From: Virtual Teacher [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 11:11 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Virtual Teacher 55 - MISTAKE IMPERATIVE
Virtual Teacher Newsletter No. 55 August 9th 2002 - MISTAKE IMPERATIVE THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER ----------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: http://mojo.epicentre.org.nz/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?flavor=subscribe&list =Virtual_Teacher Or visit: http://www.virtualteacher.com.au Unsubscribe: http://mojo.epicentre.org.nz/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi?flavor=unsubscribe&li st=Virtual_Teacher Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: http://www.virtualteacher.com.au Newsletter Archives can be found at:- http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/archives.html ============================================== CONTENTS 1. Welcome 2. Mind Candy 3. WWWinfo - Metric Conversion Table 4. New Printables - Cultural Cuisine 5. Technical Stuff - FREE from Edsoft & Tutorials 6. Web Site Focus - 7. Maths Circus 8. Great Sites 9. Readers' Requests/Comments 10 Next Issue 11. Code of 'Netizens' 12. Tips ============================================== 1. WELCOME EVERYONE. Sorry Folks about the mix up in the content section of the last newsletter. I made the mistake. I do this a lot, make lots of mistakes, that's how I figure out what to write in the newsletter; how to demonstrate a program; how to fix a problem. I think I know quite a bit about ICT and that means I've made quite a lot of mistakes. The thing with ITC is that the mistakes make the learning stick. Fixing MY problem now, something that is totally relevant to me, means I will learn very quickly. Make a point of demonstrating your mistakes in front of students, ask them to solve your problems, make it OK to make mistakes, in fact make it an imperative. ============================================== 2. MIND CANDY "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" - Albert Einstein ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- 'Being rich isn't about money. Being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to take time to stop and eat the heart of the watermelon. And some of us will be rich without ever being more than a paycheck ahead of the game." -Harvey B. Mackay ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't. Richard Bach ============================================== 3. WWWinfo Metric Conversion http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm ===================================== 4. NEW PRINTABLES Cultural Cuisine - fits in with the book week theme. http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/cuisine.html ============================================== 5. TECHNICAL STUFF FREE to GOOD HOME from EDSOFT http://www.edsoft.com.au/ FREE manuals and discontinued software for schools. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- WDVL: The Web Developer's Virtual Library (WDVL) http://wdvl.internet.com/ The Web Developer's Virtual Library (WDVL) is an free encyclopedia of java, HTML, javascript, cgi, dhtml, XML, perl, web design and domain name tutorials and resources. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Some online FREE tutorials/Demos Frontpage http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/default.htm Beginner and advanced tutorials http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/frontpage/index.html here's a site full of webpages that just don't cut it. Look an learn what not to do in web design. http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/ I have finally uploaded my site. The address is ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Victorian PD Activity: ICT Support for Literacy and Learning Where: Mentone Girls Grammar School When: Saturday 10th August 2002 This is a day of presentations and some hands on for teachers, therapists, psychologists and parents of children and adults of all ages with reading, writing and spelling difficulties. Website at http://www.ictev.vic.edu.au/event/2002_lit.htm for further information regarding the day Victorian PD Activity: Beginning Teacher, Returning Teacher (BTRT) Where: All Regions in Victoria When: Term 3 2002 Two PD programs will be provided by ICTEV for DE&T teachers as part of the Beginning and Returning Teachers initiative. Notes and support materials will be provided for participants for each face-to-face PD session. 1. Literacy, Numeracy and ICT in the Early Years classroom This is a 10 hour PD program including Module 1 with 6 hours face-to-face PD program and Module 2 with 4 hours credit online PD program. the face-to-face PD module includes: Session 1 - ICT for the Literacy Block ... in the Early Years Session 2 - ICT for the Numeracy Block Session 3 - ICT in the Integrated Curriculum 2. ICT in the Middle Years classroom This is a 10 hour PD program including Module 1 with 6 hours face-to-face PD program and Module 2 with 4 hours credit online PD program. the face-to-face PD module includes: Session 1 - ICT in Literacy across the KLAs ... in the Middle Years Session 2 - ICT in the Integrated and Thinking Curriculum - Part 1 Session 3 - ICT in the Integrated and Thinking Curriculum - Part 2 Please visit our website at http://www.ictev.vic.edu.au/event/2002_btrt.htm for further information regarding the day ICT in Education Victoria Team ============================================== 6. WEBSITE FOCUS -Early Finishers Activities http://www.teachnet.com/powertools/take5/index.html Early finisher ideas http://www.teachnet.com/powertools/take5/082799earlyfinishers.html Brainteasers and puzzles for kids http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/puzzles/puzzleindex.htm Teaching ideas for Primary teachers (link on page to time-fillers) http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/index.shtml Treasure Hunts from CyberBee http://www.cyberbee.com/hunt.html Quick Quizzes & Puzzles http://www.pbs.org/neighborhoods/fun/ Name the Animal http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vets/name.html Seven Wonders of the World http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sunken/wonders/game1.html Reset the Pot http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/laventa/tryit.html Lunar puzzles (yr6 - 12) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tothemoon/puzzlers.html Build a Bridge http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/build.html ============================================== 7. Circus Maths 3 This is a fantastic program. Children love it. Teachers love it. Simple instructions can be used for each of the 12 games in the package. Each game has 10 levels so they can be used K-6, it can be put throughout the school and taught to all staff members at once. The program is produced by Greygum - an Australian company. Many schools have Circus Maths Act 1, 2 & 3. If you don't make it the next software package you buy. The program emphasis the development of spatial, logical and sequencing skills, as well as including problems which encourage facility with numbers. Covers a wide range of maths problems Stimulates spatial, logic and sequencing skills Includes problems which particularly develop facility with numbers Positive and negative numbers. Simple programming Direction and Angles Has TEACHER CONTROLS & SPECIAL NEEDS The package includes black-line masters which may be photocopied for classroom use, and which are also included on the CD in PDF format. The manual includes hints and solutions for each puzzle. GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT ============================================== 8. GREAT SITES Bradman Museum http://www.bradman.org.au/home.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- FREE Black Line Maps and heaps of info about countries and maps http://geography.miningco.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm#e ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Rubrics http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/mthompso/antarctica/webquest_rubric. htm Rubric Generator - pretty good too. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/ http://mercury.siec.k12.in.us/west/edu/evaltr.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Albert Einstein from Nova http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/ Asia Pacific - ABC Gateway http://www.goasiapacific.com/ ============================================== 9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS Dear Cathy, Again my Newsletter is mumbo jumbo. Is it something with my computer? Regards Chris Hi Joanne & Chris, Newsletter attached as word doc. This looks to me like a mime problem with their email package. MIME (Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions) allows you to send different kinds of data files on the Internet: audio, video, images, etc rather than just text. It would appear to me that you need to check your mime settings so that your email package can interpret the newsletter. I send the newsletter out as plain text. Check your email package is set to handle this. The only problems that are currently reported to me like this have the @smkdngly.melb.catholic.edu.au email address. Another possibility is that server is seeing the newsletters as SPAM - new SPAM controls are being put in place that detect multiple sends, and don't discriminate well, you may like to check with - smkdngly.melb.catholic.edu.au. Perhaps you can request that VT is allowed through - or that SPAM rules are relaxed. ciao cathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Dear Cathy, Please consider my son Patrice's web site for inclusion on "Kids' Sites": http://homepage.mac.com/rodyoung/patrice/wildlife He is in Year 2 at Parramatta Public School. TIA, Rod Young http://aphs.nsw.edu.au Thanks Rod, what do you think folks, well done Patrice - great site. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Hi I'm a first year teacher looking for sites on the middle ages as well as some sites explaining special effects in film and television. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance! Hi Andrew, VT has a Medieval section at:- http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/ancient.html The SFX question is too broad to even attempt. For a start borrow the DVD of Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy and view the behind the scenes material - very interesting regarding early SFX. ciao cathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Dear Cathy, Firstly, thanks for the endless stream of information that your site provides. I don't know how you get the time to compile it all. I'm a 3rd year education student(mature-age) and every little bit helps. I'm doing a web-design subject this semester; I need to use Dreamweaver 4; you wouldn't know the trick to downloading it cheaply would you? If so, could you let me know. Kind regards, Paul. Hi Paul, A 30 day trial version is available at:- http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/download/ Just check that it is the full version - should be - no just a demo version. ciao cathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Thanks for maintaining Virtual Teacher, I find it very useful. The suggestions today for Geography were excellent. I've put together a new online course for 50 teachers in Northern Territory which starts next week and I've made the first 2 modules free, to access all 15 modules you need a subscription. Have a look, you might find it useful in your training or like to add it to your links http://ictpd.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Hi Cathy I only just found your website and I must say it has to be the most useful teacher oriented website I've found to date. I love it! I will be telling all my colleagues about it! I am currently planning a T&E project for my Grade 4/5's to do, which will be about different cultures around the world. i was wondering if any of you or any of your readers have found any great websites or CD-ROMS that may be of assistance? Cheers Belinda Hi Belinda, I prepared a unit around food from different cultures- Cultural Cuisine - would also fit in with this year's bookweek theme:- http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/cuisine.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- To Cathy, I find your newsletter fabulous. It is so practical and saves me so much time. Do you have any helpful sites on McCarthyism and opposing points of view on this and (also other times) in History. This is for a Year 12 standard. Hi Maria, Here's a few I like suitable for Year 12 Q&A http://www.thenewamerican.com/focus/people/vo03no10_mccarthy.htm THE AGE OF MCCARTHYISM: A BRIEF HISTORY WITH DOCUMENTS by Ellen Schrecker http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schrecker-age.html multi-media stuff http://www.webcorp.com/mccarthy/mccarthypage.htm Neat Timeline http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/blakehs/staff/wagnerm/NetInv/mccarthya ctiv.htm ciao cathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Dear Cathy, Thanks for the info on dreamweaver. Next question; I need to construct an interactive PowerPoint presentation for Primary level maths students. I was planning to keep it simple (my motto) and use trading of two digit numbers through visually displaying MAB blocks on a page. eg. 32-19? using a tens and ones chart. In PowerPoint, how do you make the pages interactive and include a quiz to practice the trading concept. Your earlier info on PowerPoint was great too, but I couldn't find anything on this. Kind regards Paul. ps. your site is getting passed around the Gold Coast too! More on PowerPoint next newsletter, yes there are ways - however if you want to do anything really serious, don' use PowerPoint, it has it's limits. As far as MAB blocks go, MAB blocks are better than a PowerPoint presentation. As for a quiz - excel is probably better ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Just a quick question ... do you know of any good phonetics sites online that would be appropriate for a year 1 child who does not have the basic single sounds mastered - relies heavily on picture cues. Cheers Annie Hi Annie, There are lots on the internet, a quick Google search should sort them out one of my favourites is:- Ants on the Apple http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Songs/alpha/a.html Also Little Animals Activity Centre http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/laac/menu.html Start with those if you like ciao cathy Does anyone else have some suggestions??? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- To Cathy, Your sites on McCarthyism were fabulous. Thank you so much. I am now looking for a web site, preferably an interactive one, which helps students Year 3 - 4 to learn their Hundred Demons (the most commonly misspelt words). Also a site where they can add in their own words would be very helpful. Thank you Maria Can anyone help with this one???? ============================================== 10. NEXT ISSUE - Maths sites and K-2 sites, I will be upgrading these pages on VT so if you have any great sites for either of these categories send them along. Also more on PowerPoint by request. ciao Cathy - - -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- 11. Code of the 'Netizens' This Newsletter is not free, despite the misleading advertising above. The Fee is now due. Each week you must help one colleague on the Internet who has less knowledge than you. Help that person even if you have to visit their classroom or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will help a lot of people get their computer classrooms running better. OK I'm trusting you!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- 12. TIPS 1. Double click on highlighted URLS to open in browser. 2. Send in your Questions, Questions will be published with Answers, send in your Answers, if you have expertise to share. 3. Nominate a brilliant site for review and inclusion in this newsletter. 4. Nominate a fantastic school site for review and inclusion in this newsletter. 5. Make contact with other schools using fantastic programs. 6. Prepare and innovative article for this newsletter. 7. Tell 2 colleagues about this newsletter. ============================================== The opinions expressed here are purely those of the editor, Cathy Brown. All other small print clauses apply. Such as: Use at your own risk. Nothing in life is guaranteed. If it doesn't work for you send me an email. Editor: cathy brown mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Delivered FREE to your e-mail box every fortnight. Online Lesson Plans, Great Sites, Free Stuff, Tips, Time savers, and templates. Computer Solutions for Teachers. Subscribe today! It's totally Free! Just type subscribe in the subject and send it to me. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================== Reach a growing audience of teachers, by advertising in the Virtual Teacher Newsletter or on the Virtual Teacher site. For more information contact, [EMAIL PROTECTED] For information about inservice and training contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================== ******************************************* For digest instead of individual postings, send the message: set k12newsletters digest to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, click and send (no body or subject: required) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] K12 Newsletters mailing list is a service of Classroom Connect - http://www.classroom.com Archives for K12 Newsletters can be found at: http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=K12NEWSLETTERS **********************************************************
