Virtual
Teacher Newsletter No. 78 2003 CARE TOO MUCH
THE
FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
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CONTENTS
1.
Welcome
2.
Mind Candy
3.
SMART QUESTIONS
4.
New Printables - RUBRIC
5.
Technical Stuff Conference G&T
6.
Website Focus - SCIENCE
7.
THE FABLE OF THE SCHOOL PEOPLE
8.
Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10
Next Issue
11.
Code of 'Netizens'
12.
Tips
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1. WELCOME EVERYONE. I have been going
through some
old papers and pulled out my First Year
Teacher Review, it was
interesting reading, an assessment of
myself from way back.
One thing that stuck out at the end was
this comment she
cares to muchı. I remember thinking it was rather odd then,
and I still think so today, and still today I havenıt corrected
this flawı.
Clive James was recently awarded the annual Philip
Hodgins Memorial Medal by Peter Goldsworthy, Chair of
the
Literature Board of the Australia Council. In accepting
the
award, he commented that he
was humbled to
receive
this, as his work wasnıt particularly important when
compared
to the work of Doctors, and others who did REALLY
IMPORTANT
WORK.
Teachers
do work that really matters, work that is really
important,
in fact, teachers have potentially more long term
impact
on the future of the human race than even doctors.
We
have to CARE TOO MUCH, what we do matters,
it IS
important.
I
attended the Rock Eisteddfod on Thursday night to see
my
daughter and many other students perform on stage at
the
Entertainment Centre. They were amazing. I know first
hand
the enthusiasm the passion, the CARING TOO MUCH
that
went with Rose Bay Secondary Collegeıs performance.
Under
the tutelage of the sensational Ms Jackaman, they performed
like
pros, had an exceptional experience and received resounding
applause
from the audience. We need passion, we need enthusiasm
we
need the spark to excite and motivate our students.
Go
ahead CARE TOO MUCH. Be BRILLIANT.
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2.
MIND CANDY
Thus,
the task is not so much to see what no one yet has seen,
but
to think what nobody yet has thought about which everybody
sees.
- Schopenhauer
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The
method people naturally employ to acquire knowledge is
largely
unsupported by traditional classroom practice. The human
mind
is better equipped to gather information about the world by
operating
within it than by reading about it, hearing lectures on it,
or
studying abstract models of it.
Roger
C. Schank and John B Cleave
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Learning
is a consequence of thinking.
David
Perkins Smart Schools 1992
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3.
SMART QUESTIONS
No
One has sent me in any SMART questions this fortnight
Come
on I am sure you have some terrific questions
sent
them along.
What
does it all mean?
Has
education ceased to be about learning?
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4.
NEW PRINTABLES
Merici
College Rubric produced using Rubistar.
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/mericirubric.html
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5.
TECHNICAL STUFF
The
Regional Conference of Qld Assoc for Gifted & Talented
Children
is being held at St Mary's School on Sunday and
Monday,
21 & 22nd September.
The
web site is http://www.qagtc.org.au/con5/
The
full conference details are there including the abstracts of the
papers,
brief bios of the speakers, timetable, and registration form.
The
papers cover a wide range of interests, definitely worth checking out
if attending part or all of the
conference is a possibility for you.
Check
out the FREE seminars ad notes at ADOBE
http://events.adobe.co.uk/events/cgi/main.cgi?country=pa
These
seminars are always entertaining and a great way to
find
out about new programs and ideas.
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6.
Website Focus - SCIENCE
Artificial
Intelligence (AI) Software for Homeschoolers
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~rsbaker/merge/
"MERGE-AI
is a computer-based educational system that
teaches
kids how to draw and interpret graphs of data. It
combines
computer-delivered verbal instruction with 'cognitive
tutoring,'
where the computer observes each student drawing
and
interpreting graphs, in order to tailor its instruction exactly
to
that student's needs. MERGE-AI is designed for home-school
students
between the ages of 10 and 13." Sign up and receive
MERGE-AI
on CD, completely FREE of charge.
ScienceNetLinks
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com
Lessons,
tools and resources for K-12 science. Search for
materials
by grade or subject area ("benchmark").
Free
e-newsletter available.
Science
Friday Kid's Connection
http://www.sciencefriday.com/kids/
Ira
Flatow's Science Friday program airs on public radio.
The
site posts science curricula that correspond with the shows.
Teaching
materials are typically posted one week after the
associated
radio program was broadcast. Recent topics include:
Artifacts
Stolen in Iraq, Apes in Crisis, SARS, Autism, and
Environmental
Effects of 1991 Kuwaiti Oil Fires.
The
Museum of Unworkable Devices
http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/museum/unwork.htm
"Houses
diverse examples of the perverse genius of inventors
who
refused to let their thinking be intimidated by the laws of
nature,
remaining optimistic in the face of repeated failures."
Includes
a gallery of artistic impossibilities. Can be used to
illustrate
basic laws of physics. Great site love the Principles.
Principles of Unworkable Devices.
Perpetual motion machine inventors do have
principles.
Unfortunately the physical principles they assume are often
ones not obeyed by nature. Let's examine just a few.
The principle of unlimited possibility. Anything is
possible in nature.
The "heavier on one side" seduction.
The "more weight on one side" distraction.
The "unbalanced torque" deception.
The cyclic disappointment.
The elastic/inelastic dilemma.
Failure to isolate the system.
The static/dynamic trap.
The apples/oranges equation.
The artistic illusion.
Experimental "gotchas".
The "dog chasing its tail" principle.
Reinventing the square wheel.
The psychology of
perpetual motion seekers.
Human
Genome Research Institute
http://www.genome.gov/10000002
Educational
resources include: genetic education modules
for
teachers; teaching tools; talking glossary of genetic terms;
multimedia
glossary in English and Spanish; fact sheets,
research techniques, and more.
Greg's
Science Song Music Iım loving this.
http://faculty.washington.edu/crowther/Misc/Songs/
Audio
files (in MP3 format) and sheet music files (in PDF format)
for
some fun songs about science, including "The Waltz of the
Ribosomes,"
and "Semiconservative Science Geek," as well as
"The
Nucleus I Like Best."
Center
for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE)
Promotes
the use of technology in K-12 scientific and
mathematical
concepts, thinking skills and "authentic,
interdisciplinary
projects."
"Findings"
Magazine
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/findings/
A
free 16-page, full-color print magazine that profiles fascinating
scientists
doing cutting-edge medical research. Look at the
online
version, order free print copies, or sign up to receive
free issues of Findings in the mail by
visiting
7.
THE FABLE OF THE SCHOOL PEOPLE
It is
time to rethink our educational practices, to allow excitement
enthusiasm
and passion back into our classrooms.
This timely fable
is
one of my favourites. Over the
last few weeks I have seen quite
a few
EAGLES squashed by relentless and unforgiving Education
Systems.
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/fable.html
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8.
GREAT SITES
Reinventing
the wheel - don't do it, use the great resources on
the
web
HOT
SITES
BEMBO'S
ZOO
This
is the coolest alphabet site I've ever seen. You have to
have
Flash, and it takes forever to load, but it's worth the wait.
Knit or eat while it's loading. The
first time you'll get a cute line
of
alphabet to play with, but that's not the good part. When you
click
on the letters, which all make real animal noises, the letter
will
transform into a sophisticated artistic rendition of an animal
whose
name starts with that letter. This is truly an amazing
abecedary.
(Note: Go to this website before you show it to your
kids,
so you can play with it first. This is the voice of experience.)
WOZA
The Great globe Gallery on the worldwide web.
http://hum.amu.edu.pl/~zbzw/glob/glob1.htm
Nobel
e-Museum
http://www.nobel.se/index.html
offers
information on all Prize Winners to date, the
Nobel
Organization, Alfred Nobel, and Nobel events, as well
as
related
material
and games. The games are located at
http://www.nobel.se/physics/educational/index.html
and they are
educational.
They provide information. simulations, and challenges on:
Microscopes,
Lasers, the interior of matter, energy, X-rays,
accelerators,
and vacuum tubes. Age/grade levels vary. Requires
Shockwave.
A novel approach to what could have been a dry
reference
source.
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Flight-History.com
http://www.flight-history.com/
Flight-History
is developing an extensive on-line archive of aviation
history.
Current focus is on the pre-jet era. Consists of stories,
photos,
plane details, and the ability to send an electronic postcard.
Flight-History
is a division of Ghosts of Aviation Inc., which is
located
in Calgary, AB, Canada.
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9.
READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Hello
Colleagues,
As
always, I find something new and fun in your newsletter.
Thanks
for all
the
great links and tips.
Terrie
Rust
Peoria,
Arizona USA
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Your
article was very timely. The Head of History and I are
presenting
a paper on questioning as a teaching tool at the
ASLA
conference in Hobart in October. We have spent the year
observing
the questioning practices at the school in year 7 history
and have been working with the teachers
in trying to create a
climate
of awareness of questioning. It has been really interesting
and I
have enjoyed reading widely in this area. We have found
that
working as a team to develop a range of questions has been
the
most productive approach. It is very hard to ask good questions spontaneously
whatever ones level of experience. The idea of
building
each unit around several core questions has been an
exciting
way of looking at curriculum design. It has also produced some sustained
discussions in all the classes regardless of the ability level.
For
example when discussing the middle ages we built the unit
around
the 2 core questions of "Can torture ever be justified" and
"Is
religion a legitimate excuse for going to war" As you can imagine we had
some interesting lessons.
I
found your comments validated all we had found as well. I would
be
really interested in seeing what questions were developed
during
your Professional Development at Merici College. I am happy
to
share any of our experiences as well.
Susan
Glasson
Mansfield
Library
Cranbrook
School
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Hi
Susan,
The
paper I presented at the IES conference also addresses
questions,
I actually prefer to train the students to develop the
questions
rather than present them with the questions. If given
time
students can develop brilliant questions.
The idea is gradually
to
reduce support to students, to become in fact redundant so
that
student can become life long learners and leave school with
the knowledge that they can learn
anything.
------------------------------------------
Hi
Cathy!
I used
to live in Sydney but are now living overseas. I am thinking
about
sending my daughter back to Sydney to study. What are
some
good, affordable private schools(preferably coed)?
(Year
11) My daughter wants to go to Redham House, do you have
their
contact number or website? I have been looking around but
cannot
find anything on it.
Thanks
Jay
I Hi
Jay,
Reddam
House website
http://www.reddamhouse.com.au/
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Hi
Cathy, Great newsletter and congrats on the great results.
I've
just spent all afternoon working on some PowerPoint instructions
for
my Year 7's. Then I got the newsletter and suddenly thought
"I
bet there are some instructions for kids somewhere in Cathy's
archives' Talk about revinventing the
wheel. Could you have a
look
at mine so far. Will they work with the kids? The website
address
is
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/tiernan/7filmslideshow.htm
Thanks,
Lyn
------------------------------------------
Hi
Lyn,
I
like to start by selecting the topic or question, and doing a
six
slide layout with images and words.
the first slide is a title
slide,
the next four are the text and image slides, the last slide
is a
'the end' slide or final summation.
Because of the nature
of
the text and image slides you need 4 topics or questions as
the
headers, then you need 3 or so bullet points of 5-10 words
each,
and an appropriate picture. If the
students can prepare
all
this before they get to the computer, they can just concentrate
on
the PowerPoint.
6
slides keeps it simple and constrained and is great for the first
time.
Once they have mastered a limited simple PowerPoint
the
skies the limit and they will invent all manner of things. Let
me
know how you go. the trick
initially is to keep it short and
simple
and have the content ready before hand.
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Cathy
In
Word, when I type a word, and there is an error in it, I highlight
the
incorrect part and retype it. However the highlighted part does
not
disappear and I have to delete the incorrect part manually.
eg
sydney becomes Ssydney
What
do I need to turn on or off and how?
Regards
Terrie
Thanx
for a great teacher resource
Who
can help Terrie?????
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10. NEXT ISSUE I will be looking
more into 21st Century
Learning
methods and means.
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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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