A message from DC: Kate Boardman

I guess its a bit late to encourage everyone who's there to have done this - but it might still be interesting even though it looks a small enough group to probably get to know everyone briefly over the time. Really sorry to be missing out, but kudos on the ustream-looking good. Off to gym/pool for a bit now before staff a community volunteer event sponsored by Bb this afternoon. Hope all continues to go well, will catchup wiht the recorded sessions later on.
kate

Hi, I'm Kate, a student on the MA in Theology and Ministry at Cranmer hoping one day to switch to full time ministry from my day job. The latter is as Head of E-learning at Teesside University (previously Durham and Hull universities) and as a long-established member of the academics advising the US company Blackboard whose software I've been using since 1999. I fell into technology as the web was arriving, doing my MA dissertation on using modern technology to enhance the study of medieval manuscripts, and I realised as the technology grew that there were huge possibilities in both communication and the delivery of resources (my first publication was an article on using email lists to support students while on placement back in 1994) and so ended up looking for ways to use technology to enhance education and communities. I worked for a while on a major international research project to digitise the Bayeux Tapestry (which I have now created as an exhibition in SL)

As I began my theology study then, it was an obvious choice to explore how my two (three) lives come together. I wrote an essay for my certificate on some thoughts mission and ministry online (http://files.blog-city.com/files/F05/93085/p/f/word_made_virtual.pdf) and more recently have been providing some consultancy to Durham Cathedral on their use of online media (http://files.blog-city.com/files/F05/93085/b/cathedral_mission_and_itsingleshort.doc) I've also almost finished building Durham Cathedral in SL too, which hopefully will play a strong part in next year's redesign of the claustral buildings and provide a space for a digital exhibition of the Treasures while the physical exhibition is closed. (http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs027.snc1/2361_619484721103_61208650_39874015_9206_n.jpg)

I live in both the real and virtual worlds. I don't see them as separate. I don't think we can, or will. That means there are many opportunities we are not taking advantage of in ministry, and I'm really interested in being a part of that conversation as it moves forward. Unfortunately, my day job still pays my salary, so I can't be with digitalsymp this week, as am presenting at an international conference in Washington DC for work. But around the edge of the sessions, the wonders of technology means I'll be with you in spirit :)

Kate