|
VT's FREE Newsletter for Educators - Insight, Inspiration and Ideas that Work!
CREATIVE POWER in Everyone's Hands
|
|
 |
Hello Everyone,
I love writing Virtual Teacher and maintaining the website.
But it takes many hours a month and many dollars to sustain.
I hope you find this newsletter important to you, because it IS important to me.
I rely on the generous support of readers just like you, through donation, support and indirectly through book purchases from Amazon and Bookworld, using the links from this newsletter or from my website.
So if you LOVE getting this newsletter please consider becoming a supporter and making all your fitire book purchases through Virtual Teacher.
|
|
MATHSPOWER - FREE ONLINE MATHS TRIAL
Don't miss out try it now. It will make your life sooo much easier and your students will go ahead in leaps and bounds.
 MADE for Australian studentsDESIGNED BY Australian teachers
If you have a book to promote please email me and I will great ones to the Virtual Teacher BookStore, remember support Virtual Teacher and buy your books at the Virtual Teacher Bookstore by clicking through from the site.
Spread the Word about VT, email this newsletter to someone you think might love it.
|
Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars, etc., and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish, and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons. -Douglas Adams, writer, dramatist, and musician (1952-2001)
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -John F. Kennedy, 35th US president (1917-1963)
Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in. -Alan Alda, actor and director (b. 1936)
NOTE: In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is a great deal of difference.
|
Fabulous new technology - "BOX"
Box The"Box" explores thesynthesis of real and digital space through projection-mapping on moving surfaces. The short film documents a live performance, captured entirely in camera.
Bot & Dolly produced this work to serve as both an artistic statement and technical demonstration. It is the culmination of multiple technologies, including large scale robotics, projection mapping, and software engineering.
This methodology has tremendous potential to radically transform theatrical presentations, and define new genres of expression. What would you use it for?
Virtual reality for the hands - LEAP MOTION
Leap Motion The Leap Motion Controller tracks both hands and all 10 fingers with pinpoint precision and incredible speed. That wide-open space between you and your computer is now yours—to play, create and explore. Reach into another world without actually touching anything. This gesture based technology is truly amazing, and although it might not quite be there yet, sta tuned for a computer coming to you soon with this technology built in. WHAT FUN WE WILL HAVE.
Take a look at the review of Leap Motion
|
ESTHER'S RAINBOW by Kim Kane & Sara Acton
Esther spies a rainbow peeking out from under her chair.....
Here begins a delightful story about fining colours everywhere. Colours that she can taste, hear, feel see and smell. The descriptions of the colours are luscious.
I used a light prism as we read the book so that listeners could view the colours as we read the story.
It was fabulous to discuss the colours of the rainbow and the science behind the frequencies of the light using this book as inspiration.
But most exciting were the descriptions the listeners wrote about their favourite colours inspired by this book, they wrote much more visceral descriptions.
FABULOUS!! BUY IT at the VIRTUAL TEACHER BOOKSTORE for 21% off RRP - $21.99
 THE ROSIE PROJECTI mentioned last newsletter that I had just finished reading
THE ROSIE PROJECT. A fabulous read, I couldn't put it down.
It was an amusing insight into the life of Dr Tillman who has Asperger's.
I enjoyed so much reading his view of the world and interpretations love, and life. I fell in love with Don - I think you will too. I loved the way Don measured and evaluated life. The book made me laugh. I read it over one 24hour period - everyone had to wait for meals. Not many books do that.
Hi Cathy
I agree with you about The Rosie Project - it's one of the most delightful reads & if you know someone who's severely Aspergers you just keep going YES YES YES & laughing !! Have recommended your excellent newsletter to many of my colleagues & sent thru a subs - thanks for a brilliant &
welcome addition to professional reading.
Kind regards Fiona Enevoldsen
|
EASTER - Snorkel Eggs
I dare you to make more adorable-looking eggs
Send in the pictures to Virtual Teacher and have them published.
21 super original and awesome Easter eggs (full of pop culture references) from people who really went above and beyond. These are sure to inspire some amazing eggy creations. Check out the Snorkel Eggs → → → →
fghhg. What it means to ME(the teacher)
|
Happy Birthday Mac
Thirty years ago, Apple introduced the Macintosh with the promise to put the creative power of technology in everyone’s hands.
It launched a generation of innovators
who continue to change the world. This 30-year timeline celebrates some of those pioneers and the profound impact they’ve made.
A story of invention and creativity.
|
Spelling City is a free, online spelling, vocabulary and handwriting curriculum.There is a FREE version and a premium version, a a small fee. Try the free version first.
The Free version of Spelling City gives you the ability to create your own spelling lists. Users of the free version have access to some of the games, which use the spelling words from your list. The best part of the free version is that the lists are created by the teacher and the teachers choose the games and activities.
Spelling City has spelling lists already available for you to choose from. You can still combine the games and activities with your spelling words.
Spelling City offers handwriting activities. They just upgraded the handwriting section to include lessons and activities for left-handed students. This is something that is hard to find in most handwriting curriculum.
The Early years conference is on again this year from May 16th-17th 2014 in Perth. The title this year is CELEBRATING SUCCESS. Take a look at the pdf Brochure. A great line-up of talent.
|
I do answer all emails so send them along with your questions ideas and great sites.
Hello, I work off and on with middle school counselors on the broad topic of keeping our children safe, confident and healthy. Currently, we are putting together some health-based curriculum to help keep the students free of drugs and alcohol issues. While researching for this curriculum, we found your site.
Thank you for being a partner in helping to raise our young people to be bright, healthy, and responsible adults.
Best wishes, Michelle Peng
EducatorLabs.org :: Cultivating. Connecting. Curating.
Thanks Michelle,
I don't update links from acrchival newsletters - but do appreciate the links on this topic. Thanks for sending them in.
Greetings
I find this interesting..so I passed it on NASA publishes a "what's on?" every week!!
hundreds of activities, free, available to Australian students and educators…
Mission to Mars EARTHcam from ISS Moon explorers Ebb&Flow(now finished=crashed into moon!)
I can pass on the link if you are interested.
Gary
If you can send in th elink that would be great.
Thanks Gary,the What's on is a tweet message - great. Some fabulous images and a great way to keep updated. sometimes Twitter makes a lot of sense.
Hi Cathy,
Send Your Name to the Asteroid Bennu!NASA is inviting people around the world to submit their names to be etched on a microchip aboard a spacecraft headed to the asteroid Bennu in 2016.
The "Messages to Bennu!" microchip will travel to the asteroid aboard the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx, spacecraft. The robotic mission will spend more than two years at the asteroid, which has a width of approximately 1,760 feet (500 meters). The spacecraft will collect a sample of Bennu's surface and return it to
Earth in a sample return capsule.
The deadline to submit names online is Sept. 30, 2014. Participants who submit their names to the "Messages to Bennu!" campaign will be able to print a certificate of appreciation to document their involvement.
For more information and to submit your name, visit http://planetary.org/bennu.
Participants who "follow" or "like" the mission on Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/OSIRISREx) will receive updates on the location
of their names in space from launch time until the asteroid samples return to
Earth in 2023. Facebook fans also will receive mission progress and
late-breaking news through regular status updates.
I have my certificate and will be following the project eagerly.
Hi Cathy,
It's me the guy at the Bos, well BOSTES now.
I have been a long term subscriber too, as thompsop.
Did you get the link for the Adelaide Uni MOOC for Aussie teachers to learn to code?
It is now open for registrations, so needs a push, can you put it in the next newsletter?
Regards and thanks for leading.
PeterT
Hi Peter,
Sure can.
This is a great course and its free.
"Providing resources and example learning activities for the Digital Technologies section of the new national curriculum, from Kindergarten to Year 6.
The course will run for 8-10 weeks and will be open for access at any time once released online. Participants will complete a portfolio of activities to be assessed, with feedback, and a certificate for successful completion. Any educator interested in participating can register here. "
ciao
Cathy
|
Next newsletter will be all about The MAGIC and ILLUSION of the NEW CURRICULUM. Please send in your thoughts so far and any other great ideas or websites, whiteboard sites or fabulous things you are doing.
Tweet
Join the VT conversation on twitter. 
ciao
Cathy
Happy 2014 |
|
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
|
|
|
|
