Huge fun this morning engaging in conversation via a Skype video call with students in David Phillips‘ PR class at the University of Gloucester in Cheltenham.

I had been due to physically be there but a little transport difficulty presented an opportunity to try a virtual alternative instead.

The original plan was to do a Google+ Hangout video get-together where we could use that medium as well to show content, eg, web pages. But I encountered a bad case of the G+ gremlins with the web browser plugin resulting in falling back on Plan B: Skype where I’d be connected and be projected onto a large screen.

Not the best network connectivity I’ve experienced, as the pixelation of the image coming down the wire from Cheltenham shows in the Instagram photo of what I saw on my PC screen.

But it was good enough to enable us all to join in conversation where we could all see and hear each other.

Over the course of over an hour, we talked about a wide range of topics, from ethics in PR and knowing right from wrong to which agencies are doing what with social media; from behaviour shifts in individuals and society at large to what’s the best social network to spend time on, to what’s coming next in social networks, technology and behaviours; and much more.

The session reminded me once more that tech tools like this mean that, if you have a communication device and workable network connection, anyone can connect with anyone else to share ideas, etc, at the drop of a hat, no matter where you are: no formality, no complexity, just a desire to connect and share.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Some very bright and sharp minds in this PR class which bodes well for the profession!