Virtual Teacher Newsletter No. 151 - September 23rd 2007 - ZINES
THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
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CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. Mind Candy
3. WWWinfo - WIKIQUOTE
4. New Printables - VT REsources
5. Technical Stuff - Computer Graphics Source
6. Web Site Focus - ZINES
7. Cathy's Forum -
8. Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10 Next Issue
11. Code of 'Netizens'
12. Tips
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1. WELCOME EVERYONE.
Read all about ZINES, a great way to get kids writing especially the
reluctant ones; he's been on UTUBE, I wonder when we'll see a
John Howard ZINE? Take a look at the quicktime movie on CGS,
this new technology is explained beautifully.
Google never ceases to amaze, their GoogleQuote is worth visiting.
This will be the last VT for this Term - The next one will be
out in about 3 weeks. Please write in with your great ideas
and comments, I love hearing from you. Have a great break.
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2. MIND CANDY
The cosmic calendar (Sagan, 1977)
Where the age of the universe is compressed into a single year:
January 1 BIG BANG
May 1 Formation of the Milky Way
September 9 Formation of the solar system
September 14 Formation of the Earth
September 25 Origin of life on Earth
October 9 Oldest bacterial fossils
November 12 Oldest eukaryotes
December 1 Earths' atmosphere fully oxygenated
December 16 First worms
December 19 First fish
December 20 First land plants
December 21 First insects
December 22 First amphibians
December 23 First reptiles
December 24 First dinosaurs
December 26 First mammals
December 27 First birds
December 28 First flowering plants, dinosaurs extinct
December 29 First primates
December 30 First hominids
December 31 First humans (at 10:30 pm)
December 31 Domestication of fire (at 11:46 pm)
December 31 Cave painting in Europe (at 11:59 pm)
December 31 First neolithic cities (at 11:59:35 pm)
December 31 Invention of the alphabet (at 11:59:51 pm)
December 31 Bronze Age (at 11:59:53 pm)
December 31 Iron Age (at 11:59:54 pm)
December 31 Roman Empire (at 11:59:56 pm)
December 31 Crusades (at 11:59:58 pm)
December 31 Renaissance in Europe (at 11:59:59 pm)
The Universe in One Year was inspired by the late
astronomer, Carl Sagan (1934-1996). Sagan was the first
person to explain the history of the universe in one year
as a “Cosmic Calendar”, in his television series, Cosmos.
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/universe/itsawesome/cosmiccalendar/page2.html
Widespread development of science and technology;
emergence of global culture; acquisition of the means
of self-destruction of the human species; first steps in
spacecraft planetary exploration and the search of
extraterrestrial intelligence
Now: The first second of New Year's Day
http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~dlamenti/links/cosmiccal.html
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triolet (TREE-uh-lit, -lay) noun
A poem or stanza of eight lines, having a rhyme scheme
ABaAabAB, in which the first, fourth, and seventh lines are
the same, and second is the same as the eighth line.
I wish I were a jelly fish
That cannot fall downstairs:
Of all the things I wish to wish
I wish I were a jelly fish
That hasn't any cares,
And doesn't even have to wish
'I wish I were a jelly fish
That cannot fall downstairs.'
Wish to write your own triolet? Help is near:
http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/triolet.shtml
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As Yoda tells Luke Skywalker, "Luminous beings are we."
Not just some of us. All of us.
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It's not the biggest, the brightest, or the best that will survive,
but those who adapt the quickest'. Charles Darwin
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To see ourselves as others see us is a most salutary gift. Hardly less
important is the capacity to see others as they see themselves.
Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)
http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/triolet.shtml
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Your nothing much, is someone else's quite a lot.
Sherlock Holmes
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3. WWWinfo WIKIQUOTE
A free online compendium of quotations from notable
people and creative works in every language, including
sources (where known), translations of non-English quotes,
and links to Wikipedia for further information!
The English version of Wikiquote has 13,668 pages so
far with many thousands of quotations and proverbs.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Main_Page
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4. NEW PRINTABLES VT Resources
Using the resouces on VT. I am often asked about various
templates or resources, VT has a huge range of resources,
just goto
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/directory.html
and use the google search engine for the site. The teachertools
page is worth a look as well
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/teachtool.html
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5. TECHNICAL STUFF
Computer Graphics Source - CGS
3DM models creation is an information resource on Computer
Graphics, and animation, hotest news, interviews and
high-end 3D design. Receive answers to most of your
questions, download 3D models which you need in one
of the biggest Models Bank on-line, participation in discussion
on CGFolks forum or just look works of other artists.
Interesting tutorials, advice on work in graphic packages.
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Inphase has developed the next generation in data storage.
Millions of pages of information can be stored on a disk that
fits into the palm of your hand. Check out the mp4, this is
what our children will be using in their future.
http://www.inphase-tech.com/media/new_promo.mp4
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6. WEBSITE FOCUS - ZINES - the Sequential Artform
Last weeks reading bought a fantastic idea ZINES.
Master cut and paste, control V and C and you are away.
These little master pieces need only be 4 page A5 ZINES.
The quick way to to do this is to get the kids to type up
their ZINE, print it out, then illlustrate it by hand, promise me
you wont use clip art, let them get creative with this.
Then place all A4 pages in the top of the photocopier -
every school has one of these, find the booklet maker option,
read your manual on how to do this, then hit go, and you should
have a perfect little A5 booklet, already folded, 8 pages, 12 pages
can also be accommodated in this way. If you don't have a booklet
maker, you can set it up in Word, using a landscape view and 2 x text
boxes.
Your kids can write these ZINES out and print them, and sell them to
their friends. See if you can get the production line rolling so that
they can print these via the school secretary or librarian, you'll need
to ensure that what is produced passes protocol for your school, ie
there are certain things that can be printed using the school
facilities and other things that are not. Find a parent to vet them.
And let the whole thing escalate.
The kids can pay say .05c per A4 side for their ZINES to the school
and then sell them for say .20 or .50c each and make a bit of a profit,
so they can pay for the next ZINE photocopying.
Encourage them to find buyers and outlets. Some may be able to sell
them at their part time jobs, everyone will sell them throughout
their family, and of course they can sell them to each other.
Organise a ZINE trading Day, perhaps with another school,
or a ZINE Fair at the local Library, like the
one at Penrith Regional Gallery till October 14th 2007.
http://www.penrithregionalgallery.org/entry.htm
SMH Article
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts-reviews/zine-factory/2007/09/03/1188671839917.html
Download a ZINE
http://www.penrithregionalgallery.org/ZineFair.pdf
What is a ZINE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zine
Also about ZINES
History of Fanzines
http://www.zinebook.com/resource/history.html
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7. CATHY'S FORUM - WORDS AND PICTURES
Kids know it better than the rest of us do: Words and pictures
are primally bound.
Watch any preliterate child or beginning reader with a book,
and you see it immediately. Kids don't look at pictures as
diverting illustrations or supplements to the text. They read
pictures avidly, mining them for every bit of information, mood,
feeling, mystery and nuance of the world fanning open before them.
San Francisco Chronicle
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/08/21/DD300016.DTL
If imagery is our species preferred learning methodology, then
alphabets and words are inferior to the learning potential
available through imagery. What does this mean for the future direction
of our education curriculum?
What do you think? Please share your thoughts.
Does it Matter? It sure does
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8. GREAT SITES
HOT SITES
They’re the greatest journey stories of all time!
Give your students a ride they’ll never forget!
Great journey novels like The Aeneid by Virgil, Grapes of Wrath,
Macbeth, plotted using the wonderful google earth.
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Meddybemps
Games and activities for 5-12 year olds
http://www.meddybemps.com/index.html
Explore the Coral Reef
Quicktime movies with audio
http://www.meddybemps.com/deepblue/tippity.html
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E-Themes REsources listed by Titles
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/by-title.shtml
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9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Hi
your newsletter is fantastic. This edition says NEW PRINTABLES
text types ...but they're not there!
Can u help??
Anne
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Yes I mucked this up and didn't rehead the index - text types are at:
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/teachtool.html
Under templates
They were old headings. Don't like them much - but there is a demand,
I think the flower idea is better.
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Cathy,
A big thankyou for the work that you do. From a non- ICT proficient
person, who is swamped by the ocean of information out there,
you offer a bit of a lifeline (the flowers have to be imaginary,
not just virtual, but I'm sending you a huge bunch of sweetpeas -
to swamp you in the colors and perfume, that won't make you sneeze...).
Do you know of any web based research circles for preschool
teachers aiming at integrating ICT (at a basic not well funded
way - ie no bells and whistles, just an internet connection
and a digital camera) into a play-based, enquiry driven
curriculum?
Thanks!
Louise
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Hi Louise,
You don't need a circle for this, just do it. the Imacs come with
an onboard camera. Even if your resources are under funded,
just one of these is enough, just download the images
and have some fun. or use Photobooth
Using PhotoBooth on the New Macs
What fun.
1. Open Photo booth, put a comfortable chair in front of the
computer and feed the students through. You can give a
direction, make a sad face, make and angry face, use the
effects to
make a weird face. 5 minutes
2. Photos should automatically appear in IPHOTO, if not just
add
to the Library. 2 minutes
3. Click slideshow, then click play. And Bob’s your uncle.
4. Connect to a digital projector your students can view the
slideshow immediately.
5. Use it as a catalyst to make a list of descriptive words.
8minutes 6. Bulk Print them out, enlarge to A3 and have your
students
write about the images using the words. 5 minutes
7. Wall display with all the students faces and great words.
You can fiddle about with the settings in iPhoto, timing,
transitions and of course add music, including garage
band.
Great satisfaction, immediate end product. Love it.
(excerpt from VT 137)
Fits into lots of curriculum areas - I did emotions, faces,
families, etc. Promotes discussion and language development
the list is endless.
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Dear Cathy
Smilebox is awesome. I am 59 years old and for me this seems incredible.
The younger members of our group may have known all about it already but it
is news to me. Such a wonderful way to save memories and share them. I just
love it and want to learn how to use it - School holidays will be well spent
this year! Thanks again you amazing lady
Kath Comber
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Hi Cathy
I love your newsletter and look forward to it arriving in my inbox.
Would you have a link for the beta version of the image resizing
software you sent the YouTube link for please/
Kind regards
Damien
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Hi!
Great video, but where can I download the beta version?
Regards
Barry
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Hi Barry & Damien,
Software is in development and will probably be available as part of
major packages shortly. Take a look at what else is happening.
Ariel Shamir's home page is at
http://www.faculty.idc.ac.il/arik/
there is some other amazing stuff there.
http://www.photoshopsupport.com/photoshop-blog/07/09/photoshop-intelligent-resizing.html
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Hi Cathy
Thanks for the reply. I teach ICT so hence my interest.
Thanks kindly for the tip and I love your newsletter.
Kind regards
Damien
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Hi
In response to Mathletics. Yes our school has used the
program R-10. We love it. Well worthwhile until they put
the cost up. Last year there was a site licence we could
purchase for a very reasonable cost. This year the school
needed to purchase a licence for individual students at
$30 each. This was too expensive and therefore our
kids missed out.
Rebekah
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What's your response Mathletics?
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10. NEXT ISSUE - Video Art.
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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!!!
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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.
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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
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