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....

Barbara Reid: Based in Hamilton, Barbara has a passion for all things e-learning and has contributed to many discussions and activities here on the VLN, as well as supporting the King Country Cluster.

Group of the Week

BYOD=Bring Your Own Device: A new group for schools to discuss processes and strategies for allowing students to bring different devices to school.

A sneak peek: eLearning in VLN Groups

Leadership

• EdTalks video: Creative Commons in Schools: Bookmarked by Toni Twiss, this video of Helen Baxter, Mohawk Media (Educational Leaders’ Forum 2011) explores the importance of schools understanding Creative Commons and how to provide safe, legal ways of using digital media in the classroom. 

• Do principals really need a personal learning network? What's the point? New discussion in e-Learning: Leadership

• Developing home-use agreements: Allanah asks for feedback on her draft approach.

Professional Learning

• Snapshot of learning for Thinking Space: Using Mindmaps as a presentation tool.

•  ICT PD Online Blog: Two clusters have recently shared their story about professional learning communities.

• Cyber safety and digital footprint: A discussion started by Mary (Children as e-Learners group) for people to share how their schools are tacking cyber safety and digital citizenship.

Professional Learning Events

• Hamilton Leaders event (23rd September), 2pm at Southwell School with DK (Social media Manager for CORE Education) looking at social media (Facebook, Twitter, social networking) in schools. All welcome.

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

• Learning@School Conference: (26-27 January 2012) 

Teaching and Learning  |  Digital Citizenship

• Students leading e-learning: Read about how The TeKids at St James’ have continued to share their leadership and e-learning knowledge within their school (posted by Kate Dare) 

•  Snow in Wellington - powerful simplicity in digital storytelling: Chrissie shares a evocative video of snow on Cuba street. Links are made to creating learning environments by accident or design.

•  iPad Sharing #3 Apps To Support Literacy: A cross-post from her Edublog.

Software for Learning snapshots:

• Using SurveyMonkey to support formative assessment in maths.

• Viddex: Creating authentic contexts for writing and reading using online resources.

• Using Sportypal to personalise and extend athletic achievement.         

• Geocaching: Creating an authentic learning opportunity for students and staff.

• Jing Supporting students to develop their ability to self-assess their learning using ‘Jing’.

• Tips for beginning a class blog

• Blogger: Engaging students in the writing process

Technology

•  The long awaited Moodle App is released: Peter Potter gives it a whirl

Software for Learning snapshots:

• iWork: Primary students use computer generated illustrations and video to make explicit the connections between oral, written and visual language when creating texts.

  UltraNet and video: This snapshot documents the use of the video function on mobile phones and a Learning Management System- Ultranet:U Space. The context is developing students ability to set, share and evaluate goals. The selected learning context is ‘swimming’.

• Dabbleboard: Creating authentic contexts for problem solving in mathematics using screen capture software to demonstrate thinking.

• MovieMaker and Skype: Communicating our learning and supporting the learning of others.

• A Book Creator App: Shared by Allanah, this is ePub Book creator you actually make on the iPad instead of making on your computer and sending to the iPad.

Beyond the Classroom

• Bringing devices to school at Epsom Girls Grammar School: Claire Amos shares their new brochure for parents.

•  Using Global Positioning System application, Layar, to share information about students, their school and their town.

•  NZTA Feetfirst Picture Book Competition which closes 18th November. Ask students to us multi-media to tell their road safety story.

VLN Tip: Are you missing your notices?

Sharing content and discussing ideas are the lifeblood of VLN Groups – don’t miss out by making sure your account is set up to receive notifications when your favourite group or colleague adds content.

• Go to Account > Notifications to select email/site notices – and you can subscribe to the Wire here, too, as well as particular colleagues who post content you enjoy. Don't be afraid to friend them first if you wish!

e-Learning on the Wire…

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

• FlorenceMaclic: I-pad as a white board... Looks interesting: http://www.interfacemagazine.co.nz/articles.cfm?c_id=&id=1011

• Dragon09: Just putting the final touches to the S4L newsletter - publication coming tomorrow - Sign up here http://softwareforlearning.tki.org.nz/

• Tania: @KatheTP sharing with 25+ teachers the huge benefits of the VLN community:-)