Google Sites for Educators Webinar

This is a really thorough one hour webinar introducing teachers to Google Sites. A great way to teach yourself everthing you might need to know to create and use a Google Site with your class!

One of the many useful videos on the Google Apps channel on YouTube.

Moodle 2.0 - checking out what's new!

Moodle 2.0 was officially launched on 24th November 2010. If you are interested in checking out how Moodle 2.0 differs from earlier versions of Moodle, check out the official release notes here or link to specific notes below!

• 1 Major new features
  • 1.1 Community hubs
  • 1.2 Repository support
  • 1.3 Portfolio support
  • 1.4 Course completion and prerequisites
  • 1.5 Conditional activities
  • 1.6 Cohorts
  • 1.7 Web services support
  • 1.8 New blocks
  • 1.9 Plagiarism prevention
• 2 Major improvements to existing core features
  • 2.1 Backup and restore
  • 2.2 Blocks
  • 2.3 Blogs
  • 2.4 Comments
  • 2.5 Enrolment plugins
  • 2.6 File handling
  • 2.7 Filters 2.0
  • 2.8 HTML editor
  • 2.9 Messaging
  • 2.10 My Moodle page
  • 2.11 Navigation
  • 2.12 Ratings
  • 2.13 Roles and permissions
  • 2.14 RSS feeds
  • 2.15 Themes
  • 2.16 Translation system
  • 2.17 User profile pages
• 3 Major improvements to activity modules
  • 3.1 Lesson
  • 3.2 Quiz module and question bank
  • 3.3 Resource
  • 3.4 SCORM
  • 3.5 Wiki
  • 3.6 Workshop

Taking the Core features of Google Apps to the next level - free PD for teachers!

Taking the Core features of Google Apps to the next level
- a free online professional development seminar!

Date and time: 8 December 2010 13:30, New Zealand Daylight Time (Wellington, GMT+13:00)
Program: Google Apps for Education Professional Development
Duration: 1 hour
Description: Taking the Core features of Google Apps to the next level.
Skill level: Intermediate
Lead by Michael Wacker, Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer and Google Certified Teacher

We will explore 5 "killer" features to be used in a K-12 setting in 5 Google tools. Take your Google astuteness to the next level. Join us to learn tips and tricks on Search, Documents, Forms/Spreadsheets, Sites, and Calendar.

Click here to register!

Google Apps for Education Demonstration Video

Great overview of Google Apps for Education! A little cheesy at times, but definitely informative!

Handy Handouts - Facebook Groups, Google Docs, Google Forms and Google Sites!

Here are the direct links for all of the handy handouts created so far! Enjoy!

Introduction to Google Sites

Introduction to Google Forms

Introduction to Google Docs

Introduction to Facebook Groups

Handy Handout - Introduction to Google Sites

Click here to access a handy one page handout on 'Introduction to Facebook Groups for teachers - how to create one and things to consider.

Or you can check out the slideshow tutorial here

Handy Handout - Introduction to Facebook Groups for teachers

Click here to access a handy one page handout on 'Introduction to Facebook Groups for teachers - how to create one and things to consider.

Or you can check out the slideshow tutorial here

Learning Over Lunch - Introduction to Facebook groups for teachers

In this workshop we looked at Facebook Groups - how to create them and what you need to consider as teacher.

Introduction to Facebook groups for teachers

View more presentations from Claire Amos.

Possible uses

• Online discussion
• Provide a space for students to ask each other for help
• Post useful links, resources
• Email reminders to students with new Facegroup email functionality!

E-learning in Social Sciences

E learning in Social Studies

View more presentations from Claire Amos.

Weekly e-learning Update - Handy Handouts, Google Docs, Google Forms, Blogger and more

Welcoming laptops into the classroom
Check out the link above for strategies for 'Welcoming Laptops into the Classroom'.

Learning Over Lunch
This week’s Learning Over Lunch session will take place on Thursday Topic: 'Setting up a Group on Facebook' aka How to use Facebook without being "friends" with your students (postponed date from last week)

Top Tech Tips - a review of resources available on Teaching and e-learning!

Handy Handout for Google forms
Click the link above to access a handy one page handout for staff and students about creating and sharing a document on Google forms

Introduction to Google forms
Click the link above to access an introductory presentation on how to create, share and view the resoults of a Google form

Handy Handout for Google Docs
Click the link above to access a handy one page handout for staff and students about creating and sharing a document on Google Docs

Introduction to Google Docs
Click the link above to access an introductory presentation on how to create, upload and share a Google document

Introduction to Blogger (using blogs for student writing)
An introduction to Blogger (how to create one) and some ideas and research looking at how you could use blogging to support student writing.

PPTA updates

Hi everyone
This is mostly for PPTA members - apologies.
Following last night's very late decision to call off industrial action, I investigated whether PPTA have facility to contact members directly -instead of us waiting for Nowell to pass on messages.
I successfully logged in to the PPTA website and subscribed to the stca email alerts. 
These are now pushed to my iPhone so I'm slightly more connected to what's going on. I also follow @pptaweb on twitter - but they don't publicise anything via twitter.
Steve

Handy Handout - Introduction to Google Forms

Click here to access a handy one page handout on 'Introduction to Google Docs - how to create upload and share a document.

Or you can check out the slideshow tutorial here

Weekly e-learning Update - Google forms, Social Networking and welcoming laptops!

Learning Over Lunch

Last week’s session was on ‘Introduction to creating a quiz or survey on Google Docs’. Check out the online version here.

This week’s Learning Over Lunch session will be available online Thursday.

Topic: 'Setting up a Group on Facebook' aka How to use Facebook without being "friends" with your students

Professional Viewing Recommendations




Teaching Science to 21st Century Learners (lots here for all curriculum areas)
This presentation demonstrates how web2.0 tools can be used in the science class to enhance learning, celebrate achievements and encourage collaboration. It includes video of student interviews, examples of student work and screencasts showing how the tools can be used. Viewers will gain a ‘digital toolbox’ to encourage 21st century learners to participate, communicate and create.



The Classroom Social Network: It’s not just Fun, It’s Fundamental to Modern Learning
Social Networking has been around for the past 7 years give or take, but until recently hasn’t had a large presence in the classroom. I would like to show you the benefit of using various types of social networking in your own classroom to increase your student’s engagement in the classroom and give you tools to authentically assess their understanding via discussion boards and posting of videos/photos. (Looks at strategies for using Facebook, Twitter and Weebly)


Top Tech Tips

Handy Handout for Google Docs
Click the link above to access a handy one page handout for staff and students about creating and sharing a document on Google Docs


Welcoming laptops into the classroom
Check out the link above for strategies for 'Welcoming Laptops into the Classroom'.

Handy Handout - Introduction to Google Docs

Click here to access a handy one page handout on 'Introduction to Google Docs - how to create upload and share a document.

Or you can check out the slideshow tutorial here

Learning over Lunch - Intro to Google Forms

The aim of this workshop is to introduce teachers to Google forms - how to create one, share it, view the responses and consider some uses in the classroom.

Introduction to Google Forms

View more presentations from Claire Amos.

Below is a handy Youtube tutorial that also introduces Google forms!




Possible uses in the classroom

Google forms are a quick, easy and highly effecient ways to do any of the following:

• Gathering'Know your learner' type information
• Quizzes
• Questionnaires
• Student surveys
• Gathering student voice
• Pre-testing
• Feedback
• Evaluation of lessons and/units
• Spelling tests