Want to Use Blackboard Collaborate (Previously Elluminate) Free for a Year?

Long before I took a job at Elluminate, the company's flagship program had become a significant part of my work. To say that I was a passionate user might even have be an understatement, as the live events first for Classroom 2.0 and then FutureofEducation.com were some of the best professional experiences I'd ever had. When my consulting work with Ning wrapped up and I got a call from Rajeev Arora saying he was hoping I'd come work for Elluminate, it was clear I'd found my dream job.

Even though the acquisition of Elluminate and Wimba by Blackboard ultimately has resulted in that dream job being reduced to part-time status, my passion for the product is unabated--and I know many of you feel the same way. So it's a pleasure for me to be responsible for a "contest" around the new release of Blackboard Collaborate 11, which we're calling "Collaborate for Good."

Here's how it works: Join the contest site at http://www.wecollaborate.com, and post a proposal on how you would use a free Blackboard Collaborate room to make a difference for your school, your organization, your community, or the world. Encourage your friends or "followers" to make comments supporting your proposal, with bonus points for cross-posting your ideas on your own blog. (UPDATE: proposals are due by July 25th.) Then on August 1st we'll announce ten winners who will each get a free 50-seat room of the new Blackboard Collaborate 11.

Please post a proposal!  I can't wait to see the kind of things you'd like to do.

EduBloggerCon - Many Thanks, Teacher 2.0 T-shirts, and iPad2 and Blogging Contests #ISTE11

Saturday was a terrific day! Thanks so much to all who came, and especially to those who helped in any way.

There are some "Teacher 2.0" t-shirts left, and I'll have them at the ISTEUnplugged area starting this morning, along with the purple Blackboard Collaborate buttons (and my snazzy Teacher 2.0 wristbands!). The official word from Bb Collaborate is that they will be walking around handing out tickets for people caught wearing the button or the t-shirts, and then using those tickets to raffle off an iPad 2 on Tuesday at 2pm at the Blackboard booth (#303).

In other contest news, I'm in charge of a special contest related to the release of Blackboard Collaborate 11 (the new combined Elluminate and Wimba). It's called "Collaborate for Good." You propose how you would use a free Blackboard Collaborate room to make a difference for your school, your organization, your community, or the world. Ten 50-seat rooms will be given away. The contest site is now open at http://www.wecollaborate.com.

If you're in Philly, I hope you have a great day and a great week at ISTE. If not, be sure to check the streaming session at http://www.ISTEunplugged.com.