The past meeting the present.

May 30, 2008

The clever use of multimedia technologies can help bring local history to life for your students. Foundation Day, June 1st, could provide a good jumping off point to explore a few of these sites celebrating the successful integration of multimedia technologies and local history studies.

Heritage Trails PerthHeritage Perth Trails allows users to complete a virtual tour of significant heritage buildings in the Perth City Center, learning about their history, architectural information and current location and use. Or download the audio files and listen to them as you explore the city in real time.

A place where you can put your feet up, settle back and explore at your leisure a range of exciting multimedia experiences showcasing the State Library’s unique collections, past exhibitions and events.



The Tobacco Industry catches you young.

May 29, 2008

World No Tobacco Day May 31st

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Globally, most people start smoking before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these individuals begin using tobacco before the age of 10. The younger children are when they first try smoking, the more likely they are to become regular tobacco users and the less likely they are to quit.

Resources to support units of work for World No Tobacco Day include:

Challenges and Choices

Early Childhood
Middle Childhood
Early Adolesence

Health & Physical Education

Early Childhood
Early Adolescence

DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required]

Useful digital resources in this collection which support Health programs include:

The Sven Callaway Show: health
Watch a talk show host interviewing people about health issues: students, health experts and a studio audience. Look at issues such as health education, health services, asthma, mental health and obesity. Explore a range of opinions including ‘way out’ ideas. Notice how people interpret facts differently. Research a topic, then describe your views on the key issues. Prepare a presentation on the topic for a group discussion. This learning object is one in a series of four objects.
Also:The Sven Callaway Show: drugs, The Sven Callaway Show: sex, The Sven Callaway Show: parenting.


Check the CMIS Resource Bank for reviews of resources including fiction, non fiction and websites on the topics of smoking and tobacco. [Select All Fields search and enter the Keyword 'tobacco' or 'smoking'.]



Techno Arts

May 28, 2008
A ‘grab-bag’ of Visual Arts websites linking technology and art.
Interactive artBots that will generate a wide variety of images. For the most part, they’re drawing / painting programs that produce pictures with underlying constraints.
SwarmSketch
SwarmSketch is an ongoing online canvas that explores the possibilities of distributed design by the masses. Each week it randomly chooses a popular search term which becomes the sketch subject for the week. In this way, the collective is sketching what the collective thought was important each week. A new sketch begins after one week, or after the previous sketch reaches one thousand lines, whichever comes first. SwarmSketch was developed by Peter Edmunds as part of an honours project at the University of Canberra.
Renaissance Coinnection
The Renaissance Connection is an interactive, educational website that uses the Allentown Art Museum’s internationally recognized Samuel H. Kress Collection of Renaissance art as the foundation for teaching math, arts, science, language arts, and social studies. The connections between the visual arts and selected subject areas reveal that Renaissance innovations in many disciplines contributed to contemporary advancements.
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Running the Numbers looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper (five minutes of paper use); 106,000 aluminum cans (thirty seconds of can consumption) and so on.
Zoom Quilt
Click and drag up and down with your mouse to zoom in and out.

…and a couple for exploring Dance and technology.

MoveMixer
Mix, make and shake. Create a dance of your own.
Big Room Web Dance
Created by choreographer and web designer, Richard Lord these four dances were created specifically for the web and exist in no other form. Check the ‘Rose by any other name’ link for more information.

Creating music online has never been easier.

Tony-b Machine
Jam Studio
Requires registration for a free account. Upgrades to subscription accounts available.

Media specialists may appreciate our earlier post: Create- Animate!


DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required] Useful digital resources in this collection which support programs in the Arts learning area include:

Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence

Creativity: Fifi Colston
Explore Fifis studio and discover how she creates wearable art. Look at aspects such as inspiration, motivation, planning and techniques. Plan a design to communicate a message. Choose objects and materials. Use tools to arrange elements of your design such as size, position and colour. Review and revise your work. Use your design to work with real objects.


Sonic space: home
Create your own soundscape from noises around a family home. Explore sounds such as voices talking and the hum of a washing machine. Think about the images and atmosphere suggested by these sounds. Arrange the sounds to make a soundscape. Experiment with order, volume, pauses and repetition. Describe possible uses of your soundscape. This activity is one in a series of six activities.

Also: Sonic space: city, Sonic space: travel, Sonic time: our world, Sonic motion: water world


Found art: city
Explore a city and create a design using objects found in a caf, kiosk, gutter and dumpster bin. Plan a design to communicate a message. Choose objects and materials. Use tools to arrange elements of your design such as size, position and tone. Arrange the materials to create new meanings. Look at aspects such as composition, contrast, juxtaposition, perspective and repetition. Review and revise your work. Describe how you could use your design to work with real objects. This learning object is one in a series of four objects.

Also: Found art: park, Found art: outback, Found art: beach.


The Arts K-10 Syllabus webpages provide support for teachers as they continue with implementation of the Curriculum Framework. The Arts pages detail syllabus content at each year of schooling and phase of development from kindergarten to year 10 and provide classroom-ready resources to support the teaching of all Arts outcomes.

Learning Area Context List

Dance
Expressive Movements using body, space, time and energy.
Drama
Taking on role and acting out situation.
Media
Communicating with print, film and electronic media.
Music
Sounds and silences making music through body, voice and acoustic and electronic means.
Visual Arts
Visual and tactile experiences in two and three dimensional forms.

The CMIS Arts Learning Area web page has extensive links to reviewed resources to support Arts teaching and learning programs.



National Mathematics Day

May 23, 2008
nmd.jpg National Mathematics Day is a chance for teachers to share and promote good mathematics teaching and learning –
with each other, with students, with colleagues and with the wider community.
To celebrate National Library and Information Week the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the snapshot ‘Libraries are for Everyone’

Did You know that:

  • 46% of Australians aged over 18 years visited a library in 2006.
  • 74% of children read for pleasure in April 2006.
  • 55% of children visited a public library outside of school hours in 2005-06.
  • Federal and State and Territory Government funding for libraries in 2005-06 was $394.0 million. This was a national average of $19.95 per person.

The ABS Education Services page is dedicated to promoting access, understanding and greater use of ABS statistics in the schools sector.

CensusAtSchool is ABS Education Services flagship project. Access real, raw data about Australian school students. Go to CensusAtSchool website to find out more about this engaging online learning resource.


Make a Maths teacher happy – show them these great sites.


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Interactive mathematics activities for K-6 students.

Also: A Maths Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather


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The website mixes dynamic geometry, animations, science, and Inca history in order to raise students’ interest in Euclidean geometry. Numerous problems are presented with step-by-step solutions for each proof. All the steps are colorful and animated.



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MathWorld is an extensive mathematical resource, provided as a free service to the world’s mathematics and internet communities as part of a commitment to education and educational outreach by Wolfram Research. Academic site.


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An extensive library of interactive learning objects designed to actively involve K-12 students in mathematical learning and understanding. These objects help students visualise mathematical relationships and applications in an engaging virtual learning environment.


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The idea behind the site is to offer mathematics as well as some fun bits, and to combine the two wherever possible. The main content of the site is aimed at basic math skills. However you will find some more complex stuff, and some easier bits. Hopefully there should be something for everybody.


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Creation, collection, evaluation, and dissemination of authentic interactive Java-based courseware for middle school mathematics explorations.


DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required] Useful digital resources in this collection which support Mathematics programs include:

  • Early Childhood

Number trains
Arrange train carriages according to numbers on their sides. The numbers are represented in a range of formats such as words, numerals, dice dots or counting frames. Identify the numbers that come before and after starting numbers. Begin with numbers up to ten. Move on to work with larger numbers such as 40 and 50. Practise ’skip counting’ by twos, fives and tens. For example, ’skip count’ by five to arrange four carriages into the order 12, 17, 22, 27. This learning object is a combination of five objects that progressively increase in difficulty.

Monster choir: look and listen
Help monsters in a choir to make animal and instrumental sounds in order. Look at a sequence of two or three shapes: squares, circles and triangles. Choose monsters so that their sounds match the shape pattern. Repeat the pattern to make a song. This learning object is one in a series of three objects.

Balance the cups
Put blocks (or balls) into the cups on the scales to make them balance. Think about the number rule and the problem to help you work out how many blocks you need in each cup. Finish the number sentence to show an equal number of blocks on each side. This learning object is a combination of three objects in the same series.


  • Middle Childhood

Wishball: whole numbers
Test your understanding of decimal place value. Start with a whole number such as 1374 that includes four digits. Spin a random digit, then choose its decimal place value. Decide whether to add or subtract the random digit from your target number. The starting number will be adjusted by the amount you choose. Work towards a given target number such as 3278. You can use a Wishball to help you reach the target number. Try to achieve the target with as few additions or subtractions as possible. This learning object is one in a series of ten objects.

Hopper: whole numbers
Help a frog to jump along a number line. Estimate the finishing point on a number line, after adding or subtracting multiples of whole numbers to a starting number. For example, 255+(10 x 4) = 295. Explore the patterns made on a counting grid and number line. Identify counting rules that match the pattern of ‘landing spots’ on a counting grid. This learning object is one in a series of seven objects.

Exploring transformations
Explore transformations of shapes such as rotation, translation or reflection. Identify which transformations have been applied to circles and polygons to produce new images. For example, the original image may have been rotated 90 degrees around the point (0,0). Notice how the coordinates of the transformed image are related to the original image. Watch a video showing transformations of objects in a shopping mall, hotel and fun park.


  • Early Adolescence

Trigonometry: finding angles
Look at an explanation of the trigonometric ratios: sine, cosine and tangent. Adjust the angles of a right-angled triangle within a unit circle (radius of one unit). Set the cosine, sine and tangent values of angles from 090 degrees. Identify the angle for each of the values. This learning object is one in a series of ten objects.

Mobile phone plans: peak and off-peak
Compare monthly call plans quoted by a phone company. Look at the effect of off-peak discounts. Use line graphs to work out the costs for talk time, text messages, photos and total costs. Recommend the best plan. This learning object is one in a series of six objects.

Maths and the car: loan calculator
Use a calculator to estimate loan repayments needed to buy a car. Look at variables such as price, compound interest rate, term of loan and payment frequency. Work out the total interest to be paid by the borrower.


The Mathematics K-10 Syllabus webpages provide support for teachers as they continue with implementation of the Curriculum Framework. The Mathematics pages detail syllabus content at each year of schooling and phase of development from kindergarten to year 10 and provide classroom-ready resources to support the teaching of all Mathematics outcomes.



Biggest Morning Tea@Your Library

May 22, 2008
Thursday 22 May is the official date of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea 2008, but you can host a morning tea anytime in May in your office, home, school or community centre to raise money for cancer research, education and support services.

Extra materials including posters, invitations and letters to send to parents/guardians are available for download from the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea site.


HyperHistory Online hyperhistory.jpg
This incredibly information rich site includes over 3,000 interconnected files and several hundred links to the world wide web. The growing site itself contains presently over 100 MB of images and text files, but individual gif files are kept small enough to allow for a quick display. Here is a quick graphic introduction to the site and a slightly more detailed text-based guide.

360 Panoramic VIRTUAL TOURS
These sites have been selected for their interactive multimedia presentations. Users are able to control the virtual tours often selecting details they view and degrees of magnification.
Medieval Game of Life gameoflife.jpg  
Learn about interesting aspects of life in medieval times by choosing your path through life.

DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required]Useful digital resources to support Society and Environment programs in this collection include:
Early Childhood

Explore social issues in a supermarket such as nagging adults for treats. Identify actions of children and adults which promote harmony. Identify personal safety issues. Look for ideas where children can positively interact with adults. Review a set of rules for socially responsible and desirable behaviour. This learning object is one in a series of two objects.

Meet a group of children eating their lunch at school. Notice how each child uses or disposes of their plastic lunch bag in a different way. Predict where the bags might end up and how they may affect the environment. Find out about the durability of plastics and environmental benefits of recycling.

Middle Childhood

Explore how human activities impact on the Antarctic ecosystem. Compare opinions on climate change, the ozone hole and whaling. This learning object is one in a series of eight learning objects.

Investigate community problems in a street, such as a child painting graffiti on a shop wall. Identify actions to help people get along better. Look for positive ideas where people work together to solve problems. Choose community rules and rank them in order of importance.

Investigate events that led to the miners’ uprising in Ballarat in 1854. Help a teenage girl to understand why her brother wants to join the miners in the Eureka Stockade and protest against the government. Browse background notes and interviews of several characters. Do a SWOT analysis to decide whether or not to support the miners’ protest. Consider the outcomes of the Eureka uprising and its significance to Australian history.

Early Adolescence

Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of providing housing for homeless people. Review three points of view on the issue and the arguments that support them. Gather facts and opinions from a consultant and local people. Consider issues such as social equity, welfare, compassion and employment. Recommend the best course of action. This learning object is one in a series of two objects.

Explore arguments for and against building a tourist resort on a tropical island. Examine a development proposal and comments from locals and the media. Notice that the comments contain emotive language and are not always based on fact. Prepare a case representing the point of view of a group such as the indigenous population, local business owners or environmentalists. Recommend an action and give reasons to justify your decision.


The Society and Environment K-10 Syllabus webpages provide support for teachers as they continue with implementation of the Curriculum Framework. The Society and Environment pages detail syllabus content at each year of schooling and phase of development from kindergarten to year 10 and provide classroom-ready resources to support the teaching of all Society and Environment outcomes.


It’s Storytime…11am today.

May 21, 2008

National Simultaneous Storytime

What will you be doing at 11am today?

Free downloadable pdf templates for last minute activity sheets are available on the ALIA NSS website.


Check out these sites for more information, assistance and activities for storytelling sessions.

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This easy to navigate site contains a wealth of information about many aspects of storytelling including Storytelling in the Classroom
Lesson Plans & Activities

Story Library
Articles
Links
Curriculum Ideas Exchange
Storytelling Store
Story Arts Theatre


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Here are free resources for storytelling (or story telling)—including the acclaimed series Gifts of Story—all from children’s author Aaron Shepard. (For additional stories, see Aaron’s World of Stories.) Enjoy the magic of story!


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Digital Storytelling is a fantastic way to engage students, teachers and just about anyone else who has ever wanted to be the next Ken Burns or Steven Spielberg. There are many different definitions of “digital storytelling,” but in general, all of them revolve around the idea of combining the longstanding art of telling stories with any of a variety of available multimedia tools, including graphics, audio, video animation, and Web publishing.


David Jakes [JakesOnline] has an amazing collection of links and resources about digital storytelling including an excellent 13 page pdf tutorial for PhotoStory 3.


See also our previous post Create – Animate! for information about resources to support digital storytelling.


Happy National Library Technician’s Day

May 20, 2008
Wishing you all a wonderful National Library Technician’s Day.

Here are a couple of ‘fun sites’ to help you enjoy your day.

lightlib.jpg Help Lydia the Librarian find books for the kids before they get upset and leave! The better your memory the better you’ll do at Lightning Librarian.
robo.jpg Use the arrow keys to guide the Robo Librarian. Pick up books for points. Do not run into people or book carts. Use the spacebar to jump over objects. You get bonus points for jumping over book carts.

On a more serious note you may like to share these great interactive sites with your Science Learning Area specialists.


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View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree just outside the buildings of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.


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Explore an evolving design of a Mars habitat based on current concepts of engineers and designers. As you walk through the simulation, discover science, technology and hazards of a near future mission to the red planet.


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yuckiest.jpgFirst there was mud. Then there were worms. and now there is Yucky! Test your skills with Whack-A-Roach. All you need to know about barfing, belching and blackheads! Plus mad scientist fun in Yucky Labs!


DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required]Useful digital resources to support Science programs in this collection include:


Early Childhood

Explore how to build food chains to describe interactions. Look at the feeding patterns between plants and animals. See an energy source, producer and consumers arranged into a food chain such as Sun>plant>mouse>cat. Notice that the Sun always comes first. This learning object is one in a series of six objects.

Also: Food Chains – Forest, Desert, Farm, Town, Wetlands

Look at a range of animals such as a crab, octopus, snake and tortoise. Group the animals into vertebrates and invertebrates.

Look at groups of animals: invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Explore characteristics of common species.

Move animals from a boat to their new home in a zoo. Put them on a cart, then use monkeys to push or pull them up a hill. Use the minimum amount of force needed to move each animal. For example, use a single monkey to push a pelican or use three monkeys to pull a zebra. This learning object is the last in a series of three objects that progressively increase in difficulty.
Also: push or pull?, how much force?, zoo move

Clean up Old Bernie’s Pond. See how it has become polluted and invaded by introduced species. Restore the pond by choosing actions such as planting native species and removing sources of pollution. Look at the effects of each change. Earn points to get a certificate.


Middle Childhood
Explore the uses of a microscope. Use a microscope to examine slides of four different plant and animal cells. Place each of the slides in turn on the microscope stage. Adjust the light, focus and magnification to get the best image. Compare the different cells, and then sum up your findings by answering the conclusion questions.

Investigate a range of animal eyes: dog, cat, bee, fish, eagle and human. Discover how these animals see things in different ways because their eyes have different structures. For example, look at an animal’s field of view, how it focuses and sees colours. This learning object is one in a series of seven objects.
Also: rock bridge puzzle, stone wheel puzzle, slingshot puzzle, wall tile puzzle, killer bees puzzle, door keys puzzle, mission 1, mission 2

Experiment with the structure of human arms and legs. Replace the arms and legs with body parts such as owl wings or dolphin flippers. Look at the skeletal structure of the new animals. Describe the functional effects of replacing the limbs. Explain how the structure of an animal’s body is related to its function and environment. Print a worksheet of your customised design for a ’superhuman’.

Early Adolescence
Explore subatomic particles and how they combine to form atoms and ions. Compare different ways of modelling atoms. Use nuclear symbols to represent different isotopes. Build atoms and ions by combining protons, neutrons and electrons. This learning object is a combination of three objects in the same series.
Also: atom structure, assisted atom builder, atom builder, ion builder, atom bingo, atom and ion bingo

Explore how criminal suspects are described in police profiles. Build a profile describing yourself or a friend. Take fingerprints, draw an identikit picture and record physical characteristics such as height, weight and blood type. This learning object is one in a series of eight objects.

See how genes and genetic engineering work. Build models of DNA, and work out how it is copied as cells divide. Discover how the codes carried in the genes are copied and used to build proteins. See how gene splicing can be used to benefit human lives. For example, model the transfer of a human gene into bacteria, so they produce insulin. This learning object is a combination of five objects in the same series.

Investigate the role of physical forces in how bicycle wheels work. Test how wheel size, tyre pressure, tread and load affect rolling resistance. Then choose wheels best suited to track conditions in a time trial. This learning object is one in a series of four objects.

Check the CMIS Theme page for more recommended resources to support teaching and learning in the Science learning area. Topics include: Astronomy, Flight, Minibeasts and Threatened Species.

The Science – K-10 Syllabus webpages provide support for teachers as they continue with implementation of the Curriculum Framework. The Science pages detail syllabus content at each year of schooling and phase of development from kindergarten to year 10 and provide classroom-ready resources to support the teaching of Science outcomes.


The Digital Bard…and more

May 19, 2008

A picture is worth a thousand words … interactive digital resources can help bring learning to life for today’s visual learners.

To celebrate Library Information Week the CMIS Technology Focus blog will feature a selection of WoW [Wonders of the Web] resources. Many of these sites use audio so make sure you plug in your speakers and turn on your sound.

Today’s selection will support programs in the English learning area. Check back each day this week for recommendations in other Learning Areas.

glodesml.jpg Navigate your way around Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. From the Converse Literature Site, where among other resources you can check out the Shakespearean Insult Generator and the Chaucer Translator.
v_globesml.jpg More fun than the pub! More excitement than a bear fight! More suspense than gambling! Click on and explore the interactive images to discover a wealth of information about the Globe Theatre and living in Shakespearean England.
 
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Explore active links to multimedia methods of exploring Shakespeare’s script in the left panel of the screen. Use the Image, Video, Audio and Lexicon icons at the top of the screen to access a variety of media to help you better understand the script. These interactive resources can provide a stimulating introduction to more traditional explorations of Shakespeare and his works.
 
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Enter words into the search box to look them up or double-click a node to expand the tree. Click and drag the background to pan around and use the mouse wheel to zoom. Hover over nodes to see the definition and click and drag individual nodes to move them around to help clarify connections.
 
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Many teachers are familiar with Jenny Eather’s Rainforest Maths site. Here is her Writing Fun site: a wealth of text organizer examples and templates to use to help students have fun writing.
 
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The ICDL Foundation’s goal is to build a collection of books that represents outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world. Ultimately, the Foundation aspires to have every culture and language represented so that every child can know and appreciate the riches of children’s literature from the world community. The Simple Search by Category page makes it easy to locate books to support specific learning contexts.

DET teachers are able to access The Learning Federation Learning Objects via the DET Portal. [log in required]

Useful digital resources to support literacy programs in this collection include:

  • Early Childhood

Letter planet: oo, ee, ai
Help a stranded space traveller return home by filling three fuel tanks with words that have the same letter pattern. Select words with combinations of ‘oo’, ‘ee’ or ‘ai’. Read and listen to model words. Select similar words with the same pattern and place them in the fuel tank. Then construct sentences by putting words in the appropriate order. Identify the word with the chosen letter combination. This learning object is one of a series of five objects.

  • Middle Childhood

Picture this
Explore how words can trigger pictures in people’s heads. Look at some thought bubbles. Recognize that two people may think of very different pictures when reading the same text. Choose five words from a list to describe a picture. Read one of three fiction texts or a factual description. Then watch an animation showing how a boy pictures the text happening. As you go, look up the meaning of tricky words. This is the first in a series of three activities, which progressively increase in difficulty.

Super stories: The Abandoned House
Help a publishing director create a bestselling horror story. Read the story. Choose effective nouns and adjectives to increase the impact of the story and make it scarier. Select illustrations that highlight the horror of the events. This learning object is one in a series of four objects.
Also: Super Stories: The Sea Cave

Dream machine
Build a dream bike using fantasy parts such as a ‘time-travel frame’ and ’supersonic jet pedals’. Look at a model text that uses similes to describe a ‘Wish-come-true bike’. Choose similes to make an interesting description of your own fantasy bike. This learning object is one in a series of two activities.

Letters to the editor
Do some work for a local newspaper. Investigate community attitudes to a development planned for a local park. Look at development plans for the site. Interview three people at a public meeting to find out more about their opinions. Read opinions expressed in letters to the editor. Then match each letter to the person who expressed the same opinions at the public meeting. Answer questions about word choice and the structure of the letters. As you go, look up the meaning of tricky words. This learning object is one in a series of five objects.

Show and tell: that cat
Watch a short cartoon about a cat chasing a bird. Select noun groups, verb groups and phrases to create sentences and build a basic factual recount. Rearrange the word groups to create the best order in the sentences. Who was involved? What did they do? When, where or how did they do it? Add adjectives and adverbs to make the story clearer and funnier. Choose a picture to go with the recount. This learning object is one in a series of four objects.
Also: Here, Boy, Eerie Encounter, Close Encounter

  • Early Adolescence

Garage beat
Interview members of a garage band. Ask them about how they got started and what have been their greatest successes. Build a written profile of the band. Choose model text and images. Rephrase the band’s informal spoken answers into more formal and concise written language. Add an introduction, conclusion, photo and headline. This learning object is one in a series of three objects.

World Wonders TV show: bushfire
Build a script about bushfires for a television show. Help a researcher to sort facts and pictures. Use a model structure, sample text and images to build an explanation. Include sections on causes, processes and effects. Connect ideas in the script by adding words to form noun groups such as ‘many hectares’ and ’surrounding trees’. This learning object is one in a series of two objects.
Also: Volcanic Eruption, Thunderstorm, Earthquake.

Motorbikes [Windows version]
Choose a photo and describe a dream motorbike. Use a map to design a motorbike race track. Label motorbike parts on a diagram.


This is a very small sample of some of the very user friendly educational sites available to enhance teaching and learning programs in the English learning area. Please share your favourite sites with other teachers by adding your recommendations as a comment [click on the comment link below]

Links to further information and collections of learning objects are available on the CMIS Learning Objects page.


Fun time robotics @ RoboCup Junior Competition 2008

May 12, 2008

robo_wa.jpg          robo_aus.jpg                                                                  

The Robocup Junior competition is an educational project that gives both primary and secondary school students across Australia an opportunity to explore the world of robotics. Students are encouraged to create a robot that can be manipulated to perform any number of actions from ballet to football (soccer). This year Scitech Perth will be hosting both the state and national championships.

Up to four teams can be entered on one entry form.

 September 16 is the day set for the state final with the national event on September 20 & 21

More information about either competition can be obtained from :

craig@scitech.org.au

Register for Robocup Junior WA State Championships – $30 entry fee applies

Register for Robocup Junior Australian Open  - $50 entry fee applies [state winners - free entry]

                                                            robo_aus.jpg                             


Webby Award Winners 2008

May 8, 2008
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Since 1996 the Webby Awards have celebrated achievement in the field of interactive multimedia. Website entries make up the majority of Webby Awards Winners, Nominees and Honorees.

The 2008 Webby Award Winners [announced May 6th]

View the Winners’ Flash Gallery or the Static List

While all the nominated sites could be used to explore the techniques of effective multimedia communication the following selection could be useful general classroom resources. Teachers are advised to preview sites to ensure the content is suitable for students in their classrooms.

darfur.jpg Eyes on Darfur - Amnesty International’s unprecedented Eyes On Darfur project leverages the power of high-resolution satellite imagery to provide unimpeachable evidence of the atrocities being committed in Darfur – enabling action by private citizens, policy makers and international courts. Eyes On Darfur also breaks new ground in protecting human rights by allowing people around the world to literally “watch over” and protect twelve intact, but highly vulnerable, villages using commercially available satellite imagery. [Some images may not be suited to use with younger students]
displaceme.jpg Invisible Children:Displace MePeople’s Voice Winner In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.After returning to the States, they created the documentary “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers.
skillsone.jpg Skills OneWebby Award Winner The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence promotes and advances learning, teaching and training in Australian trades education and elevates the status of traditional trades and trades education as a career choice.
smithsonain.jpg Smithsonain Education Peoples’ Voice Winner – The gateway to Smithsonian education resources. [including lesson plans]
design.jpg Design for the Other 90% Webby Award Winner – Encompassing a broad set of modern social and economic concerns, these design innovations often support responsible, sustainable economic policy.Design for the Other 90% demonstrates how design can be a dynamic force in saving and transforming lives, at home and around the world.
wwo.jpg World Without Oil – In May 2007, over 1,800 people combined imagination with insight to create World Without Oil (WWO), a realistic simulation of the first 32 weeks of a global oil shortage chronicled in 1,500 personal blog posts, videos, images and voicemails. Via these lesson plans, high school teachers can use this collaborative grassroots simulation to engage students with questions about energy use, sustainability, the role energy plays in our economy, culture, worldview and history, and many others.
nasa.jpg NASA Earth Observatory Peoples’ Voice Winner – The purpose of NASA’s Earth Observatory is to provide a freely-accessible publication on the Internet where the public can obtain new satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet. The focus is on Earth’s climate and environmental change. In particular, we hope our site is useful to public media and educators. Also nominated NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
paper.jpg Paper Critters – an online application for creating and sharing digital paper toys.

More resources suited to classroom use can be found in the Webby Awards Honorees section – start by checking out the Official Honoree sites for Activism, Art, Education, Health, Science and Youth.