Students ask author Jim Stovall 80 questions today!!

by Polycom Employee & Moderator polycshuck Polycom Employee & Moderator ‎12-09-2011 09:47 AM - edited ‎12-14-2011 10:16 AM

Today students connected with Jim Stovall, author of The Ultimate Gift.  This was the last Polycom Special Event for 2011.  Jim Stovall has been one of Polycom’s most popular events for the past five years.  As Sue Porter mentioned to students and teachers “it’s just not Christmas until we connect with Mr. Stovall”  We had several classes participating in two sessions of ASK with author Jim Stovall on his book The Ultimate Gift. The students have prepared using the ASK process. This program is one of the Polycom Special Events, with bridging provided by Internet2. The depth of questions and interaction is always incredible. Here’s a sample of the questions:

  • It seemed like Jason was blind to all the gifts he had. Did you do that on purpose?
  • How long did it take you to write the Ultimate Gift?
  • If you had one day left, what would you do?
  • If you had a choice to get your eye sight back would you and why?
  • Did you always want to be an author?
  • Has being blind made any part of your life easier?
  • If you could go back in time and change something you did in your life what would it be?

In between sessions, I had a chance to speak with Mr. Stovall.  We both decided there were many questions asked this year that have not been asked in years past. 

Polycom has offered this program for many years, and probably will continue to do so. So watch their website for registration details. They have openings in other similar programs too.

About the Author
  • Lynnette Whitfield Director, Asia Pacific (APAC), Education Industry Solutions With over 13 years in the Unified Collaborations industry, Lynnette is responsible for driving strategic business and academic initiatives and solutions for educational institutions. Based in Melbourne-Australia, Ms. Whitfield assists educational institutions across Asia Pacific to transform the way they teach, communicate and collaborate by leveraging Polycom’s high-quality voice and visual communications. Lynnette also spearheads two divisions; Polycom’s APAC Content Provider Program (where she recruits, and develops Museums, Zoo’s and Science Technology Centres who offer programs to K-12 schools) and Polycom APAC Special Events program which in 2011 offers over curriculum based programs for schools across Asia Pacific.
  • Marci Powell is Global Director for Education at Polycom and Chair Emerita and Past President of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Powell is a classroom teacher, administrator, and industry expert in the field of educational technology with extensive experience in applications related to lifelong learning and innovation. She serves as an advisor to public and private sectors in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific sharing global best practices and trends in education as a fellow educator and futurist. Her articles on distance learning have appeared in publications such as USA Today and has been quoted in numerous publications such as Financial Times, University Business Magazine, and Auckland Herald.
  • Elaine Shuck, with a background in technology, curriculum, and integration, is the Director of Education for Polycom. She is a leader in collaborative learning and interactive videoconferencing. For sixteen years she has brought stimulating and engaging learning opportunities to K-20 classrooms. Her work ranges from hands-on demonstrations to educators, to reaching out to Polycom’s corporate partners, to facilitating hybrid solutions that enhance education and training. Prior to Polycom, Ms. Shuck was Director of South Dakota’s Interactive Videoconferencing Smart Centers. She also served as distance learning coordinator for South Dakota Public Schools where she consulted on distance learning programs, medical education, and corporate training segments at hundreds of sites statewide. Elaine is an expert in her field and a frequent speaker. Audiences around the world – both face-to-face and through videoconferencing – respond enthusiastically to Ms. Shuck’s lively style, technical mastery, and commitment to learning. She has designed and implemented programs that inspire faculty and students as they interact with world-class luminaries in medicine, education, or noteworthy events. Her work has garnered major awards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the US Distance Learning Association (USDLA). An authority on social and connective media, collaborative learning, and best practices in distance learning, Elaine works with a host of educational groups and serves on the USDLA Board of Directors