Virtual Teacher Newsletter No 115 23rd September 2005 - ADDICTED
THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
==============================================
CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. Mind Candy
3. WWWinfo Google Earth
4. New Printables - Enagage the Brain
5. Technical Stuff – ADSL & ADSL2
6. Web Site Focus - Orisinal
7. Engage the Brain
8. Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10 Next Issue
11. Code of 'Netizens'
12. Tips
==============================================
I have a confession to make – I am addicted to chemical
substances. Not only that, I am the dealer, I have access to
a huge number of chemical substances that can send me into
a euphoric state almost instantaneously.
Thus began my AIS Conference seminar. The AIS Conference
this year, was held at Barker College, Hornsby, a beautiful college.
And was a resounding success, with about 200 delegates
sharing and developing ideas on ICT.
I have had a hectic few weeks, moving house, speaking at
the AIS Conference and the end of term.
I also saw the Musical, The Producers, great show,
great performances, snappy smart, well written, loved it.
Have a great holiday.
==============================================
2. MIND CANDY
The Doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest
his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the
cause and prevention of disease.
Thomas Edison
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Teacher of the future will use no textbooks, but will inspire
students to learn, to develop thinking skills, initiate learning
and ask questions.
Cathy Brown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max Bialystock:
You're an accountant. You're in a noble profession. The word
"count" is part of your title.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a
thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The simplest schoolboy is now familiar with truths for
which Archimedes would have sacrificed his life.
Ernest Renan
==============================================
If you haven’t checked this out yet go take a look, it’s amazing.
Look at hurrican Katrina highlights, check out your house,
zzzoooom in from outerspace to almost any place on the
planet.
The ruins of a lost Roman villa was spotted with the help
of Google Earth and Google Maps, a serendipitous discovery
that had archeologists on the scene minutes later.
=====================================
4. NEW PRINTABLES
ENGAGE the BRAIN
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/Engage.pdf
==============================================
5. TECHNICAL STUFF ASL & ADSL2
ADSL2 is coming – faster internet, downloadable movies,
we move closer to video on demand and less frustration.
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a form of DSL,
a data communications technology that enables faster data
transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional
modem can provide.
A newer variant called ADSL2 provides higher downstream
rates of up to 12 Mbit/s
DUMBFIND http://www.dumbfind.com/
I wonder if you look someone up on Dumbfind and locate
information about them, if you can say they were Dumbfounded?
Maybe not. Anyway, Dumbfind offers keyword searching, just like
other search engines do.
Below the keyword box, Dumbfind has placed a topics box.
This lets the user define context for the search, rather than
trusting the search engine to divine it from a single search
term. Adding words to a query to get better results isn't a
new idea; people just put all the terms in a single box on
sites like Yahoo or Google now.
The site says it is a beta 3 version. http://www.webpronews.com/insidesearch/insidesearch/wpn-56-20050922DumbfindTakesTwoStepsToSearch.html
==============================================
6. WEBSITE FOCUS ORISINAL
Are you looking for some free online games that are a bit less
commercial, easy to access, not so violent, that the students enjoy?
Then this site might just be it.
In calming pastels Take a look at the old experiments at the
bottom as well. interesting for buddy flash animators, a joy
for gamers, and a delight for teachers.
==============================================
7. ENGAGE THE BRAIN
THE INTEGRATORS GUIDE TO ICT OF THE FUTURE
A PO Session
I have a confession to make – I am addicted to chemical substances. Not only that, I am the dealer, I have access to a huge number of chemical substances that can send me into a euphoric state almost instantaneously. And they are free.
Every time I think, my neurones fire & I release a huge number of chemicals into my brain. The more thinking I do the more chemicals I release.
My brain makes a huge number of chemicals including its own marijuana type compounds, natural compounds called endocannabinoids.
Marijuana just happens to resemble the endocannabinoids enough to activate the cannabinoid receptors in the brain, but not my brain, I use the stuff I can produce myself for free.
(ref: http://www.cannabis.net/brain/marijuana.html)
Thinking makes me feel great, it’s my drug of choice, there is nothing quite like a crystal clear mind engaged in thinking, conversation, writing, art, mathematics or science. It’s a joy to be in here.
Read the rest of the Conference Paper here:-
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/Engage.pdf
==============================================
8. GREAT SITES
HOT SITES
PIZZAZ Creative Writing Ideas
PIZZAZ! is dedicated to providing simple creative writing
and oral storytelling activities with copyable (yes, copyable!)
handouts for use with students of all ages.
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~leslieob/pizzaz.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cathy,
Please consider the following site for addition to your newsletter:
Hurricane Katrina Resources for Educators, free from EdGate
http://www.edgateteam.net/Lessons/katrina.htm
I am associated with the site.
Thank you,
Rich
Rich Street
Project Manager
EDucation GATEways LP LLLP
==============================================
9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Hi Cathy,
I thought I would pass this on. I just did a search of my inbox, looking
for a recent email from my boss where he replied to something I had sent
him with a single word "Brilliant" So I did a search on the word
Brilliant, and it found the said email, two other unrelated emails and
10 past VT Newsletters! I thought you would be interested to know what a
positive tone your Newsletters have.
Keep up the good work
Peter
Peter Niass
National Education Manager
OZIntell Pty Ltd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Peter – I think I did it again this newsletter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Cathy,
I have been receiving your emails for some time and have
forgotten how I can access virtual teacher archives.
Could you please give me a quick email on this.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just goto
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/archives.html
A link to this is on the directory page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Cathy,
I'm a mother looking for help with long division. Rather than impart my
patchy knowledge on to my 11yr-old daughter I thought I'd ask an expert.
I attended a parent interview last week & was informed Samantha's Yr6 class
work was very good overall, but she needed to get to the bottom of Long
Division.
"But don't stress too much", I was told, "she still has another year till
she gets to High School to learn it".
Therefore, if you can put me on the right path I would be most appreciative.
Kind regards,
SHERREE CHAMBERS
(Gold Coast)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please send in your advise for Sherree. I actually believe no
11 year should be doing long division – let’s boot it
out of the curriculum now – can I have a show of hands???
In the meantime here’s a few helpful sites.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/long_division2.html
http://www.webmath.com/divide.html
http://www.aaamath.com/B/div41_x3.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Cathy,
Congratulations on maintaining such a high standard over
such a period of time. I look forward to receiving your newsletter
as the quality of the content is always concise, thought provoking
& valuable !
cheers
Greg Alchin
Dip Tch, GDip Computer Based learning, GDip Career Education
Director - ideate http://www.ideate.org.au
Teacher - Information Software and Technology
"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary
ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong
end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to
laugh at life's realities." Dr. Seuss
==============================================
10. NEXT ISSUE – I’ll be having a couple of weeks break
over the school holidays and then looking at Picture Me.
ciao Cathy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Code of the 'Netizens'
This Newsletter is not free, despite the misleading advertising
above. The Fee is now due. Each week you must help one
colleague on the Internet who has less knowledge than you.
Help that person even if you have to visit their classroom or
do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will
help a lot of people get their computer classrooms running better.
OK I'm TRUSTING you!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. TIPS
1. Double click on highlighted URLS to open in browser.
2. Send in your Questions, Questions will be published with
Answers, send in your Answers, if you have expertise to share.
3. Nominate a brilliant site for review and inclusion in this
newsletter.
4. Nominate a fantastic school site for review and inclusion in
this newsletter.
5. Make contact with other schools using fantastic programs.
6. Prepare and innovative article for this newsletter.
7. Tell 2 colleagues about this newsletter.
==============================================
The opinions expressed here are purely those of the editor,
Cathy Brown. All other small print clauses apply. Such as:
Use at your own risk. Nothing in life is guaranteed. If it doesn't
work for you send me an email.
Editor: cathy brown mailto:cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered FREE to your e-mail box every fortnight.
Online Lesson Plans, Great Sites, Free Stuff, Tips, Time savers,
and templates.
Computer Solutions for Teachers. Subscribe today! It's
totally Free! Just type subscribe in the subject and send it to me.
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================
Reach a growing audience of teachers, by advertising in the
Virtual Teacher Newsletter or on the Virtual Teacher site.
For more information contact,
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
For information about inservice and training contact me at
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================