Susan:
Thanks for the thorough description of format and approach you've been using. I've never heard of someone sending an invitation not to go to the f2f event and instead to participate online. I like it!
I'm particularly taken with your observation that the most powerful things happen when seasoned teachers drop in to the workshop through the online environment. This is very congruent with my experience too. At Moodle Moot when Martin Dougiamas (the creator of Moodle) logs in to the virtual room you can practically feel the online participants sit up, take notice and more actively engage.
I also like your suggestion that a camera be used to convey the f2f setting and audience to the virtual participants. I've tried this in some of my work and it really does help to convey a sense of place and create a mental picture in virtual participants minds of what's happening. This is an area of great potential significance, I think. I'm very interested in not only using cameras to show the f2f venue to the virtual participants but vice versa too. I've noticed that the f2f participants acknowledge, and become more interested in the virtual participants if the virtual venue (Elluminate or whatever) is projected on large screens in the venue. These visual cues are further enhanced if questions from virtual participants to presenters can are channeled in to the room via mic's and speakers. Hearing the voices of virtual participants increases the awareness and sense of their presence.
The old adage "out of sight out of mind" seems particularly apropos here and I've found it really helps everyone if the presenter verbally acknowledges virtual participants, asks comments and questions directly to them and seeks their input. However, if the presenter has no visual cues showing the virtual participants its easy to forget they are there.
I'm very interested in the potential to form breakout groups or small group discussions where virtual participants have a seat at the table with f2f participants. Lots of things to explore and try.
Look forward to connecting with you online at the Moodle Moot.
Paul