This week we thank the following online champions, Pascale Hyboud-Peron and  Susan Feron for helping out with advice around Android devices in the classroom, as well as offering ideas for best practice with Google docs.

Pascale is a secondary Teacher of French and a MyPortfolio facilitator who is, “keen to see e-learning and inquiry become mainstream in the Learning Languages area too.” Susan teaches year 7 & 8’s at Collingwood Area School and is, “addicted to computer games and would love to find excuses for playing them in class.”

 Leadership & strategic direction

 Professional Learning  

• Article: Close to the Edge: Nathaniel Louwrens shares this article about ‘Generation Edge’. It outlines aspects of this generation, which teachers could find useful.
• West Coast e-learning PD? Justin Hickey asks if anyone can suggest some professional development ideas/links/resources for staff working at schools on the West Coast of the South Island.

Check out e-Learning & Professional Learning>>the Enabling e-Learning website.

 Teaching and Learning  |  Digital Citizenship

• What is LEARNZ? Barrie Matthews updates us with a one-page overview of how LEARNZ offers blended e-Learning. Want to know more?
• General comments about LEARNZ: Chris Wratt offers his experiences with LEARNZ after trialing it for the first time with his students when they became part of the Keplar field trip.

• Kepler Track Fun! Lynn Douglas also offers her feedback about the potential for the LEARNZ field trip to help differentiate learning programmes, through the range of activities and the levels at which the children can participate.
   
• Does your school have a Digital Citizenship profile? Some good feedback coming in about this resource. Is your school currently developing a Digital Citizenship profile?

• Mathematical communication: Vanitha Govini discusses the potential for using digital technologies to support students to explain their thinking and communicate using appropriate mathematical language. Vanitha asks, What digital technologies have you used to support students in articulating their mathematical thinking?

Your voice is needed:

• The Best 100: The New Zealand Teachers Council and The MacDiarmid Institute want Primary school teachers to share their best science experiments - the one that is easy, always works, uses simple, readily available equipment, and is a hit with the kids.

• NetSafe and the Privacy Commission are looking for your input: The Privacy Commissioner, NetSafe and UNESCO are asking teachers for feedback about a new classroom resource kit that will help students (primary and intermediate) learn to manage their personal information successfully and confidently.

Focus on our priority learners

• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2013 - Māori Language Week 2013: Community members are using different technologies to introduce themselves and talk about correct pronunciation of names, to get ready for Maori language week. Want to join in? 

• Our kids need Champions! Community members continue to find this clip inspiring.

• Pasifika Digital stories: Ness has added some useful links to Pasifika digital stories and resources. How might these be useful in the work we do to support Pasifika students?

• WEBINAR recording from 19 June, 2013: Engaging with whānau and the wider community - a kura perspective: How might we identify individual or school wide appraisal goals that align with; Tātaiako Competencies, Registered teacher criteria and e-learning and the e-Learning Planning Framework to help connect with whānau?

• Pasifika Education Plan: Togi Lemanu wants to know if your parents, families and communities are aware of the Pasifika Education plan and what is your school doing to involve your Pasifika parents, families and communities? 

• EDTalks with Manu: Manu Faaea-Semeatu shares some videos she’s helped create - to support and empower Pasifika learners.

• UDL - does it really make a difference? How did you first get into UDL and what difference does it make for your learners? Feel free to share your ideas in this Voicethread.

• Apps for students with special educational needs: Stuart Hale shares a detailed resource showcasing some iPad apps from the State of Victoria.

• How can we use technology to support students with SEN as they transition into new environments?   Any ideas of your own to share here?

• UDL Chat: Every 1st and 3rd Friday of every month (at 12 pm NZ time) there’s a UDL (Universal Design for Learning) chat in Twitter. Here’s a quick overview of the Twitter feed #udlchat.

• UDL for the Snowy South: Roxy Hickman invites us to take a moment to consider in what ways we are being inclusive, that ultimately helps everyone. 

 Technologies & Infrastructure

Bookmarks

Check out e-Learning and Technologies on the Enabling e-Learning website.

For your calendar...

 Enabling e-Learning events

• Enabling e-Learning forums and webinars: Check out what is coming up in Term 2 in the Enabling e-Learning calendar. Add these events to your own calendars!

• Find the recordings here for 2011/2012/2013 sessions you may have missed, including using digital resources, BYOD, mobile technologies in a junior classroom, social media and ethics for teachers, LEARNZ field trips and many more!

e-Learning events around NZ