Technology in our classroom

From our first guest  blogger: choc 

Stamps are more than a piece of paper you stick on an envelope.They are fantastic collector’s items. Some stamps are worth lots of money.  Some stamps are printed for celebrations e.g. Queen Elizabeth’s birthday, Easter.  Stamps are one of the most popular hobbies in the world!! Some people collect one kind of stamps e.g. Football stamps, or others collect all kinds of stamps. So give stamp collecting a go. See how far you can go! What do you think of stamps?  

From Miss W:  What name do you give to a person who collects stamps? 

What is the study of stamps called?

Stamp photo source

I’ve noticed in our class that some students love moving around the room when doing work, others prefer staying at their desk, some are humming under their breath or listening to music on the headphones while using the computer, yet others love reading for information or drawing.  Everyone in the world has a variety of strengths and weaknesses.  Students, teachers and parents all learn in different ways.  I love doing things in sequence and using maths, while I do not like doing any type of art work or sport.  Use this link to take a test and find out which multiple intelligences are your strengths and which ones you need to have more practise in.  Make a comment about your test results in this blog.  Do you think the results are true? Why?

Print a poster from here

For photos from these sites, you will need to acknowlege their website.  You should find a symbol like this on their page.    eg © AarinFreePhoto.com           or you attach a hyperlink to the photo.

Only about 1000 pictures so far here at Aarin free photos

Mention the photographer’s name David Niblack if you use a photo from here

Mention the website name here

Flickr has some free photos but best to include the person’s name somewhere near the photo

Check terms and how to link for these free photos

  Some photos have the name of the website on the actual photo.

If you still can’t find a suitable image then check out Lorelle on Wordpress.  She has listed many sites where images can be found, some free, some with copyright restrictions.  Make sure you read the information at the top of the page first about how to acknowledge the image’s owner.

Do you have a hobby or interest that you are very passionate about?  Is there an author whose books you always read?  Well why not make a comment here on this post telling Miss W about your interest and she might invite you to be a guest blogger here on the class blog.  Only write a few lines saying why you would like to write about your interest.  Remember when you do become the guest blogger, you can include some copyright free pictures about your interest.  I don’t know yet how to insert a video or slideshow in a blog, so if anyone can help with that, it would be great.

Are you interested in taking part in some competitions that were recently advertised by the Tasmanian Education Department? 

Eureka  This looks at excellence in science so if you are a sleek geek like Dr Karl and Adam Spencer, then this might be for you. 

Tasmanian Science Talent Search theme this year is Planet Earth: Planet of Change

Wakakirri using performance and visual arts by yourself or in a group

Info technology chance to show off your technology talents if you are in grade 7-10

Expedition in Papua interested in following a kayak journey in Papua?

Tournament of Minds check with Mr Richardson if you have a team wanting to enter this fantastic competition.

I wonder what types of technology your parents, older brothers and sisters, neighbours or other relatives use in their work place?  Do they blog, use wikis, mobile phones, podcasts etc?   You might like to create a survey or questionaire and give your responses in a graph.  Ask them questions on this topic, then either the student or the parent can write a comment back in this blog.

Photo link in photobucket 

As this is going to be the first time many of you are using a blog, I need to be sure you know how to interact on the web safely.  What are three things you can mention in a blog?  What are three things you should NEVER mention in a blog and why?  Write your answers in two separate paragraphs but in the same comment.

If you have some time at home and want to visit a couple of good websites I have found mentioned on other teachers’ blogs, try these out: ……

Creating a comic strip

Maths Dictionary for kids

Designing a flag that represents you

Welcome back students to a new year of learning in Miss Wyatt’s class.  We will be using a lot of technology in our room including a smartboard which allows us to improve our learning, work collaboratively and of course play some games.  Try this one now – ghostblasters.  Using google earth is also fantastic on the smartboard.  Can you come up with some other great interactive sites to use with our smartboard?

Hopefully many of you will get a page of your own to do some blogging on.  But first, we will have this class blog on which you will be expected to comment and create posts.  If you get really wrapped up in blogging, I will negotiate with your parents and you about creating your own blog page.  I will be asking other staff and the principal to also read and comment on your blogs so make sure they are relevant and well written.

The other form of Web 2.0 technology we will be using are wikis.  You are sure to have used Wikipedia before, well we are going to create our own wiki during history lessons. We will also be inviting members of the local community to add information to our wiki – a great way to collaborate.