School Tech News Archive

Innovative Technology Schools Conference - 2007

(Tuesday 30th October 2007)
ITSC 2007 will be held in Sydney from 10th - 14th December 2007. ITSC provides a forum for teachers working in connected learning environments to gain fresh ideas for their classrooms, and develop learning communities around the Asia-Pacific region. Don't miss out - register online now!

Leopard Support & How-to's

(Monday 29th October 2007)
Getting started with the new features in Mac OS X 10.5 - for the early adopters who were out shopping over the weekend!

OS X Server - Admin Tools and 10.5 Client

(Monday 29th October 2007)
Managing a Tiger Server from a Leopard client? You cannot install 10.4 Server Admin Tools on a 10.5 client, and 10.5 Admin Tools (installed on a 10.5 client) are only compatible with a 10.4 Server if is has been updated to 10.4.11.

Consumer Price Index

(Friday 26th October 2007)
As we have listened to the news over recent days we have heard about how the "latest CPI figures" may influence the Reserve Bank's decision to adjust interest rates. This Australian Bureau of Statistics site provides the CPI data, and some analysis of the data trends. Also, read or listen (mp3) to the ABC story about how these "average" CPI figures hide how Consumer price rises hit low income earners.

Right Brain v Left Brain Test

(Friday 26th October 2007)
Are you right-brained or left-brained? Which way does the dancer spin for you?

Road to Leopard - System Preferences

(Thursday 25th October 2007)
An interesting walk down memory lane for Macophiles, - from the original MacOS Control Panel through to the upcoming OS X 10.5 System Preferences. Remember the System 4 Control Panel?

Google Search Tips

(Wednesday 24th October 2007)
For most Google searches, simply typing what you want to find does the job. If you want to refine your search, however, these suggestions from the Google gurus may be useful.

Testing & Tagging of Power Cords

(Tuesday 23rd October 2007)
The NSW OHS regulations require the regular testing and tagging of power cords only in "hostile operating environments". Cords being used in other environments, such as classrooms and offices, require only a risk assessment - details provided in the documents linked from the above site. Read the FAQ document (pdf) for a quick overview.

ITIF Broadband Rankings (pdf)

(Monday 22nd October 2007)
This document, produced by Washington's Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, was at the centre of this weekend's election-campaign claims by the Labor Party regarding the poor state of Australia's broadband infrastructure. Read the full report.

Lorem Ipsum Generator

(Monday 22nd October 2007)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Fusce imperdiet consequat leo. Vestibulum sapien felis, tempus blandit, pretium vitae, scelerisque eu, metus. Etiam et magna. Phasellus erat ante, cursus at, viverra ac, molestie ac, est. Nam ornare dictum massa. This site provides some info about the history of Lorem Ipsum, and a generator to make your own passages.

Browsershots

(Monday 22nd October 2007)
If you have made a school web site, you can check that the site renders OK in multiple browsers, on Mac, Win and Linux platforms - all at this one web site. Very neat!

Apple School Technology Day - 2007

(Thursday 18th October 2007)
Registrations open now - register online. Get all the latest info about the new Mac OS X (see below), learn about using the new iLife 08 in your classroom, and experience the new iPod Touch and Apple TV, at the annual Apple School Technology Day, at Port Kembla Golf Club on Wednesday 14th November 2007.(Download the ASTD Flyer)

The Big Cat is on the Prowl

(Wednesday 17th October 2007)
Apple today announced that Mac OS X Leopard will go on sale Friday, October 26 at 6:00 pm (US) at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers, and that Apple’s online store is now accepting pre-orders.

Australian Electoral Commission - Enrol to Vote

(Monday 15th October 2007)
In order to vote in the upcoming federal election, currently enrolled voters (who may have changed addresses, etc) must ensure that their details are updated before the close of the electoral rolls at 8pm onTuesday 23rd October 2007. Young people voting for the first time must be enrolled before 8pm on Wednesday 17th October - tomorrow!

There's More to Academic Research (Howard Rheingold - SMH)

(Monday 15th October 2007)
If print culture shaped the environment in which the Reformation exploded and the Enlightenment blossomed, participatory media might similarly shape the cognitive and social environments in which 21st-century life will take place.

RadioHead Release Latest Album Online (SMH)

(Monday 15th October 2007)
Providing what may be an insight into the future of music distribution, Radiohead have bypassed record companies and retailers by releasing their latest album, In Rainbows, online. Listeners can choose how much they pay for the album.

Revealed: Apple's Sydney Shopfront (SMH)

(Monday 15th October 2007)
Apple's secretive plans for an official retail store in Sydney - understood to be the first in the southern hemisphere - have been revealed in council documents, which suggest it's unlikely the store will open for business before mid-2008.

Dream a Better World

(Monday 15th October 2007)
Presented by Coomera State School and Dreamworld, this project challenges students to be socially aware and pro-active in visualising a better world. It enhances self-confidence, and developes skills in drama, story-telling, interviewing and public speaking, along with the technical elements of film-making. Applications close 26th October.

Preview 4.0 is part of Mac OS X 10.5

(Monday 15th October 2007)
Apple's Preview 4.0 (part of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard) will see the application expand from a simple PDF reader into the beginnings of a fully-fledged image editor.

Otford Cycling for 1 to 1

(Wednesday 3rd October 2007)
In July 2008, a group of teachers and parents from Otford are planning to cycle 1500km along the Gunbarrel Highway, to raise funds to provide a laptop for every student in their school.

Mullum Writers

(Wednesday 3rd October 2007)
Every month at Mullumbimby Public School, teachers choose a piece of writing from each stage which typifies not only quality of work, but also the selected students' capacity to "have a go". You can also listen to the students reading their stories using a podcast.