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Educational technology
information, ideas and related news for schools in NSW,
along with some interesting
sites to visit, and software tips and tricks.
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- Comic Life Magiq (Mac)
- (Friday 9th May 2008)
Wow! This new version of the popular Comic Life software looks like a combination of Comic Life, Photoshop and Kid Pix! Watch the video to get an idea of the possibilities.
Families Pay the Price in a World That Never Stops (SMH)- (Wednesday 7th May 2008)
Are we prepared to allow increasingly deregulated employment and hours of opening to determine how families function and what happens to our children? William McKeith, Principal of PLC, reflects on the impact of the commercial world on families whose children attend our schools.
Ten Years of iMac (SMH)- (Wednesday 7th May 2008)
Yes, it is 10 years since the Bondi Blue G3 iMac was unveiled by Steve Jobs on May 6th, 1998. This review was published in the SMH on May 16th, 1998.
iPod Touch in the Classroom- (Tuesday 6th May 2008)
Jenny Ashby (Epsom PS, Victoria) provides some useful info about the school's iPod Touch project and some ideas for using the iPod Touch in the classroom, in this BEAUT podcast.
North Nowra PS Principal's News Blog- (Tuesday 6th May 2008)
David Hogg (North Nowra PS, NSW) is exploring the possibilities of Web 2.0 technologies, using his Principal's Blog to publish his weekly newsletters, and have these newsletters updated automatically on the Newsletters page of the school's web site.
DET Printer Contract (DET Intranet)- Details of printers, copiers and faxes available under the recently-negotiated DET printer contract. You can order equipment directly from this site.
Cubans Get First Glimpse of Computers (SMH)- (Monday 5th May 2008)
Looks like some school ICT planning may now be required in Cuba too - the island's government made desktop computers available for sale to the public for the first time on Friday, ending a ban on PC sales in the country.
gOS Space (Linux)- (Monday 5th May 2008)
Does this new Space distribution of Linux have a familiar look and feel?
iMedia Browser (Mac)- (Friday 2nd May 2008)
Add the Media Browser, that Apple includes in some of its applications, to any application on your computer. Access your photos, movies, music, etc, in all applications. Free.
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- Johnny Lee's Wii Tech Marvels
- (Tuesday 29th April 2008)
Johnny Lee demos his amazing Wii Remote hacks, which transform the $40 game piece into a digital whiteboard, a touchscreen and a head-mounted 3-D viewer.
School ICT Planning- (Monday 28th April 2008)
The school ICT planning process should start with a consideration of learning objectives, followed by the implementation of professional learning programs and infrastructure projects to support these learning objectives.
Anyone for Crabb Apple? (SMH)- (Monday 28th April 2008)
"It seems almost redundant to explain in detail the scene that occurred upon a recent homecoming; the spontaneous decision to make an apple pie, the prudent pre-heating of the oven to 180 degrees, the construction of the pie, the opening of the oven door, and the horrific discovery of a brown and blistered Apple Macintosh iBook." (Annabel Crabb)
Ubuntu 8.04 Update- (Monday 28th April 2008)
Those who are tinkering with Ubuntu and EdUbuntu will be interested in checking out this latest update. Ubuntu 6 & 7 users can upgrade through the Update Manager. (830 Mb!) See also Linux software info.
InPrincipal - ISER (DET Intranet)- (Monday 28th April 2008)
The 24th April issue of InPrincipal includes NSW DET procurement details for printers, interactive whiteboards, Apple computers, and other items. (Also available through the DET secure portal).
Open-Computer Mac Clones- (Thursday 17th April 2008)
The $US400 Open Computer from Psystar Corporation is described as "a low-cost high-performance computing platform" based on the OSX86Project - a hacker-based initiative aimed at maintaining a version of the Mac OS X operating system for regular PCs.
Paparazzi (Mac)- (Tuesday 15th April 2008)
Take screenshots of entire web pages - even the bits that you have to scroll down to see. Choose to save in a variety of formats, including gif, jpg & pdf.
Open Source for T4L- (Friday 11th April 2008)
The NSW DET is bundling open source "office" and page layout software with 2008 rollout computers.
HP Joins Mini Laptop Fray- (Thursday 10th April 2008)
Another of the world's biggest technology companies is clamoring to enter the growing market for pint-sized computers targeted mainly at pint-sized customers. HP executives say their new machines are an important piece of the company's effort to build market share in schools. See also Wazza's list of mini 'Netbook' laptops.
NSW Education Downgrades Microsoft (AFR)- (Wednesday 9th April 2008)
One of the nation's biggest users of personal computers, the NSW Dept of Education, is resisting Microsoft's attempts to upgrade users to the latest version of its Vista operating system, has extended it's MS licensing agreement for only 12 months (rather than 3 years), and is installing an Open Office derivative on 41000 computers to be distributed to schools this year.
xSUIM & ERN (pdf - 1.6Mb)- (Wednesday 9th April 2008)
Info from Dennis Ross about using the new xSUIM to import users from OASIS to a Mac OS X Server within the new NSW DET ERN organisational structure.
Liberals Join Criticism of School Computer Plan (ABC News)- (Monday 7th April 2008)
The Federal Opposition has joined school principals and the education union in their criticism of Labor's billion-dollar computers in schools plan. School principals are worried they will have to cover the extra costs of providing senior secondary school students with access to a computer. (See also: Federal Digital Education Revolution.)
Low Cost 'Netbook' Laptops- (Monday 7th April 2008)
The NSW DET is considering the deployment of low cost mini laptops, originally developed for use by children in emerging countries, to implement the Federal Govt's 1:1 computer access plan for senior students. This list includes some of the current commercially available products in this category.
Maine Learning Technology Initiative Studies- (Wednesday 2nd April 2008)
With all the talk about the Federal Government's Digital Revolution program for Australian senior students, this site may provide some useful background reading. Maine University has undertaken research into the Maine Dept of Education 1:1 laptop program, and reports on what difference it has made to student learning. (See also: Maine Education Dept MLTI.)
Learning Tools - Digital v Traditional- (Tuesday 1st April 2008)
A comparison of traditional learning tools and processes, compared to their modern-day digital equivalent. Also categorised within Bloom's revised taxonomy.
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- The YouTube Blockade and Copyright Issues
- (Wednesday 26th March 2008)
"There are many videos on YouTube that are worthy of class attention, yet some schools and school districts have decided to block its use. Fortunately, there are ways for teachers to download good videos at home to share later in class. There may be important copyright issues to address before downloading or playing anything that is listed at YouTube."
Blooms Revised Taxonomy- (Tuesday 25th March 2008)
Some posters and a presentation discussing the use of Bloom's (Revised) Taxonomy to provide a framework for the development of lessons that plan for student thinking at all levels.
ISER Technology Update Meetings- (Tuesday 25th March 2008)
Term 1 Technology Update Meetings (formerly Computer Co-ordinator meetings) are being presented at various venues throughout ISER during this term. Local meetings are scheduled for next week:
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Monday 31st March (Colo Vale PS) and;
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Tuesday 1st April (Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club).
Both meetings from 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
Please RSVP to mark.suine@det.nsw.edu.au if you will be attending either meeting.
Embed Web 2.0 Feeds in Your School Web Site- (Tuesday 18th March 2008)
Setup your school's web site so that multiple people can maintain different parts of it, by editing an external site that automatically updates the content within the school's web site.
Library Web Enquiry for NSW DET School Intranets- (Monday 17th March 2008)
The NSW DET has provided a facility to search your school's Library records using a web browser. This search can be made from any computer on the school's network, rather than directly from a dedicated "enquiry terminal" in the school Library.
RollerMache- (Friday 14th March 2008)
The ABC is giving schools an opportunity to profile their media studies work along side the work of professional companies. So, if you or students have made any films or animations – register now and upload them to the site. The site can be used to promote digital literacy, media production and safe interaction in a context of exploring creativity and having fun.
Federal "Digital Education Revolution" - NSSCF Guidelines- (Tuesday 11th March 2008)
With the announcement on Friday of "Round One" schools nominated to gain access to the National Secondary School Computer Fund, it is worth reviewing the details available on this web site.
InPrincipal - ISER Technology Update Meetings (DET Intranet)- (Friday 7th March 2008)
Term 1 Technology Update Meetings (formerly Computer Co-ordinator meetings) will be held at various venues throughout ISER over the next few weeks. Local meetings are scheduled for:
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Monday 31st March (Colo Vale PS) and;
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Tuesday 1st April (Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club).
Both meetings from 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
Beautiful Dorena (Mac)- (Friday 7th March 2008)
Kids' stamping and art program, very similar to Kid Pix, written by the guy who wrote Kid Pix! Free.
Memories on TV (Win)- (Friday 7th March 2008)
Photo/video slideshow software. Variety of special effects to create interesting slide shows, and burn them to DVD.
Democracy4Sale- (Tuesday 4th March 2008)
Interesting reading, given the recent revelations in Wollongong.
Doozla (Mac)- (Monday 3rd March 2008)
Great new drawing application from the Plasq people. Draw over webcam pics, colouring-in, etc.
Embed a Calendar in Your School Web Site- (Monday 3rd March 2008)
Jump into the Web 2.0 world with a Google calendar embedded in your school's Intranet or Internet site. Makes it easy for teachers or administrative staff to edit the calendar (from home or school) using a web browser, with any changes automatically reflected in the embedded calendar in your site. Includes an example, and a quickstart guide to creating your own embedded calendar.
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