Film Competition

Here's a great film competition for all you environment friendly people.

"The Outlook For Someday" is a sustainability challenge for young New Zealanders.

Make a short film, up to 5 minutes, about how you see the future unfolding. Look at your world through a lens of sustainability. Give your personal take on what matters to you, focussed on the future.

Check it out at http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/

Survey Monkey

Survey Monkey is a great site for developing an online survey to use in your classroom or with staff.
SurveyMonkey has a single purpose: to enable anyone to create professional online surveys quickly and easily.

Riverdale staff click here to answer a 1 question survey.

Curriculum Integration

Here is a great integration site for learning about Curriculum Integration from the Wellington based LEA (Learning Enhancement Associates). Click Here

It aims to provide teachers and schools with information about Curriculum Integration. The intention is to describe, explore, model, and support Curriculum Integration within New Zealand schools.

While at the LEA site check out their other e-Learning resources.

Also on this topic "John Faire" Principal of Mt. Eden Normal School has published a report on "e-Learning in Programmes of Inquiry: It’s not what you use, but how you use it... and knowing how it uses you!"
Click on the above link and download for your information and to share with staff.

SKRBL - Online Whiteboard

Here is a great little tool for getting some collaborative brainstorming happening or posting information online, realtime using the SKRBL online white board.
The complete web whiteboard.
Just start skrbl, give out your URL and instantly share online.
Use skrbl to collaborate with others or, keep it your own private web space.
Write notes, sketch drawings, upload pictures, share files...
Everyone sees the same screen,
Everybody stays on the same page.

Check out at http://www.skrbl.com/

New Zealand History On Line

Here's a choice reference site for finding out about our past.

The site features information and resources from within the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. Three broad categories showcase themes in New Zealand history: Culture and society, Politics and government and War and society. A Hands on history section includes links to guides, external websites and other material for those who are 'doing' and teaching history.

Umajin

Last week I attended a workshop on the Umajin creative publishing software. It is a NZ made publishing software (Story books - pics - animation) that is storybook based and very easy to use.

I was impressed especially with its easy to use interface, (ideal for Junior classes as it is so easy to use.)

They have plans to add many more features with upcoming updates.

A very good bit of software for all levels.

You can download a 90 day free trial at www.umajin.com but cannot save with this free trial.

Cost for 1 licence is a low $29.95 with price reducing the more licences you aquire.

Download it and give it a go.

Putting An End To Topic Research

Here's an interesting read from Jamie Mckenzie's latest newsletter.

When students conduct topical research, they do little more than scoop up information. Topical research requires little thinking and little imagination. It pays few dividends. It does almost nothing to prepare students for the kinds of thinking skills listed in state and provincial curriculum standards. (Jamie McKenzie)

I certainly agree that we need to making learning RELEVANT and focusing on thinking skills will help our students to lead their own learning.