Virtual Teacher Newsletter No. 32 2001
THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
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CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. Mind Candy
3. INSPIRATION AND KIDSPIRATION
4. New Printables/Downloadables - Edsoft
5. Technical Stuff - Search Engines/ ZEITGEIST /Macromedia
6. Website Focus - Playwiths
7. The ADOBE SCHOOL SEMINARS
8. Great Sites
9. Readers' Requests/Comments
10 Next Issue
11. Code of 'Netizens'
12. Tips
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1. WELCOME EVERYONE. A lot of folks have written
lately about the 'mind candy' at the head of each newsletter.
They love it! It's great to include jokes & quotes for colleagues
as well as students in this section. I think jokes provide
great motivators in class and can often provide lesson
breaks that stimulate concentration and encourage thinking.
I use them all the time and like to remain well stocked.
I had a wonderful morning tea on Tuesday with Linda Zugai,
what a champion. If you are looking for a great motivator for
your next staff meeting or inservice day - ask Linda to come along
and demonstrate Inspiration and Kidspiration to you;
fantastic programs.
A place you all must go - send
your students there - the end of the internet as we know it:-
http://www.shibumi.org/eoti.htm
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2. MIND CANDY
"The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier
to write with." --Marty Feldman
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My kids never understood my logic. Both of them failed
to see why they had to go to bed when I was tired.
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A reporter was interviewing Jack Nicklaus. He said, "Jack,
you are spectacular, your name is synonomous with the game
of golf. You really know your way around the course. What
is your secret?"

To which Jack replied, "The holes are numbered!"
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"Tonight's forecast: dark. Continuing dark throughout the
night and turning to widely scattered light in the morning."
- George Carlin

"Ever go to a hospital in the South? They're in no hurry down
there. I saw a plaque over the emergency room door that read,
'Time heals all wounds.'" - Steve Bluestein
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Q: Who invented the Round Table?
A: Sir Cumference!
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Q: Who invented fractions?
A: Henry the 1/8th!
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Q: Why did 8 times 8 go to the store?
A: To buy nintendo 64.
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3. INSPIRATION AND KIDSPIRATION Are my current
latest passion. They are generic software programs that
cover all KLA's. Kidspiration is K-3( I actually use it initially
with K-6, using it as a training package for Inspiration).
Using KIDSPIRATION, young students build strong thinking skills with
visual and audio support using pictures, diagrams and sounds.
INSPIRATION is a powerful visual learning tool that inspires
students to develop ideas and organise their thinking.
So what CAN you do with them?
Brainstorming
Planning
Webbing
Diagrams
Organising
Diagramming
Sorting
Concept Mapping
RESEARCH has shown that using these visual learning
techniques enhances learning dramatically. However the old
pen a paper methods tend to make changes and fiddling
impossible, difficult or at best untidy and frustrating. With
these programs students can use diagrams and pictures to
develop and plan their ideas with ease. Then the whole
lot is converted to a writing planner. The possibilities are
limitless.
MY FAVOURITE BITS
1. In Kidspiration the audio tool allows students to hear their
work read aloud or even record their own words. So even
kindergarten can to point and hear what to do and listen to the
names of the pictures as they manipulate them.
2. The writing view is just wonderful - and allows children
to work from planned subheadings and extend their writing,
researching one section at a time in a logical organised fashion.
3. Importing your own pictures and clipart to both programs
extends the versatility of this amazing product.
4. In both programs the pages produced can be saved as
HTML pages and uploaded to the web, live URLs can be added.
EVEN BETTER BIT
THE PRICE - this is the big news it's amazing. Special
state-wide deals are in place for all Australian states and
New Zealand and most independent schools now have
special deals in place, so these programs are cheaper than
ever. To find out the details for you state goto
http://www.edsoft.com.au/Specials/SPindex.htm
ONLINE TRAINING
For Kidspiration with Atomic learning
http://www.atomiclearning.com/freekidsmac.shtml
For Inspiration with Atomic Learning
http://www.atomiclearning.com/inspiration.shtml
STAFF MEETINGS
Linda Zugai is available for staff meetings and inservice
days to talk about these products, after our morning tea
I can tell you she will add quite a sparkle to your meetings.
Lots of great ideas and good fun.
"Linda Zugai" <Linda.Zugai@bigpond.com>
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4. NEW PRINTABLES/Downloads
Download some free trial outs as well as free software from
this site.
http://www.edsoft.com.au/Downloads/DLindex.htm
Downloads are both Mac/Win compatible.
The Wonderful INSPIRATION and KIDSPIRATION can be
downloaded for a free 30 day trial here.
Also download the free ware program CROCODILE CLIPS,
this is a fantastic program which allows children to make simple
electrical circuits - if their wiring is correct then lights work and
motors run with a flick of a switch. The diagrams are also printable.
The CROCODILE programs are fantastic for high school students -
download them and test them out.
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5. TECHNICAL STUFF
I have just recently added search engine and a few other sites
as direct links from the Virtual Teacher directory page.
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/directory.html
If you want to use these links on a site you are building just
save the page in 'source' code or html, then copy and paste
straight into your own webpage. The hotlinks will be retained
if you do it this way.
Another way to copy links from an existing page is to:-
goto view menu
click source or page source
then copy the relevant html code directly from the page.
when you open your html editor(frontpage, golive, pagemill etc)
open the html view in the active window
then just paste the html code you copied directly onto the page.
This will preserve the links as hotlinks.
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GOOGLE ZEITGEIST
Popular search engine Google has launched a "zeitgeist"
page showing interesting trends based on the 100 million
searches made on Google every day.
See http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html
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MACROMEDIA have just released new student editions of
four of their most popular products. The following titles are
available for only $119 each:
- Dreamweaver 4
- Fireworks 4
- Flash 5
- Freehand 10
The student editions do not contain users manuals and are
only available to high school,
TAFE or university students. They cannot be purchased by
teachers or educational institutes.
For more information visit
http://www.softwaretime.com.au
or phone 1800 655 887.
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6. WEBSITE FOCUS
Fantastic Science Site PLAYWITHS
This site offers simple experiments covering a range of topics.
Easy details are given I have tried a few and they work - always a
big plus. the layout is simple and navigation is a breeze.
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/scifun/index.htm
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7. The ADOBE SCHOOL SEMINARS Featuring Pagemaker and
Photoshop Elements will be held
NSW
6 August 2001, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
The Grace Hotel,
77 York Street, Sydney

7 August 2001, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Stamford Grand
Cnr Epping & Herring Roads
North Ryde

Victoria
8 August 2001, 4.30pm - 6.30pm,
Le Meridian at Rialto
195 Collins Street, Melbourne

9 August 2001, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Novotel
285-287 Springvale Road,
Glen Waverley
Register online at
http://www.adobe.com.au/events/main_adobeschool.html
These seminars are fantastic - the Grace Hotel is an excellent
venue in Sydney and they serve free afternoon tea as well.
I really enjoy attending these seminars and will be attending
this one - so if you are attending come and say - Hello!!!
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8. GREAT SITES
Some great Units of work based on brainstorming and mindmapping
http://www.English.unitecnology.ac.nz/home.html
City Suburbs - how they got their names
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~isaacyip/suburbs3.htm
Roald Dahl's Website is great
http://www.roalddahl.com
Great Freeware programs for Windows, Hangman, spelling and number facts.
http://www.mcgoo.com.au/freeware.htm

Medieval Life in the Middle Ages -reader request
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/mahome.htm
http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq93/
http://www.castlewales.com/home.html
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/denise/Themes4-7.htm#Medieval%20Times
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/castle_builder/

FRACTIONS
Fractions from Surf the Net
http://www.surfnetkids.com/fractions.htm
Five sites that will take you by the hand and explain
everything you've always feared you
could never learn about fractions.

All About Fractions
http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html
Dozens of colourfully illustrated pages with explanatory lessons
and interactive practice games

Fractions
http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/fractions/fractionsmain.html
This site covers fractions in seven illustrated pages, each
of which includes a self-grading quiz.

Fraction to Decimal Conversion
http://www.sisweb.com/math/general/arithmetic/fradec.htm

Converting fractions to decimals. Fractions from 1/1 to 31/32
are neatly organized into a table showing their decimal equivalents.

Rules for Fractions
http://www.gomath.com/exercises/algebra.asp
For visual learners who can read an algebraic formula, this is
the site. In one straightforward table, you'll learn the rules
for adding (A/B + C/B = (A + C)/B), subtracting, dividing and
multiplying fractions.

Grade 3 Social Studies Curriculum from the US
http://hometown.aol.com/mellettk/Webpage/coresocialstudies.html

iSpellWell is available for trial by downloading it from the Internet.
http://www.ispellwell.com

Good practices website by Edna
http://www.edna.edu.au/schools/leadingpractice/goodpractice.htm#webquest

Great Links Site All KLA"S
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/resource/restech.htm

Great Website Design and promotion page
http://www.hypergurl.com/
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9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Cathy
I notice on your site that you recommend Nortons to maintain
Mac hard drives. We had a great deal of trouble with Nortons
when we changed to System 9. We now use DiskWarrior.
It's faster, and fixes some problems that Nortons couldn't.
Regards
Gregory Lewis Catholic College Wodonga VIC
Hi Greg,
It is indeed true that Norton's seems to have dropped the ball
with Macs from 9.1 onward. DiskWarrior is by far the better
product at the moment and quite affordable. Read about it at:-
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/support.html
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Dear Cathy
Many thanks for the fabulous newsletters you send me.
I am just wanting to notify you of a change in my email address:g.luders@telstra.com
I found the hotmail address was attracting too much
junk/objectionable mail.
Thanks again
Gaye Luders
You should try http://www.visto.com
I find it quite good also epals
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SUB-TEACHER AUTHORS HANDBOOK TO
INCREASE 'TEACHER' INCOME
CROCKETT, Texas - - June 18, 2001 - - Kenny Love, who
is a writer, author and part-time public school substitute
teacher, has recently written a handbook for teachers
titled, "How to Increase 'Teaching' Income." The guide
is a result of the long-time complaint among teachers
regarding low salaries.

This informative guide provides details on how teachers
can maximize their training, skills and experience to
dramatically increase their income level in ways they
may have never considered. Additionally, Love has the
distinct advantage of being a professional business
marketer and promoter, which has also served him in
creating the diverse guide.

"Areas that I have addressed in this handbook include;
tutoring and how to obtain student clients, teaching
in weekend seminars, either solo, or within an organized
teacher network, as well as how to promote seminars
effectively, teaching overseas, which can be done either
through the military or the foreign country as host, and a
special section for teachers who are also coaches, and
how they can especially benefit in a number of diversified
camps during the summer season," Love states.

"Having had a mother who was also a public school
teacher for over thirty years, as well as having a number
of friends, relatives and associates who are also
teachers in the public school system, I am a firsthand
witness that their number one complaint is their salaries.
It is also the primary reason given for not entering the
field by a number of prospective college students whom
otherwise would do so," says Love.

"Moreover, I remember how my own mother would return
to college during summer months in order to obtain yet
another degree for better income, and how I would
weep as I watched her car top the hill and disappear in
the distance every Sunday afternoon, not to be seen
again for at least another week, if not longer. That
was over thirty years ago, but there are still kids going
through this emotional ordeal today as well," he adds.

For any teacher interested in some unique perspectives
in increasing their income, "How to Increase 'Teaching'
Income" is available for only $7.00 (FREE shipping/Texas
residents please add $.59 sales tax). This guide can be
ordered securely online from Kenny Love's web site
located at http://www.kennylove.net or by regular mail
from Kenny Love Enterprises, P. O. Box 1404, Crockett,
Texas 75835-1404.
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From Cynthia Peterson
The link for
http://www.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca/schools/riverbend/studentresources/languagearts/Paralympics/para.html
Paralympics Where Heroes Come is wrong. It should be
http://www.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca/schools/riverbend/studentresources/languagearts/paralympics/
Thanks Cynthia - I have fixed it. If you see any other
problems or bad links please let me know.
Cathy
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10. NEXT ISSUE - ICT Scope and Sequence and programs,
I will be looking at detailed plans. I any readers have ICT
programs or scope and sequence programs finished please
send them along, I am particularly looking for the WA Scope
and Sequence, which I am told is excellent.
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
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