Is creative brain power more valuable than formal education? Google’s Brin, Page, and Schmidt seem to belong to a school of thought similar to that of Papert, Minsky, Negroponte, and even Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge” and “learning to learn is more important than memorising information.” Read more at the Huffington Post >>>
The SAMR model in your classroom
Friday 28th March, 2014 Have new technologies brought new learning opportunities to your classroom, or simply provided students with a new typewriter interface? Are you using technology in the classroom for the sake of using technology, or are these new devices creating new and engaging activities? The SAMR model suggests a framework to define the impact of technology on the learning … Read More
Google Apps – Office Online – iWork for iCloud
Online ‘office’ apps are becoming a critical component in every educators’ toolbox. There are now three main players in the online ‘office’ apps department – Google, Microsoft and Apple. Which one is right for you or your school? Read the review >>>
BYOD at Banksmeadow PS
Teachers Eric and Ben discuss the process of introducing a BYOD program at Banksmeadow Public School in Sydney….
Edmodo at a Glance
Discover how Edmodo can make your classroom a community….
Planning an ICT Makeover for your school
In comparison with the ever-changing use of ICT in the wider community, many schools’ ICT offerings are now looking a little tired and outdated. Lots of ‘same-old’ ICT has been happening in many schools for the last 10 years – research, copy, paste, summarise, print, hand-in! So, where do we start in hauling a school into the modern ICT era? … Read More
Cloud providers – Policy statements
How private is your data (and your students’ data) when it is stored with a commercial cloud provider? Will you and your students be targeted with advertising, based on the content of emails and documents stored in the cloud? Who owns ‘your’ data, once it is stored on a remote server, possibly in another country? Links to privacy statements from … Read More
Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow
The ACOT project identifies six design principles for the 21st century high school: Understanding of 21st Century Skills and Outcomes; Relevant and Applied Curriculum; Informative Assessment; A Culture of Innovation and Creativity; Social and Emotional Connections with Students Ubiquitous Access to Technology How can you apply these principles in your school? Read more >>>
Essential Guide to Innovation in TPL
The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership’s (AITSL) Essential Guide to Professional Learning series examines the research behind key themes of the Professional Learning Charter. This latest issue expands on the importance of innovation and adaptability in professional learning. How will you know when your school’s professional learning culture is innovative? Learn more (pdf) >>>
iPad v Chromebook
A smartphone in the car or train, a tablet at meetings, a laptop when I am at home or in the office – all have their pros and cons. In a post-PC world, which mobile device is the best option, and can they completely replace your laptop computer? Read more >>>
Dave’s ICT Info
Dave is an Assistant Principal at a local K-6 Public School. Dave’s site provides lot’s of useful information and links to resources for teachers who are integrating technology in the curriculum. Check it out >>>
Google slashes paid Drive prices
Google has announced huge reductions in the costs of their paid Drive storage plans. Google offers 15Gb of storage for free – if you want 100 Gb of online storage the cost has dropped from $US4.99 per month to $US1.99 per month. (Google Apps files don’t count towards your storage). Read more at the Google Drive blog >>>
Doctopus – Creating class folders
Doctopus is a Google Apps add-on that can now be used to create shared class folders. Watch the video below to learn how to use Doctopus with your classes…. See also: Doctopus overview >>>
New Add-ons for Google Docs and Sheets
Google have announced the inclusion of 3rd party Add-ons to Docs and Sheets, bringing additional functionality (or just some missing features) to the Google Office suite. You will notice a new ‘Add-ons’ menu item has been added to your Docs and Sheets menu bar: With this new Add-ons feature comes a brand new store with dozens of options from which to … Read More
Which cloud storage service is right for you?
Microsoft have rebranded their SkyDrive and Web Apps, replacing them with OneDrive and Office Online respectively. How does the new Microsoft service compare to Dropbox, Google Drive and Box? Read More at cnet >>>
New Google Sheets
Have you activated the new version of Google Sheets yet? There are plenty of new features in the latest update, including Filter views, enhanced function help, new functions, advanced conditional formatting, coloured sheet tabs and new find-and-replace features Watch this short video to learn more…
Create Flipping Books
Students can use Flipsnack (online) to create flipping books from any PDF document. Includes a step-by-step introductory video, and examples created by students at the Singapore American School. Learn more >>>
My School should be scrapped, says Piccoli
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli wants the controversial My School website scrapped, arguing it is a waste of money that could be better spent on improving teacher quality. Mr Piccoli said the publishing of NAPLAN results on My School was directly responsible for putting students under unnecessary and inappropriate stress. Mr Piccoli said it was the publication of the results, … Read More
ICT Planning Vision
As with any other school planning, school ICT planning should start by considering student learning outcomes, then work towards the development of Teacher Professional Learning programs and ICT infrastructure that support these outcomes. Too often schools start their ICT ‘planning’ with the mapping and installation of ICT infrastructure, then try to shoe-horn their curriculum needs into this (possibly ill-fitting and … Read More
Public v Private – Should student work be public on the web?
‘School administrators, who are rightfully risk-averse, often decree that no public posting of student work is allowed in schools – access to any student work must be limited to only those approved and with passwords. Teachers, afraid of potential headaches due to students posting something inappropriate, or becoming involved in cyber-bullying, also get nervous about allowing students to publish freely … Read More
Moodle 2.6 – Release videos
Have you been keeping up to date with the latest Moodle features? These videos provide a concise overview of all the latest additions to the Moodle platform. Watch the videos >>>
Edublogs launches CampusPress
Edublogs has announced a new service called CampusPress – a web publishing environment for entire schools, districts or Universities, providing unlimited sites, users, traffic, and storage. All hosted and accessed using cloud technologies. Read more >>>
Permanent Clipboard
Keep regularly-used images and information on a permanent clipboard, accessible without leaving your Chrome browser. Ideal for Chromebooks. Check it out >>>
A Web Site for Your Class
A class or faculty web site is an integral part of a modern learning environment. Your class site can be a sub-section of a broader school site, or can be a stand-alone site. Either way, a class web site can provide students with a gateway to online resources specifically related to class activities, projects, units of work and collaborative discussions, … Read More