e-Learning Round-Up | 14 August 2012
Tēnā koutou and welcome again to this week's e-learning round-up.
NEW PUBLIC GROUP: Digital Citizenship.
This is a sub-group of Enabling e-Learning: Teaching.
If you are interested in addressing digital citizenship and cybersafety in your classroom, school or wider community, then please feel free to join this group. We'd love to 'see' you in there!
NEW: Using iPads in the classroom – benefits and considerations: This thread starts this week. Join our online mentors, to ask questions or share ideas about how iPads are being used in the classroom to improve student learning.
CURRENT: Blogging 101 | An Enabling e-Learning event: Week 2 and this thread continues to provide stories, examples, tips and advice on how to effectively integrate blogging into teaching and learning.
- CURRENT: e-Learning as inquiry - Sharing our stories: Share your inquiry, ask questions about getting started and find out what other schools are doing in this populr thread in Enabling e-Learning.
There are more LIVE webinars planned for the next couple of weeks, so don't miss out - put these in your calendar.
Have a great week everyone - hei konā mai,
Karen, Tessa & Catriona | Blended e-Learning Online Team
This week it's haere mai and welcome to.... Nathaniel Louwrens. Nathaniel has a new role as Senior Teacher of eLearning at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu - The Correspondence School. He writes, "I'm really passionate about eLearning and how it can help our NZ students." Nathaniel has been popping in and out of discussions in the past few weeks, so once again, we thank you for your contributions online, Nathaniel.
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.
Leadership & strategic direction
- BYOD User Agreement: Mark Quigley talks about some of the processes they have adopted at Orewa College, in regards to BYOD. There are some useful tips here, for others to benefit from.
- Digital Citizenship and BYOD - more than just surfing: Barbara Reid bookmarks a resource by Andrew Churches - where he unpacks some challenges as well as the advantages of BYOD in schools.
- The Digital Learner - the Active Learner: In reference to mobile technologies in this video, iDave asks, Is it coming or is it here... and are we ready..... or is it off beam? What do you think?
Professional Learning
- Cook Islands Language Week: Kia orana! Last week was Cook Islands Language week. Catriona Pene explores to the five languages spoken in the Cook Islands.
Check out e-Learning & Professional Learning>>the Enabling e-Learning website.
Teaching and Learning | Digital Citizenship
- iPad trial: Danella Smallridge is about to engage in an iPad trial and asks if anyone can recommend what data to collect, measure or record during the trial phase. Can you help?
- Student e- portfolios in schools: Sandy Anderson asks, how have schools gone about introducing e-Portfolios school-wide ? She is looking for ideas about type, interface and ease of use of electronic portfolios. What does your school have in place?
- Facebook and cellphone tips: A resource has been shared on identifying and dealing with cyberbullying as well as safe and appropriate ways to use Facebook and cellphones. You are also invited to collaboratively develop a user-agreement for home, that sits alongside this resource.
- Digital Citizenship Resources being developed -share your resources here: Claire Amos has been busy and started to add some collaborative resources to the new Digital Citizenship group. She invites you to do the same.
- What do your students want to know about the Christchurch earthquake? The Digi Advisors are looking for some primary-based questions, to support a collection of resources on the Christchurch earthquake. Your students might be able to help!
ONE TO WATCH: Network for Learning and Ultra-fast Broadband | 'Learning without limits' seminar series: Here’s an opportunity for you to let organisers know your queries, areas of interest, so they can tailor seminars across the country.
-
The best interactive whiteboards/projectors? Sam Hamilton inquires about the best options for Interactive whiteboards, hardware/software, age appropriateness. He’s already had some instant feedback. Do you have anything else to add?
iPad/iTouch technology
- iPads in the Junior Classroom: This popular thread has teachers sharing how they are using iPads, mobile devices and Apple TV with their junior students. Catriona shares a resource for parents to help choose apps at home.
- Apps that grown-ups might like on their iPad (initial iPad setup): Allanah King has added a page to the Iinitial iPad set-up Google site - about apps that may interest parents and the wider community. Anything else to add?
- Stylus pens for ipads? This thread offer some practical tips, tricks and maintenance ideas, when using stylus pens on an iPad. Amanda shares some ideas for making your own!
- Improving sound quality on iPad: Steven Wills offers some of the latest advice, about adapter plug-ins for headphones, to optimize the best sound quality from an iPad.
- Talking Dictionary App: Nicky asks if anyone knows about a voice-activated app, to assist with spelling. Sounds like a useful tool. Anything to suggest?
Check out e-Learning and Technologies>>> the Enabling e-Learning website.
Beyond the Classroom
Barbara Reid has added several bookmarks this week, that make connections between parents, educators and digital citizenship:
- They were born in another time: What advice would you offer to parents concerned about ways technology can be safely part of their children’s lives?
- Parents and educators should work together to teach digital citizenship: How can we build partnerships with parents and other teachers to develop good digital citizens?
- 10 ways to ensure parents won't need to ask 'what did you do at school today?' This blog offers ways to use e-learning, to encourage dialogue about learning, between home and school.
Check out e-Learning and Beyond the Classroom>>the Enabling e-Learning website.
For your calendar...
Enabling e-Learning events
UPCOMING LIVE WEBINARS:
-
How you might use the e-Learning Planning Framework to plan and review progres?: 5 September 2012 3.45-4.45pm. Join this panel discussion, about how you can use the e-Learning Planning Framework to plan and review progress in your school. This webinar aimed at school leaders and participants in the NAPP programme.
-
Incorporating (free) LEARNZ virtual field trips into Teaching and Learning programmes: 6 September 3:45-4:45. Repeat seminar. Join Barrie Matthews from LEARNZ and see how you and your school can use, or make better use of the LEARNZ free teaching and learning programmes online.
Don't miss out! Check out the new events in, Enabling e-Learning online events planned for term 3.
Enabling e-Learning webinars: Find the recordings here for 2011/2012 sessions you may have missed.
e-Learning events around NZ
- Learning without Limits seminars: Nationwide in 24 locations, from 23 July for eight weeks.
- 2012 Learning 2.0 Virtual Conference - August 20 – 24 - Free online conference in August with some great keynote speakers.
- PadCamp Christchurch, Waimairi School, Saturday Sept 1st, 9.30 - 3.30pm
- EducampBOP: Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga, Sept 22nd, 10am-3pm
- NZ-ED show: Telstra Clear Centre in Manukau, Auckland, 13th - 15th Sept. Tradeshow and educational exhibits.
- Emerging Leaders Ignite evenings: 19 September, 2012, in Auckland and Wellington.
- ULearn12, Auckland Sky City, October 10 - 12. Targets all educators, from preschool to tertiary. #ulearn12
