This is a welcoming address of about 25 minutes to the 2006 World Association for Online Education (WAOE) Annual Members' Meeting. After hearing this you can talk back just by plugging a microphone into your computer and using Odeo's voice message function Send me a Message. This talk mainly introduces some of the new generation of free and collaborative sites called Web 2.0. It would be helpful to open the following Podcasting for EFL wiki of the TESOL Electronic Village Online (EVO) site in a new browser window, then return to this page to play the podcast WAOE_Meeting.MP3: Podcasting, Coursecasting and Web 2.0 Technologies for Research. At my online library you can also see an example of using Flickr to make a moving collage of colorful photos and screen shots of Japan, Australia, and virtual learning environments.

Collegially, Steve McCarty, President (1998-2007), World Association for Online Education;

Professor, Osaka Jogakuin College (in the map below which you can operate, it's just south of Osaka Castle)

A 13-minute speech on July 6, 2006 to school observers visiting here in Osaka under the auspices of North Central College in Illinois. Starts with assumptions underlying democracy that differ from the U.S., resulting in some surprising manifestations in education. Philosophies of multiculturalism vs. assimilation are discussed. My sons have been going through Japanese public schools, and I try to show the system from their viewpoint and that of my Japanese wife. Doing homework, for example, is a struggle against human nature. My wife tells them what they need to do to reach their goals, but, with so many gadgets to enjoy, they have to get into what anthropologists call a mood of willing.

A little about the history, technology and people of the World Association for Online Education (WAOE, pronounced “wow-ee”). For further reference:

Download the WAOE group presentation at the University of Sussex, UK in 2004: "Building a Free Worldwide Community and Support Structure for Faculty involved in Online Education" (PDF file).

Read the abstract of McCarty, "Meeting a Worldwide Need for Community and Faculty Support for Online Education".

See a newsletter article about the UK presentation with a photo.

This is an interview with Professor Eiko Kato, a colleague who initiated the distribution of iPods loaded with English listening materials to all incoming students at Osaka Jogakuin College since April 2004. This was about a half year before Duke University, which is often called the first to do this. She is a Harvard PhD and a Mac user for 15 years. She discusses how the idea originated, before iPods became popular in Japan, and how iPods are being used effectively in the second year here. We also discuss podcasting with iTunes as further steps in providing foreign language listening content, class lectures and special events. For related information and links, see other podcasts at this site.