop was website development. We used our collective knowledge and only made use of the technology that it is possible to use in a domestic setting. This page is an example of the kind of webpage that can be developed after only a few hours of training and practice. Here we see Steve Conway from the Changeworks Group relaxing after developing his personal website. Why not visit his site by clicking here?

Steve Conway from the Changeworks group contemplating coffee and a research paper

Discussions often go on until late in the night.... This is when we learn most from each other to enhance our individual and collective skills.