Virtual Teacher Newsletter
No. 39 2001 - HERE'S TO THE
CRAZY ONES
THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER
-----------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe: http://mojo.epicentre.org.nz/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?flavor=subscribe&list=Virtual_Teacher
Or visit: http://www.virtualteacher.com.au
Unsubscribe: http://mojo.epicentre.org.nz/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?flavor=unsubscribe&list=Virtual_Teacher
Contact: cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
Website: http://www.virtualteacher.com.au
Newsletter Archives can be found at:-
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/archives.html
==============================================
CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. Mind Candy
3. Searching the Net
4. New Printables -
Sofweb Literacy and Mumeracy
5. Technical Stuff - IDVD, ReasonAble
6. Web Site Focus - Christmas
7. Report Writing
8. Great Sites
9. Readers'
Requests/Comments
10 Next Issue
11. Code of 'Netizens'
12. Tips
==============================================
1. WELCOME EVERYONE. I attended a wonderful Apple seminar
this week at the Power House Museum. The seminar was about
DVD authoring using IDVD and DVD Pro, it was most insightful and
the speaker, Bruce Nazarian, was an exceptional speaker. I love the
fact that these seminars are available for FREE, to anyone who
wishes to attend. We
are lucky that the best and brightest minds
give these seminars, which are funded by large corporations to
promote their products.
They are not just sales pitches but truly i
nformative. I don't
know of any other industry in which educational
technical lectures of this type are offered by industry experts
FREE
of charge to potential users. If you can ever take advantage of t
hese wonderful opportunities, do. I will continue to advertise them
in this newsletter and maybe I'll see you there one day. During
the seminar a short movie was played - the text, to follow, is the
'credo' of the Apple Company. I loved it. The
crazy ones, the
misfits, we all either, have, teach or know these children and
adults.
==============================================
2. MIND CANDY
HERE'S TO THE CRAZY ONES
The misfits.
The
rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in
the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They invent. They
imagine. They heal.
They
explore. They create. They
inspire.
They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones,
we see
genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world, are the ones who do.
From the apple computer site
http://www.apple.com/thinkdifferent/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are two kinds of thinkers in the world. Those who
think they can and those who think they can't...and they're
both usually right." -Unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our seven-year-old daughter was thrilled when we took her to
Disney World for the first time, and she headed straight for
Space Mountain. I worried that the roller coaster would be
too scary for her, but she insisted.
To her delight, we rode it twice.
The next year we returned to Magic Kingdom, and my daughter,
now eight, again dragged me to Space Mountain.
As we stood in line, though, I could see her soberly studying
the signs that warn about the ride's speed.
"Dad," she said, "I don't think I want to go."
I asked her why she would be nervous when she had enjoyed
herself last time.
She replied, "This year, I can read."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRICKET: As explained to a foreigner...
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man
that's in the
side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the
next man goes
in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out
comes in and
the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in,
out.
Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him
out, and
when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes
in. There
are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they
decide
when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and
all the
men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men
have been
in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!
From CricInfo
http://www-aus.cricket.org/link_to_database/ABOUT_CRICKET/EXPLANATION/WHAT_IS_CRICKET.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two fish are in a tank. One says to the other, "do you know
how to drive this thing?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I visited 'Starbucks' for the first time recently - this quote
seemed just right
"Is it possible to get a cup of coffee-flavoured coffee any-
more in this country? What happened with coffee? Did I miss
a meeting? They have every other flavour but coffee-flavoured
coffee. They have mochaccino, frappaccino, cappuccino, al
pacino...
Coffee doesn't need a menu, it needs a cup."
--Denis Leary
==============================================
3. SEARCHING THE NET
A few readers have sent some great info about this topic -
thanks for the sites - this first one looks fantastic.....
Hi Cathy,
I must add my congratulations on your wonderful newsletter -
it is so informative, and what's more it is Australian!
I do a lot of Web searching in preparation for each theme we
undertake. I teach
two days a week in a 3 / 4 (Middle School)
Class, but I also teach ICT skills in two schools. I like to find
sites that have useful background information for the other
Middle School classroom teachers (and me of course),
ready made (or easily adaptable) activities, and sites for the
students to use as either research resources, or for on-line
activities. I came
across a really great Directory that allows
you to set quite a lot of parameters to your search.
It is called the Gateway to Educational Material (GEM). The URL is http://thegateway.org/>http://thegateway.org/
I first discovered it after I had done a really intensive search
for dinosaur sites - keyed in 'dinosaur' and came up with many
of the sites I'd located via other means, but also quite a few
excellent sites that I hadn't found before.
Thanks once again for your newsletter,
Cheers,
Jan Roberts
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for your newsletters. I look forward to
them as they always give me something useful! I
also use your website extensively and have it book
marked as a great resource for myself and
colleagues at my school.
I guess you [and me] are keeping tabs on the "parallel"
[luck] postings to your request re "searching the
internet"
at ozteachers. I have not included these...I think!
I have some suggestions that I've kept and have
found interesting. They are
http://www.ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html [Excellent]
http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/searchtip.html [Excellent]
http://www.searchengineshowdown.com
http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/searchtipmaster.html
http://www.searchenginecolossus.com [lots of engines]
http://www.worldsofsearching.org &
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/kidsclick [for kids]
http://searchenginebase.com
[lots of engines]
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Mouse/1851/noframes.html
[types of search tools]
http://keithstanger.com/search.htm
[tutorials techniques tips]
and a thinkquest on searching the internet for kids.[yr5?]
http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/4658/index.htm?tqskip=1
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/webhound/index.html
http://nuevaschool.org/~debbie/library/research/adviceengine.html
I have taken these from various sources. I am unable to
credit these to individuals. Some I have found myself.
I hope these help you with your article and are not to late.
Regards,
Wayne
---
waroy@fulnorthps.sa.edu.au
http://www.fulnorthps.sa.edu.au/
Thanks Wayne - great set of links.
=====================================
4. NEW PRINTABLES
There is a well written 24 page booklet, available at the
following SofWeb website, which may well be of interest.
This booklet appears to offer excellent advice for parents.
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/eys/lit/partrans.htm
Literacy and Numeracy in the Early Years of Schooling
(Prep - Year 4): A Guide for Parents
This booklet is designed to provide information for parents
on literacy and numeracy and how families can support these
developments in partnership with schools.
This booklet is available for download as an Adobe Acrobat
file. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.
Albanian Chinese
Romanian Amharic
English Serbian
Arabic Greek
Somali Bosnian
Macedonian Spanish
Cambodian Polish
Turkish Vietnamese
"Literacy and Numeracy in the Early Years of Schooling"
is
one of a series of booklets designed to promote partnerships
between home and school.
==============================================
5. TECHNICAL STUFF
Here's a great IDVD site written by the master himself, Bruce
Nazarian
http://www.recipe4dvd.com/
DVD authoring is the next
great activity, particularly for High School students, but
easier enough for primary as well. IDVD movie creation is as
simple as the IMOVIE and ITUNES software. Check out the
Apple IDVD site here:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason!Able 1.1 is now available!
The new Reason!Able has more features, better usability, better
prices and a
simpler registration system.
Download Now! http://www.goreason.com/reasonable1p1.exe
Click the link above to download a fully-functional, no-expiry
trial version
of Reason!Able. This version will work even if your previous
trial period
expired.
Find out more about Reason!Able 1.1
http://www.goreason.com/about/1p1.htm
Reason!Able is award-winning educational software
now being used to enhance general reasoning and critical
thinking skills in dozens
of schools and universities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OptusHome for schools
The Internet Service you’ve been waiting for, Optus@Home For
Schools provides high-speed cable Internet at an affordable price.
Delivered through a broadband cable, which provides a
permanent connection to the Internet at high speeds, the
Optus@Home For Schools not only provides a unique
combination of “always-on” fast Internet access, but
also an
Internet service that fits easily into your schools’ budget.
http://www.optushome.excite.com.au/schools/
I finally had a talk with these folk, the number on the website
is incorrect, and they didn't return my calls initially, so I
spent
1 hour waiting on the line just recently and finally got some
answers. The rates on
the website are indicative only.
The rates increase with increase of download( as you'd
expect).
If you are running 25-30 computers from an existing network, as
most public primary schools in NSW are, and your download is
minimal, which most primary schools are, then you could
negotiate a price for broadband cable for about $95 per
month.
This is much less than the allocation (which is $3,000 per
line in NSW I am told) for the current 64K ISDN line now
currently in primary schools and many high schools. So when
will the department fix this huge problem of lack of bandwidth
for schools????
Cheaper and faster options than the ones c
urrently in use ARE available, providing direct internet access
and avoiding the DET intranet slowdown........ I am told an
announcement is due to made early next year; don't hold
your breath - they have been promising this since June this
year. We should
bypass DET altogether, ask for our allocated
$3,000 per year for connection to the internet, connect direct to
the internet, save $1,800 and buy a new computer with the change.
==============================================
6. WEBSITE FOCUS - Christmas sites
Christmas Activities
Edna on Christmas
http://www.edna.edu.au/schools/themes/christmas.html
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ericashadiac/Xmas/index.htm
http://www.berrips.sa.edu.au/xmas/christmas.htm
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/denise/Christmas.htm
The Treasure Hunt is just fantastic.
http://www.crpc.rice.edu/CRPC/GT/pschweig/lessonlink.html
A Christmas Treasure Hunt for Years 1-3:
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/denise/ChristmasTreasureHunt.htm
How is Christmas celebrated around the world?
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/denise/HowChristmasIsCelebrated.htm
I also have a page of Christmas links for websites, webquests
& worksheets at:
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/denise/Christmas.htm
And of course
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/christmas.html
My all time favourite site is the HOWSTUFFWORKS
Christmas site - on the link from Virtualteacher
==============================================
7. REPORT WRITING has been one of the major discussion
topics on oz-teacher
http://rite.ed.qut.edu.au/oz-teachernet/
lately, here are a few gems
One of my favourite report comments (for a serial truant):
"The name rings
a bell but I can't put a face to it."
No one fails a class anymore, he's merely "passing
impaired."
You don't have detention, you're just one of the "exit
delayed."
These days, a student isn't lazy. He's "energetically
declined."
Your locker isn't overflowing with junk, it's just "closure
prohibitive."
Kids don't get grounded anymore. They merely hit "social
speed bumps."
Your homework isn't missing, it's just having an
"out-of-notebook
experience."
You're not sleeping in class, you're "rationing consciousness."
You're not late, you just have a "rescheduled arrival
time."
You're not having a bad hair day, you're suffering from
"rebellious
follicle syndrome."
You don't have smelly gym socks, you have "odour-retentive
athletic
footwear."
No one's tall anymore. He's "vertically enhanced."
You're not shy. You're "conversationally selective."
You don't talk a lot. You're just "abundantly verbal."
You weren't passing notes in class. You were "participating
in the
discreet exchange of penned meditations."
You're not being sent to the principal's office. You're
"going on a
mandatory field trip to the administrative building."
It's not called gossip anymore. It's "the speedy transmission
of
near-factual information."
The food at the school cafeteria isn't awful. It's
"digestively
challenged."
And now for some sites that ARE useful.
http://www.occdsb.on.ca/~proj1615/nov.htm
http://www.dreamscape.com/ymrugg/Report_card_comments.htm
(Art area).
http://hackensackhigh.org/comments.html
http://expage.com/4reportcards
http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/endofyear/personalcomments061400.html
http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/sites_for_report_cards_and_comme.htm
http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/endofyear/personalcomments061400.html
Teacher resource site called Gigglepotz. May be what you are
looking for:
1. Report Card Comments
Whether it is a Quarterly Report or an End of Year Report Card,
teachers
can now make use of the comments Database, suitable for Elementary
/ Junior
High Reports. All comments are categorized into Subject and
Behaviour
sections, making it easy to find the most appropriate comments,
quickly.
View the Database at :
http://www.gigglepotz.com/report.htm
BTW....this site has a lot of other great resources too....it's
well worth
checking out.
==============================================
8. GREAT SITES
HOT SITES
EdNA What's New service provides a selection of material from
within
Australia and internationally which has recently been added into
EdNA
Online. In addition new resources, sorted by sector, are available
on EdNA
Online from the following links:
Higher Education http://www.edna.edu.au/whatsnew/hed.html
School Education http://www.edna.edu.au/whatsnew/schools.html
Vocational Education http://www.edna.edu.au/whatsnew/vet.html
Bookmark these URLs for future reference!
Use the What's New events calendar,
http://www.edna.edu.au/whatsnew/calendar01.html
to plan your
marketing or
teaching resources in advance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great School site links page
Fantastic school site with loads of links
http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au/wwwlinks.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Primary transport site
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qtkids
==============================================
9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS
Dear Cathy,
I just found your site through Classroom magazine and
subscribed. Looks as if there are a lot of good ideas
here. Could I have the template you talk about?
Programming has always been my bete noire so anything
that helps is appreciated
Tom McCabe
------------------------------------------
Hi Tom
Template can be downloaded from the site at:
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/template.doc
ICT whole school scope and sequence are also
on the VT page under Teacher tools
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/directory.html
Computer Policy .doc
ICT Scope and Sequence
Scope and Sequence Summary
ciao
cathy
------------------------------------------
Hello Cathy,
The Jokes and Riddles link does not exist unfortunately.
Would be great if someone could track it down and reinstate if
possible.
Thanks Wurfs
Hi Wurfs,
try it now - I have had a tinker - should suit you better.
http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/jokes.html
ciao
cathy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Cathy,
Many thanks for the information you up date us with. I am compiling
a list of sites (from your list) for students to use over the
holidays.
I value your email newsletters and enjoy them.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to compile them.
Regard
Val Dalton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi
Just a line to say I really enjoyed the newsletter - especially
the rules
for better writing - keep up the good work
Regards Gerry
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,
Velsoft Interactive offers Computer lesson plans and curriculum to
K12
Technology Teachers. Our site is visited by tens of thousands of
educators each week and we would like to exchange links with your
site.
Our recommended links page will be operational over the next few
days
and we would love to exchange reciprocal links with your education
website.
Computer Lesson Plans for Teachers
Thanks
Steve - Webmaster
Velsoft Interactive Inc.
----------------------------------
Thanks Steve - this site is a site which sells lesson plans -
interesting to look at.
==============================================
10. NEXT ISSUE
- Another disaster................
Yes that's right, Virtualteacher will be looking at Disasters
again in volume 40 - a lot of requests and a lot of interest still
exist in this area. I
will also look at sites to do with dealing with
disaster. I am
interest also to hear great Christmas party ideas
for students as well as teachers staff parties. Any ideas send
them along.
ciao
cathy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
==============================================
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered FREE to your e-mail box every fortnight.
Online Lesson Plans, Great Sites, Free Stuff, Tips, Time savers,
and templates.
Computer Solutions for Teachers. Subscribe today! It's
totally Free! Just type subscribe in the subject and send it to
me.
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================
Reach a growing audience of teachers, by advertising in the
Virtual Teacher Newsletter or on the Virtual Teacher site.
For more information contact,
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
For information about inservice and training contact me at
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================
.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
==============================================
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered FREE to your e-mail box every fortnight.
Online Lesson Plans, Great Sites, Free Stuff, Tips, Time savers,
and templates.
Computer Solutions for Teachers. Subscribe today! It's
totally Free! Just type subscribe in the subject and send it to
me.
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================
Reach a growing audience of teachers, by advertising in the
Virtual Teacher Newsletter or on the Virtual Teacher site.
For more information contact,
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
For information about inservice and training contact me at
cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
==============================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------