From: "Virtual Teacher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 23:14:58 +1200 Subject: Virtual Teacher - ROARING SILENCE
Newsletter No. 56 August 9th 2002 THE FREE ONLINE FORTNIGHTLY IT TEACHERS' NEWSLETTER ----------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS 1. Welcome 2. Mind Candy 3. WWWinfo - Career Site 4. New Printables - Sports links 5. Technical Stuff - Internet Connections Speed 6. Web Site Focus - Maths 7. More PowerPoint 8. Spinout Stories 9. Great Sites 10. Readers' Requests/Comments 11 Next Issue 12. Code of 'Netizens' 13. Tips ============================================== 1. WELCOME EVERYONE. Roaring silence. An oxymoron that makes you stop, makes you think, challenges your usual notions of silence. Creative inventive, new. The silence inside an Egyptian pyramid when the last door has been sealed is roaring silence. Creating new imagery, inventing new ways to express ideas, is the best way to make an impact with writing, and to start your audience thinking. Below is a list of some more oxymorons I think you will enjoy. Some are cliches and old hat, some are refreshing and new. Check out your internet connections speed, and make some comments on the connections speed report for schools. Don't miss the 'Angles away' site, terrific, or the extra PowerPoint tips. ============================================== 2. MIND CANDY Time is not measured by the passing of time, but by what ONE does, what ONE feels, and what ONE achieves. - Nehru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." John Cotton Dana ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP 45 OXYMORONS 45. Act naturally 44. Found missing 43. Resident alien 42. Advanced BASIC 41. Genuine imitation 40. Airline Food 39. Good grief 38. Same difference 37. Almost exactly 36. Government organization 35. Sanitary landfill 34. Alone together 33. Legally drunk 32. Silent scream 31. Living dead 30. Small crowd 29. Business ethics 28. Soft rock 27. Butt head 26. Military intelligence 25. Software documentation 24. New classic 23. Sweet sorrow 22. Child Proof 21. "Now, then ..." 20. Synthetic natural gas 19. Passive aggression 18. Taped live 17. Clearly misunderstood 16. Peace force 15. Extinct life 14. Temporary tax increase 13. Computer jock 12. Plastic glasses 11. Terribly pleased 10. Computer security 9. Political science 8. Tight slacks 7. Definite maybe 6. Pretty ugly 5. Twelve-ounce pound cake 4. Diet ice cream 3. Working vacation 2. Exact estimate ..And the number 1 oxymoron is.. 1. Microsoft Works ============================================== 3. GREAT CAREER SITE 'Welcome to the facts. Here you have access to information on career related topics. Select the topic you are interested in and search, browse or read through detailed information, articles and/or links to other useful resources.' http://www.myfuture.edu.au/ ===================================== 4. NEW PRINTABLES The start of a Sports Link page send in you sites at http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/sports.html The Bradman link is outstanding and the info on the Australian Sports Web is most comprehensive. ============================================== 5. TECHNICAL STUFF HOW FAST IS YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION 56K modems run at about 48Kilobitspersecond on a good day - 9Kbps on a very bad day. The best you will get out of a 56K modem is about 5 kiloBYTES per second (Byte = 8 bits) That is a floppy disk every 8 or 9 minutes (on a good line) Network Speeds - What do they mean??? http://www.whnet.com/speed.html http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-network-speeds.asp Here's a natty little online device to test the speed of your internet connection http://promos.mcafee.com/speedometer/ HOW FAST IS FAST ENOUGH FOR GOOD EDUCATIONAL USE OF THE INTERNET Read the Report below and send in your thoughts regarding internet access for schools. Broadband in Australia Availability Issues and initiatives Report http://www.noie.gov.au/publications/NOIE/BAG/Broadband_in_educ_Final.PDF ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have a student with a passion for science and an extraordinary flair for public speaking? Then why not enter the Powerhouse Museum's Talking Up Science competition? http://www.phm.gov.au/education/tus/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FREE/DEMO Software/Downloads I have had many requests for available free programs - so here are some. Beware FREE Downloads some are great like Crocodile Clips others are just a waste of time. Great selection of software downloads from Edsoft, Crocodile clip is a must have. http://www.edsoft.com.au/Downloads/DLindex.htm Free Downloadable Map puzzles. http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm Educational Software Co-operative http://www.edu-soft.org/padlib/index.php Free Worksheets and online Games http://www.schoolexpress.com/comped/default.asp Hot Potatoes http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/hotpot/ http://www.winsite.com/edu/ http://www.daisymaths.com.au/ http://www.thefreesite.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recycled PC's Pentium 1, 2, and 3s Available. http://www.greenpc.com.au/ Jeff Harper JKH Brokers Cartridge Collection Turn Trash into Ca$h! http://www.cartridgecollection.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE TEDDY BEAR PROJECT Hi Cathy I facilitate an online project for teachers. It is called the Teddy Bear Project. Teachers register on the website, then I match them with a class in a different country. A teddy bear or other soft toy is then exchanged. The teddy writes home a diary by email. In this way an authentic purpose for reading, writing and using technology is provided. It is also a wonderful to foster tolerance and understanding of cultures other than our own. I have quite a few teachers from the US who teach Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 waiting for classes to be matched to. Over 3000 teachers have participated in this project since 1996. Could this publicised in your newsletter please? Registrations: The Teddy Bear Project http://www.iearn.org.au/tbear [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bye Muriel ============================================== 6. WEBSITE FOCUS -Maths Angles Away - This site is sooo hot you can see the team rising. http://www.ambleside.schoolzone.co.uk/ambleweb/mentalmaths/protractor.html Links Sites http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/mathsites.htm Fractory Make your own Fractals and understand them, great site for independent workers and extension. http://library.thinkquest.org/3288/ Count On - Great Maths site http://www.counton.co.uk Tangram site - interactive applet http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4/4.4/#applet ============================================== 7. POWERPOINT AGAIN Cathy, Please let Paul know that quizzes in Powerpoint, if kept simple, are very easy to do. The responses are simply links between pages of the presentation, so students can select responses, be linked to a page if the answer is correct, another if the answer is not correct, and be able to return to the question or go on to the next question. In our school district in Arizona (USA), we use PowerPoint for Jeopardy-type games. (Don't know if you see Jeopardy in Australia or know of its popularity here, but it's great for school.) Terrie Yes this is quite true Paul - but keep it fairly simple. HERE'S HOW 1. Set up your questions, multiple choice is best. eg What is a googleplex? a. a number made of plexiglass b. a silly number that tells jokes c. a very big number d. a very small number 2. Each answer is then hyperlinked to another page within the PowerPoint presentation. Incorrect answers might be all linked to a page that says NOPE!! Go back and have another GO!!, with a hyperlink back to the original questions. The correct answer is hyperlinked to a page that might say 'YIPPEE!! Your right!!!' - with applause sound effects, 'HERE'S the next questions'. (You can thus build up a series of questions in this way) 3. To Hyperlink pages, highlight the answer to be hyperlinked, goto the Insert menu, goto hyperlink. On this menu you will find a button, on PCs usually at the side, on Macs goto 'DOCUMENT' then to 'LOCATE' near the anchor dialogue box. This will allow you to hyperlink within your PowerPoint from one page to another. TIP: Each question should have its own correct and incorrect answer pages, otherwise it becomes hard to return to the correct section of the presentation. TIP2: You can use pictures and hyperlink these as well.(Your MAB block pictures??) TIP3: Sound effects make it great fun. (Added through Sideshow/Custom animations - best set on 'Automatically') TIP4: Students can write their own 3 page question and answer series which can be added together to form one long presentation. T o Add extra slides GOTO Insert/Slides from file. Goodluck ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. SPINOUT REVIEW "Spinout stories. The Spinout Stories packages combine computer software and printed books. They are designed to promote literacy among students with reading problems in late primary and early secondary. The stories are a mixture of informative non-fiction and interesting fiction, specially written for these older students. Each story is available at three levels of difficulty, allowing the student to start at a suitably easy level and progress in gentle stages through to more demanding words and sentence constructions. At the highest level, the software includes an optional hypertext facility, allowing the student to click on key words (shown in blue) and on picture hotspots - this brings up extended information on the selected subject, with web-like links to still more information." http://www.greygum.com.au/contents.htm This program is easy to load, easy to use, I can see the appeal for many teachers. Children in lower primary as well were motivated by the program as were ESL and remedial children. However, not as inspiring as Circus Maths or the Kidspiration/Inspiration packages, not as open ended and creative - even though you can write your own stories. Many teachers will love the printable worksheets which can generated from each story according to personal preferences. I can see a niche for it. This product is well worth a look. Linda Zugai NSW State Manager Edsoft Pty Ltd [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.edsoft.com.au ============================================== 8. GREAT SITES HOT SITES Here is an excellent set of Primary School Links http://www.casino-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/hsie/hsie.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ooey Gooey science recipes http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/science/tools/ooey.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These sites have links for inventors & inventors. http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~greentown/invent.htm http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/inventors.htm This webquest, although for middle primary children http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/stage2_Modules/inventions/inventions.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Book WEEK winners http://www.cbc.org.au/winner02.htm ============================================== 9. READERS COMMENTS/REQUESTS Before more children get misinformed, read this: http://www.snopes.com/language/phrases/1500.htm Thanks, Simon Beck London, UK Hi Simon, I number of folk have been concerned about this info at VT so I have added this site to the bottom of the page http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/life.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Cathy:-) I enjoyed viewing your Web Site. Your students may find my research in Vincent van Gogh's life.. interesting and intriguing. My friend. Artist Jan van Gogh, will be visiting my home in September, and yes.. I will learn more of the real Vincent van Gogh.. who I believe was a true " Artistic Minister.. ", in his journey through life. Regards, Dennis Pelliccia Grants Pass, Oregon http://community.webtv.net/ospro/ArtistDennis Keep us updated the site is most interesting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Cathy, Just letting you know that the jokes and riddle link on the year 2/3 page is not working. I am just checking out the newsletter this month. Great as always! Cheers Susie W I have fixed the link - thanks - keep your eye out for more. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Cathy, It's been a while since we've shared contact, though I'm still scouring your wonderful newsletter for new information. Needless to say, it's always readily available! I loved reading about making mistakes, being able to do so in front of one's students and using them as a problem solving opportunity. I tell my students they can add 5 extra credit points on any assignment should they find an error I've made. Needless to say, they love it and usually pay closer attention to the materials presented. It's a nice incentive, and it also helps their grades. You should also know that I was able, thanks to you, to get to know and visit another schoolyard gardening teacher in Illinois. We initially connected through your newsletter. Tracy and I would like to thank you for the introduction, and we look forward to having an opportunity to network with others who might have similar projects. Nancy S-G Thanks Nancy Always great to hear from you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I request your permission to create a link between your website and ours at: http://www.side.wa.edu.au Thank you Brad Woodbrook http://www.side.wa.edu.au/schools/prim_school/index.html Primary School SIDE Conquering Distance Challenging Minds Thanks Brad, What does everyone think of Brad's Site??? ------------------------------------------ Hi thanks for your help on the middle ages. I have another question this time on the Novel The Wave by Morton Ruhe. If there are any sites that have suggested units or relate to the actual event on which the book is based I would be very, very grateful. Thanks Andrew. Is there someone who can Help Andrew??? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Cathy, Thanks for all the great links - I mostly appreciate the quality of your selections. My 5 yr old daughter is focusing on space at the moment. I have been searching everywhere on the web for a simple animated orrery(that works!) of the planets moving around the sun, so she can have a greater understanding of the different speeds and orbits of the planets as they go around. I have used all the usual search engines. There must be such a site out there somewhere surely?!! Cheers Susie W. Hi Susie, This one might do:- http://kids.f9.net.uk/flash/planets/about_planets.html ciao cathy Thanks Cathy, you are a gem!!! It is just what I have been l ooking for. You have no idea how many people I asked about this, and it had stumped us all. Cheers Susie W. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Cathy, Do you know of any sites where I can send a 13 year old who is learning German to extend his studies and back up what he is l earning? Thanks Glenda Begg Hi Glenda, A quick google search should net you a wealth of resources, her are a few to start with http://www.germanfortravellers.com/learn/ and of course the BBC site is excellent http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/languages/german/dplus/index.shtml There are also some links from my site at http://www.virtualteacher.com.au/esl.html ciao cathy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Cathy, I got two replies with an ERROR IMPERATIVE on both - and I was unable to read them. Perhaps, we could try again. I'm looking for an interactive site (games etc.. )for Year 3/4s with the 100 demons (ie spelling words), plus a site that you can enter your own list of spelling words onto. Also, I'm looking for a site that tells me about any feedback (to the Govt.) from the Australian public on a proposed nuclear dump in South Australia. What are their views, and do their views hold any power anyway. (Whether they have been consulted I'm unsure?) PS - the sites you recommended on McCarthyism were fantastic. Thank you. Hi Maria, The Spam assassin seems to be alive and well and living at the CEO at the moment. The only scrambled message reports I get are from .catholic.edu.au maybe I am seen as a subversive force for evil by the CEO I don't know. I will add in my defense that I did theology through the catholic college of education at some time in the distant past - and passed with distinctions. Spelling Demons listed at:- http://derekmcmillan.tripod.com/spelling.htm Make your own game at Quia or try some of the games already developed. http://www.quia.com/pop/13123.html ciao cathy Can anyone help Maria on the on the Nuclear dump in SA??? ============================================== 10. NEXT ISSUE Looks like the Circus is in town and letter writing will be on the agenda. Send in any Sports sites that are great. Have a good fortnight. - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 **********************************************************
