Virtual Learning Network

I thought the iPad Users Group might be interested in a unique opportunity coming in Week 8 of this term.

In partenership with Te Akau ki Papamoa (in the sunny BOP) we are hosting two Open Days - all the key players involved in researching and implementing their 1:1 iPad environment will lead, share and reflect on their journey to date. The e-learning team are creating iBooks to deliver targeted learning opportunites delivered to students iPads through iTunes U. They will also share how they are utilising their Radio Station to deliver a schoolwide Te Reo Maori programme and how Cultural Competencies play a role in all that they do. Their school has a wealth to share MLE's, Collaborative teaching spaces and innovative teaching practice.

For more info or to receive the flyer feel free to contact me 

paula@switchonnz.com

Cheers

Paula 

Hey these digital Mihi's are great! You have inspired me already.

I have been given the label Educational Technologist - which seems to have stuck. I'm currently priviledged to be working 0.5 based in Te Akau ki Papamoa School (where we have just implemented a 1:1 iPad environment for our Year 4 to 6 students and within the next few months spreading this out across the whole school - school provided devices) and 0.5 running my own company - Switch On NZ (I am curently working with 30+ schools across the BOP region - a huge variety of schools decile 1 to 10).  I spend on average about 2 days a fortnight working in Rotorua Schools.

This group is a fantastic idea as in my experience I have found that Rotorua seems to have a larger than usual portion of 'unconnected' teachers - whether that is due to the 'off grid' syndome which seems to be spreading of late or whether it's just down to the 'we don't know what we dont know' - setting this group up is definitely a move in the right direction. Now the challenge is to get the less connected using this space!

All the best,

Paula

Thanks so much for your thoughts and feedback in this forum.

Interestingly last week a new Mac Book option was added to  TELA's list of choices.

You can now lease a Mac Book Air - either 11 or 13 inch.

In my opinion this is a step in the right direction although after discussing with schools and 'people in the know' there is still doubt that this option will last the 3 years with the amount of creative content and development many teachers and educators are now demanding.

Cheers

Paula

Thanks for your feedback so far,

re the 'grunt' Peter - thanks for clarifying this for teachers (a few good tips here too, re the files on desktop and iphoto).

I don't currently have a leased laptop (but am about too and want more than the programme offers) but I do work across more than 30 schools (90% are Mac schools) and come across frustrated teachers, struggling with slow processors and machines that aren't keeping up with the tasks. 

In these times when we sare 'creators' working with rich media content surely we should be catered for? 

What does everyone else think?

Evening all,

I'd like to gain some feedback (and evidence) as to how schools using TELA leased Apple laptops are feeling about their current options, reliability, 'power'.

I would like TELA to reconsider the leasing options for teachers (to include Macbook Air's - lighter, more efficient and more features. Also Macs with faster processes). Those of us working on applications which require more 'grunt' eg ibooks author are sick of the dreaded spinning wheel!

I'd like to be able to use your feedback to support a case to put forward to TELA.

So what are your thoughts?

Just downloaded this app today

Green Screen Movie FX (only $2.59)

http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/green-screen-movie-fx/id445285983?mt=8&wdId=32800

Looks super easy to use, would be great on iphone, ipod or ipad.

Will give it a test run and report back.

Paula

Hi Allanah,

Hey this is a great resource, wonderful to see one of our Rotorua Schools featured too 

This style is what 'we' could do with cluster wikis. I haven't had the chance to experiment with 'google sites' yet so maybe this is where I should venture over the holidays. 

I will feature your blog post site in our December monthly Cluster Noticeboard (which goes out to over 250 teachers). Love this 'just in time learning'.

Cheers

Paula

Great point Annemarie,

In all fairness I do revisit several exited Cluster Wiki's. So maybe (hopefully) there are other teachers, not just facilitators and organisors doing the same. Maybe it would be a good idea to start an archive style 'Directory' within the VLN. I'm not sure where the best place to put this within the VLN might be but I'll start putting a word document together with lots of links and at the least upload it to the resources area for now (with lots of 'tags' - I'm learning just how important these are thanks to Tessa).

Hi Jeanette,

Our Lead teachers have just had this very discussion. Especially since each cluster i work with has an individual wiki and then we have a 'shared' space which as facilitator I have 'overseen'. We have decided that after our clusters finish at the end of next year, each school will be provided with acces to our shared space and it is hoped that Leads (and or Principals) will continue to add to these online environments.

In actualality I doubt that this will happen. I know that there are good intentions but from my past experience (after finishing another contract), it was difficult enough for the schools to continue any form of collaboration and maintaining this space did not appear to be high on their priority list. Unfortunately if there is not a 'central' person/s with the passion and desire to keep the 'pot bubbling' it doesn't happen.

Would love to hear what you decide to do.

Cheers

Paula

Great idea, love it........ but (and there's always a but ), bet some Principals would say "What's with the weird bar code thing?"........which of course leads to the ' just in time learning opportunity' (always the optimist!).