Virtual Teacher Newsletter Saturday 1st September 2007 No. 150 GARDNERISATION
THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
==============================================
CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. Mind Candy
3. WWWinfo - GOOGLE MAPS
4. New Printables - GOOGLE MAPS
5. Technical Stuff - INTELLIGENT RESIZING
6. Web Site Focus - SPACE STATION
7. CATHY'S FORUM - GARDNERISATION
8. Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10 Next Issue
11. Code of 'Netizens'
12. Tips
==============================================
1. WELCOME EVERYONE.
Well then, my Sesquicentennial newsletter, and not a congratulations
from any of you, ah yes, you forgot to send flowers. I love the WWW,
I am allergic to flowers so virtual flowers are the go - you can
send them to anyone. Have the class send flowers this way,
they'll need to compose a message, a small poem would be great,
perhaps a Haiku, then send it with flowers to the person of their
choice. Love these ideas. http://www.iflowers.com Google maps
are simpley stunning if you haven't used them yet, and take a
look at the space station, a small diversion from politics
and APEC, look up instead. Have a great fortnight.
ciao Cathy
==============================================
2. MIND CANDY
Kindness is loving people more than they deserve.
Joseph Joubert, moralist
and essayist (1754-1824)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard (856 ˆ 1915) American writer.
==============================================
3. WWWinfo GOOGLE MAPS
Don't know if you noticed the new Maps, option in the google
toolbar, brilliant, type in any address, hit maps, and there's
your map, with options the get directions on trip routes as well.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=
=====================================
4. NEW PRINTABLES GOOGLE MAPS
You can print the map, or print to pdf if you have acrobat loaded
and insert a map into a school excursion form, invitation, or
anything else you like. Fantastic.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=
Type in your school address and start there.
==============================================
5. TECHNICAL STUFF
AMAZING Intelligent Image Resizing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-SSu3tJ3ns
Take a look at this video - download the beta version and have
a play.
==============================================
6. WEBSITE FOCUS - IIS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Space Jokes
How did the rocket lose its job? It got fired. http://www.jokesbykids.com/science/space
The International Space Station (ISS) is a low-flying research
facility jointly operated by the space agencies of the U.S., Russia,
Canada, Japan, and eleven European countries. It was assembled
piece by piece in space, starting with a Russian module put
into orbit in November, 1998. The first crew arrived two years
later. Over fifty missions will be required to assemble the
entire thing. Completion is scheduled for 2010.
Classroom of the Future: ISS Challenge
The NASA-supported Classroom of the Future is a multimedia
resource for both students and teachers. Start with the
mouseover tour of ISS components such as the habitation
module, solar arrays and the service module. Then discover
the outstanding science activities filed under Life Science,
Physical Science, and Technology. "Welcome to Farming
in Space. This activity enables you to design and run a
student version of plant growth experiments flown aboard
the International Space Station." Each activity contains
Teacher Notes in addition to student material.
NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
The NASA-supported Classroom of the Future is a multimedia
resource for both students and teachers. Start with the
mouseover tour of ISS components such as the habitation
module, solar arrays and the service module. Then discover
the outstanding science activities filed under Life Science,
Physical Science, and Technology. "Welcome to Farming
in Space. This activity enables you to design and run a
student version of plant growth experiments flown aboard
the International Space Station." Each activity contains
Teacher Notes in addition to student material.
The first features that caught my eye were the Interactives
such as the Spacewalk ("Put on your spacesuit and tackle
your very own mission.") and Who Does What (see how
each participating country pitches in.) Other worthwhile
clicks include The Construction Timeline (from 1999 to 2006)
and the IPIX-powered Enter the Station
Discovery.com: ISS
http://www.discovery.com/stories/science/iss/iss.html
How Stuff Works: Space Station
"Imagine waking up in the morning, looking out your window
and seeing this view. Breathtaking, isn't it? What would it be
like to live in space?" In six illustrated, hyperlinked pages,
How Stuff Works introduces the space station concept in
general, and the International Space Station in specific.
Best clicks are the pages about "Sustaining a Permanent
Environment in Space" and "Propulsion, Communications
and Power." Related space articles (How Space Suits
Work, How Space Shuttles Work) are listed at the end.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-station.htm
==============================================
7. CATHY'S FORUM
Howard Gardner came up with his theory of multiple intelligences
over 25 years ago. He identified 7 distinct human capacities:
Musical
Kinaesthetic
Logical
Linguistic
Spatial
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
A multimedia approach we can now fully realize
Music, with your presentation
Hardware, like video cameras, ipods, stills cameras
Images and video
Case studies, video or incorporating imagery
Discussion time, which can be recorded
Thinking time, which can have its manifestation in video, photographic,
design, audio.
How are you using the new technologies as they become more
user friendly? What is your take on my Gardnerisation of the?
What do you think? Please share your thoughts.
Does it Matter? It sure does.
==============================================
8. GREAT SITES
HOT SITES
APEC
What is APEC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Create and share amazing slideshows with music and motion
http://www.smilebox.com/designTypes/slideshows.jsp?partner=google&campaign=content_slideshow
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numeracy Week
http://www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au/
==============================================
9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Hi Cathy
I've read and enjoyed your e-newsletter for years - its an
extremely valuable (and consistent!) resource that I've
recommended to many teachers over those years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numeracy and Literacy Week in Australia is 3 - 9 September
and 3P Learning have a Maths and Spelling Challenge event
planned that Australian and NZ schools can participate
in for FREE! Last year's Trans Tasman Challenge was an
absolute blast, World Maths Day was HUGE and once again
kids have the chance to try out their maths and spelling skills
in an addictive game environment.
The Maths and Spelling Challenge will use the Mathletics and
Spellodrome game engines which are web based and multi
platform friendly.
http://www.mathletics.com.au
for the link to register
Kiwis go to http://www.mathletics.co.nz
for the link to register
If you haven't seen Mathletics or Spellodrome in action or
given them a go, let me know and I'll put you onto my Australian
colleagues who'll only be too pleased to show you what's what.
Apart from basic maths skills Mathletics covers the Australian
K - 12 (NZ Y1-13, UK K - 12) maths curriculum in interactive,
and fully supported activities. Sign in any day of the week
(or weekend) and you'll catch kids online doing Maths.
Kind regards,
Yvonne
Yvonne Blanch
New Zealand Manager
3P Learning NZ Limited
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a program for purchase online, what do you think of it,
has anyone used it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, Cathy,
I have been catching up with your terrific newsletters after
a brief travel adventure.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my most favourite
movies.
What a fabulous idea to use it as a curriculum resource.
The classic movies I've previously shared with my students
have always been a great hit. Most of the students have not
or would not view these movies on their own, more from not
knowing they exist as opposed to reticence. When they do
watch them, it opens up a wealth of conversation and provides
amazing learning experiences.
I also enjoyed the three YouTube and TeacherTube movies
and they are fabulous. It was especially of great interest to
me since I just returned from a GPS workshop for teachers.
Geochaching and other GPS activities, of which there are
many, will now be a part of my curriculum, which I'm looking
forward to presenting.
Keep up the great work!
Nancy S-G
==============================================
10. NEXT ISSUE - Send eFlowers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
==============================================