Murder Under the Microscope 2011
Horror in the Harvest. If you're wondering what you should be doing week by week to prepare yourself and your students for MuM visit the
MUM teachers' wiki!
Embracing Challenges
Where in the world? Our new flag counter
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Help for those planning: Murder
Horror in the Harvest. If you're wondering what you should be doing week by week to prepare yourself and your students for MuM visit the
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Photoshop
Photoshop for kids by NicoleDalesio
Nicole is a 5th grade teacher/ tech. trainer, Adobe Education Leader, and Google Certified Teacher: I'm interested in digital media: digital art and video art. I'm always looking for new ways to integrate technology into the school curriculum, and using technology for creative purposes.
Nicole has 13 videos stored here with many covering many aspects of this program- made easy enough for kids to follow.
Nicole is a 5th grade teacher/ tech. trainer, Adobe Education Leader, and Google Certified Teacher: I'm interested in digital media: digital art and video art. I'm always looking for new ways to integrate technology into the school curriculum, and using technology for creative purposes.
Nicole has 13 videos stored here with many covering many aspects of this program- made easy enough for kids to follow.
We have a new Director General of Education.
The Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, has today announced the appointment of Dr Michele Bruniges as the new Director-General of Education and Communities and Managing Director of TAFE NSW. Dr Bruniges has a PhD in Educational Measurement, a Master’s Degree in Education, a Graduate Diploma of Educational Studies and a Diploma in Teaching.
Dr Bruniges is expected to start her new role in late August.
News Media Release from:
The Hon Adrian Piccoli MP
Minister for Education
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 11 July 2011
NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF EDUCATION
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has announced the appointment of Doctor Michele Bruniges as the new Director General of the Department of Education and Communities and Managing Director of TAFE NSW.
“I am delighted that after an international search Dr Bruniges has accepted one of New South Wales’ most important public sector jobs,” Minister Piccoli said.
“Dr Bruniges has extensive leadership and management experience in the education sectors in NSW, the ACT and at the Commonwealth level. Her understanding of the key contemporary national and international education issues and challenges is second to none,” Minster Piccoli said today.
“She has outstanding knowledge and skills in the development and maintenance of high quality teaching and learning standards, and in curriculum, assessment and reporting practices.
“Ensuring our children are educated effectively and giving business the well-trained staff it needs are integral to the state’s progress, and Dr Bruniges will do both extremely well.
“While her most recent role was leading the national school reform agenda as an Associate Secretary with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Doctor Bruniges started her career as a teacher in New South Wales public schools.
“She also taught at TAFE in Western Sydney and worked with the Adult Migrant Education Service teaching English,” said Mr Piccoli.
Dr Bruniges has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Measurement, a Masters Degree in Education from the University of New South Wales, a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies and a Diploma in Teaching from the Goulburn College of Advanced Education.
She is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and the recipient of numerous professional awards, including a Churchill Fellowship to study student achievement in education in the US and the Netherlands, an Exceptional Service Award from the Professional Teachers Council New South Wales for promoting teacher professionalism and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators.
“I congratulate Doctor Bruniges on her appointment, and I look forward to working with her to the benefit of education and training in New South Wales.”
MEDIA: David Bold 0423 202 369
Monday, 11 July 2011
New age: Butcher Paper; Old Pedagogy-New tools
Whiteboards wonderful for collaboration tasks.
I have seen the individual small whiteboard become very popular of late and they have a place in the classroom as they save a lot of mess and wasted paper. Education World offers five lessons to engage students in learning with whiteboards. Included: Tips from whiteboard users plus alternatives to whiteboards! "As thousands of teachers have found, whiteboards are a great way of actively involving students in the learning process -- and a terrific tool for immediate feedback and assessment." 
However, I can also see these large whiteboards being a great tool in the library and in many classrooms. From an economical point of view I like that you can make your own collaborative-sized whiteboards by visiting your local hardware store. It also supports the drive towards the #paperless classroom. The boards can be used many times unlike butchers' paper of old.
"Ideas are more easily exposed, discussed, accepted, discarded, and modified
with the flexibility of a whiteboard."
"A large board gives enough room for the students to divide the board into sections. This is valuable if you have
multiple focus questions of if you want the students to have both a diagram and a written explanation."
cropped with SnipSnip
If we go one step further we can look at a desk sized whiteboard:
Saving Paper, One Desk At A Time!
From this to this.
IdeaPaint is a single-coat, roller-applied whiteboard paint that transforms almost anything into a high-performance dry-erase surface. Dry-Erase Board Paint for the Home | Kids Room Paint Ideas | IdeaPaint
Whiteboard desks
The (Nearly) Paperless Classroom blogger, David Wees, shares his ideas about using whiteboards to achieve his #paperless goal.
David Wees also reminds us we need to change our mindset that the paperless classroom needs a lot of technology. He is quite sure that it doesn't. What it needs, and I totally agree with him, is a transformation of pedagogy from teacher centred and content focused to student centred and a focus on developing skills.
I love this idea of creating a whiteboard notebook.
cropped with SnipSnip
For instructions on creating whiteboards try these links: http://www.instructables.com/id/Low_Cost_Lettersize_Office_Whiteboard/. http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Homemade-Whiteboard-on-the-cheap!/. http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled-Mini-Dry-Erase-Board/
or we can go even larger by creating whiteboard walls_ From classroom walls in to whiteboards Sebel also supplies IdeaPaint.
There is a new term (to me) for the activity of students who are engaged in
using whiteboards collaboratively-"whiteboarding".
Do your students learn by whiteboarding?
Modeling through whiteboarding:
Tips for whiteboarding in the classroom.
and not to be left out Apple have brought out:
iPad Application Preview - padBoard - collaborative whiteboarding application
Can you see yourself organising a few of these whiteboards for your classroom or school library? Would/Do you use whiteboarding as a teaching strategy?
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
From textbook to techbook!
South Korea plans to convert all textbooks to digital, swap backpacks for tablets by 2015
By Zach Honig posted Jul 3rd, 2011 at 6:39AM
South Korea announced this week that it plans to spend over $2 billion developing digital textbooks, replacing paper in all of its schools by 2015.
Students would access paper-free learning materials from a cloud-based system, supplementing traditional content with multimedia on school-supplied tablets.
Both programs clearly offer significant advantages for the country's education system.
Source: MIT Technology Review The Chosunulbo
What are other countries plans? What are Australia's plans?
Will we go digital soon ? Should we?
There are now multiple avenues to access digital textbooks (techbooks) at no cost. Some are older versions, some have been written specifically using licences allowing free access such as Creative Commons and GNU Free Documentation. It is simply a matter of knowing where to look.
Multimedia; Multiplatform
Indicative of the growing movement toward digital textbooks, Florida has approved the Discovery Education Science Elementary Techbook for Florida for classroom use.
"As a holistic learning system, the Techbook integrates the nature of science and inquiry into every phase of learning. With stunning videos, colourful text passages and interactive simulations, the Techbook kindles student interest in how science relates to their everyday life, stimulates critical thinking and deepens students’ understanding of core concepts."
Let's go beyond the textbook.See what Discovery Education is now offering-(only in US)
Science techbook-Over 40 Media Types of Content Available
Check out the video at Introducing Science Techbook.
Here are a some weblinks to further explore this issue:
Why Focusing on Digital Texts Is a Good Step
Week Five: Digital Textbooks – Are We Ready?
How the Internet is Revolutionizing Education - TNW Industry
Open Source Textbooks
iPads Replace Textbooks in Brookfield, CT
What IS the future of textbooks?
Online textbooks: Hope or hype?
So you want to use e-textbooks next year?
Courtesy of: Schools.com
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Handy tool for the IWB! ZoomIt
This is a super free tool!
Download Zoomit at the Microsoft TechNet website
ZoomIt works on all versions of Windows and you can use pen input for ZoomIt
drawing on tablet PCs.
ZoomIt is screen zoom and annotation tool for technical presentations that
include application demonstrations.
All you have to do is copy and paste a URL of an image and it will
upload it to the website.
You can then view the picture full screen and
zoom into the image getting a better view of certain areas.
You can choose your own font:
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Reform Symposium 3 is shaping up!!
Get out your slippers and your nibblies- get into a comfy chair.....
I am ready for all the action. Are you?
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn from so many while costing you so little!!
Read #RSCON3 ANNOUNCEMENT
#biggest yet, global online conference for everyone concerned with education.
All you twitter folk -you can follow Reform Symposium3 @ #RSCON3
"With more than 65 presentations and 12 keynote speakers it is sure to be an incredible event! Organised by educators for educators,it is FREE but will offer more valuable and inspiring PD than money can buy!" RSCON3 Organisers
Visit the RSCON3 PRESENTERS map to see where presenters at RSCON3 will be presenting from.
Visit the Reform Symposium e-Conference Headquarters! for all the relevant info.
Check out past conferences: RSCON1 July 2010RSCON1RSCON2 Reform Symposium Global e-Conference January 8, 2011
It is inevitable that students will learn . . . what is not so certain, is that they will do it within what we currently call “school.” http://reformsymposium.com/rethinkingschool/Friday, 17 June 2011
Board of Studies helps keep teachers up to speed.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011 Board of Studies NEWS
Primary and secondary teachers have your say on draft syllabuses for
The Board has released the draft syllabuses, along with details about how to register for face-to-face meetings and how to give your views through an online survey.
The draft syllabuses contain the Australian curriculum content that was agreed by education ministers in 2010. They have also been designed to retain the degree of detail and features that NSW teachers are familiar with.
The draft K-10 English syllabus is currently being finalised and will be released on 18 July, 2011.
K–10 English, mathematics, science and history
K–10 draft syllabuses and content guides
The Board of Studies is developing new K–10 syllabuses for English, mathematics, science and history. Consultation will begin in Term 2, 2011.
Consultation on all four draft syllabuses will take place in Terms 2 and 3 in a number of metropolitan and regional centres. K–10 consultation meetings Terms 2 and 3, 2011
Schools are reminded that in NSW they are required to deliver courses of study that comply with the requirements of NSW Board syllabuses. Teachers should continue to use the current NSW syllabuses.
Read , provide feedback or complete the survey by visiting: New draft K-10 syllabuses - have your say
What about checking out what went before?- visit the Archive - Australian Curriculum 2011
Background to the Australian Curriculum in NSW In December 2010, Federal, State and Territory Ministers endorsed the K-10 Australian curriculum content for English, Mathematics, Science and History.
The Board of Studies site states: "If you know someone who might be interested in more information, suggest they subscribe to the Board Bulletin by going to the BOS NSW news section of the Board’s website and entering their email."
Have you checked out the New English work samples on ARC?
New A-E graded student work samples and activities in English have been posted on the Board’s Assessment Resource Centre (ARC) website.
- Audio files for spoken student work samples have been added for Stage 1 English Oral Reading activity and graded work samples have been added for the Stage 1 activity, Writing a Factual Description.
- The are new work samples for the Stage 2 English Reading Aloud activity.
- Stage 4 and Stage 5 graded English work samples have been provided for activities in which students present a point of view or produce a persuasive text.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
National Geographic Young Explorer
If you are looking for some simple science readers online you will really enjoy these free resources from National Geographic Young Explorers
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Looking for interested educators to join "Mr Jim"
Come along and join the fun
EARLY LITERACY EXTRAVOGANZA
WITH “MR JIM”
Coffs Harbour14 – 19 June 2001
Presented by Coffs Harbour City Library.
Dr James Thomas has over 20 years’ experience teaching and working to promote early literacy awareness with adults and their little ones. He specializes in developing activities that encourage language and early literacy skills in under two’s. Coffs Harbour City Library is pleased to facilitate the following workshops & information sessions being conducted by “Mr Jim”. Parents, Carers, Community Workers, Child\care workers and Educators are most welcome to attend.
· SESSIONS FOR LITTLE ONES & THEIR PARENTS / CARERS
Young & the RestlessFor Children 12 -24months and parent / carer.
Tuesday 14 June 2011 – 10.00 – 10.30 Coffs Harbour City Library
Language based program for Adult caregivers and 12 – 24mnth old child. Adults will learn how to engage with their child in early literacy activities that foster development and understanding of concepts, language, movement, exercise, signing and interactive social play. (30 minutes parent/carer& child session) Refreshments to follow
Itsy-Bitsy Babies (for mothers and others)For babies 0 – 12mth and their parent / carer.
Tuesday 14 June 2011 – 11.00 – 11.30 Coffs Harbour City Library
Unique language play program for adult caregivers and their newborns to 12 months The 30 minute activities demonstrate age-appropriate finger plays, songs, signing, body movements, and books for babies. (30 minutes parent/carer& child session) Refreshments to follow
Man in the Moon (for male carers) For babies 0 – 12mth and their parent / carer.
Saturday 18 June 2011 10.00 – 10.30 Coffs Harbour City Library
Unique language play program for adult caregivers and their newborns to 12 months The 30 minute activities demonstrate age-appropriate finger plays, songs, signing, body movements, and books for babies. (30 minutes parent/carer& child session) Refreshments to follow
· HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS – Suitable for parents, caregivers and child care workers
Language Play for Infants – WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS Suitable for parents, caregivers and child care workers
Tuesday 14 June 2011 – 12.30pm – 2.30pm – Cavanbah Centre, Room A & B
Activities and ideas for captivating and communicating with one year olds. This is a fast paced program of body movement, songs, yoga, and signing, demonstrated can be adapted to any home, library or childcare environment. Participants will learn ways of organizing a setting that will be interesting & engaging for little ones. Refreshments included.
Ready to Read early literacy workshop.WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS Suitable for parents, caregivers and child care workers.
Tuesday 14 June 2011 – 5.30 – 7.30pm– Cavanbah Centre, Room A & B (Also on Saturday)
Saturday 18 June 2011 – 11.00 – 1.00 – Coffs Harbour City Library
Early Literacy, what children need to know about reading and writing before they actually learn to read and write is crucial to success. Participants will learn about the six early reading skills, how they relate to brain development, and how to integrate them into daily routines.
· INFORMATION SESSION FOR ADULTS – Suitable for parents and educators.
Boys, Books and Reading:The REAL ChallengeSuitable for parents and educators.
Thursday 16 June –5.30 – 6.30 Cavanbah Centre, Rooms A & B
An informative one-hour presentation about ways to engage boys with reading including lots of recommended titles. Discussion will include the various genres that hold the greatest appeal, and identify appropriate programming ideas for boys.Refreshments to follow.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL for all sessions.
Reserve your place early to avoid disappointment.
All sessions are FREE.
Please contact Judy Atkinson for additional information.
Phn: 66484900
Email coffs.library@chcc.nsw.gov.au
Mr Jim’s Web info
itsybitsybabies.pbworks.com;
rtor.pbworks.com
2s3s4s.pbworks.com
boysbooksreading.pbworks.com
toddlericon.pbworks.com
Friday, 10 June 2011
Document Cameras -so much to see!
Visualisers/Document cameras have been around for a while....
One of the first Visualizers (aka Videolupe) 1974
Wikipedia : "Document cameras, also known as image presenters, visual presenters, digital visualizers, digital overheads, and docucams, are real-time image capture devices for displaying an object to a large audience."
Once you start using a Document Camera you'll
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Socialtext Signals - here comes the NSWDEC!!
Watch the demo video @
See Socialtext Signals in Action
Enterprise microblogging makes it easy for you to share information and participate in conversations with your colleagues. Microblogging is an open, or transparent form of communicating, meaning everyone can benefit from and contribute to the discussion. Some common uses of microblogging include:
- Status Updates: Keep everyone informed about what projects are being worked on
- Questions and Answers: Leverage the knowledge of everyone to get rapid responses
- Information Sharing: Broadcast links to important news, websites, or other sources of valuable information
Social Networking For The Enterprise
Each person has a profile page which displays: contact information; their skills, interests, and other attributes; a list of their social network friends and followers; the workspaces they belong to; and a list of their most recent activities.
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