HFS conversations

Mothers Day 2011- How things have changed!

2011-05-08T22:25:00.000+10:00

Project Based Learning Explained by Common Craft

2010-12-19T22:29:00.000+11:00

SonicPics

2010-11-14T09:08:00.002+11:00

SonicPics is a very easy to use tool for turning your images into custom slideshow movies that you can share with your friends online! SonicPics lets you add images from your iPhone's photo library or camera, arrange your photos, and then narrate the project to create an enhanced m4v video (complete with chapters).

This looks like a great tool for Digital Story telling or assessments where students can take pictures & explain what they have made/ learnt through the process. A good find!

Life After Death by Powerpoint 2010

2010-10-15T22:53:00.004+11:00

Paper Slide Shows

2010-10-08T19:09:00.003+11:00

This is a great way to find out whether students have really understood a concept. As David Fisher on his blog It’s A Paper Slide What? states:

"This is the type of project that will allow every child in your classroom an opportunity to participate. It won’t matter if that child is average, gifted, or has a learning issue. If you can write, draw, talk, and slide a sheet of paper from one pile to another, you can make a paper slide video. These videos can be used as an enrichment activity, an alternative assessment, an alternative to the conventional book project, a way to demonstrate a science experiment through images, and so many other things".

A really good, quick activity I want to now try!!!

Storybird

2010-05-03T19:43:00.000+10:00

Storybird Quick Tour from Storybird on Vimeo.

Jog the Web

2010-04-11T00:15:00.003+10:00

Wow! Looking at Jog the Web a little more I found some great uses...Teachers had linked websites on various themes...bundled for student use for author studies, projects, research etc. What a handy tool!
I particularly liked this 'jog' that had Web 2.0 examples...

Student wikis

2010-04-11T00:05:00.003+10:00

Here is a great site made by Paula White that gives a huge amount of information about setting up student wikis. Paula has given a lot of advice and hints, plus a couple of examples of student wikis from primary aged students. Our thanks goes to Paula for her generosity in sharing...

The wealth of information is amazing & it has been organised in an easy to navigate way through JOG THE WEB - a web-based tool that allows anyone to create a synchronous guide to a series of web sites.

Cooliris

2010-03-03T22:32:00.002+11:00

This is a lovely way to search for images. Cooliris is a browser plug-in that revolutionizes how you find, view, and share photos and videos. Whether you're browsing the Web or your desktop, Cooliris presents media on an infinite "3D wall" that lets you enjoy content without clicking page to page. Cooliris works with Firefox, as well as Internet Exporer, Safari (Mac), and Google Chrome (Windows).

Mouse Mischief

2010-01-30T09:04:00.002+11:00

Mouse Mischief is a tool that Microsoft makes available free of charge, and that allows teachers to work with Microsoft Office PowerPoint to make interactive presentations. With Mouse Mischief, teachers can add multiple choice questions to their presentations, and large groups of students can answer the questions using mice connected to the teacher’s PC.

How does Mouse Mischief work?

It’s simple. After Mouse Mischief is installed, the Mouse Mischief toolbar will appear as part of the PowerPoint ribbon when a new or old PowerPoint presentation is opened. This intuitive Mouse Mischief toolbar lets teachers add interactive elements such as multiple-choice question slides with a single click.

When the teacher opens a Mouse Mischief enabled presentation, students in the classroom can answer each question by clicking it with their uniquely designed mouse cursor. Once the students have selected their answers, the teacher can display the correct answer.

The best part? Mouse Mischief gives teachers the option to have their students answer questions individually or as part of a team, in order to encourage both competition and collaboration in the classroom.

(Exerpt from http://www.microsoft.com/multipoint/mouse-mischief/)

User friendly design tool

2009-11-18T21:09:00.004+11:00

This site gives tools that rival Sketchup when it comes to designing spaces.I liked the ease of use, the amount of choice in terms of objects to add and the speed at which I could design and 'furnish' a whole room or space within a matter of minutes. This would be a great tool for students in Primary Grades. I even liked the fact that you could design 'garden' spaces.
...A real winner...!

Twurdy

2009-11-18T21:07:00.004+11:00

Twurdy's goal is to provide web searchers with information that is most appropriate for them. This will mean that 10 year olds doing school assignments don't have to click through difficult material to find something they can use. It will also mean that phd students do not have to click through websites designed for kids in order to find what they are looking for.

An interesting tool to explore & look into further

ISSUU & Google- Tools and Strategies for Educational Innovation

2009-10-04T15:10:00.003+11:00

This post is about two amazing finds:
ISSUU : Making digital publishing beautiful.

Issuu is the leading digital publishing platform delivering exceptional reading experiences of magazines, books, catalogs, reports, and more. In just a few seconds users can create beautiful digital editions simply by uploading their publications. It's our mission to empower individuals, companies, and institutions to publish their documents across all digital platforms. I discovered this excellent presentation on the many new and evolving applications for educators developed by Google. Ideas very much worth pursuing!

Open publication - Free publishing - More k12

The Freesound Project

2009-09-05T23:32:00.010+10:00

The Freesound Project aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus License. The Freesound Project provides new and interesting ways of accessing these samples, allowing users to

browse the sounds in new ways using keywords, a "sounds-like" type of browsing and more
up and download sounds to and from the database, under the same creative commons license
interact with fellow sound-artists!

What I found fascinating was this application of the sounds: Students could record sounds upload & tag on a google map! They can also browse the map & click on individual sounds- hearing what aspects of that location 'sound like'. The possibilities for classes are exciting! As those in the Freesound Project state:

"We are looking for institutions and schools who want to help us with this effort. Do you think your institution can help us fill the database? Do you have students who can help us by doing (field-)recordings as assignments? Recordings of instruments? Do you have a large batch of usable sounds? Anything goes as long as the sounds can be released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus License."

What a great way to explore the world & contribute;- focusing on an aspect (audio) that students don't often get to use in the presentation of their knowledge/learning.

Wikis...more & more useful

2009-09-01T20:25:00.004+10:00

Wikis, Webs & Writing(s)

View more documents from Neil Winton.

This is a really good Slideshare that describes the usefulness of wikis..particularly for teaching writing. I sent members of our staff the link to the class examples. I also sent the link to this site:
There are lots of tips and hints for making your wikis even better!

What an interesting site...& what does it say about the power of images vs text??

2009-08-23T13:04:00.002+10:00

This is amazing! The makers of this site (Information is Beautiful) have taken raw data about different global issues & transformed it into visual representations. The impact is incredible! I can truly SEE what the information is about. It really makes you consider the continuing growing importance of visual literacy skills in our students...both to be able to read images & make them to get their point across...

True Tube

2009-07-21T11:15:00.005+10:00

This looks like an interesting site for older students:
True tube

"a free, website which uses real-life stories and issues to encourage teenagers to explore and debate the world of morality, ethics, politics and religion. TrueTube brings to life the subjects at the heart of Secondary Education using short-form web-based video and multimedia technology. The site encourages teenagers to find their voice as they explore their own value systems and those of their peers around the corner and across the world."

Some of the topics though might be useful for upper primary debates/ discussions.

I like the slogan:
THINK, TALK, ACT........

YABBA -Young Australian Best Book Awards

2009-07-16T11:17:00.004+10:00

Here is a simple yet effective way to encourage students to critically read & review books.
Get them to critique review & vote online!!
The YABBA site has a wealth of information and activities for children that encourage an interest in Australian Books & their authors.
It is highly recommended!

What can be done with video!

2009-07-13T09:16:00.003+10:00

These are just a bit of fun, but they show the potential & creativity that can be employed when making videos. I only have two examples...simple due to my own time restraints....but I know there would be no end of examples.

It makes me ponder 'art' lessons now....we need to re-think some of our core curriculum subjects!

Educational Videos

2009-06-14T18:18:00.003+10:00

After a long break, I am back to share great resources with a wonderful find from Judy O'Connell. Neo12 is a site that provides an organised way for finding Educational Videos by topic. Guaranteed to save hours of search time for teachers & students alike.

myebook

2009-03-27T21:02:00.005+11:00

Thanks to @monarchlibrary for this great tool.

myebook aims to revolutionise the way we create, publish and share ebook content online. Built on a feature-rich social platform, complete with powerful, browser-based, builder software, and a slick reader environment, there's never been an easier way for anyone and everyone to 'get it out there'.

With myebook.com, theyve made it possible for anyone to upload, or create from scratch, beautifully simple or adventurously complex page designs and covers online, in no time. What's more, you can publish your book with a single button and release it to the world before the (virtual) ink's dry! You can create as many publications as you want.
This sounds like a motivating way to get students writing. I've just joined up- now I want to take some time to explore!

Todaysmeet

2009-03-08T11:18:00.002+11:00

Wow- what a great tool todaysmeet.com- full of potential uses in Primary classes. This tool lets you capitalise on the practice of backchannelling at presentations etc. But I think there could be sooo many more uses. Posting questions on a topic, brainstorming, 'discussing', compare & contrast with another group-e.g another class. The list could be endless!!
The things that appealed to me were that there is no sign in, the 'room' can be as temporary as you like, and it is soooooo easy!!!
Again I picked up this site from a tweet! Thanks @andrewdouch.

The Future..

2009-03-06T21:32:00.004+11:00

The
It's been a while since I've used a video talking about the future. I liked the way this one starts. I'm also facinated by the speed at which things have changed! The 'old' videos seem very 'out of date' now..and yet they were only up to a year or so ago. The importance of virtual worlds & the focus on learning activities that develop skills that are so different to past requirements..wow so much has changed! It is facinating!

GiggleIT

2009-02-14T17:36:00.005+11:00

Pat Carmichael sent a message to Australian TL's about a great literacy project:
"The GiggleIT Project offers a teaching and learning package and an introductory online competition to engage the students in creating a new word for e-Book, as well as a registration invitation to start your GiggleIT project by choosing 3 Gigglepets to put on your page. There are lots of handouts to download and also an invitation to take part in building teaching and learning units to share. It also supports the International Children's Digital Library and the International Year of Reconciliation. Have a look at all the features. The MAIN feature is that children create and write their own iconic humorous
stories and poems based on the Australian identity (or what ever country or culture you belong to). The best of these texts will then be compiled into an online digital publication called an e-Book- or....what ever the new name happens to be for this kind of publication."

SchoolAID

2009-02-12T21:14:00.004+11:00

Barbara Braxton, a fantastic TL in Cooma NSW, sent this information:

"School Aid empowers kids to help kids in need. This website provides the opportunity for Australian primary school students to rapidly respond to urgent humanitarian situations affecting their peers."

They have a Victorian Bushfires Action Kit with lots of suggestions about how kids can help.
http://www.schoolaid.org.au/VictorianBushfiresEmergencyAppeal.htm

This is a great site that will give opportunity for students to focus their energies into helping others. The projects are current and relevant to Australian Students. It is worth a look!

JeopardyLabs

2009-02-11T23:01:00.001+11:00

This is a bit cool! JeopardyLabs allows you to create a customized jeopardy template without PowerPoint. The games you make can be played online from anywhere in the world. Building your own jeopardy template is a piece of cake. Just use the simple editor to get your game up and running.

Ken Ken

2009-02-11T22:25:00.003+11:00

Another interesting resource thanks to an email from Stephen Loosley in Melbourne which states:

A New Puzzle Challenges Math Skills

By WILL SHORTZ www.nytimes.com Published: February 8, 2009

KenKen, which starts in The New York Times today next to the crossword
puzzle, is a new numerical logic puzzle from Japan.

The name means, "cleverness squared."

KenKen shares some properties with sudoku. Each is a pure logic challenge
in which numbers are filled in the squares of a grid. Unlike sudoku,
though, in which the numbers act solely as symbols (letters or pictures
would work as well), KenKen requires arithmetic.

The rules are simple: Fill the grid with digits so as not to repeat a
digit within any row or column, and so the digits within each heavily
outlined box (called a cage) go together using the arithmetic operation
shown to make the target number indicated.

Two new KenKen puzzles will be presented in The Times each day from
Monday through Saturday. The first is a four-by-four-square puzzle that
increases in difficulty from easy to medium as the week progresses. The
second is a six-by-six-square puzzle that goes from medium to hard.

KenKen was invented in 2004 by the Japanese educator Tetsuya Miyamoto,
who founded and teaches at the Miyamoto Math Classroom in Tokyo. Students
attend his class on weekends to improve their math and thinking skills.

Mr. Miyamoto said he believes in “the art of teaching without teaching.”

He provides the tools for students to learn at their own pace using their
own trial-and-error methods. If these tools are engaging enough, he said,
students are more motivated and learn better than they would through
formal instruction.

About 90 minutes of class time each week is set aside for solving
puzzles, usually designed by Mr. Miyamoto.

The most popular one has been KenKen.

imbee.com

2009-01-31T19:44:00.003+11:00

We have had a struggle lately. As a Staff we have used Ning sites for staff PD exercises & communication in various groups. The platform is excellent in developing community connections & communication. Unfortunately in it's policy, Ning has a age restriction. Anyone under 13yrs of age is restricted from using this tool. That discounts all primary students.

A solution could be this site:
There is scope for students to have their own pages, the group to have a blog and there are places to upload pictures and content.
The Teachers intro says:

"To create and share your own content with your kids, and other friends on imbee, try starting a blog entry, or sharing pictures. You can publish your content with Spotbuilder which allows you to apply custom layouts and styles to your MySpot pages."

Sounds like it could be what we are looking for!
As a bonus there are groups that connect students around the world.
http://www.imbee.com/group/view/national_geographic_kids
Looks promising!

NABUUR The Global Village

2009-01-05T21:51:00.004+11:00

This looked like a very worthwhile site to explore. I saw a link from a Twitter colleague about Stella, a child in an African village & her first day at school. I was led to NABUUR from that story. The site states:

NABUUR makes it easy to make a difference

Nabuur.com is an online volunteering platform that links Neighbours (online volunteers) with Villages (local communities) in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Connected through Nabuur.com, Neighbours and local communities learn about each other, share ideas and find solutions to local issues.

Everybody has something to offer, and everything is done online.

Do you have a little spare time and the desire to make a difference?

I think maybe we do!!

How much fun!- SAM animation

2008-12-13T09:44:00.008+11:00

SAM Animation
I downloaded this last week but didn't have time to try it out at the time. Had heard that it was a great stop time animation program.SAM Animation is software designed to give students the power of making stop-action animations to share their ideas and understanding. The environment provides a unique experience for students to grapple with challenging problems in mathematics, science, engineering, and more as they engage in the process of generating animations. It has been developed by TUFTS University by the Center for Engineering Education and OutReach .
Well my son had a play yesterday & we've found it is really great! VERY easy to use and with enough features to be an excellent class tool. Movies can be exported into Quicktime for other use. Here are some very quick examples of what he came up with: (rough but first tries!- The first is called "Mrs Manning Fly Killer"!!)

Microblogging solutions

2008-12-11T20:19:00.006+11:00

There have been a few staff disappointed that we cannot use tools such as Ning for our students, due to the age restrictions of such sites- you must be over 13 years.

I'm not 100% sure...but this tool looks promising. It is a microblogging tool that states:

Who are our role models? Ning, Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku and all those new mobile social networks.We think that as software provider we can create tools which will make life easier for all those people starting small social networks all around the world.

I started up a trial network page & found that I could if I wished make it a private space, I had a chance to moderate who joined the network & members were able to individualise their pages. I'll have a bit more of a look- but I'll be sharing this one at school!

Woogi World

2008-12-10T18:39:00.005+11:00

I've simply copied the information from the site, but the explanations were quite good:
The Children's Way Woogi World™ Program is a free program for primary aged students (K-6) that teaches children how to balance their lives, how to use the internet for good, and how to serve and contribute to their local communities.
All of the activities in Woogi World™ teach children balance, service learning, and other important values including internet safety. They learn these principles through educational online games, important missions they receive as special agents, and through at-home activities that get them off the computer and doing things with their family. Parents can also play with their own kids online.

I like the concepts behind this project!

"Karma currency"

2008-12-06T22:09:00.004+11:00

Instead of giving platters, socks, photo frames and other useless gifts this initiative allows companies and individuals to give the gift of Charity Gift Vouchers. This Charitable voucher can be sent to families or friends, customers or colleagues, empowering them to give the donation to the charities they care about most. In short; the aim is to make karma currency the most soulful, meaningful, environmentally friendly and enjoyable gift you can give. The gift that 'spreads the love'.

This site elaborates by stating as their mission:

Our vision is to change the world! Well… maybe not the whole world. But certainly some of it! Through connecting people with the charities and causes that are closest to their hearts (whether it be starving children in Africa or a soup kitchen down the street) we hope to make charitable acts part of our everyday lives.

Sounds worthwhile!

Million Futures

2008-11-29T21:49:00.013+11:00

Thanks to Tania Sheko for this one! Million Futures is a survey site asking key questions about the future of education.

It has an incredibly innovative way of gaining public involvement.

There are also lesson ideas for Upper Primary students.

The popular keywords give an idea to
the types of messages
being added to the site.

This would be an excellent site to explore with the whole learning community!

(And which one is my contribution?
Flight FL004752)

Literacy today & yesterday...

2008-11-29T17:04:00.004+11:00

A great slide from an interesting presentation by Alec Couros (Ed. Tech Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina) about Academic Integrity

I'm fascinated about the date in this picture...!

TEFLclips: Using You Tube videos efffectively in language classes

2008-11-28T22:40:00.006+11:00

This is a very good blog- that gives lesson outlines & ideas for using You Tube videos in developing English language skills.....but I think some of the ideas could be used in any class.

I particularly liked the cat video ideas:
Lesson 22 If Cats Could Talk
and
Lesson 21 Noticing

I love these clips & the lesson ideas presented!

But there are many others that I haven't had a chance to look at yet. The site has been created by Jamie Keddie and I like the way he has put 'packages' together- keeping the video, teaching ideas & PDF in each post. A great way to share ideas!

( I found this blog through Quick Shout a blog that has News, Links and Opinion on Learning, Technology, Web 2.0 and EFL, ESL)

Networked StudentQT.mp4

2008-11-27T22:29:00.005+11:00

What is the 21st Century learner like? What is a connected learner?
Wendy Drexler has simplified a complex concept and give insights into how to use the tools available to assist students to become 'networked'!
A fantastic presentation explaining the advantages of networking so simply!

Playing for Change: Peace through Music

2008-11-24T22:06:00.005+11:00

I'm blogging this while I listen to the fantastic rendition of 'Stand by Me' showcased on this site. Yet another great site that uses the power of the web to instill change...to make a difference!

Even if you just play the video..how could you not feel so00 good...& inspired!!

There are some interesting looking links- I think I will go & explore them now........just as soon as the music ends :-)

Digistories

2008-11-24T21:44:00.003+11:00

I kept feeling guilty after watching the earlier video :

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

The mention about digital storytelling kept me thinking- how much do I promote this activity? Am I exploring & promoting all the possibilities??

This site has a comprehensive range of tools to assist in producing digital stories. The wiki has links that will take you to some examples of digital storytelling in action. They begin with the use of simple voice recording and move through some of the more popular software applications to the use of online applications. A number of the pages also include links to support notes.
Some good ideas here!

Museum Box

2008-11-24T21:34:00.003+11:00

I was discussing this site today with another teacher- the applications are immeasurable - thanks again to the Twitter Network for another great tip!

Museum Box:
This site provides the tools for you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. What items, for example, would you put in a box to describe your life; the life of a Victorian Servant or Roman soldier; or to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary? You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view and comment on the museum boxes submitted by others...

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

2008-11-22T21:46:00.001+11:00

Another great video! I've heard the messages that are 'articulated' in this video before, & I've seen similar techniques...but I liked this version...it has something that grabs you!

Simplifying the skills needed for today's learners

2008-11-22T21:26:00.001+11:00

This is quite a good video! There are only three skills that are described as needed for today's learners,...but they are substantial. A good one for clarifying what is important in educational programs today!

Global connections- what can they ignite??

2008-11-14T19:43:00.005+11:00

I was pondering today the potential of Web 2.0 & global connections & how they could be used to do good in the world.
This site- Charter for Compassion embraces just what I had been thinking about!
The 'about' tab explains the ideals:

The Charter for Compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. Bringing together the voices of people from all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all faiths are not the same, they all share the core principle of compassion and the Golden Rule. The Charter will change the tenor of the conversation around religion. It will be a clarion call to the world.

Such projects must become incorporated into the learning environments of schools today. We need to take up the opportunity to make a difference in our world - and the technology is there now to give us the chance to learn from & with each other.

What better way to teach understanding, respect & empathy?

An inspiring call and a testament to how our world is changing...only a few years ago such an idea would not have had the access & distribution that this site has.

Funny how things just 'pop up' just at the right time!!

Online newspaper templates

2008-11-11T21:33:00.005+11:00

This is a great site- it allows students to create & print their own 'newspaper' or 'magazine' on a topic of their choice.

It is very easy to use & only requires a login name & password. There are some fantastic links that help to make the site a valuable teaching/learning tool. Very useful for students studying 'communication' or 'the media'. (Or even for those just wanting to create a great looking report or story!)

A perfect follow on from the last post!

2008-11-09T09:23:00.003+11:00

Thanks to @AngelaMaiers on Twitter for alerting us all to it!

I'll be exploring the wiki that this video is from further....http://newliteracy.wikispaces.com/

What a frightening reality-why we need to teach our students information & media literacy

2008-11-08T21:52:00.007+11:00

This is an incredible, eye opening story...it reveals the importance of teaching our students to be discerning, & media & information savvy.
Wow! Our primary students are not too young to realise the implications of such actions. We need to teach them skills to be discerning from the time they start using the internet.
...amazing stuff!!

Does this say everything we're thinking about learning today?....Yep!!!

2008-11-04T20:46:00.003+11:00

Paper Clip Project

2008-11-03T21:54:00.004+11:00

The students, staff, and community of Whitwell Middle School welcome you to the Children's Holocaust Memorial & Paper Clip Project Website. As you visit this site, please take some time to reflect on your power to make a difference in the world. We believe that each person can choose to make a positive impact on the lives of others. It is our hope that you join us as we attempt to:

"Change the World One Class at a Time"

This is the home page statement and goal from the

The project was communicated by using Web2.0 tools such as a blog. It grew beyond the expectations of the school to become a world wide campaign.
Use the link to read about the project- it is both inspiring and humbling!

What better way to use these tools!
Another statement (from another post about the project)
crystallizes the importance of such projects-
(the Paper Clip project is designed for Year 5 students)

"if we can teach them to think in this way at this age, we can achieve two things:
They will be good citizens, and they will be empowered to take action."

What a great goal! I believe we are obliged to fulfill this ideal!

Collaboration & REAL conversations!!

2008-10-31T01:51:00.007+11:00

Yesterday, our PLP group indicated a desire to be part of the posting activity for HFS. This is a really exciting opportunity....because it can finally lead this blog into being a place for 'true' 'HFS conversations'. Quite rightly, the group stated that other staff 'can only comment' on posts so far. I know that does not lead to 'true' conversations....and yet up to this time, no other staff members had ever indicated interest...it really shows where we are now with the whole concept of sharing & our staff's Professional Journey in this area.

This blog was started as simply a staff PD tool- designed to introduce Web 2.0 & 21st Century Learning skills. It has grown from that start...but now it could be so much more!! The potential is exciting!!

We have a great staff, & I look forward to collaborating more in this capacity. Hopefully the next post will be signed with a different name!!

Youth Voices

2008-10-31T01:41:00.003+11:00

Youth Voices is a site where students can share & discuss their digital work online. There are a variety of formats and opportunity to join various groups. I thought the whole concept is excellent & I was alerted to this site through their twitter feeds. Another great idea!!

'Generation We' & the power of video

2008-10-30T23:54:00.003+11:00

Generation WE: The Movement Begins... from Generation We on Vimeo.

This powerful movie is yet another great example of the trend to use social media tools to promote social justice issues & initiatives. Although politically based, the message stirs up a rally to action response, through its emotive and visually rich format. The statistics revealed throughout were quite frightening, and yet the call to action, (similar to many of these movies) gave the feeling of great hope.

It is a fascinating video. There are some interesting truths revealed throughout this American political campaign clip. Our youth today,- 'Generation We', are more globally oriented, more politically and socially aware than ever before, more technically adept.

This would be a great movie to analyse- for it's success in delivering it's political message, & for the observations it makes about the youth of today- 'Generation We'. Although strongly American, what does this movie say about OUR students and their concerns for their future???
What does it say about the ways they can now communicate their concerns & messages??

Video- recording and transferring learning concepts...what can beat it??

2008-10-27T00:33:00.004+11:00

'We learn best when we have to relay what we have learnt & teach others'

We've got to get more video recording into our student's learning activities! (I know we have to get more recorders!!! I can hear our staff now!!!)

I just watched both these videos & thought what great learning...what a great way to learn!
I just LOVE this clip- great creativity by the students!

This blog post also has a great but simpler learning video. The teacher has sent out invitations for classes to learn the sasa from the student's instructions. To me this says 'assessment' opportunity. I hope our Year 3's (doing cultures this term) might be able to oblige!

Twitter in plain English

2008-10-20T09:19:00.009+11:00

Good ol' Common Craft have made a clip about Twitter. I've mentioned the advantages of being part of this network to a few of the staff & gradually people are exploring.

This link is a bonus for all those 'visual' people as it gives 17 Ways to Visualize the Twitterverse!

Twitter can help you to 'make the connections' to keep 'up-to-date' with what is happening in Educational environments, it helps you to 'step into' to actual happenings going on in Educational circles & be aware of 'what is going on'.

Once you're hooked it becomes a life blood to your networks & further learning!

21st Century Literacies

2008-10-16T14:13:00.004+11:00

Just grabbed this! Had to have it!

I saw this movie on Judy O'Connell's blog & thought it was just perfect for where we are going right now. Our school has just started PLP- Powerful Learning Practice...and one of the main messages is that at this point in time, we have the opportunity to learn from each other in networks that can now span global distances and give instant access at all times.

What are the implications for education, for learning, now? What sorts of skills will learner's need? The movie above articulates some foundational truths. I can see it being used at a few forums at our school!

International PLP Toorak Oct 13

2008-10-13T10:13:00.007+11:00

We are here finally at PLP & I have actually needed to backchannel because of the amazing statements & crystallizing of ideas.

Sharing, connecting collaborating communities...the process we are part of & I feel that we have been travelling at HFS. We have 'done' blogging, we've connected with others, we've collaborated. We are now at the stage were we NEED to begin being part of communities- doing something together with others for a purpose...maybe taking on social justice issue challenges, working towards good....

Will has stated he wants us to be changed learners..I like the way he speaks ..it is real. I like the messages he is giving..a lot just common sense!

I started this post in the middle of the actual PLP conference-I was wanting to share immediately the exciting things I was hearing both with the Twitter network & in a post. While I was typing I kept thinking about a discussion I had been following about 'courtesy at conferences' and the way participants now-a-days, are often furiously typing and back channeling throughout keynotes & presentations.

I've realised the need now! In today's world because we have instantaneous connections with our networks we WANT to share right then, right now! We take it for granted, that whenever we have access we are 'wired' to our networks & ready to share whatever is engaging us.

I think this says a lot and it has helped me understand the changing perception of what communication is today. I think this needs to be factored in to our discussions when we talk about networked learning.

Spelling Resources Shared

2008-10-08T05:51:00.003+11:00

Ahhhh, I just couldn't let it go by....
Tom Barrett, a favourite Twitter contact has put his top 5 Spelling Resources up to share. There are some GREAT sites with relevant commentary by Tom. A MUST LOOK!

PPT presentations- are you REALLY getting your message across??

2008-10-05T22:38:00.008+11:00

I have sat through 'PPT' presentations that have literally turned my attention right off & caused me to probably miss some great information due to the fact that the presentation of the information was so boring & uninspiring!

This quick presentation is one which I found interesting...I found it on Jenny Luca's blog in a post about geoGreeting.

The presentation advertises John Medina’s ‘Brain Rules, book & theory. There were some very pertinent ideas. I'll be using them in the future

Brain Rules for Presenters

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: reynolds garr)

Personal Learning Networks- how do they start??

2008-09-23T22:54:00.007+10:00

I commented on our Executive Director's blog in regards to a post about the importance of conversations about curriculum. The comments led to the topic of using web 2.0, in particular blogs, to enable conversations within the diocese & between teachers & students & 'experts' (or 'primary resources'). I've since reflected on my own learning journey & the establishment of the Personal Learning Networks(PLNs) that I have become involved in and their value in providing a forum for 'conversations' about curriculum & other educational topics.

I have been incredibly lucky as I have been helped along the way by key people, now central to my networks. Admittedly, being a Teacher Librarian, I was able to link up with innovative and dynamic educators who are leading the field in the use of Web2.0, as many Teacher Librarians lead the technology drive in their schools. Judy O'Connell helped introduce me to the value of blogging as well as the work of Will Richardson, John Connell and other inspiring educators. Through the early links on her blog & others, I was able to establish my own blog rolls and RSS favourites!

Jenny Luca gave an initial 'Shout out' on Twitter which helped me become involved with an incredible group of educators from around the world. This network is so dynamic and inspiring- I have learnt more in the time I have been part of Twitter than through any other means. Notification of blog posts, new applications, ideas tried in classes, suggestions, questions, frustrations are all shared. My network includes educators & individuals involved in technology so there is always something amazing & exciting to read & communicate. Which leads me to the follow on!

Our Executive Director asked in his comments

"how do we lead teachers on this journey of personal discovery and professional learning; how do we convince them that blogs can add-value to the work they do?"

I think we need people in schools to help do similar things that Judy & Jenny did for me. My learning journey has empowered me to help make the links & start the conversations at school. I think that having someone there to help make the links really pays off! Gradually staff are setting up their own blogs...and some have joined Twitter. The focus is on the people...not the tools. I started off telling our staff 'who is good to follow', now as individuals refine their own networks, we share that role. I am particularly excited that through a contact I had on Twitter, our Year 4 blog has now 'taken off' as the teachers can see the potential for posting & collaborating... now that we have an audience/collaborators- a class in Illinois.

Web2.0 has been in our school for a while, but it is when links are made and relationships are formed (that have the potential to develop into collaborative/communicative experiences), then the purpose of Web2.0 tools comes to the forefront, (and Personal Learning Networks grow!!)

I suppose it comes down to relationships...and to an extent trust. We need someone to help establish those first lines of communication, as it is like anything...we will take heed of a personal recommendation. Being assisted in terms of knowing & communicating with 'who's who' in the world of Web2.0 & Education is an important issue that has been somewhat overlooked. I think this is one factor that prevents educators from taking those first steps....

BTW: The first step in our journey with the Powerful Learning Practice project, led by Will Richardson, will be a face to face meeting 'to get to know each other' & 'build relationships'. This will then lead to our adoption of Web2.0 tools to work on further collaborations. I think this is a very pertinent example that proves that I must be somewhere on track with my thinking!!!

Image: 'Visualising PLN'
www.flickr.com/photos/7988532@N06/2673688736
Image: 'PLN Graph'
www.flickr.com/photos/26872986@N00/2370429269

I'm almost lost for words...!

2008-09-21T17:50:00.014+10:00

I just read an amazing post and just had to comment. A colleague in a High school in Melbourne was explaining the situation that her students are in...they have to PAY for their Internet use at school. She explained that they are 'issued' an amount at the beginning of the year and then have to 'top up' as they run out throughout the year. Many either forget or simply don't have the funds to continue paying. Where is this??? What country????

I have never recently thought of Internet access as a 'luxury' item in an educational setting in Australia. At the risk of sounding elitist, I see it as an essential. How can these students learn in a relevant, meaningful, purposeful context if there is a possibility they might be denied access to information and contacts and a place to publish, that are real time, broad and reflective of today's world? How can they possibly understand the concepts of 'Global citizens', 'Flat Classrooms' or the ideals behind Web2.0 applications?
I am flabbergasted! Why are there students in Australia having to pay for internet access at school? Why should they be missing out and disadvantaged when their funds run out? This is education we are talking about.... It just doesn't sound right!

As a juxtaposition to this story, I have felt very strongly about writing about another post I read over the weekend. This one was by Konrad Glogowski. I have thought about it all weekend. I would like to post further about it at a later date. But this post talks about Konrad's recent work in South Africa in very different situations than those of Australian schools...and yet... interestingly, when I went back to it just now, this snippet caught my attention:

"While at Fezeka, I learned that access to technology is a challenge. The teachers were enthusiastic and very committed to their own professional development, but they all made it clear to us that ICT integration is not easy when the school has only 43 computers for its 1700 students and over 50 teachers. Using Web 2.0 tools is a challenge when Internet use at school is capped at, on average, 7 gigabytes per month. When this limit is reached in two weeks, the school has no Internet access for the rest of the month."

I'm astounded that I can link the two stories!!!

Tomorrow I will go back to school with more determination to use the wonderful opportunities available to our students via the Internet. It really makes you appreciate something when you imagine what it would be like without it. Awareness of the plight of these schools will hopefully move bureaucrats to take action. I know it made me stop & think!
Image: '2007 Web Trend Map'
www.flickr.com/photos/11979533@N00/441921094

A nice little application...

2008-09-19T13:30:00.004+10:00

I just had a play with Phrasr an application that matches Flickr images to every word you type in a phrase. A nice application which could have many uses. It's just one of the 'toys' available that enable further use of the amazing Flickr images!! I also had a try at 'Memory'. Both could have application in the classroom (with supervision).Unfortunately you can't embed or save your work into your own blog, but you can view your work in the archive (or send to a friend!) Plenty of ideas developing!

Free Rice + more

2008-09-13T22:40:00.004+10:00

The Free Rice site has added a set of grammar questions to it's collection. Now there are questions about:

Famous Paintings
Chemical
English Grammar & Spelling
World Capitals
Languages and
Multiplication.

This is a great site to use to develop skills. All for a great cause!!

Wikis- why are they so good?

2008-09-13T21:35:00.007+10:00

Over the last weeks I have been working with a Year 6 Class developing a wiki around the issues of Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. The students have been working in groups developing pages to convince our community to be a bit more environmentally friendly. It is also a chance for them to learn some skills. It was interesting when I asked 'how do you think you might be able to use wikis in the future?' None of them had an answer! They haven't yet developed the concept of collaborative projects. It is a concept that our school community is still grappling with.

This project though, could be used as an example of what is possible. Admittedly a bit of fun...but I have 'watched' this project via Twitter as it went from a concept to a reality over the weekend. With brief messages through Twitter, (you are only allowed to use 140 characters), three NZ women developed together this wiki for 'Talk Like a Pirate Day', and called for ideas & links from their collection of followers (from Australia & beyond). The whole thing was done online- I don't think there was a f2f meeting at all! We were all involved as ideas & links were shared via Twitter & we will all be able to add to and access this wiki as it is 'open' to all. From encouragement, to providing resources, to sharing the joy of the project coming together, this group shared and worked together and used the skills of each individual to create something together.

What a great way to work- no longer having to recreate the wheel on our own in classrooms & environments that became information silos. By sharing in this way we are more efficient ...and it's more fun!!
I keep pondering though- 'I wonder if these women had ever met each other before?'....but then again...does it matter?!!!

Quality Learning Vs 20th Century Education

2008-09-07T10:08:00.003+10:00

As always Karl Fisch has written a very revealing & relevant post that addresses an undercurrent theme in all school's trying to grapple with 21st Century learning, in systems that still assess and evaluate in a 20th Century model of education. I love this blogger's work. The post is substantial...but it is well worth reading. I'm just about to download the powerpoints mentioned.
Before I go, though, (!!) I have copied a part of the post- a brief summary-
"Seven research-based principles of learning can provide a framework . . . (p. 6-7)

Learning with understanding is facilitated when knowledge is related to and structured around major concepts and principles of a discipline.
A learner's prior knowledge is the starting point for effective learning.
Metacognitive learning (self-monitoring) is important for acquiring proficiency.
Recognizing differences among learning is important for effective teaching and learning.
Learners' beliefs about their ability to learn affect learning success.
Practices and activities in which people engage during learning shape what is learned.
Socially supported interactions strengthen one's ability to learn with understanding."

We are continually striving to deliver Quality Teaching.....we continually need to focus on Quality Learning!

Authentic use of Web2.0 tools in the classroom

2008-09-06T20:11:00.008+10:00

I couldn't let this one pass! Lately I have been hearing about quirky ways teachers have been using Web2.0 tools. It seems sometimes there is prolific use...but it can be rather shallow- all pizazz ...no substance!!

These tools can have an incredible power to not simply engage students, but to deepen their thinking...to critically reflect and analyse, discuss and collaborate to find meaning...to deepen knowledge or to create further knowledge or some product that has a unique purpose or viewpoint.

I was impressed by this use of the 'Wordle' tool! The image on the left is a 'Wordle' analysis of the McCain Vrs Obama acceptance speeches. I was alerted to it by gbertoia (a twitter contact in Vietnam).

What a fantastic use of this tool!! Here is a visual summary of the main 'points' that each candidate focused on. It is easy to see what was most emphasised, what was mentioned less. Imagine presenting this data to students to compare/contrast or analyse. Web 2.0 tools can be used superficially or they can be used for rigorous learning...which will be used in our classrooms?????

Image http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/2831232596/

What a great idea for staff PD!

2008-09-06T16:42:00.006+10:00

I've been catching up on blogs today. Our Executive Director talked about collaborations and shared learning spaces in his blog 'Bluyonder'. It seems to be very obvious, that once teachers experience that shared space & teach together, the whole idea of collaboration & transparency & learning communities becomes clear to all involved. (Funny as a TL, that's what we've been preaching for as long as I can remember!!!)

Image from 'Learning Gems' Julie Squire

Professionally though, for our own continued growth, there also needs to be collaboration between staff within and outside the school. Julie Squires -author of the blog 'Learning Gems' gave some great insights as to how to initiate this type of culture in a staff. I liked her idea of 'simply to connect' with another staff member-be they in their staff or beyond. It is a great 'starter', allowing individuals to delve in at their own pace...& introduces a purpose to using web2.0 tools- because fundamentally that is what these tools are designed for ...connecting!!!

(And as Julie points out- "it is not more work...it is OUR WORK'!!)
Thanks Julie for some great insights!

Letting the world in!

2008-09-01T19:35:00.005+10:00

It is an exciting time at our school lately. This term there have been some great opportunities to begin collaborations ‘with the outside world’!

Today I sat in on a SKype meeting between one of our Year 4 teachers & a teacher from Illinois. We are setting up connections between the classes where we will share and swap information about our schools, our learning and our lives. (I must admit I am very excited by this one project!)
…But there’s more!!

On Monday we will begin our work as part of the Powerful Learning Practice cohort. Our school will be involved in a sustained professional development program ‘upskilling’ our staff & providing opportunities for collaborative interactions with schools in NSW, Victoria & the US. It is an amazing opportunity…& I’m grateful for the chance- it will really make a difference to our professional directions in the coming year.

Throughout the term another class has started reciprocating blog comments with a school in Towoomba and we have another drawing ideas from a wiki developed by a class in Victoria. This class is hoping to share /compare the info from the Victorian classes’ wiki…we’ve contacted the school & they are happy to share their work!

This is our ‘next step’ on our journey. Classrooms opening up the windows & ‘letting the world in’. It can only mean more meaningful, challenging & engaging learning opportunities for our students.
...Isn't that what it's all about?

Image: '2007 ... a good time was had+by+all'
www.flickr.com/photos/73645804@N00/2102790208

The greatest gain...????

2008-08-23T20:47:00.015+10:00

"The greatest gain will come from the collective knowledge and experience of the education community. Infrastructure must be invented and implemented that cultivates an ongoing professional conversation across the entire education landscape where a learning lifestyle is not only taught by teachers, but also modeled throughout the profession."

David Warlick

I was reading '2c worth', a blog by David Warlick. This statement resonated with me as it articulates the role of the Teacher Librarian as described through our studies. Harnessing both implicit and tacit knowledge of the community & enabling that knowledge to be shared & developed, is a fundamental component of the role. 21st Century/web 2.0 tools become enablers in this situation. That is why so many trailblazers in this area are TLs!
...Food for thought!

Not to distract from the actual post by David- it is an excellent read called: 'Five things Policy makers ought to know'. The post is important in that it talks about what is important in education- not technology teaching- but excellent teaching/learning.

Image: 'I *heart* you book librarian'
www.flickr.com/photos/23697075@N03/2653447509

Where are we headed?

2008-08-18T20:30:00.008+10:00

I used this site as an example today- to describe where we want to go with our learning at HFS.

I love the mission statement

"Established July 8th 2002, Bored of Studies was pioneered by 4 ex-HSC students who finished their HSC in 2001. Being the first to sit the newly revised HSC syllabus, the lack of information for current HSC students became apparent and hence developed into the sole inspiration for the development of this website.

Created by students, for students, Bored of Studies strives to provide current year 12 and year 11 students with all the resources and support they need to succeed during the 2 years that form the most important part of their education and subsequently, their futures.

Along with the help of countless user submitted notes and documents, and the users who spend endless hours helping out those in need in the student forums, Bored of Studies endeavours to become the single most influential, resourceful and helpful service available to students all over Australia."

Isn't this what it's all about? Authentic projects driven by a need, identified by students, who feel empowered to do something??

What should our learning look like? We need to be equipping our students with the skills, intention & confidence to find solutions to real life problems, collaborating to provide the answers...that's what it is all about!

This slideshow gives some additional input! Combine the two examples & what do you get???

Brave New World-Wide-Web

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: web2.0 technology)

....What are your comments !

Google...they've got it worked out!

2008-08-12T17:35:00.005+10:00

I was directed to the Google Jobs page from another blog & was interested in how they were able to consistently keep 'on the edge' of innovation & point of need services. I think the ideas expressed here could be applied to class and staff learning. Some lessons to learn from this mission statement!

The engineer’s life at Google...

Our mission – to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful – requires exceptional thinking and technical expertise.

Here are some of the things we do to facilitate a motivated, inspired workforce:

We work in small teams to promote spontaneity, creativity and speed.
We listen to every idea, on the theory that any Googler can come up with the next breakthrough.
We provide the resources to turn great ideas into reality.
We offer our engineers “20-percent time” so that they’re free to work on what they’re really passionate about. Google Suggest, AdSense for Content and Orkut are among the many products of this perk.

I was also particularly interested in the 10 reasons to work for Google... some valuable insights..

Making Connections

2008-08-11T22:47:00.009+10:00

I've had a nice time networking & setting up collaborations between our classes and other classes in Australia and abroad. It takes a bit of 'seizing the opportunity' and 'being in the right place at the right time', but I think that is what makes the difference and allows a learning community to shine.

In a school environment who should be doing this work? Who should be making possible the connections, crucial to developing a learning community and fostering the culture of 'life long learners'?

Learning is no longer simply 'bringing books and readers together'. The connections for today's learners are between the learners and a multitude of information sources -in static digital formats, (visual, auditory & print information products), and those that are fluid, ever changing & developing- based on Web 2.0 tools and applications and most importantly collaborations.

We need to address the challenges of setting up structures to support staff in this quest. Collaboration is based on relationships, working with people, building trust and the willingness to share, -no longer just within a closed school environment...but in a more 'global environment'

Time and skills are required. New skills that foster a different learning environment to anything previously possible.

Staff PD planning will need to take such issues into consideration... 'making connections' is a skill that takes time, enthusiasm and effort.

Image: 'Its Future is in our Hands - Live Earth'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14516334@N00/759309122

Creating-part 2

2008-08-11T22:34:00.002+10:00

This clip facinated me! I was particularly taken with the last work of art. The artist used collaborative tools /today's technology to create a beautiful & meaningful piece of art. Amazing...

Creating...what does it mean in today's learning?

2008-08-06T20:59:00.006+10:00

I 'borrowed' this clip from Chris Betcher's blog..who had 'borrowed' it from Youtube which most likely 'obtained' this from the author who uploaded it to share with others. It is a brilliant example of someone's creativity, using simple mac applications, to create a unique interpretation of an ('old') track. Very clever.... but also useful to make a point.

Today's world evolves around sharing. Our students have access to vast amounts of information, in various formats because others have chosen to share that information. I have often thought 'where is there room for ('new') creativity', how do we develop original thought?

Chris talked, in his post, about the 'Remix Society'. His post reflects on the fact that all through history, creative works have been built on the work of others...an idea, a structure, a technique, - shared for others to enjoy & maybe develop further.

Creative thought does not always mean 'starting from scratch'. Often we can produce works that are highly individual and personal...based on our reflections & learning from another/or other pieces. Even my interpretation of the value of the above clip for this blog & it's community of learners, is very different from Chris's, and yet I would have been influenced by his post & ideas.

Why am I reflecting on sharing? At our system leadership meeting yesterday, there was a great deal of talk about students 'creating'. There was also a lot on sharing, between staff, between schools and within the system. Understanding of the potential of both concepts is crucial for our steps forward in our learning community. We've got to give our students exposure to the work of others, but at the same time develop their skills in tapping in to their own creative thought processes. It is both a challenging & exciting task.

BTW Chris's post discusses the implications of 'sharing' in the context of copyright & regulations about copying the work of others. Insightful and informative about the way forward.

Addictomatic

2008-08-03T17:41:00.005+10:00

Wow, this is interesting! Addictomatic searches the best live sites on the web for the latest news, blog posts, videos and images. It's the perfect tool to keep up with the hottest topics, perform ego searches and feed your addiction for what's up, what's now or what other people are feeding on. Newsfix pages provide the latest headlines on topics such as entertainment, politics, shopping, sports and more. You get all the feeds from the best sources in each category.
I put in 21st Century Learning as a search & got recent posts & links to relevant sites. In a way, it personalises a search as it looks at social networking sites -people's posts and tweets, videos and photos. Really good stuff!

Hiroshima Day and Teaching Empathy

2008-08-03T13:20:00.005+10:00

Hiroshima Day and Teaching Empathy

Posted using ShareThis

I just posted this from Adrian Bruce's blog..after being notified through a listserv!
Now all I have to do is click on the ShareThis (if it is on that blog), link on a post I'm interested in, log in, & the post gets posted or saved as a draft on my blog! Too Easy!!

Anyway, Adrian had some great ideas & resources for using poetry to express thoughts & reflections about this topic. Very timely as Hiroshima Day is August 6th.

HFS tag Cloud

2008-08-02T18:17:00.002+10:00

created at TagCrowd.com

This is my tag cloud, generated by TagCrowd. It is interesting because TagCrowd advertises one of it's benefits is for organisations to see what messages they are giving out from their websites or pages. The main page states:

"TagCrowd is a web application for visualizing word frequencies in any user-supplied text by creating what is popularly known as a tag cloud or text cloud"

and

"When we look at a text cloud, we see not only an informative, beautiful image that communicates much in a single glance, we see a whole new perspective on text."

What do you read from this cloud???

Twitter

2008-08-01T18:03:00.007+10:00

I must admit I am becoming more and more addicted to Twitter. I posted a 'tweet' minutes ago- asking for anyone interested in working on a collaborative project on British Colonisation. Within seconds I had a reply. The instant responsiveness & the knowledge that members of my network at online at the moment I am on, (you can see from the tweets that go up), gives a sense of unity & community that you don't get from blogging or email listservs. I read an interesting post on a blog called "More than just knowing stuff', by Helen Otway (found through Twitter). It talks about a paper by Steve Hargadon keynote - Web2.0 is the Future of Education about 10 Trends he believes have importance for education. Helen connected the concepts with what she sees Twitter provides. I tend to agree with her ideas. The amount of PD I feel I have got through this medium over the last weeks is amazing.

Growing and Changing..1 to 100

2008-07-31T16:58:00.003+10:00

Our Kinders do a unit called 'Growing and Changing'. What a great video to show as an introduction to growth!

Connecting with Educators...great PD

2008-07-30T08:23:00.004+10:00

I had the most interesting and exciting time last night in a 'meeting' using 'Adobe Acrobat Connect'. Through a shout out in Twitter I was alerted to the meeting & took the chance and logged on. My experience stirred up a lot of enthusiasm & excitement about staff PD for the future.
I was privileged to be in a meeting with many of the authors of the blogs on my blogroll. It was simply a 'learning forum' where AllanaK (the host) was giving people the chance to try out this piece of software. Adobe Connect allowed us to speak to each other, simultaneously chat online using text, (I was forced to do this when my mic didn't work properly), but it also allowed us to show our desktops & talk to them using software similar to a IWB- we could highlight what was being shown. Chris Betcher explained his Second Life experiences and we could all see and hear

For Staff PD this is such a fabulous tool.

Learning Beyond Boundaries

2008-07-30T07:40:00.003+10:00

"Today we not only consume information from the Internet, we are contributors of information. All Internet participants have the potential to become teachers and producers of content as learning becomes personal, authentic, and highly individualized. Social software includes wikis, blogs, podcasts, instant messaging, and any system that allows communication that also emphasizes the richness of personal interaction instead of the technologies that make the interactions possible. The generations we teach now and will teach in the future innately use technology to communicate. The need for learning experiences to adapt to meet a new generation of learners is upon us."

These are the words of Dennis Richards, Massachusetts ASCD Affiliate President and ASCD Leadership Council member, recorded in his new blog "innovation3" . Richard is also advertising a conference coming up 'Learning Beyond Boundaries" That explores learning & challenges in today's world and a wikispace ' Learning Beyond Boundaries'

I got to these resources from a blog 'Change Agency' whose author Stephanie Sandifer's mission 'is to explore new concepts in reinventing education for the 21st century'.

Both sets of resources are worth looking at as we continue to build collaborative learning relationships.

Mac applications galore!

2008-07-28T11:22:00.003+10:00

Wow! This is a site for all Mac users. It has been made by Simon Elliott an Apple Distinguished Educator and the main trainer for the West Cornwall Apple Regional Training Centre. There is a wealth of information about open source Mac applications, and links to download them. I obtained the link to this site from OZTL. Networks are awesome!

What a good idea- & a great one to use in class!

2008-07-28T10:56:00.005+10:00

I just read a post by Scott McLeod, launching a new contest:

Contest - 140-character book reviews

A great idea & one I'd like to use with classes. Limiting the characters forces you to strip away the details & focus on the main points, the crucial theme or idea in the book. I want to try this straight away!
(Oh you've got read the comments where a huge number of people have already entered. Some great ideas & some real laughs!)

My favourite is the one about 1984:

1984 - A futuristic forboding look at life on the Internet where Google is Big Brother.

This has nothing to do with anything web2.0-I just thought it was fun!

2008-07-28T10:48:00.001+10:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

This is cute- a reflection of how we like to personalize products. Again I found it through my Twitter network. I will have to post about the amazing advantages of networking in this way. I am still a novice, but in a short time I have learnt so much!

Reports given out/Parent Teacher Interviews coming up. What has that got to do with Web 2.0?

2008-07-26T23:41:00.004+10:00

I was challenged, reading this post by Dean Groom. I liked how it articulated some of the thoughts and ideas discussed with a few of our teachers over the last weeks as we have prepared for reports & interviews. Parents simply want to know how to help their children. By opening up the communication methods and making it all more accessible, teachers & parents would have a far greater capacity to begin working as a team. After all, aren't we after the same thing...the best learning opportunities for our children/students???

Web2.0 tools are about networking..they are about communicating & collaborating. We need to start using them to effectively work with and in our learning community.

Why teach using blogs???? What is the importance of 21st Century skills???

2008-07-26T22:18:00.005+10:00

"By seeing through the eyes of someone who creates content rather than just viewing it, students develop a clearer understanding of where these images come from and what they mean. As they learn to interpret stories and create their own images using the same software that professionals use, students transform from passive consumers to more critical and creative individuals. Not only do they become better students, but mastery of today’s media can help make them more confident, thoughtful, and successful citizens."

Why We Need to Teach 21st Century Skills—And How to Do It

"Students LOVE getting feedback from their peers. A huge chunk of their lives revolves around this social interaction, and blogs can encourage this. When you encourage students to blog, you are giving them a voice, and encouraging them to share that voice with the world. It’s a great way to motivate them to finish their homework! So break down the walls of the classroom and connect them to like-minded individuals around the world."

Why teachers should encourage students to blog

Two articles I read today!

It's not blogging...it's building a learning community!

2008-07-22T18:34:00.001+10:00

| View | Upload your own

Thanks Dean Groom!

Analysis: Games Create 'Passion Communities' For Learning

2008-07-22T16:08:00.004+10:00

This post was interesting in it's description of 'communities of passion' vs traditional educational systems. It explores the passion that gamers in virtual worlds experience in their gaming activities. It focuses on the opinions of Professor James Gee & his interpretations of good learning systems. It states:

"Gee sees the current U.S. educational system as inadequate to the task of addressing the problems of an increasingly complex world. He stated that “21st century learning must be about understanding complex systems,” and he believes many video games do a better job at this than the antiquated sender-receiver teaching model that dominates American classrooms."

A further quote from Gee describes his thoughts on education:

“Education isn't about telling people stuff, it's about giving them tools that enable them to see the world in a new and useful way.”

And finally,

“Give students smart tools and let them use them and modify them to suit their purposes.” Such self-motivated learning moves students away from merely consuming knowledge and encourages them to produce knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways."

Interesting perspectives... The final quote was thought provoking

"If passion communities could be formed to solve real-world problems like hunger and environmental degradation, Gee believes we would be much better equipped to face these issues head-on. The challenge, according to Gee, isn't just about teaching our kids; it's about ensuring they have a viable world to live in."

WebTools4u2use Wiki

2008-07-21T09:09:00.005+10:00

This is a very comprehensive wiki that Jan@Delaney (a VERY resourceful & enthusiastic secondary school Teacher Librarian from our diocese) has sent.
Jan states:

"A goldmine.
Includes promotional, professional, and an accumulation of online articles as well as links to Web 2 tools.

You can access directly by type... eg rss, blogs, calendars etc, but what took my eye was an inclusion from another wiki which orders the tools by purpose.

eg:I want to...
Analyze statistics
Analyze texts
Author an interactive work
Blog
Brainstorm/ generate ideas
Build and share collections
Collaborate
Collect data
Communicate with colleagues
Compare resources' etc etc"

Sounds very useful!

Emerging from the Myst: Being inspired and making a start

2008-07-21T08:30:00.004+10:00

This is the heading of a post by Tom Barrett- I 'met' him through Twitter- he is an educator in Scotland.

I really enjoyed his post about a reading/ literacy unit he planned for his Stage 1 students. So far he has only posted about the introductory session...but the planning & background ideas are explained in this post. The activities stem from Tom's blending of activities with an adventure the class will engage in using an online game 'Myst'. A Wikipeadia explaination fot Myst states:

Myst puts the player in the role of the Stranger, who uses an enchanted book to travel to the island of Myst. There, the player uses other special books written by an artisan and explorer named Atrus to travel to several worlds known as "Ages". Clues found in each of these Ages help reveal the back-story of the game's characters. The game has several endings, depending on the course of action the player takes.

I liked the way Tom introduces the unit...fantastic engagement for the students. I can't wait for his next post!

UTTERZ

2008-07-21T08:10:00.003+10:00

This might be useful - although you must be over 13 & have a mobile...

Utterz lets you create and follow discussions with friends or people with similar interests. Utters can be audio, video, pictures and text. You can create or join a discussion from any mobile phone or computer.

Pondering Learning- a poem to challenge our thinking about REAL learning

2008-07-20T19:31:00.002+10:00

I found this poem on a blog called Miss W. and her Smartboard. I'm going to send it to our staff

I don't need to add anything to this! It says it all!

2008-07-19T15:45:00.003+10:00

Yep!

Image by : shareski
http://flickr.com/photos/saschaaa/152502539

allmyfaves.com

2008-07-18T19:36:00.005+10:00

Wow what a handy site!

Allmyfaves gives a visual directory that lists popular websites in various categories.

A very useful site to bookmark!

Educational Origami

2008-07-17T07:06:00.004+10:00

This is another good blog, I arrived on it as there was a post on assessment & 21st Century Learning that sounded interesting. What I liked though, is the way this blogger (no profile), made and shared mind maps, particularly of conference notes.
This is a mind map from a presentation by Ian Jukes at the NECC Conference recently. It describes the 7 key changes that are required to move into the 21st Century and to teach the digital natives. (Click on the image to enlarge)

Project based learning & web 2.0 tools

2008-07-17T06:38:00.004+10:00

....the combination of videoconferencing, blogging, and other collaborative network-based tools used with classroom instruction fueled the project's success.

"The key thing here is the integration of a single project across all three grades and into every single curriculum, including math, science, and language arts," Karmous-Edwards notes. "That, to me, was really spectacular and very special,..."

This statement was by a parent describing a project where middle school students followed a climber's journey up Mount Everest via satellite Internet while they engaged in related activities in the classroom. The project is described in a post on Edutopia a blog specifically targeting Project Based Learning activities.

To me, it clearly describes the types of things we should be engaging in.

Connectivity...what should we be teaching our students?

2008-07-16T10:22:00.004+10:00

"As I venture more heavily into a connected world I’m more interested in getting my students to post content publicly. To do that, they will have to ensure that they are using images, music and sounds that are copyright free. Makes the task more difficult but the wider audience they can attract to their creative efforts should be appealing for them and may provide them with the intrinsic motivation to get the task done right."

This statement was by Jenny Luca and I just had to repeat it. She was describing a great tool that allows you to search for royalty free sound effects for student's storymaking and sound recordings.

(Soundle sounds great...but it was Jenny's statement that made an impact on me!)

It confirms the idea that technology is providing us the opportunity to 'connect' with the outside world. But our responsibility as educators is to teach not simply skills, but attitudes & values in this environment. There is a whole range of ethical & responsible use issues that must be taught, and they must be taught in context. As we 'open the windows of our classrooms' and connect our students to the outside world and all the excitment and opportunity of networking & connecting, then we should be teaching them how to do this in the most socially responsible and ethical way. Isn't this how we teach other components of our curriculum?

Hyper-connectivity....why is it important?

2008-07-15T22:54:00.005+10:00

I was just reading an interesting white paper published by Nortel; an American Company dealing in Corporate Communications. I was seeking information as to why it is so important for our students to be connected & involved in collaborative interactions. (Why did I feel it was so important, how could I justify the emphasis I was placing on it?)

This paper had some interesting insights. It is based on research by IDC (sourced by Nortel), in a global study of almost 2,400 working adults in 17 countries. The study focused on quantifying the state of today's connectedness, tracking its acceptance and use across devices and applications as well as determining the pace of its growth and impact on the enterprise.

The study answers some of the questions about Web2.0 usage in business, but also the trend to be hyper-connected through various devices such as the Internet, broadband access, camera phones, voice-over-IP, instant messaging, social networking and video uploading. (All tools accessible to our students)

IDC asked and answered questions such as:

"What does all of this connectedness, this addiction to sharing information every moment of every day, mean for businesses and organizations? What decisions will companies have to make to ensure this "connectedness" becomes a competitive advantage? Where are the opportunities and challenges? What are the implications for employees, senior management and CIOs?

The paper is very revealing, particularly the importance being placed on the sharing and development of information through collaborative, networked structures. The present and future of organisations is analysed in this context. It states:

"Organizations that embrace connectivity, that take their clues from the hyper- connected among us, will be much more successful than those who don’t."

If we need reasons to support the need to teach our students in this context,to teach them skills and responsible & ethical use, then this paper & studies like it give plenty of evidence!

Staff PD...what should it be??

2008-07-15T21:29:00.004+10:00

I'm still in a questioning 'mood' & Ray has got me thinking again in regards to a comment on an earlier post! I know he has a passion about teaching STAFF in terms of PD & technology. My earlier post was about how much technology integration is going on in classrooms & how much collaborative opportunities are being explored through technology...in the classrooms.

Hmmmm.

What do people think? Should we be having more formal 'technology' skills sessions-e.g voluntary breakfast clubs etc? ....Will they make a difference?
I know we have tried these before...is it time to have another go?
What should they be on??
What do people see as their greatest need/ interest??

The aim is to open up opportunities for our students in their learning. We want to increase the relevance, the collaborative opportunities, opportunities for our students to be 'creators' of information/knowledge, increase engagement and develop skills relevant to today's world.

What comments do people have?

Image:edsummit_ 588 by torres21
http://www.flickr.com/photos/torres21/2406857398/

Cool huh!!!

2008-07-15T20:40:00.002+10:00

Cool huh!! This was such an easy image to generate!! I couldn't think of a good story..but what a great tool when students have to write a newspaper report! I stole the idea from a great Year 5 Blog : mrsmcsclass There are some excellent teaching ideas to glean from this blog!

HFS conversations

Mothers Day 2011- How things have changed!

Project Based Learning Explained by Common Craft

SonicPics

Life After Death by Powerpoint 2010

Paper Slide Shows

Storybird

Jog the Web

Student wikis

Cooliris

Mouse Mischief

How does Mouse Mischief work?

User friendly design tool

Twurdy

ISSUU & Google- Tools and Strategies for Educational Innovation

The Freesound Project

The Freesound Project aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus License. The Freesound Project provides new and interesting ways of accessing these samples, allowing users to

Wikis...more & more useful

What an interesting site...& what does it say about the power of images vs text??

True Tube

YABBA -Young Australian Best Book Awards

What can be done with video!

Educational Videos

myebook

Todaysmeet

The Future..

GiggleIT

SchoolAID

JeopardyLabs

Ken Ken

imbee.com

NABUUR The Global Village

NABUUR makes it easy to make a difference

How much fun!- SAM animation

Microblogging solutions

Woogi World

Tag cloud 3

"Karma currency"

Million Futures

Literacy today & yesterday...

TEFLclips: Using You Tube videos efffectively in language classes

Networked StudentQT.mp4

Playing for Change: Peace through Music

Digistories

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

Museum Box

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

Simplifying the skills needed for today's learners

Global connections- what can they ignite??

Online newspaper templates

A perfect follow on from the last post!

What a frightening reality-why we need to teach our students information & media literacy

Does this say everything we're thinking about learning today?....Yep!!!

Paper Clip Project

"Change the World One Class at a Time"

Collaboration & REAL conversations!!

Youth Voices

'Generation We' & the power of video

Video- recording and transferring learning concepts...what can beat it??

Twitter in plain English

21st Century Literacies

International PLP Toorak Oct 13

Spelling Resources Shared

PPT presentations- are you REALLY getting your message across??

Personal Learning Networks- how do they start??

I'm almost lost for words...!

A nice little application...

Free Rice + more

Wikis- why are they so good?

Quality Learning Vs 20th Century Education

Authentic use of Web2.0 tools in the classroom

What a great idea for staff PD!

Tag cloud 2

Letting the world in!

The greatest gain...????

Where are we headed?

Google...they've got it worked out!

Making Connections

Creating-part 2

Creating...what does it mean in today's learning?