Skype, Voicethread and useful links

Skype is a great tool for the classroom. Suddenly video conferencing, once a complicated, expensive process is within the reach of any computer user. It's as simple as using a telephone, except that with webcams involved you can see who you're talking to!

If you have friends or family overseas, commiunicate with them via Skype or consider using Skype with your class in Term 4 http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/12/using_skype_for_global_telecon.html

This story is worth revisiting - a school using Skype to communicate with a pupil who has leukemia

More Class skype advice: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/10/using-skype-in-classroom-or-just.html

If anyone wants to use Skype to communicate with a class overseas this term, Let me know!!!

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Web Tool for Learning:

VoiceThread is a pretty cool and easy way to produce audio visual photo albums. I think there are a number of ways you could use it in the classroom.

What is a Voicethread?

In the classroom?? Mrs Buchanan

Or a PD presentation Jack's monster cards


The ministry of Education is publishing some guidelines on dyslexia. You can find them here: http://www.tki.org.nz/r/literacy_numeracy/lit_dyslexia_e.php


Library Week is next week! This site has links to various activities designed to coincide with library week. http://www.libraryweek.org.nz/index.php

Interface is a New Zealand ICT magazine which you will be able to find in the staffroom. Lots of case studies, information and ideas for expanding the use of ICT in your class.
Interface free lesson plans! http://www.nz-interface.co.nz/lesson_plans.cfm


Make your own online assessment rubrics. These sites have web based rubric makers on them plus some useful templates.

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://myt4l.com/index.php?v=pl&page_ac=view&type=tools&tool=rubricmaker
And lots more stuff on rubrics:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html

Comprehensive list of ICT related links from Western Australia. This site covers a wide range of areas with links to further information. Anything you wanted to know could be found here!
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/index.htm

News Clips:

Second Life for 6 year olds:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4225702a28.html

Club Penguin : In August Disney paid $US350 million for Canada-based Club
Penguin, with a promise of $US350 million more if it meets its traffic targets.
Club Penguin says it has 10 million users, of whom 700,000 have managed to
persuade their parents to pay subscriptions of a few dollars a month so they can
use virtual money to buy clothes for their penguins and furniture to decorate
their igloos.
They can go waterskiing, hang out on the beach, play games or
work as waiters in the pizzeria.

Something for the classroom in 5 years? CONTEX Z450 3D printer

ICT making a Difference

Great to see the Blogs up and running. Remember we can link to a web page if you want to add a photo album. That would involve me uploading the photos to our school website. If you wanted to be totally self sufficient you could use Flickr - create a class account and upload photos to there. Here are some Flickr instructions. And for more ideas on using Flickr in the classroom.

Some of you may have used Skype - the internet telephone service which can enable you to talk or videophone your friends across the internet free.

Here is an example of a class using skype to include a class member who has cancer and has to stay at home. A great example of using the technology to make a difference. Only takes 5 minutes......
inclusion video (right click - save target as then double click downloaded file)

We all know that learners need to learn - be taught - better search techniques and strategies. This web site has a wealth of information that will help you and your leaners towards information fluency.

More on searching. Jamie Mckenzie february article titled Putting an end to Topical Research. Jamie is always worth reading and pondering over.

Please remember to try and have a look at EPIC. Link and logon details are on the Intranet.

Question of the Week: What is mathematical about this cabbage type?

Blog if the week: Blog of proximal development - this post talking about passion based learning