Re-use stock gallery images from google!

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Every day Free Technology for Teachers provides teachers with free websites and resources that they can use in their classrooms. Richard also provides eight fabulous free guides for download.

This week Richard shared this great NEWS from GOOGLE! 

5,000 Stock Images for Google Drive Users 

 This week Google announced that the stock image gallery now has more than 5,000 images that are labeled for re-use. To access these images select "image" from the "insert" menu when you're working on a document or presentation. Then select the "search" option and finally select "stock images" to search for a stock image to use in your document or presentation. 

Resourcing the Australian Curriculum

At the heart of the Curriculum: Government maps plan for Asian Century success

The Australian Government has released its Asian Century white paper and outlined ways to take advantage of the region's boom in the areas of economy, education and skills, commerce, regional security and culture, but how has the road map been greeted?

For further understanding view the following video clips:
 "Where will Australia fit into the Asian Century?" 
  "Asian Languages."
 "China Connection."
 "PM's plan for every child to learn an Asian language."

What is Asia literacy?

The idea of Asia literacy is that by the time they leave school, a strong cohort of young Australians will speak an Asian language and all young Australians will have foundational and deep knowledge, skills and understanding of the histories, geographies, arts and literature of the diverse countries of Asia

The new Australian Curriculum includes the cross-curriculum priority of Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia in every subject from Foundation to Year 12.

Resources:

I have been collecting pins for my Australian Curriculum Resources board and on my library weblinks site: Australian Curriculum Resources  because not all pages are able to be pinned.

I have discovered that there are so many wonderful free, quality resources already available- You just need to know where to look!!

I hope my collections can help you find suitable resources to suit your school learning community.

You may also find some useful information at my recent past posts on New NSW Curriculum Updates ; Australian Curriculum update for NSW teachers and  Teacher Talk-: ACARA shape paper-Australian Curriculum .

NEW NSW Curriculum updates

NEWS from Primary Matters NSW 

Update on the new NSW K-10 syllabuses

Remember, you can access the syllabuses and support materials anytime, anywhere on a variety of devices using the Board’s NSW syllabuses for the Australian curriculum website.

The NSW syllabuses for the Australian curriculum website features icons that make it easier to identify these 13 areas.

The cross-curriculum priorities are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures 
• Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia 
• Sustainability 

The general capabilities are:

• Critical and creative thinking 
• Ethical understanding 
• Information and communication technology capability 
• Intercultural understanding 
• Literacy 
• Numeracy 
• Personal and social capability 

ADVICE ON ASSESSMENT

Initial advice on assessment for the new NSW Syllabuses for the Australian Curriculum is now available.

Literacy support for Students with Special Needs

GOOD NEWS from: Primary Teachers' Network (PTN)

K-6 English Online Resource for Teachers with Students with Special Education Needs

The Board of Studies NSW has developed an online resource for primary teachers and special educators of students who experience difficulty with English and aspects of communication.
This resource is the first of its kind in Australia. Based on current research and theory, it was developed by the Board of Studies NSW in consultation with leading education professionals.
 In particular, the resource provides additional programming support and teaching strategies for teachers of students who experience difficulties in the areas of reading, writing, talking, listening and communication. Examples are included of how to identify and address these difficulties in the classroom environment.

The English K–6 Support Materials for Students with Special Education Needs can be accessed from the Board of Studies K–6 Educational Resources site at: k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/English/registration

Australian Education Bill 2012 Have you had a read yet?

Australian Education Bill 2012 

National Plan for School Improvement 

Visit http://www.betterschools.gov.au/video/australian-education-bill-2012 to view the transcript of the video with Peter Garrett.

Australian Education Bill 2012 - – the legislation following on from the Gonski review into school funding – was introduced into the  Australian Parliament on November 28.

The Bill outlines a commitment from the Australian Government to a new way of funding schools, based on the needs of individual students, and includes two ambitious targets:

•   By 2025, Australia will be ranked as a top 5 country in the world for the performance of our students in reading, science and maths; and

•   All Australian children will go to a school in a nation which is ranked in the top five for a high-quality and high-equity education system.  

The Australian Education Bill also outlines the core elements of the National Plan for School Improvement, including:

•   Quality teaching;

•   Quality learning;

•   Empowered school leadership;

•   Better information about school performance; and

•   Meeting student need.

Under the National Plan for School Improvement, every Australian student will be able to learn about our region throughout their schooling, including the chance to learn an Asian language from the first day of school

The Bill and Explanatory Statement are both available as a word doc or as a pdf.http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r4945
Introduction of the Australian Education Act 2012 FAQs on the Bill

Free to Mix: An educator's guide to reusing digital content

Defeat confusion with this handy guide from:

The guide gives you information, activities and ideas to confidently create a remix from material you know you have the rights to reuse. It shows students why copyright and licensing exist, how they work, and how they can apply licences to their own work through simple information, suggestions for activities, and links to more resources. By using it, you and your students will be able to participate in the global remix community while demonstrating creativity and integrity

Free to Mix: An educator's guide to reusing digital content

Also from the National Library of New Zealand site < http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/21st-century-literacy-inquiry/sources-resources/guide-reusing-digital-content#bottom> 
you can: 
* Watch a quick and engaging video from Creative Commons New Zealand to learn how to apply Creative Commons licensing to your work.

* Download a poster to use in your library and classroom to help learners and teachers to apply CC licences.