Celebrity corner level 1 level 2 level 3 level 4 have your say parents libraries

Online chat information

This year’s authors were Anna Fienberg and Terry Denton.

Anna Fienberg was online on Wednesday 17 December at 11am.

Terry Denton was online on Thursday 15 December at 11am. 

First time to chat online and not sure what to do?

It’s easy - we will be conducting a trial chat prior to 17 December so you can find out what it is all about and how easy it is. Full instructions will be available when you register.

To participate in the chat follow these steps:

  1. Individual children can take part from home if they wish. If you are participating from home, fill out the online registration form. You will receive a confirmation email upon registration.
  2. Arrange a space within your library where a group of children can comfortably sit around a computer screen or organise a data-projector and project the screen onto a plain wall or white-board. Why? This allows you to have control over the chat environment (only one person typing at one time – you may need to be the typist if the children are young) and maximises your ability to have a larger number of children participating as more children can view the chat when projected onto a large screen. It also encourages group discussion during the chat as children share ideas and share questions they want to ask – often this substantive conversation is really powerful and as much fun as the chat itself. For a relaxed session, supply some comfy cushions for everyone to sit on.
  3. When booking children in to attend the chat, encourage them to borrow and read Anna and Terry's books, to think of questions they would like to ask the authors, write them down and bring them in on the day of the chat.
  4. On the day of the chat, log-in slightly before the start time to ensure the program is working correctly; Rebekah Hermann will be online to assist with any difficulties or questions you may have.
  5. Have the children to arrive at least 15 minutes before the chat, so that you can discuss the questions you might like to ask as a group. This is also a good time to check out information about the author by visiting their websites.
  6. It’s a good idea to remind your group that there are other children across Queensland taking part in the chat, and that they might have to wait for their turn to ask a question and have it answered.
  7. Once the chat is complete, you have the option of printing out the dialogue – the children in your group may like to take a copy home to remind them of the fun they had chatting to a favourite author online!
  8. A transcript of the chat will be uploaded to the website shortly after the completion of the chat. Read the transcripts of Anna and Terry's chats.