Monday, 30 March 2009

IT Curriculum 2.0 Wiki

How does an information and technology curriculum stay relevant and meaningful in the 21st Century? Embedded IT needs to change.

Watch this video presentation and consider:

"For the first time in history, our job as educators is to prepare our students for a future that we cannot clearly describe. Technology (cell phones, computers, the internet etc.) is as familiar to the youth of today as the television and radio was to the generation before them."

"A new literacy has emerged and with it comes a brand new set of skills, responsibilities and challenges. It is time to rethink the role that information technology plays in schools and transition from disconnected entities to partners in learning."

"Learners must be given opportunities to solve problems creatively, work alongside others, and develop their own understanding of the world."

"In order to answer the Essential Questions for the 21st Century Learner, students will need both technological and non-technological knowledge, understanding and skills.
Technology skills will be learned in school by students in the same way it is learned “in the real world”: as they need it." Curriculum2.0 NewLiteracy

Are you ready for this new literacy? 21stCentury Literacy

Trailer for Where the Wild Things Are

Trailer for the live-action film adaption of the popular children's book, Where the Wild Things Are directed by Spike Jonze.
Due for release late 2009.

Australian Screen Film Clips

The education page: http://australianscreen.com.au/education/ allow you to access film clips with teacher notes that are linked to the curriculum by the Curriculum Corporation।
There are currently 960 clips with teachers’ notes।

Film Australia site Australians at Work includes teaching materials. http://www.australiansatwork.com.au/ Also, i.ncludes clips of the construction of the Harbour Bridge and the closing of B.H.P. in Newcastle.

As a student resource it is most suited to year 7 onwards.

Kindergarten, Handwriting and the Interactive Whiteboard

Handwriting and the Interactive Whiteboard

"I teach Kinder and find that different sets of lines are needed to show them where to write their letters. So I have a group of pages which have different sets of lines eg one plain base line only, two lines with no upper or lower guides (for tall and long letters), 2 solid lines and dotted upper and lower lines etc.

As each sound is introduced I add that sound to a new set of pages using an outlined font, so by the end of the year I will have every letter with it's own set of pages.

The children enjoy coming and writing on the board and it is easy to show how to position their letters depending on the lines they use."

by Amanda Porter (Australia) K-3 Teacher Resources blog

Ideas for integrating NEWS using the COGs topics

"At our school, we structure the NEWS topics according to our COGS or Subject topic. For example, we are doing a topic about 'Powering On' and some of our News topics include:

1. Find items in the home your home that you have to push or pull and relate back to the class.
2. Go to the playground and test the play equipment. Describe what you needed to do to the equipment to make it move faster and slower.
3. Choose a piece of transport which you have used. Describe how the piece of transport works.

This helps to cover outcomes in the topic (as there is never enough time to teach everything) and it is more relevant than giving children free choice each week.

The children are given free choice in the beginning and end week of each term.

Throughout the sessions, we discuss the use of note cards, how they stand, volume and clarity.

We also introduce chn to the speech genre as well as the typical NEWS set-up for saying 'Good morning/ afternoon' to everyone.".......Sian Joseph (Sydney) K-3Teacher Resources

"We do a similar thing at our school with structuring news and cogs along the same lines.

This term were are doing COGS c, Grow and Change so our news has covered topics about changes between our grandparents lives and ours, how we have changed since we were born, how our interests have changed etc.

We alternate free choice with assigned news each week, (week on/week off) which gives the kids the chance to tell about their weekend and birthdays etc.

It works out really well most of the time, with the ever lasting challenges of volume, pace, monotone etc!" Leanne K-3 Teacher Resources

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Tooth Tally Project

Our Year 1 classes have been participating in the Tooth Tally Project. The kids have been really enjoying the project.

Check the Tooth Tally Project website out. The wiki is private and as such only available to teachers and students.

Writing Fun by Jenny Eather

Writing Fun by Jenny Eather-also the creator of Rainforest Maths (now owned by Mathletics) is a great website for teachers of writing.

Lake Munmorah links available

Lake Munmorah Public School-home

Online class THEMES

Treasure Hunts Similar to Online Worksheets but they require more searching on the students part.

Flipcharts links
Maths, Science, Literacy, HSI, Art flipcharts to use on IWB's

Interactive Whiteboard Sites

Copacabana Public School
Get Smart Interactive Activities
HSIE and SCIENCE links

Information and Communication Learning Technologies

Hope these can be of assistance:

Educational Origami

Educational Origami is a blog , and a wiki, about the integration of ICT into the classroom,

Edugator

Integrating technology into the curriculum

Information and Communication Reviews for teachers-links to teachers toolkit

Interactive Whiteboard resources

Intel K-12 Teaching Tools

Intel K-12 T eaching Resources

Teachers TV Australia-need to log in

Information Communication Technologies _Becta

ICT Tools for teachers

ICT Links within the Syllabus Development and Resources directorate
ICT from CMIS

Online learning activities

Open ended software

Theme pages EdNA
Teachers and students find online curriculum content engaging, interesting and effective. Integrating learning objects into teaching and learning can have a positive effect on student outcomes. The following links are to freely available learning objects within the edna repository.

The site for ICT teaching.

Hundreds of free downnloads, including posters.

Gifted Students, Thinking Skills and ICT

Northumberland NGfL: ICT Resources

Northumberland NGfL: ICT Resources - Dazzle

Digital Story Telling " 2008 " May ICT@Mt Waverley Primary
The ‘Wow’ Factor! Digital Story Telling has created a revolution at our school! A rich tapestry of stories has emerged about the lives of our students. We have learnt so much more about these kids – about what is happening in their lives and what is important to them. These children have real stories to tell – how often do we give them the voice to tell their stories?

The Education Podcast Network

The Education Podcast Network is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century.

Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Back to School.

What is Back to School?

Back to School is a nationwide campaign that celebrates the incredible role public schools play in our nation’s development and success.

It's about connecting schools with communities and inspiring young people to succeed.

For more information check out: www.backtoschool.org.au or call 03 9670 5436

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Powerful Software Seminars-Coffs Harbour and Dubbo

If you are a proficient user of ICT in the Classroom IWBNet would like to invite you to present at the Powerful Software Seminars to be held around Australia.

We are particularly looking for teachers who can present one day seminars in Dubbo and Coffs Harbour. The first scheduled dates for these two cities is Dubbo – Wednesday 6 May and Coffs Harbour – Monday 25 May 2009. There are two seminars on each day. Seminar One runs from 9.00am to 12 Noon and Seminar Two runs from 12.30 to 3.30pm. There may be additional dates later in the school year.

The Powerful Software Seminars aim to provide classroom teachers with access to great software (single user licenses are provided), step by step instructions and classroom lessons including Freeware and Shareware. Presenters will demonstrate the software to the audience and take them through a roadmap on how to create lessons using the appropriate software packages.

Delegates will be asked to bring their own laptops (with administrator rights) on which to load the software and to use throughout the sessions.

In PSS Seminar 1 (Freeware use in your classroom – suitable for K - 10) you will demonstrate three very powerful software applications that can be used in K – 10 classrooms; Pivot StickFigure Animator, All Things Google and Phun.

In PSS Seminar 2 (Kid Pix Deluxe 4 in your Classroom – suitable for K - 8) delegates will receive their own licensed copy (CD) of Kid Pix Deluxe 4 which they will install on their laptop at the beginning of the session. The presenter will then take them through a “view” of the software to demonstrate the features of the application using classroom examples.

As a presenter you will be supplied with the software, step-by-step instructions, presentation templates, a presentation running sheet, a CD Rom of samples and resources, all required technology for the seminars and phone support with an experienced trainer.

This is a commercial proposition and so IWBNet will provide a relief fee to your school and a daily presenter's fee.

If you think you have the necessary experience to deliver one of these seminars, live within driving distance of Dubbo or Coffs Harbour and you are available on the relevant date above please email team@iwb.net.au – We will then send you an Offer to Present which will need to be signed by your Principal and you, and returned to IWBNet.

For more information on the Powerful Software Seminars go to http://www.iwb.net.au/seminars

Best regards

Margo Metcalf

IWBNet Pty Ltd

www.iwb.net.au

Monday, 23 March 2009

Standardised Tests K-6

Standardised tests should be one of the many tools teachers use for assessing students. I have tried to find a few links with sample tests for you.

For those interested in NAPLAN Trial Examinations for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 with detailed answers and responses are now available from Kilbaha Multimedia Publishing.

Download order form at http://kilbaha.googlepages.com/naplan_2009.doc
Charlie O' Sullivan www.PrimarySchool.com.au

For Teachers Standardised Tests General

Sunday, 22 March 2009

The speed of change

"The problem is not change...we've always had change. The problem is the speed of change, and that change is cultural now. Because of that it feels like our kids are leading the way with technology." Will Richardson. Webblogged

Friday, 20 March 2009

Early Years Learning Framework

Early Years Learning Framework
Online Forum now live!

The Australian Government is pleased to provide this innovative
online forum for early childhood educators and others with
an interest in early childhood to access and trial the
Early Years Learning Framework.
You will also be able to take part in discussions and
provide feedback directly to the Australian Government.

Commonwealth Funding

National Partnerships
The Premier of New South Wales, Hon Nathan Rees MP, recently signed three Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Education Agreement National Partnerships that will see up to $720 million in Commonwealth funding go to New South Wales schools over the next five years.

Interactive Spelling Bee

Students listen to a story and then spell the missing words on Interactive Spelling Bee

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

Must Have Books for a Teachers Bookshelf

Must Have Books for a Teacher's Bookshelf from Adrian Bruce.

Also check out his Best Children's Books to foster a love of reading.

He has them divided into age groups.

K-3 Teachers Resources

K-3 Teachers Resources is a great site for a range of great quality printable resources. Although there are some free resources available for $19.99 per year you can have full access to all the resources. The resources can printed in NSW font.

Monday, 16 March 2009

Narratives-Teaching Writing with Christopher Cheng

Christopher Cheng is an Australian children’s author who has written several very successful books.

"During his presentation, Chris provides teachers with a strong, clear model of how to set up and conduct an effective lesson about narrative writing using explicit and systematic techniques and incorporating modelled, guided and independent writing."

"Along with the video, Chris is interviewed by a teacher from the school about various techniques when writing a narrative."

"In the interview conducted by the teacher, Chris answers questions about inspiring students to write; students putting themselves in their narratives; writing in the first person or third person narrative; and developing characterisation."

Resources, including lesson ideas and understanding narrative (using Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy) are included at the end.

WOW! What next? Interactive..Siftables

Incredible ideas and possibilities!
View results immediately!!
"On the cusp of a new generation of tools for interacting with digital media." David Merrill
Siftables video from TED

Creative Web 2.0 Learning

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Creative Web 2.0 Learning

View more presentations from Judy O’connell.

Increase vocabulary....

Try the: Word of the week to increase student's vocabulary

located on Mrs Nay's Library Weblinks for easy access.

Looking for maths games?

Click here to find plenty of

Maths games

including games to help improve

your students maths tables.

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Christmas Countdown Clock

Christmas Countdown Clockgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Looking for stimulating activities for Easter?

Try: Lake Munmorah Public School's Easter themes page

and SBPS Easter themes

Saturday, 14 March 2009

Digital Storytelling

The next important Connected Learning Awards date is 7 May which is the close of the Short Film Awards.

Check out this SBPS page for assistance with Digital Storytelling

Friday, 13 March 2009

Phonics Posters to print

Free Phonics Posters from adrianbruce.com
These free downloadable phonics posters are being used all over the teaching world.

Great PowerPoint Presentations

Basic Guidelines:-

You should give your ten slides in twenty minutes.

(Give your pitch in twenty minutes, and you have forty minutes left for discussion.)

Use no font smaller than thirty points.

Monday, 9 March 2009

Building the Education Revolution

Building the Education Revolution (BER) website is the place to go to get the latest info. Watch the video of our Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister explaining BER.
Fact Sheet for Primary schools

Check out this enlightening website to learn about 21st Century learning spaces and much more.