Sandhurst ICT Network

This blog has moved

2009-03-04T13:50:00.001+11:00

Hi everyone,

Just letting you know this blog has moved to http://sandhurstictnetwork.globalteacher.org.au

Please adjust your RSS feeds accordingly.

Cheers

How the Internet Works

2009-01-28T11:12:00.000+11:00

A good video to describe how the internet works.

History of the Internet from PICOL on Vimeo.

VITTA Conference 2008

2008-12-01T12:29:00.008+11:00

Had a great experience at the annual VITTA conference held in Melbourne last Monday thru to Wednesday. Highlights included the keynote presentations from Derek Robertson from Scotland and Andrew Owen from Monash University, on the use of games as hooks for learning as well as being great tools for teaching/learning. Something I am looking at following up in some form next year.

There was a plethora of sessions on the use of Web 2.0 tools for classrooms and some really practical ideas. A great session was presented by Jess McCulloch and Anne Mirtschin from Hawkesdale P-12 on how they are 'shifting' their teachers thinking in relation to the use of ICT.

Personally it was great to meet several people whom I follow via Twitter or their blogs/wikis, especially Darrel Branson, aka 'the ICT Guy' who won the Primary ICT Leader of the year award, well done Darrel. Part of this too was being interviewed by Tony Richards from 'The Ed Tech Crew' for the weekly podcast that he an Darrel put together.

A great conference and my Delicious account is larger as a result.

a reminder about why we have our IWB's - more than 'chalk and talk'.

2008-11-18T20:34:00.007+11:00

Interactive Whiteboards Introduction

(tags: interactive whiteboard)

Sandhurst Reportmaker - Admin 1 - Comment labels

2008-10-08T11:41:00.000+11:00

This video shows you how to change the labels on the student reports.

Sandhurst Reportmaker - Admin 1 - Classes

2008-10-06T17:44:00.001+11:00

This video shows how you can work with the classes in Reportmaker

Slideshow for Graduates at Harrietville (2008) re using ICT in the classroom

2008-08-03T21:32:00.004+10:00

The following is a presentation done for Graduate teachers. The presentation and discussion was to prompt and promote the use of technology and some of the Web 2.0 tools available to enhance both teacher practice and student learning.

Presentation for Graduates Harrietville 2008

view presentation

Using Expose to move between windows

2008-07-08T11:53:00.010+10:00

Expose is an application that runs all the time in the system.

Setting EXPOSE up: Go up to the APPLE in the top left of the machine, and click on SYSTEM PREFERENCES. You will see this icon (right) - click on it.

Now you are into the EXPOSE and SPACES settings. When you look at my settings, you will see that I have asked for ALL WINDOWS to appear when I go to the bottom left corner of my screen and if I go to the bottom right corner of my screen, I will start my Screen Saver.

You choose what you want to happen at the corners. Have one corner show ALL WINDOWS. Close SYSTEM PREFERENCES and move to the corner you chose.

You should then see a screen that looks like this, showing all open programs and windows.
You can see all my windows and you will notice when I rolled over a window with my mouse, it shows me its name.

Just click on the window you want!

Using Command-Tab on your Mac

2008-07-08T11:42:00.005+10:00

If you wish to move quickly to another program you have open, here is a quick tip. Hold down the Command key (or APPLE key) and tap on the TAB key (don't hold it down, just tap on it!)

You will see a list of all the different programs available. By tapping on the TAB key you will move through the list. Let go when you get to the program you want.

If you have a number of programs open and you just hit the COMMAND and TAB key once, you will go back to the last program you were in. For example, I am looking at the internet (using Firefox) and working on a document in Word, but I have other programs open at the same time. It will always remember the last program I looked at so if I am moving backwards and forwards between the internet and my Word document, by just hitting COMMAND+TAB once, I will flick between them easily.

You can also use EXPOSE to flick between a number of windows. This will be another tip!

Using Quick View

2008-06-27T14:25:00.006+10:00

You are able to see documents or movies or anything, really, quickly and easily.

Click on the last button in the VIEW (see picture) when you are in a FINDER window - this is Cover Flow look.

Now when you move through the documents in the FINDER and you hit the space bar, the document will pop out and you will be able to view the contents. This is great when you are looking for a document but forgot what you named it.

It also works really well in MAIL.

Day 3- part 1 in NZ, Day 3 part 2 in USA

2008-06-26T13:57:00.004+10:00

Woke to another wild and woolly day in Auckland. Visited 2 extremely impressive impressive primary schools in Summerland and Marina View. Both have fully integrated uses of laptops within the classrooms where children jsut use them as tools for their learning whenever they need them. Marina View also have an amazing TV studio where the students run all of it, form content to production, we all got to have a hands on role in the creation of a new show. Somehow I ended up on the master computer that was responsible for showing all the green screens and live feeds. It went reasonably well.

We flew out Wednesday night for San Francisco and arrived 4 hours before we flew out Wednesday in San Francisco. The international dateline has a lot to answer for in relation to how tired I feel now. Currently it is 9:00p.m. on Wed the 25th.

Off to Oracle, Google and Apple tomorrow and hopefully will be fully rested as I'm off to bed now.

Wet and windy Auckland

2008-06-24T15:52:00.006+10:00

A quick summary of today as I'm about to head out for tea. Auckland turned on a treat for us with wind, rain, hail, thunder and lightning, all of which I'd almost forgotten existed!!

Started today with a trip to Nextspace to look at their new software innovations, in particular relating to 3D design, so very useful applications with Deep Exploration.

This was followed by a trip to Papatoetoe High School to view their networks, labs and interact with the students. In some respects we are ahead of what they are doing which for them is cutting edge, so we have pockets leading the way.

We finished the day by visiting Buckland Beach Intermediate school which blew my mind. 11/12 year olds running a TV and radio station as well as using animation, web 2.0 tools and e-portfolios to great effect to give the students a 'voice' within their learning. Heaps of sites to follow up on that they were using to great effect.

That's it as I need time for it all to sink in, will use the 13 hr flight to San Fran tomorrow for that to happen.

Insights for today:
"We need to understand the knowledge that people have that are inside our buildings"
"Technologies change, but people usually don't"

The eagle ...err magpie... has landed.

2008-06-23T20:47:00.008+10:00

Just a short message to say that I've made it to Auckland safely after a 3 hr flight. The tour group has a diverse range of backgrounds and interests so after just a few short conversations with other members of the party I've learnt a few things already. Tonight after landing in the wet (I didn't worry about getting too wet, have missed that feeling of late!) we got the motel and headed out for dinner and an introduce yourself to the group which I had the pleasure of having my name chosen first. An early night for me tonight.

Tomorrow is an early start and visits to secondary schools.

Insight for today:
We are now catching up (via the Government funding to schools) to where we should have been 3 years ago. How do we speed this up so we don't end up further behind tomorrow?

Up, up and away!!!

2008-06-22T22:32:00.004+10:00

Well, this is the first post before I head off on the ACCE 2008 study tour. To be honest with the busy end of the term I haven't really had too much time to contemplate the full ins and outs of the tour, but I'm sure hte time on the plane will help with that.

I head into it full off ideas that I think are possible now, but hope to gain greater insights into what is currently being done around the world with a view to Sandhurst schools being seen in time as innovative leaders in the use of ICT and teaching and learning.

The map below has a brief outline of the tour, but the main points are school visits (primary & secondary) in NZ, workshops and visits to Apple HQ, Googl HQ and Oracle in San Francisco and the ISTE conference for 5 days in San Antonio, with 17,500 other like minded educators.

View Larger Map

Well I'm off to get some sleep before flying out. I am excited, but also anxious about missing my girls, Nick and Lou, but through iChat, Skype, email, txt, phone and this blog I'll be as connected as possible while being 20,000+ km's away.

My aim is post each day, hopefully I wont be having too much fun to forget!!!

Spotlight

2008-06-13T12:02:00.008+10:00

Spotlight is one of the handiest tools you will use on your Mac.

Up in the top right hand corner you will see a magnifying glass and when you click on it, you will see this search facility.

Type a word that you will search for into the box.

NOTE: this word can be anywhere in a file, a letter (if you use Mail) - it doesn't just have to be in the title of the document you are looking for.

So, if I have a strategic plan and I know I wrote a word in it like "Byzantine", i just search for Byzantine and it will find the file. It will also show a dictionary meaning and lots of other things.

Very Handy!

A vision of K-12 education

2008-06-11T16:11:00.003+10:00

Another clip that Grant & I have been using which has a really powerful way of promoting the use of ICT in the classroom.

This project was created to inspire teachers to use technology's power to engage students in higher level thinking. Equally important, it serves to motivate leadership in schools to provide teachers with the tools and training to do so.

Creating a Google account for your class/students

2008-06-10T10:32:00.008+10:00

Having a Google account opens up and amazing array of online tools and applications that could be used to create effect in your classroom.

A Google account allows for such things as the creation of online documents/spreadsheets/presentations (think PowerPoint) for collaboration, creating and saving online maps with Google Maps, blogs for classes or students, RSS feeds through iGoogle, shared calendars etc as well as software such as Google Earth, Sketch Up and Picassa.

To create a Google account, use the following link: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

Please note, if students are to have their own individual account in SINA to be able to create an account as no 2 Google accounts can have the same email address. So class email logins will only work once.

Are you paying attention?

2008-06-10T09:43:00.005+10:00

This clip from Teacher Tube has been shown around at various sessions that Grant and I have been presenting at, so by popular demand we have put it here for you. Has major implications for schools and the ICT Vels domain.

This video is at www.teachertube.com

Setting security for your blog

2008-06-10T09:09:00.004+10:00

This video will show you how to change your security settings for your blog. Remember you should do some work with your students re internet safety and in particular what information should or shouldn't be put up on the web. I would suggest to begin with, you introduce the students to blogs by having a class one first.

The video is hosted on YouTube so may not be accessible in your school.

Creating a blog

2008-06-10T09:02:00.005+10:00

Use the following video to help you set up a blog for yourself or your class. Remember this will get you the basic blog up and running but you will need to change your security settings, layouts etc.

This video is hosted on Youtube so it may not be accessible in your school.

Do schools kill creativity?

2008-06-06T21:27:00.008+10:00

A must-see for every parent and teacher.

Education guru Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it.

Lots of things to think about, particularly in relation to the potential use for ICT as a creative learning tool across the curriculum.

21st Century Learning

2008-06-06T21:09:00.007+10:00

This is a clip we've put together that might be useful for school staff to view in relation to what 21 century learners (our students) are like.

Just ignore the bloke who's speaking (yes it's me) and the fact the start is like an episode on the old favourite TV show 'Monkey'.

A handy blog trick

2008-06-06T15:51:00.004+10:00

Now this might not be as amazing to some as others, but having created this blog, (which I'll add some info on how to do later) I have now been able to use my email to update it.

So instead of logging onto my blog and posting there, I simply created an email message (the one you are reading now) and sent it to this blog's email address.

Pretty simple really!!! A great way for co collaborators for your blog to contribute quickly and effectively.

Welcome

2008-06-06T15:34:00.004+10:00

Hi and welcome to the Sandhurst ICT Network blog.

The idea behind this blog is to:

Keep you up to date with some of the the big picture goings on with ICT as a learning.
Provide some hints and tips
Give you some practical ideas for your classroom
Keep connected and enjoy

Please use the blog to leave comments about what you find helpful, for not only us, but other teachers as well.

About Us

2008-06-06T15:09:00.000+10:00

Grant Fitzgerald and Glenn McMahon are Education Officers for the Sandhurst Catholic Education officers.

Our role is with Curriculum and Learning Technologies and working with teachers and schools on how best to use teachnology in the classroom to help further the outcomes, achievements, experiences and opportunities for students and teachers on school.

Both of use are passionate about the difference, particularly the use of web 2.0 tools and creative uses of technology, can have for both our students and teachers in this new era of the read/write web for our 'digital natives'.