Virtual
Teacher Newsletter No. 45 March 8th 2001- TO BOLDLY GO
THE
FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
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Newsletter
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CONTENTS
1.
Welcome
2.
Mind Candy
3.
WWWinfo- Gov site
4.
New Printables - Revamped Science
Links page
5.
Technical Stuff - More Inservices
6.
Web Site Focus - Peotry Day 21st March
7.
CREATIVE THINKING, TEACHING AND QUESTIONING
8.
Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10
Next Issue
11.
Code of 'Netizens'
12.
Tips
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1.
WELCOME EVERYONE. Resistance is futile. You will be
inspired
(Star Trek on Teaching). I love Star Trek, the new series
has
started here, and there are a lot of valuable lessons to be
learned
from the Trekkers. Like, When
going out into the
Classroom,
remember: "Boldly go where no one has gone before"
For
more Star Trek advice try :
http://members.tripod.com/~spacefreak/stjokes/learned.html
I
have Regigged the maths link page at Virtual Teacher take
another
look at it there are some great sites.
I will be having a
meeting
next week with some folk about improving the Internet
access
for schools in NSW, (if you want to read about it check
out
last Sunday’s Sun Herald, Sydney page 19), so I would love
to
hear how other schools who have managed to provide good
reliable
access for their students and staff, I am
particularly
interested
in details from WA and other good models;
please
email me with some links and
details.
In
the meantime: “Live
long and prosper”.
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2.
MIND CANDY
A
teenage boy to his father... "Here's my report card and a
list
I've compiled of entrepreneurs who never finished high
school."
--Charles Almon in The Wall Street Journal
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It is
better to fill your days with life than to fill your life with days.
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Did
you know that Cinderella was a lousy basketball player?
What
did you expect? She only had a PUMPKIN for a coach!
[Thanks
to Steven Scott.]
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Who
dares to teach must never cease to learn.
John Cotton Dana
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Wordsmith
is a great resource, I have subscribed and get a
daily
new word. Here is one of my
favourites:-
sockdolager
(sok-DOL-uh-juhr) noun
1. A decisive blow or remark.
2. Something exceptional or
outstanding.
[Of
unknown origin, apparently from sock.]
This
sockdolager of a word has an unusual claim to fame in the US
history.
It turned out to be the cue on which John Wilkes Booth
fired
his shot at President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was watching the
play
"An American Cousin" in Ford Theater on that fateful night. His
killer,
Booth, an actor himself and aware of the dialog, knew the line
that
brought the loudest burst of laughter from the audience was:
"Well, I guess I know enough
to turn you inside out, you sockdologising
old man-trap."
Booth
fired his gun at that precise moment to muffle the loud noise
of
his shot with the guffaws from the audience, and quietly escaped.
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3.
WWWinfo
The
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and
the
Arts, Senator Richard Alston, last Thursday(28th February)
launched
the new single entry point to
government
information and services –
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4.
NEW PRINTABLES
Revamped
Science link for VT. See it at:-
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/science.html
Try
some of Peter's sites - great ideas, easily downloadable.
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5.
TECHNICAL STUFF
Four
days of Professional development for Arts teachers and
community
members interested in arts practice. The focus on
the
Broome workshops will be: Dance, puppetry, drama, music,
visual
arts, curriculum.
Dates:
16th - 19th April
Enrolments
by 14th march
Please
contact gwen Knox, regional ArtsEdge Coordinator.
gwen_knox@westkct.training.wa.gov.au
(gwen knox)
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Thursday
28th February
I run
a High School Educational outreach program here at
Macquarie
University, Sydney.
We
are running four workshops this year to cater for IPT
and
SDD teachers.
We
have: Project Management on the 16th March
Overview
of Computing Languages 6-7th April
Introduction
to Web Technology 3 August
Advanced
Web Technology 31st August
Please
visit this web page for more information:
http://www.ics.mq.edu.au/schoolies/resources/computingworkshop.html
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Inservice
for High School Teachers
Victoria
Farrell
High
School Liaison
Division
of Information and Communication Sciences
Room
E6A 239
Ph(02)
9850 9108
Fax(02)
9850 9502
Email:
vfarrell@ics.mq.edu.au
Computing
teacher workshops (below cost)
see:
http://www.ics.mq.edu.au/schoolies/resources/computingworkshop.html
16th
March
Cost:$55.00
This
workshop relates to both IPT Project Work 9.1 Stage 6 and to Project Management
in
SDD Stage 6. Prof. Ray Offen will cover software development approaches, CASE
tools,
systems documentation and processes with a range of activities and role-plays
devised
for the classroom. The resources and activities can relate to specific areas of
the
syllabus teachers wish to focus on.
Closing
Date for registration 11th March 2002
Overview
of Computing Languages
Date:
6-7th April
Cost:$99.00
This
two day workshop relates to the SDD Stage 6 Option Evolution of Programming
Languages.
It will cover the historical development of the main language paradigms
and
their features, strengths and weaknesses. Practical activities will focus on
developing
exercises and materials suitable for classroom use.
Closing
Date for registration 18th March 2002
Web
Technology (Introductory)
Date:3rd
August
Cost:$55.00
This
workshop covers basic HTML, graphics and basic web tools.
This
course is for the beginner web page designer.
Closing
Date for registration 29th July 2002
Web
Technology (Advanced)
Date:31st
August
Cost:$55.00
This
covers client-server programming, CGI and other advanced
web
development techniques.
Closing
Date for registration 26th August 2002
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6.
WEBSITE FOCUS
WORLD
POETRY DAY - 21 MARCH
Here's
a sample of some great poetry sites, these and others
can
be sound at:-
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/poetry.html
30
Days of Poetry
http://members.tripod.com/the-english-room/poetry/30_days_of_poetry.htm
Steven
Herrick
http://www.acay.com.au/~sherrick/
Read
some of Steven Herrick's Poems
Scroll
down the page and write a 'refrain poem' or a 'monologue poem'
http://www.acay.com.au/~sherrick/workshop.htm
Australian
Poetry - Australia's Cultural Network
http://www.acn.net.au/articles/1998/08/poetry.htm
A
great Australian resource.
This
site at the Australian Culture and Recreation Portal
argues
that poetry has shaped our Australian national character.
Legend
is what shapes national character and our legends are told
and
retold across time and space through poetry. The site
contains
a brief history of unique movements in Australian
poetry,
links to works of Australian poets, and useful classroom
resources.
Poetry
Corner - an Online Project - great site simple to follow.
http://teachit.acreekps.vic.edu.au/poetry/poem.htm
In
this project students express themselves creatively
when
they write poetry for a worldwide audience. Individual schools
involved
will be able to make their own anthologies of poems from
around
the world. Poem formats will be changed approximately
every
four weeks and students will be able to immerse themselves
into
a variety of different poems. During the month poems
are
emailed to a project coordinator where they are collated
into
an anthology of children's poetry for all to read.
This
is a Global Classroom project also listed on OzProjects.
==============================================
7.
CREATIVE THINKING, TEACHING AND QUESTIONING
Thinking
hats
http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/manage/sixhats120800.html
Critical
Thinking Resources
http://planet.tvi.cc.nm.us/ctac/resources.htm
Bloom's
Taxonomy of Cognitive Processes
http://edtech.clas.pdx.edu/presentations/frr99/blooms.htm
Teaching
Strategies
http://www.CREATIVETEACHINGSITE.com
LEARNING
STYLES
Are
you a logical, verbal, tactile, or auditory learner?
Find
out how to make your learning style work for you,
and
also try out an inventory with your classes / students.
Learning
Styles and Multiple Intelligences
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm
This
site offers information on learning styles and multiple
intelligences,
an interactive assessment of your learning
style/MI,
and useful ideas to improve your learning power.
Learning
Styles: A Multiple Intelligences Approach
http://pss.uvm.edu/pss162/learning_styles.html
Read
descriptions of the seven intelligences. Scroll down
for
an inventory. Use the intelligence categories to help
understand
your strengths and weaknesses.
What's
Your Child's Learning Style?
http://www.parentcenter.com/calculators/learningstyle
Choose
pre-K-3 and learn if children are a visual, auditory,
or
physical learner. You can also find out how you can use
this
information to help children do better in school.
4.
Learning Styles Questionnaire
http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/ilsweb.html
Are
you active or reflective? Sensing or intuitive? Visual or verbal?
This
online survey provides you with a printout of your learning style.
5.
Vark Questionnaire
http://www.vark-learn.com/questionnaire
How
do you learn best? Find out your preferred learning style. If your
browser
supports JavaScript your answers will be automatically scored.
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8.
GREAT SITES
Great
HUMANITIES HISTORY Site - covering medieval, and
ancient
cultures as well as a lot of literature and American history.
Upper
primary - High school.
http://www.humanities-interactive.org/a_base.html
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Edna
online Search
http://www.edna.edu.au/go/browse/0:schooled:resources:earlychild#resulttab
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The
National Library of Australia : WORLD TREASURES
http://www.nla.gov.au/worldtreasures/
Have
students explore the contributions of world cultures in this online
exhibit.
Lessons in the teacher's section supports the online materials.
Each
treasure lists the museum that houses it; an interesting
supplemental
activity would have students uncover how foreign museums
ended
up with another culture's treasure.
Grade
Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content
Area: Arts (General), History & Social Studies (World History),
English
(General)
Application
Type: Resource, Lessons
From
Blue-n-Web
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The
NASA Why? Files
http://whyfiles.larc.nasa.gov/treehouse.html
The
NASA Why? Files is a U.S. distance learning initiative that
integrates
the use of a television broadcast, web site, and educators’
guide.
The project uses Problem-Based Learning to introduce students in
grades
3-5 to NASA research and missions. The television broadcast(or
videotapes)
and web site provides students with the opportunity to learn
subject
matter and develop problem-solving skills while engaged in
real-world
problems.
Grade
Level: Elementary, Middle School
Content
Area: Science (General), History & Social Studies (General),
Mathematics
(Problem Solving)
Application
Type: Resource, Activities, Lessons
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DRAGONS
ABC
teach has a unit including worksheets & book titles on "Dragons":
http://abcteach.com/dragons/dragonstoc.htm
This
site has games, colouring pages, art & craft activities, etc on dragons:
http://www.childfun.com/themes/dragon.shtml
A site
on Dragon Tales:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/cartoons/dragontales.html
How
about Down Load a Dragon
http://www.rain.org/~philfear/download-a-dragon.html
How about Down Load a Dragon
http://www.rain.org/~philfear/download-a-dragon.html
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9.
READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Hello
Cathy
I
love your newsletter!! How on earth do you do it??
I
wondered if you could possibly direct me to any sites
that
offer maths and problem solving for an advanced
8
year old. He needs something more than what he gets
at
school and as a mother I am wanting to offer something
exciting
at home without spending many hundreds of dollars.
I
would love something that can first assess him, then offer
sideways
extension. Any suggestions?
Kind
regards
Jenny
Nielsen-Jones
There
are usually tests at the end of most text books.
There
are also books of problems which can be fun.
The
VT site has a number of links which are worth investigating.
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/maths.html
Also
I like to introduce bright children of this age to maths
theories
and proofs. You might also try the Dr math Problem
of
the week - elementary at:-
One
area that offers any easy start to this is the study of
prime
numbers and patterns.
http://www.utm.edu/research/primes/
The
NRICH site also has age appropriate problems and this
site
also has a news letter and many
other links - well worth a look.
http://nrich.maths.org/mathsf/journalf/feb02/ausarticle/
Some
other proofs suitable might be - prove that angles of a
triangle
add up to 180
Pythagorean
Theorum proof
Look
at square numbers
Look
at pentagonal numbers
Look
at triangular numbers
Look
at perfect numbers, abundant numbers.
All
great fun.
ciao
cathy
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I
have found tons of sites that review educational software.
Is
there a site that gives general reviews and comments of
educational
software Publishers?
From:
Randy Zotter
EdNA
is about to release a site called the National Software
Evaluation
Project
which
links in with the NSEP forum already in existence
http://forum.edna.edu.au/event.asp?Id=2798
The
website will include the EdNA categories of Software
Sites,
Software Reviews and Choosing Software which are
currently
in the Using ICT in the Curriculum Category
http://www.edna.edu.au/go/browse/0:schooled:resources:ict#resulttab
from
Kerrie Smith o Edna
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi
Cathy
My
name is Sonia. I am in my 4th year of study (hope to be
teaching
next year). I just wanted to let you know how much
I
appreciate your continued efforts to produce this excellent
resource.
I have been receiving VT for 18 months or so and
it
has been an invaluable tool. My supervising teachers
(in
practicums) have all been impressed with my computer skills –
using
and making webhunts/quests; always having an appropriate
link
or quote etc...
I am
currently enrolled in an external unit 'Educating Students with
Special
Needs in the Regular Classroom' and was wondering if
it
would be OK for me to post links to your site and subscription
details
to our student Bulletin Board? The subject matter of our
course
includes G&T, learning difficulties etc and I think that any
beginning
teacher could benefit from access to your seemingly
endless
sources of knowledge and inspiration.
Thanks
Sonia
Hi
Sonia,
The
whole point of the newsletter is to get free info out to as many
Netizens
as possible. Be my guest - spread
the word.
ciao
cathy
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Dear
Cathy,
I
have been looking for the musical 'Time' in so many places and finally find it
being quoted here. Any leads as to where I can find the actual tape or CD of
the stage production?
Thanx
Peter
Hi
Peter,
The
cd/record is not available in Australia nor ever has been –
according
to my research. It played in
London about 20 years
ago
or so as I recall. It is possible
that you will find the recording
from
a London record company. I would
also love a copy –
so if
you track it down let me know the source.
I actually played
the
role here in an amateur production years ago - the lines on
the
site were from my role in the play.
I love the lines and often
use
them when teaching philosophy.
ciao
cathy
==============================================
10. NEXT ISSUE - I’ll be
looking at Maps and Mapping and
also,
after a few requests at designing a good website. So
send
in your ideas. I will also let you
know what’s happening
out
and about with web access in schools, so let me know
what
you are doing.
ciao
cathy
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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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For
information about inservice and training contact me at
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================