Does your school or library want to be part of a unique interactive online Monster Doodle Workshop with Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey?

On October 1st 2012, Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey will lead a special illustration workshop at Tallaght Library to  launch the Children’s Book Festival 2012. This Monster Doodle workshop will be online and interactive and we are inviting library and school groups around Ireland to sign up to participate. Libraries is Carlow, Carrickmacross, Monaghan and Cabra are already signed up and ready to be involved.

How will it work?
We will be using Google Hangout to allow for the participation of up to 9 groups during the session.  Google hangout is essentially a free video chat conferencing application

What technology do I need?
1)    You need a laptop and videocam and a laptop projector and screen.
2)    You need gmail account and google plus
3)    Install Google voice and video chat – http://www.gmail.com/videochat
4)    Participants will be invited via gmail to participate in the hangout.
5)    Sessions can be recorded to youtube
(More  information on Google Hangout can be found on: http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/)

But what if we can’t use Google Hangout in our location?
The event will be streamed via Youtube and also be filmed by the laureate team in Tallaght Library. Libraries  or schools who wish to participate but who are not able to install Google Hangout can watch the event on Youtube and send images and video afterwards to the Laureate’s office and they’ll be included on the Laureate website (www.childrenslaureate.ie).

What will happen in the workshop?
Niamh Sharkey will be based at Tallaght Library, where she will lead illustration workshop with a group of 20 invited children of primary school age. The event will start at 11am and last 40 minutes.
Online participants will invite similar sized groups of children to their own libraries or school for the same time, and will recruit a facilitator (perhaps an illustrator or children’s writer or a skilled teacher or librarian) to lead the workshop in your location.   By following along with Niamh and the young readers in Tallaght, each group will get busy Monster Doodling.

For further information and/or queries and to sign up to participate contact Nessa O’Mahony at info@childrenslaureate.ie. As spaces are strictly limited, they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Special thanks to the teams at South Dublin Libraries and Bord Gais Energy Bookclub for their help with this project.