Tēnā koutou,

Welcome to this week's updates of e-learning activity from across the VLN Groups. More great conversations have continued to grow this week. Just another reminder that the live online workshop When ultra-fast broadband comes to you, where to start? with Douglas Harré is this Thursday 22nd. This session is FREE, so let your colleagues and friends know and register to join.

Have a great week.

Karen, Tessa, Jane & Nick | Blended e-Learning Online Team

This week it's ...Deidre Senior

Deidre is currently Deputy Principal at Oamaru Intermediate. She has also been an ICTPD facilitator and an E-fellow (2009) and Microsoft NZ's Most Innovative Teacher (2009). Deidre has recently added to the dicussion thread on, Talking about Facebook with students. Teno pai and thank you, Deidre, for sharing your expertise.

Each week, we like to say thank you by nominating a community member for active participation in the Enabling e-Learning / VLN Groups. They can download and add an Enabling e-Learning badge to their profile.

e-Learning in the VLN Groups

Leadership

BYOD in Schools: What are you doing in your school?

Claire Amos shares a presentation (delivered to PTA) about reasons for adopting BYOD at Epsom Girls' Grammar School with 10 top tips to consider.

What does Ka Hikitia look like in action?
Check out this new site for NZ English-medium schools >>Te Mangōroa
http://bit.ly/y9MzgA

Need more resources for e-Learning and Leadership? Check out the Enabling e-Learning website.

Professional Learning

The Science Learning Hub: Science teaching resources for NZ teachers

The Science Learning Hub provides teaching resources that explore the latest research in science and technology with links to the NZ curriculum. Have you used resources from the Science Learning Hub? Do you have a favourite resource that you recommend to others?

How do you like to be treated as learners?

A thread worth thinking about, maybe even changing a behaviour for?

TED-Ed - education channel

TED Talks channels those inspiring speakers towards education. New resource - http://education.ted.com/ arriving in April 2012. Meanwhile, check out the introduction. Is this going to be a resource worth using?

Kevin Honeycutt

Listen to Kevin talk about how you, as a teacher, can make a difference. Are we giving our students a fair deal if we don't give them the opportunities to learn in ways that are relevant to their lives now?
Via Leigh Johnson.

How can we use the VLN / Enabling e-Learning for our own learning?
Where do you think you fit in the online adoption cycle?

Need more resources for e-Learning and Professional Learning? Check out the Enabling e-Learning website.

Teaching and Learning | Digital Citizenship

Poll: Are digital games detrimental to our students' wellbeing?

Why not take the poll, and see what others think?

Appropriate digital health and wellness

Can students be physically affected by technology? Are students aware of this danger? Do you have any top tips for teachers/parents about safe, appropriate use of screen technologies/computers?

Making presentations: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies to increase engagement

What does an effective way of communicating information look like? Check out this video which shares some useful strategies for communicating online and face-to-face. Via Chrissie Butler.

Talking about Facebook with students

What are some best ideas for talking about Facebook to intermediate age students? Some of these responses have already helped MrsHyde. Do you have any other suggestions to help others?

Blogging in the classroom

A useful post about blogging in the classroom – with specific references to how blogging can enhance learning opportunities for students. Via Simon Evans.

A Cluster wide digital citizenship model?

Some practical and useful ideas shared on how to develop a cluster-wide digital citizenship model. Do you have any more of your own to add?

More distracted but less innovative?

Steven Johnson in his YouTube video, "Where good ideas come from", looks at the physical environments that have made a big difference to the way we live. Johnson's closing statement: "Chance favours the connected mind". What do you think? Via Chrissie Butler.

Need more resources for e-Learning and Teaching? Check out the Enabling e-Learning website.

Technologies

Can you help?

What SMS do you use?

Is it on the Software for Learning site or can you help us add to the list? http://bit.ly/FPmAmV

Posted by Simon Evans.

Web 2.0 Tools and Widgets

Jacqui Sharp's newest wikis with lots of resources for gadgets, widgets and web 2.0 tools. Via Sansam.

Copying

Discussion around the legalities of converting recorded stories (tapes and other files types) to new digital formats. Via Susan.McMillan.

Using Blogger - ideas and advice

The thread continues… do you have anything to share?

Google Search

As educators, we take it for granted how our students use Google search engine. However, we can’t take it for granted that they know how to use this for their maximum benefit>>>Read more. Via Simon Evans.

Changes to Microsoft New Zealand School Agreement for 2012 announced http://bit.ly/wKI4nE

Pocket Based Learning - My Cellphone Classroom

Insightful post on how the writer believes cell phones provide an opportunity to engage learners as a teaching tool, rather than a distraction. Via Barbara Reid.

Online Mind Mapping and Brainstorming app - SpiderScribe
SpiderScribe is an online mind mapping and brainstorming tool. It lets you organize your ideas by connecting notes, files, calendar events in free-form maps. Via Leigh Johnson.

iPad/iTouch technology

iPads for Learning - Getting Started
A very good resource that focuses more on the rationalisation for using an iPad as well as a useful list of apps. Via Allanah King.

My Ten Most Used Apps to Become Fluent on the iPad | Langwitches Blog

Sylvia suggests that we strive to become fluent users of the iPad and some apps she uses to achieve this. Via Allanah King.

App Sharing

The thread continues...

iPads in the Junior Classroom

More going on here this week.

AirPlay Mirroring for iPad2
The thread continues.

Enabling e-Learning Events

Online webinars:

When ultra-fast broadband comes to you, where to start?- with Douglas Harré on 22 March, 3:30-4:30pm. If you are wanting some information around UFB, click on the link and register now.

Digital resources and content for Māori learners – 29th March with Suzie Vesper and Janelle Riki.

Enabling e-Learning Events: Term 1

A summary of live events, free webinars and discussions planned for this term.

Enabling e-Learning webinars:
Find the recordings here for 2011/2012 sessions you may have missed.

Other e-learning events

DEANZ Conference 2012
Open, flexible and distance learning, 11 Apr 2012 - 13 Apr 2012.

Creative Commons in Schools
Wednesday; April 11; 12:00 PM, Southern Cross, 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Contact :Creative Commons Aotearoa NZ

Ignition: 2012 Emerging Leaders' Unconference
16 Apr 2012 - 17 Apr 2012 at Albany Senior High School, Auckland.

Mobile Devices in Classrooms
19 Apr 2012, Albany Senior High School, Auckland, Learning Network NZ
Target audience: teachers and leaders at all levels of education.

EduCamp series 2012
EduCampAKL 2012 date/venue confirmed (21^st July). Other dates and venues are going up on the EduCamp home page.

Virtual Learning Network

e-Learning Round-Up | 20 March 2012