Welcome to all those new members who joined the e-Learning groups here on the VLN this week.

Here's this week's round-up of e-learning goodness from across the VLN Groups.

Member of the week

Each week we'll profile someone who has made a valuable contribution to our e-Learning community. This week, it's....

• Sam Cunnane: Sam is based at Fraser High School. He describes himself as "Visual Arts teacher. Curriculum disrupter. Arts Online facilitator. eLearning experimenter. Photographer" and he is using his experience in technologies to lead the way in online community support for the Arts. 

Group of the week

• e-Learning: Leadership: An open space to support school leaders lead change, develop vision, policy and strategy to integrate ICTs into learning.

A sneak peek: eLearning on the VLN

Leadership

• Rocky Jensen starts a conversation: A Framework for Aotearoa: What opportunities exist to increase the connections between the e-learning planning framework and the unique NZ context in which in will be applied? 

• The Copyright (infringing file sharing) Amendment Act comes into effect. What does this mean for schools? What are the implications and how might we address these?

Professional Learning

• Support from the Digi Advisors: They are offering free professional development sessions to groups or schools through 'Online Snacks'. These are workshops run virtually through online tools such as Adobe Connect or Skype. They are asking for commentary back on what YOU think would like further support with.

• Glenholme Primary School reflects on their SOLO Journey. They share ways to work through their professional learning goals.

Professional Learning Events

• ULearn Conference:18-21 October in Rotorua: Open for registrations now.

• Learning@School Conference: (26-27 January 2012) - Registration now open. Call for papers due by 16th September.

Teaching and Learning |  Digital Citizenship

• Birchwood School: Developing our AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) or DCP (Digital Citizen Profile).

• Nayland Primary- Acceptable Use Policy Year 0-3 - as a stepping stone towards a more open Learn, Guide, Protect agreement. 
• Stoke School shares their Acceptable Use/Cybersafety Policy

• New question raised in Inquiry Learning: Hassles, Problems and Issues. If anyone has advice or has experience with Inquiry learning with yr 9 and 10 students. 

Technology

• One-to-one devices in schools: Is your school considering more access to mobile devices? 

• 10 things to do with Voki : Blog post from Software for Learning.

• Assistive Technology - Meeting a literacy challenge: The Connected Cluster shares a reflective summary on providing literacy support through assistive technologies to students who have specific learning disabilities.

Beyond the Classroom

• Karamu High School share how they have been engaging with their wider community via the web, LMS and mobile technologies - to inform parents of attendance and other learning events.

• Baradene/St Peters College blog shares ways to communicate with parents about Digital Citizenship and the use of different devices.

VLN Groups: Tip of the week: Groups

There are many groups here on the VLN, but if you find and join your favourites they’ll become your touchstones. To find them easily:

• join a group, then 
• add it to your favourites, and 
• make sure you have the Groups widget on your dashboard. All your favourites will appear first.

e-Learning on the Wire…

The Wire is the micro-blogging stream in the VLN…Here’s what we heard:

• dreid8: Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners resource/s launched yesterday

• samcunnane: Fun times simultaneously learning to use this VLN, teaching others how to use it, and discussing the new Level 2 standards.

• Tessa Gray: Anyone familiar with working with Y9/Y10 students with inquiry learning? We'd love to hear from you @ http://fizurl.com/inquiry 

Images: photostock |  renjith krishnan  |  fotographic1980  |  jscreationzs ... all @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net