February, 2014 | innovative schools

Chromebook – Offline Apps

Chromebooks depend on an active Internet connection for many functions. Here is collection of Chromebook apps in the Google Web Store that don’t require an Internet connection. Check them out >>>

KidRex – Google for younger students

KidRex is a fun and safe search tool for younger students. KidRex searches emphasise kid-related webpages from across the entire web and is powered by Google. Google’s filter checks keywords, phrases, and URLs to eliminate most inappropriate material. Check it out >>>

New Tools for Schools

The world of ICT has changed dramatically over the past couple of years – and the change is continuing unabated. Even accelerating. What was ‘new and innovative’ only 2 years ago, is now very much mainstream. Is your school remodelling the learning environment to take advantage of new technologies? Are you moving from an old ‘locked in labs’ ICT model to a … Read More

iPads in the classroom

Create a classroom movie studio with an iPad and a Green Screen… Here are some ideas for exploring how ‘green screen’ technology can be integrated into some engaging educational projects. Read more >>>

Rooty Hill HS: Breeding success

Rooty Hill HS, serving a culturally diverse, working-class community, welcomed its largest-ever Year 12 cohort this year. The school has above-average attendance rates and its NAPLAN results are close to or better than those of statistically similar schools. A Grattan Institute report, released on Friday, says strong leadership, effective and collaborative teaching, data-driven analysis, positive culture and parental and community … Read More

Help your students become better searchers

Web search can be a useful tool for students, and a bit of instruction in how to search for academic sources will help your students become critical thinkers and independent learners. With the materials on this site, you can help your students become skilled searchers- whether they’re just starting out with search, or ready for more advanced training. Learn more … Read More

School’s in for digital learning

The techno wizards of the education world preach the revolutionary powers of devices like iPads and laptops in our classrooms. Technophobes must embrace 21st century learning, they will tell you, because today’s students are digital natives. But for those who were born digital, bringing technology into the classroom represents less of a revolution than a bridging of the last remaining … Read More

BYO for NSW students (smh)

While NSW primary school students were asked to bring hand sanitiser, tissues and paper towel at the start of this year, public high school students were expected to turn up with their own iPad or laptop. For the first time, the Department of Education and Communities has a formal Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy after schools held trials last … Read More

Miss Sporn’s Class Blog

Drop by Miss Sporn’s Year 2/3 class at Craigburn PS (SA) and catch up on class activities, or leave a message. Visit the class >>> From the blog…. We are a Year 2 & 3 class at Craigburn Primary School, Flagstaff Hill in South Australia. There are around 500 students in our Reception – Year 7 school. There are 27 … Read More

Google Drive Lab Report – Workflow

Ben Wildeboer walks us through the process he has setup in his science classes for the distribution and assessment of his students lab reports, using Google Docs and associated utilities for creating student folders and distributing content to those folders. Read more >>>

Hapara Teacher Dashboard

Check out Hapara’s Teacher Dashboard for Google Apps for Education – gives you a real-time view of student activity across Docs, Sites, Blogger, Picasa, Gmail and Calendars. Read more >>>

Google Reading Levels

A class web page can be used to share links to web sites and other resources that support your class activities – but how do you find sites that are suitable for your students’ reading level? Try filtering your Google search results based on the reading level of the pages in the results…. Find out how >>>