|
VT's all New FREE Newsletter for Educators
3 ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM
|
|
 |
|
Welcome
Some great reponses to the question "What is the Purpose of Education", mostly on Linkedin, nothing much on Twitter so far. There are lots of great ideas out there. But it does seem that there is a lot of fear about the future - THE THREE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM. Let me know what you think. You wil love the videos - make time to watch them
The First Person to purchase Maths Hammers, my book, was Anne from Queensland, thanks Anne.
Take a look at some of the pages on the link above, Maths Hammers has lots of interactivity from the index to sounds to hyperlinks, from the applause on the front page to the youtube videos of Pythagoras. All hidden within the text for you to discover. And also discover a world of thrills, excitement and wonder.
It’s starting place is multiplication but it introduces the “World the Universe and Everything” or 42 whichever you prefer.
|
So buy a copy and enjoy and send word around to your friends about this remarkable resource. I hope you laugh at, learn from and love this eBook
Maths Hammers is suitable for teachers, parents and children.
Oh! To find out the answer to the question “Do you need a Hammer to do Multiplication?” is, you’ll have to buy the book, the answers on page 44. And if you don’t buy the book you will never ever know.
VT has a new sponsor, Vital Peripherals Supplies. I have been purchasing computers and technology from Leigh at Vital for over 12 years. They offer special prices to schools and teachers and from my experiences their prices are always better than anything else I can find. What I really like is that you also get to chat to a professonal who can provide informed and accurate advice.
Thanks to Nicholas Bird of WA, Jenny Bellenger of NSW and Ken Pullar of NZ the Latest VT Supporters. With your donation we’ll be able to spend more time to improve and update this website resource.I appreciate
SPREAD THE WORD
ciao
Cathy
|
A teacher that can be replaced by a machine, should be!
Arthur C. Clarke
If children are interested then education happens.
Arthur C. Clarke
We need to prepare students for THEIR future, not OUR past.
Ian Jukes, educator and Futurist.
If Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus had a child, what would he be called?
A subordinate Claus.
The 3 stages of man:
He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.
Follow your heart, trust your judgement, do it with joy.
Russell Koslela of Kitchen by Mike - great place to eat
Is this TRUE - Read it all right to the end, then check out the SNOPS site.
Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897
And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
|
Seems to me that THE greatest problem we have is that nearly everyone is totally stressed about educational change in 3 ways.
What does it mean for me?Will I still have a job?Am I being replaced by a computer?I just don’t want to spend the time learning about technology?I am already sooo exhausted..and
2. What it means for STUDENTS
Students won’t learn what they need?ie we can’t trust the kids
3. What it means for EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS
How will we know what is being learnt, how do we evaluate it?ie we don’t trust the teachers
Well the big news is you don’t have to worry. The future will be amazing.
The way I see it..
Historically Socrates would talk and discuss ideas with his students. In its simplest form it is a method of teaching by question and answer. - *learning was a social personal endeavour.
What I loved about my education was the amazing opportunities realised when a group of individuals came together to chat, discuss and invent ideas. - *learning was a social personal endeavour.
In Sugata Mitra’s videos it is the group of children chatting and inventing that stimulates the learning.
Here’s one you must watch - *learning was a social personal endeavour.
It is actually the ferment of ‘chatting’ that stimulates and creates great ideas. And it is more powerful if it is done in person, with a teacher/mentor. Our students need us more than ever and our role will be a more important one. read more at............
|
|
QUESTIONS:
Is a 2012 Mac mini Quad-Core just as fast as a 2012 iMac Quad-Core when running Pro Apps?
Is the Apple Fusion Drive all that's its cracked up to be?
Does Mountain Lion do Graphics faster?
So is the 13" Retina MacBook Pro just a smaller version of the 15"?
SHOOTOUT:
iPad 4th Generation versus iPad mini, iPad 3rd Gen, iPad 2nd Gen, iPad 1st Gen, and iPhone 5
This site provides independent real world speed test results for performance minded Macintosh users. If you love this stuff, this site will provide answers. You will also find many students who are enthralled by the graphs and tests on done at this site.
|
THE CARS THAT TOOK ON THE WORLD AND WON
Cold Fusion, a team of students from Brighton Secondary School in Adelaide, has taken out the
F1 in Schools World Championship for 2012.
The five-strong team – all 16 and 17 year olds – also scored gongs for 'Fastest Car', 'Best Engineered Car' and 'Knock Out Racing Champions'.
REA Foundation's Goals Are:
- (primary school students) promote awareness of science studies and begin presenting a coherent and holistic view of what engineering, manufacturing and technology studies and careers involve;
- (secondary school students) provide attractive action-learning programs to develop students’ understanding of what real-world engineering by introducing computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM), computer aided engineering (CAE) and hands-on manufacturing in a competition-environment;
- (tertiary students) maintain enrollments and reverse drop out rates in engineering and manufacturing studies;
- (industry) connect students with industry via mentoring roles to further clarify real-world applications of an engineering or manufacturing career.
A major part of the success of REA Foundation’s education programs is the practical “applied learning” technique.
Contrary to traditional teaching practices, the REA technique empowers students and inspires them to learn. When students are confronted with an exciting challenge, equipped with world-class tools and given the support of industry mentors they develop a thirst for knowledge and eagerly refer to their text books for the answers.
|
|
NASA's Kepler telescope, which is searching the galaxy for Earth-like planets, has completed primarymission and is now beginning its extended mission through to 2016. The space telescope uses the transit method of planet hunting, monitoring over 150,000 stars to search for dips in light that could be caused by a planet crossing in front of its star.
Since it began on May 12, 2009, the telescope has searched more than 100,000 stars for signs of Earth-like planets in the habitable zone, an area that may have liquid water. The telescope has so far confirmed more than 100 of them.
At this fantastic site review the missions, compare plantets so far found, orbits, radius, density, temperature etc. Join the search with Planet Hunters. View the interactives which demonstrate the transit hunt. View the latest images and videos. there is so much here and you feel like you are discovering the plants too.
Great site.
|
|
Santa Television
What an exciting website and a fantastic way to investigate Christmas. View the Videos of the Northern lights, a Day in
the Santa Claus Village, reindeer, and the magic of Roveniemi in Lapland. A huge number of Videos to watch at this site.
Christmas Tic Tac Toe Game - Simple but fun.
Christmas Day in Australia the Time and Date site has some great information. If you click through you can find out about holidays and celebrations throughout the world.
|
A belated WELCOME BACK! Cathy, I have missed your fantastic resource. Thank You
Robyn Hoffmann
Really glad you are back ... Many thanks,
Alan Power
Managing Director, MyMaths Pty Limited
Thank you for coming back to us with all your good stuff.
cheers
Kym
So happy to see you back again. Will pass it on to colleagues.
warmly Kath Comber
Thank you... I love your newsletter and have missed it!
Charlotte
Hi Cathy
Thanks for your informative eletter. I'd like to recommend an app by Blake elearning called Reading Eggs Spelling. I am currently using the Grade 5 version ( there are Grade 1&2 versions too ) this beaut little app has a range of 10 activities/ games some of which have a direct correlation with Naplan tests. It's well worth the small cost and I would highly recommend it.
Kind regards
Fiona
Hi Cathy
I'm a health writer and have been writing extensively about family safety issues on behalf of one of only two fully licensed online health providers in the US, KwikMed
I just finished writing a resource for them http://www.kwikmed.org/prescription-medication-children/ where I spent a great deal of time putting together some solid advice and information for parents. It would be great if you could include my resource on your site as it would really help me get the message out as well as providing some great, current information to your visitors.
Cheers, Lily
|
What do you think about the Sugata Mitra video and child driven education?
How do you see this working in your classroom?
What great things are happening in your school, send them in and I'll feature them here.
Any upgrading links or suggestions please send them in.
Tweet or email your answers. |
|
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!!!
|
|
1. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY - Send in your Questions, Questions will be published with Answers, send in your Answers, if you have expertise to share.
2. NOMINATE A BRILLIANT SITE for review and inclusion in this newsletter.
3. NOMINATE A FANTASTIC SCHOOL WEBSITE site for review and inclusion in this newsletter.
4. MAKE CONTACT with other schools using fantastic programs.
5. WRITE and innovative article for this newsletter.
6. TELL 2 COLLEAGUES about this newsletter.
7. BECOME A VT SUPPORTER CLICK HERE $5 per year, and keep a good thing going. Your name + a hyperlink if you, like will appear on our supporters list.(unless anonymity is requested)
Announce your support for innovation and change in Education.
|
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 an email or tweet me.
Editor: Cathy Brown cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
|
|
Delivered FREE to your e-mail box. If you have been lucky enough to get this Newsletter from a friend, press this BUTTON to subscribe. And get your FREE FORTUNE COOKIE XX
|
|
Reach a growing audience of teachers, by advertising in the Virtual Teacher Newsletter or on the Virtual Teacher site. For more information goto Virtual Teacher Sponsors or contact, cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
For information about inservice and training contact me at
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
|
|
|
|
