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Following
the success of the 2008 inaugural
promotion of author readings via video
conference, the program is being
repeated in 2009. Using the NSW
Department of Education and Training's
broadband wide area network and video
conference facilities, all schools
taking part in this year's Premier's
Reading Challenge, including those in
regional NSW, are able to view the book
reading in real time.
Deborah Abela launched the 2009
program on Tuesday April 7th, joined by
students from Hayes Park Public School
at Distance Education HS at
Woolloomooloo. Deborah shared her
expertise in writing and conducted a
penless workshop, which included a
reading from her latest Max Remy
book and a question and answer session.
398 students registered from 13 schools
and took part in the workshop via video
conference.
The
second interview with Dave Hackett
took place on Wednesday May 20th. Dave
conducted a drawing and cartooning
session discussing some of his
techniques and read from his debut novel
UFO: Unavoidable Family Outings.
249 students from 7 schools took part in
the session and 20 playbacks and
downloads have been recorded of the
site.
Frances Watts conducted the third
session on August 5th and Peter
FitzSimons will conclude the 2009
program on September 23rd.
The aim of the program is to support students in
remote, isolated schools and give them the opportunity to "meet" and chat with
authors, to hear a reading and bring books alive. The session is a great
opportunity for students in schools registered for the Premier's Reading
Challenge to be inspired by the authors accessed with the assistance of the
Dymocks Children's Charities. For more information on the Premier's Reading
Challenge and Authors Online click
here
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