School Tech News Archive

Emerging Technologies Conference (UOW)

(Friday 30th May 2008)
Presented at Wollongong University (18th - 20th June) this conference will offer information and inspiration for using technology as powerful tools for learning, and demonstrate the many forms of innovative technology that are available for teachers to build community. Keynote speakers - Tom March & Ron Oliver. Cost $50 per day or $100 for 3 days.

Phoenix Has Landed

(Tuesday 27th May 2008)
NASA site with photos and videos directly from the the Phoenix spacecraft on the Martian surface. Also other information about the mission, the spacecraft and it's instruments. See also the University of Arizona's Mars Mission education site.

Enable Access to Local Web Sharing (Mac)

(Tuesday 27th May 2008)
Here's one that is a little obtuse - unless you have the need for it! There is a bug in Apple's implementation of Apache 2 that disables access to local users' web sites in Personal Web Sharing. This facility is very handy for demos where you don't have Internet access. If you get the "forbidden....you don't have access" message when trying to access computername/~username, this site explains how to apply the quick fix.

HSC Students to Study Wikipedia (SMH)

(Monday 26th May 2008)
In an Australian first, NSW HSC students will from next year be able to take a course in studying Wikipedia, the online collaborative encyclopedia.

Hide the Blogger Navigation Bar

(Monday 19th May 2008)
Do you use Google's Blogger for your school's news site, or your class news page? You can edit your template so that the blue Blogger navigation bar is not displayed at the top of the page.

Networked Learning Guidelines

(Wednesday 14th May 2008)
If you are using blogs, wikis, or other open forums in an education environment, these guidelines are a worthwhile read. See also: Teacher & Student Blogs That Succeed.

Speeding Minister Reveals He Will Lose Licence (SMH)

(Tuesday 13th May 2008)
"NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca has lost his licence for speeding, the minister has announced under the cover of Federal Budget day."

Mac Thief Caught on Webcam (SMH)

(Tuesday 13th May 2008)
Police have arrested two men and recovered $US5500 worth of stolen computers and electronic devices after the owner of one of the purloined laptops was able to connect remotely to her Apple MacBook and photograph the thief.

Web Apps

(Tuesday 13th May 2008)
Most school ICT plans make reference to 'new and emerging technologies'. Have you explored any of these Web App options yet? Are there any classroom possibilities as part of this next big thing? (See also Jenny Ashby's Podcast).

Mr Fuller's Class - Orange Grove PS (WA)

(Monday 12th May 2008)
Tune in to Mr Fuller's YouTube intro to the new year at Orange Grove PS in Western Australia. Lots of other ideas to discover in this interesting school web site. (YouTube video may not be accessible on some corporate networks).

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.

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.