ICTeD Services

Digital Divide & Digital Difference for TLN Online 09.05.2013

Digital Divide & Digital Difference is an article I've had published this week for the Teacher Learning Network. The TLN Journal Autumn 2013 [20.1] has a great set of articles around the theme of, Catering for Difference. The Journal is available from the TLN directly,
http://www.tln.org.au.

This Thursday, the TLN webinar, entitled also, Catering for Difference, has invited many of the authors of this issue of the  journal to elaborate on their articles and participate in discussion. Details of how to participate are at http://www.tln.org.au/courses?eventId=616322&EventViewMode=EventDetails

There is a cost involved to join the webinar if you or your school is not a TLN member. However, if you are a teacher or school in Victoria & T asmania, and you are not a TLN member, you should be!

While you will have to purchase the Journal, if you haven't got it already, the presentation for my segment of the webinar is available on SlideShare. Go to
http://www.slideshare.net/ictedservices/digital-divide-or-digital-difference

Hope you can participate in the webinar!

 

Making the Right Connections: Device Rollouts and Learning Space Design

I've just seen this article I wrote in Education Technology Solutions #53 [iPad edition] published yesterday.


This is the opening paragraph...

For many schools, notebook, netbook or iPad programs which give students high levels of access to connected learning environments are now nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, many schools have or are now in the process of replacing their initial fleets of devices. These are either now out of lease or past their use by date.
Schools going through this rollover process, or those implementing such programs for the first time, need to make device selection a significant teaching and learning decision. This includes consideration of the learning spaces where students will be using the devices.
Device rollouts are about more than just providing shiny new devices for students.
If device usage doesn’t engage students, improve learning and enhance the delivery curriculum through systemic and school pedagogies, they are simply not being used in a useful capacity.
Critical to the success of any device rollout is selecting devices that will be best suited to the learning spaces that they will be used in. This is both the physical spaces (e.g. at school, at home) and the virtual spaces (e.g. Learning Management System, or any online space).
Before we look at those learning spaces and their relationships with device selection, we need to acknowledge that there are a number of stakeholders involved in the selection decision about devices. Not all stakeholders will be involved in the decision to the same extent, but all should have some input. These stakeholders are school systems, school administrators, technicians, teachers, students and parents.

Want to read the whole article?

Download the ETS app from iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ed-tech-solutions/id570601896?mt=8

 

MacSchoolsNet for 2013

MacSchoolsNet is back for 2013! See the website http://www.macschools.net/

First meeting is being hosted by one of our Industry Partners,  Georgina Pazzi of Edumazing in Werribee. See http://www.edumazing.com/community

• Term One : Thursday, February, 28th, 2013 4:30 - 6:00 Edumazing Education Studio Level 1, 84 Synnot Street, Werribee

Agenda:
• Welcome, introduction, apologies [Mark Richardson] [5 mins]
• iPads and Preps, How do you do it? [Peter Mills, Iramoo PS] [15 mins + questions, discussion]
• Educational Equity - A New Journey [Georgina Pazzi, Edumazing/Star Learning Foundation] [15 mins + questions, discussion]
• Engaging Apps in the Literacy Classroom [Damiano Lo Nigro, Baden Powell P-9 College] [15 mins + questions, discussion]
• 1 to 1 Programs: Pedagogy, Stakeholders & Learning Spaces. [Mark Richardson, Williamstown PS] [15 mins + questions, discussion]

• Next meetings [more details  to follow during the year].

• Term Two: Thursday, May 16th 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
 Kensington Community High School405 Racecourse Road, Kensington
   

• Term Three: Thursday, August 15th 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
 Monmia PS Copernicus Way, Keilor Downs
   

• Term Four: Thursday, November 7th 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
 Williamstown PS Cecil Street, Williamstown

Upcoming PD Sessions for VITTA - Semester 1/2013

I'm running two after school PD sessions for the Victorian Information Technology Teachers' Association [VITTA] this semester. Details and registration link is below. Hope to see you at one or both of them!

Title: Managing teaching and learning in the 21st Century classroom [Years P-8]

Date: 5 March 2013

Venue: VATE meeting room, 134 Cambridge St, Collingwood

Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Abstract: The classroom landscape has changed much in the technological age, although much has also stayed the same. How do we use technology to leverage the best of these old and new pedagogies to enhance teaching and learning?

Session will cover:
• Learning Spaces
• Technology Integration
• Devices and Connectivity
• School System Resources
• Free and Open Source Resources
• Curriculum Planning
• Lesson Delivery & Student Assessment
• Student Leadership & eLearning
• 21st century Skill Development
• Classroom Management
• CyberSafety & Digital CItizenship
• Change Management
• Ongoing Support & Networking
• Links to Current Research.

To register: http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/managing-teaching-and-learning-in-the-21st-century-classroom

Title: Implementing Challenge Based Learning at your School - The Next Step  [Years P-8]

Date: 2 May 2013

Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Venue: VATE meeting room, 134 Cambridge St, Collingwood

Abstract: This builds on the session Mark presented for VITTA in 2012, Re-invent your teaching with Challenge Based Learning. [Those that missed last year's session can still attend this session. They can catch up on all the content and activities of last year's session by accessing a free online resource any time before the session. Login and password to this online resource will be given after registration. Those that attended last year's session, or have a good understanding of CBL do not need to complete this pre-session component].

The Session will cover:
• The importance of Challenge Based Learning
• Implementation strategies for CBL [Whole School / Professional Learning Team / Classroom]
• Making space in the curriculum for CBL
• Identifying "road blocks" and what to do about them
• The new skill sets need that to be taught to students for CBL
• Cataloguing the learning
• Student Assessment - What do we need to measure?
• Group dynamics &  classroom management
• The importance of the solution and the action in CBL
• Student leadership
• Change management
• Sustainability of CBL in your school
• Sharing of CBL experiences
• Ongoing Support & Networking

To register: http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/implementing-challenge-based-learning-at-your-school

 

Teaching & Learning in a Re-Designed ICT Teaching and Learning Space

I wrote earlier [see blogpost http://ictedservices.typepad.com/icted_services/2012/10/western-region-primary-school-study-tour-enhancing-learning-through-effective-use-of-ict.html ] about the re-design of the ICT learning space which I teach in at my school.

In brief the re-design was for this reason. It was to be a space that was to encourage 21st century learning by students and teachers at my school.

The re-designed space is all about supporting:
• Social & collaborative learning
• Integrated Curriculum
• Student-directed / teacher-directed learning
• Independent learning
• Project Based Learning

• Direct Instruction of ICT [mainly for junior school students]

But what exactly have I taught in this learning space in the last semester?

1. A number of lessons [using direct instruction] and following the school's ICT Scope & Sequence Chart [see my previous blogpost on this] for the three junior school levels [Prep / Grade 1 / Grade 2]. This was essentially network and specific application training, hopefully with a lot of fun thrown in!!

2. All Grade 3/4 completed a 12 lesson module, each containing three activities [four x one lessons on each activity], in the new learning space.
Students worked collaboratively in mixed ability groups of 6 -7 students.


Each group or learning zone had a defined home space to work in and some special equipment / areas to use.

Students where shown assessment rubrics before the beginning of the unit and these where reiterated at various times during the module.

The content of these activities were as follows:

Activity One: Make an Advertisement / Documentary / Movie Trailer / about the new ICT Teaching and Learning Centre.
In the presentations each learning zone needed to:
• Describe the ICT Teaching and Learning Centre and all its features and equipment.
• Describe how your group thinks it will work.

• Describe how your group thinks it will learn in this space.

• Interview at least someone from another group about the space.
• Express your feelings about the space.

The next two activities follow the school's commitment to its progression to eSmart accreditation as an eSmart School. See https://www.esmartschools.org.au/Pages/eSmartPortal.aspx

These two activities relate particularly to eSmart Domain 4 - Effective Teacher Practices and Domain 5 - An eSmart Curriculum.
See  Download ESmart Matrix Planning edit Modules 4_5 for more on these domains

Activity Two Students collect data about bad experiences on the internet.
Data collected by online surveys, audio interviews and video interviews.
They share this data with others. Collected data put together put into Keynote presentation.

Activity Three Students make and information product about CyberSafety / CyberBullying for other students to use.
This could include the following: Poster / Brochure [Comic Life or Pages] or Video [iMovie] or Podcast [Garageband]

Planning a Poster / Brochure:
What’s the message? What’s the information?
Consider: Text / Headlines / Graphics / Images

Planning a Video:
What’s the message? What’s the information?
Consider: Storyboard / Script / Shots / Action / Dialogue / Voice overs / Sound Effects / Music

Planning a Podcast:
What’s the message? What’s the information?
Consider: Script / Genre - Documentary / Interview / Narrative

Weekly lesson plans where shown to the students at the beginning of each session. These showed the theme of the lesson, the direct instruction by myself and what each Learning Zone was expected to complete.

These were them related to the assessment rubrics. See example
For greater detail, see My Other Blog.
http://ictedservices.typepad.com/elearning/2012/11/improving-our-ict-teaching-and-learning-using-john-hatties-research-.html

Comments always valued.

ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence for Primary / Elementary Schools /4

I was contacted by a teacher from a regional city in country Victoria about the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence at the school [Inner Western suburbs, Melbourne AU] where I teach. I've blogged about our journey in developing the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence before and presented about it at conferences.  See http://ictedservices.typepad.com/icted_services/ict-scope-sequence/
for previous blogposts and presentations on the topic.

The question I have been recently asked is, where is the school now in the journey with its ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence?

So here is the latest update.
Firstly, what where the principles on which the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence was built on?
01. It was to cover the ICT Curriculum Standards which we were required to teach at each level. In our case, the Victorian Essential Learning Standards [VELS] for ICT. See http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/ict/index.html
02. It was also to cover the application on those ICT standards and skills into classroom programs and the domains taught there [Mathematics, English, Science, History, Geography, Music etc.].
03. That it was to be easy to read and understand by teachers and also by students.
04. That it could be easily implemented by teachers.
05. That it could be easily integrated into Mathematics, English, Science, History, Geography, Music etc.
06. That student performance, related to the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence could be obvious and assessed easily.
07. That it was developed as a collaborative project by all teachers, through their Professional Learning Teams.
08. That the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence be reviewed from time to time. i.e. it is not set in concrete. In fact looking at it today, it seems to need to a bit of tweaking already.
09. That teachers implementing the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence are supported with professional development, demonstration lessons and curriculum activities.
10.That it is linked to the school's eSmart Implementation, particularly the eSmart Curriculum [Module 4]. See https://www.esmartschools.org.au/Pages/eSmartPortal.aspx

What's happened in the past year and a half?

The completion of the ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence [2011]. See Below

• Grade Prep ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence
By the end of Grade Prep, students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Computer Knowledge
• Turn on a computer.
• Use a mouse to navigate and click to open applications or visit hyperlinks.
• Show safe use of ICT tools.
• Use terminology such as 'mouse', desktop', keyboard, 'interactive whiteboard','wand','pen' & 'pointer'.
• Can discuss what they have done on a computer with others.

Internet and Networked Resources
• Complete simple computer activities using applications and websites.
• Complete simple tasks on an interactive whiteboard.
• Can use a selection of applications or websites such as FUSE Early Years or Purple Mash

• Grade One ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence
By the end of Grade 1, students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Computer Knowledge
• Further development of computer vocabulary and computer safety
• Log on/out/short name/passwords Desktop Publishing
• Can create documents with simple formatting Multimedia
• Can take a manipulate images and insert into document

Internet & Networked Resources
• Can access websites from hyperlinks on school intranet
• Can complete internet activities of increasing complexity
• Can open, use and quit a variety of applications
• Have an understanding of applications such as PhotoBooth, Bean,Tux Math,Tux Paint, Purple Mash, FUSE etc.

• Grade Two ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence
By the end of Grade 2, students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Computer Knowledge
• Basic File Management. Naming and saving and retrieving files

Desktop Publishing
• Production of documents showing use of the keyboard [Uppercase and lowercase letters, punctuation, space bar, return]. Open, close and save and print word processing documents
• Basic Formatting

Multimedia
• Production of Comics & Posters using digital images
• Basic Production of voice recordings [podcast]
• Basic Production of video recordings [vodcast]

Cybersafety
• Introduction of basic concepts of password protection and privacy [particularly as related to Ultranet]

Ultranet
• Introduction to Login and Password. Customising Spaces. Introduction to applications such as blogging

Online & Networked Resources
• Developing competency using elected applications and websites e.g.Purple Mash, Targeting Maths, Comic Life, FUSE, Bean, Photobooth etc

• Grade 3/4 ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence

By the end of Grade 3/4, students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Computer Knowledge
• Navigation, Saving & Retrieval, File Management, Understanding Software and Hardware. Introduction to Windows,

Desktop Publishing
• Word processing, graphic design, spreadsheets & databases and multimedia Presentations

Multimedia
• Multimedia presentations, digital video, animation, digital photography, music composition, website design, digital portfolios, podcasting and vodcasting and game making etc.

Cybersafety and Copyright
• Understanding of the basic concepts. Develops some personal strategies for safe and ethical usage of the internet.

Ultranet & eMail
• Further development of skills with Release 1 Tools and Applications. Use of eMail to support learning.
• Completes Learning Tasks designed for them in Release 2.

Online & Networked Resources
• Use of intranet, school website, hyperlinks to other useful websites, search engines, learning objects and digital resources.Online communication email, wikis, blogs, online surveys, moderated social networking websites. Introduction to Moodle & BrainPop UK

Visualising Thinking
• Thinking Tools [e.g. Mindmaps, KWHL, Venn Diagrams, Graphic Organisers, Concept frames, Timelines, Spider Maps].

Interactive Whiteboards.
• Can complete activities designed by teachers

• Grade 5/6 ICT / eLearning Scope and Sequence
By the end of Grade 5/6 students should be able to demonstrate the following:

Computer Knowledge
• Navigation, File Management, Understanding Software and Hardware. Use of Windows & Open Source software

Desktop Publishing
• Can competently use word processing, graphic design, spreadsheets & databases and multimedia presentations to present learning.

Multimedia
• Can competently use multimedia presentations, digital video, animation, digital photography, music composition, website design, digital portfolios, podcasting and vodcasting and game making etc. to present learning

Cybersafety and Copyright
• Understanding of the concepts. Uses personal strategies for online safety and ethical user behaviour.

Ultranet & eMail
• Further development of skills with Release 1 Tools and Applications. Use of eMail to supportlearning. Completes Learning Tasks designed for them in Release 2. Uses the Ultranet to Collaborate

Online & Networked Resources
• Use of intranet, Moodle, BrainPop and the wider internet to link to other useful websites, search engines, learning objects and digital resources. Online communication email, wikis, blogs, online surveys, moderated social networking websites. Collaboration with others to enhance learning.

Visualising Thinking
• Thinking tools [e.g. Mindmaps, KWHL, Venn Diagrams, Graphic Organisers, Concept Frames, Timelines, Spider Maps].

Interactive Whiteboards.
• Can complete activities designed by teachers and and design their own activities

ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence Implementation and Support.

1. Final publication [and celebration] of completed ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence. Published in hard copy and electronically on school Moodle Server.

2. They are used each term at each Professional Learning Team's planning days. Specific ICT /eLearning activities are selected from the Scope and Sequence and linked to curriculum activities for Mathematics, English, Science, History, Geography, Music etc. These are sent to the school leadership team and also centrally stored on the school Moodle Server.

3. These activities, if needed, are supported by professional development or demonstration lessons by the ICT Coordinator.

4. Resourcing of desktops, notebooks, netbooks and peripherals needs to be sufficient so that there is appropriate access for teachers and students for them to complete tasks in the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence.

5. Assessment rubrics for the planned activities need to be developed before the start of the delivery of the curriculum activity to students, so that students and teachers understand what performance levels are expected.

What's still to come?

Currently, Department of Education & Early Childhood Development [DEECD] teachers in Victoria, who are members of the Australian Education Union [AEU] are involved in a protracted industrial battle. As part of the AEU campaign for improved wages and conditions, there are a number of work bans. See http://keepthepromise.com.au .  These work bans include bans on the use of the Ultranet [so this means that the Ultranet as mentioned above is not taught or used]. There are also bans on the implementation of the new Australian curriculum. See http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum.html . The school, prior to these bans spent a pupil free day auditing its current curriculum planners against the Australian Curriculum. This day also identified where new curriculum planning needed to be written.

The next stage of this was to look at the future [Australian Curriculum aligned] curriculum of the school in light of

• the ICT / eLearning Scope & Sequence

• John Hattie's Visible Learning for Teachers http://www.amazon.com/Visible-Learning-Teachers-Maximizing-Impact/dp/0415690153

• The School's Strategic Planning 2012- 2015

• The curriculum elements of the school's eSmart Accreditation Program [2011-2014]

So that's it for now, will write further when the work bans are off and we "resume normal transmission".

My Recent Aggregation of iPad Resources

 

I've been curating a collection of iPad resources from the web now on my Facebook page for the past six months. I thought that I would list them here so others than my FB friends can see them and I can also find them more easily my self!
The links at the top of the list are the most recent.
I take my responsibility for the content of any of the links. They are merely resources I have come across and curated for present and later use.

Here's a great aggregation I recently found  http://www.delicious.com/dragonfan/ipad

9 Great iPad Apps for Teachers
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/15-great-ipad-apps-for-teachers.html

The Top Educational iPad Apps Every Teacher and Student Should Know About
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/08/the-top-educational-ipad-apps-every.html

29 iPad Resources, Tutorials and Guides Every Teacher Should Know About
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/08/29-ipad-resources-tutorials-and-guides.html

5 Critical Mistakes Schools Make With iPads (And How To Correct Them) Tom Daccord
http://edudemic.com/2012/09/5-critical-mistakes-schools-ipads-and-correct-them/

Seven Reasons the iPad Should be the Device of Choice for Any 1:1 Program Fred Sitkins
The device does matter! It seems like every school considering a 1:1 program or every pundit talking about implementing a 1:1 program attempts to make the politically correct statement that the...
http://www.ipadpd.com/2/post/2012/09/seven-reasons-the-ipad-should-be-the-device-of-choice-for-any-11-program.html

iPad Insight Tips by Patrick Jordan
eBook Is Now Available in the iBookstore
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ipad-insights-tips/id564059472?mt=11

iPad Voice Dictation: Commands List & Tips Patrick Jordan
Voice Dictation, or just Dictation as Apple calls it, is one of my favorite features of iOS on the iPad.
http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-tips-tricks/ipad-voice-dictation-commands-list-tips/

New Guide! Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know
Getting kids engaged with learning, focused on working smarter, and ready for the future.

This guide can help you better understand how mobile gadgets -- cell phones, tablets, and smartphones -- can engage students and change their learning environment.
What's Inside the PDF?
    Introduction: Pros and cons? Bridging the digital gap?
    Know your mobile devices
    Resources for teachers getting started with mobile learning
    K-12 Apps and Web tools: elementary, middle, and high schools
    Getting parents on board the mobile train
http://www.edutopia.org/mobile-devices-learning-resource-guide

1:1 21st Century Technology Learning Environments [AEA Iowa Area Education Agencies]
https://sites.google.com/a/aea267.k12.ia.us/steps-for-technology-learning-environments/home

Everything You Need to Know About iOS 6 in Under Three Minutes Lifehacker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QcPXZT8YOWg

Tips for iPads in the Classroom & iPads in Students' Hands Tracy Watanabe
http://wwwatanabe.blogspot.com.au/search/label/iPad

iPad Apps to Focus on the Verbs by Katie Morrow
http://www.slideshare.net/katiemorrow/ipad-apps-to-focus-on-the-verbs?from=new_upload_email

iPad iPod Resources Sheet - Texas Computer Education Association -TCEA
http://www.tcea.org/ipad

Timeline Eons App
http://notanotherhistoryteacher.edublogs.org/2012/08/23/timeline-eons-app-a-graphic-representation-of-history/

20+ Fun Free Apps that Promote Student Centered Learning & Literacy [TL Advisor Blog]
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4622

18 Essential Questions for Your School's iPad Plan [TL Advisor Blog]
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4728

How The iPad Is Transforming The Classroom [Back To School] Ryan Faas
http://www.cultofmac.com/185048/how-the-ipad-is-transforming-the-classroom-back-to-school/

How to Roll Out a 1:1 iPad Program [Jac De Haan]
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/one-to-one-program-rollout-jac-de-haan

Creating a Visual Dictionary on the iPad [Langwitches Blog]
http://langwitches.org/blog/2012/08/08/visual-dictionary-on-the-ipad/

14 Smart Tips for Using iPads in Class By MindShift
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/07/14-smart-tips-for-using-ipads-in-class/

iPads In The Classroom – A new year begins Keith Rispin
http://www.keithrispin.com/ipad/ipads-in-the-classroom-a-new-year-begins/

Slide2Learn Conference 2012
http://ictedservices.typepad.com/icted_services/2012/08/slide2learn-conference-melbourne-july-2012-1.html

Using the iPad in the English and Media Faculty
http://huntingenglish.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/using-the-ipad-in-the-english-and-media-faculty/

I hope you find these as useful as I am!

VITTA Conference 2012: Presentation - How to lead your own Building Education Revolution

I had a great day today at Day 2 of VITTA Conference: Reign of the Cloud. As well as listening to some great presentations and keynotes, I was able to present on my recent learning space and pedagogy project.

You can download the presentation here. Download VITTA Conference 2012 Session 2620

[Be aware that some of the slides are Intellectual Property of New Learning Environments | Rubida Research and included here with their permission. These pages are marked with their logo. Do not re-use these parts without their permission.]

Thanks to those who attended the session, you were a great group to talk too.

 

 

How to lead your own Building Education Revolution! Pedagogy and 21st Century Learning Spaces

I just received my certificate for completion a module conducted by the Bastow Institute of DEECD.

The module is Leading Futures: Leading Learning Space Design and it was a great learning experience, one of the best PD events I have ever attended.
See more at http://www.bastow.vic.edu.au/leadership-courses/LeadershipDevelopmentModules/Pages/leading-learning-space-design.aspx?source=http://www.bastow.vic.edu.au/leadership-courses

I've blogged about this project in previous posts.

If you are in Melbourne / Victoria, I am presenting on my Learning Space Design project twice. next month.

The first is at Reign of the Cloud, the Victorian Information Technology Teachers' Association, [VITTA] Conference, 2012 on Tuesday 07.08.2012 [Session 2620]
Register at http://www.vitta.org.au/2012conferenceinfo/vitta-annual-conference-2012

The second is at the ICTEV Primary School Study Tour August 23, 2012 - 09:00 - 15:30. See Previous blogpost
Register at http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2012/08/23/western-region-primary-school-study-tour-enhancing-learning-through-effective-use-ict

Abstract:
Most schools have under taken building projects in the last few years. Many of these have learning space designs that are very different from traditional classrooms. But are they being used as 19th century classrooms or 21st century learning spaces?
How can these new spaces drive pedagogical change? How can you also implement this change on your other existing buildings?
Mark will cover some the processes for planning, implementing programs and evaluating these ICT rich environments. Make the most of your new spaces to improve student engagement, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and student wellbeing.
Find out how to make your learning spaces part of a 21st Century. 24/7 learning environment.

It would be great to see you at one of these events!

 

ICTEV - School Study Tour: Enhancing learning through effective use of ICT

 

I'm very happy to be involved in the ICT in Education Victoria's - Western Region Primary School Study Tour again for another year. I'm also pleased that two of my Western Metro colleagues, Robyne & Felicity are involved too. The ICTEV Primary School Study Tour is a great opportunity for teachers to visit three schools and see some exciting ICT programs in action. It's always a great opportunity to network and de-brief with other participants during the day

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2012 - 09:00 - 15:30

Abstract:

Many schools are addressing the issue of how to develop the best design of learning spaces to enhance the outcomes of the new technologies. Enhanced learning through engagement, connection and motivation are also goals being pursued by schools. In this tour you will observe how three schools have addressed these challenges through the use of ICT. These schools are excited about the potential of ICT to reshape teaching and learning processes and contribute significantly to enhancing learning outcomes. Join your fellow teachers on this study tour of three leading schools in the western region which are successfully integrating ICT into their curriculum. This is a day about sharing ideas and seeing what others schools do. The tour includes travel by bus from Williamstown Primary School to the remaining two schools and return to Williamstown at the end of the tour.
This is a day for observation of students in classrooms and discussion of the implementation of programs and their budgetary implications. This tour has the added interest of highlighting the different uses of teaching spaces in primary settings. Following previous successful tours within the metropolitan areas, we are pleased to offer this study tour to assist with ideas for your whole school approach to the integration of ICT into your school.

Schools to be visited:
    • Williamstown Primary School
    • Altona Primary School
    • Williamstown North Primary School

Itinerary

9.00am Williamstown Primary School, Host: Mark Richardson - ICT Coordinator

Lead your own Building Education Revolution! Aligning your school's learning spaces with its pedagogy
Williamstown Primary has a selection of historic heritage listed buildings dating from the 1870s. It is also a school that encourages 21st century teaching and learning. After the completion of an extensive rebuilding process, the school has set on the task of redesigning one of its ICT learning spaces to better fit with this pedagogy. [See graphic above] This redesign may then be a model for other learning spaces in the school.
Mark will illustrate the collaborative design process used and the resources you need to conduct such a process in your school. This session is relevant for any learning space you wish to redesign, whether it is a recent BER building or a 19th century bluestone building! Mark Richardson has been ICT Coordinator at Wiliamstown Primary School since 2000. He also has extensive experience planning and delivering professional learning to teachers in ICT / eLearning. His current interests are learning spaces and places, digital pedagogies, online teaching and learning, collaboration, digital citizenship and student leadership and ICT.

11.00am Altona Primary School, Host: Robyne Luketic - ICT Specialist Teacher

Observing exciting changes in learning, connecting and engaging
In this leg of the tour, Robyne Luketic, Tammie Thompson and Emma Lubke will open their classrooms and discuss their favourite ICT programs that enhances the wonderful teaching and learning at Altona Primary School. The tour begins with an informal open discussion with Robyne, the ICT Specialist Teacher. Robyne will share her planner and organisers for the ICT teaching and learning for the whole school including teacher PD. During this discussion many software programs that are currently used within the school will be given a brief overview. Shortly after, the tour will be split into two groups that will rotate through the two classrooms of Tammie and Emma. Tammie will demonstrate and discuss how she uses Audacity with her amazing Year 1 students to enhance their literacy and reading. Emma will discuss and demonstrate how she uses the safe and secure Edmodo within her class to collaborate, share content and set and receive tasks. Edmodo is transforming the way that teachers and students connect, engage and learn both inside and outside the classroom. The students in her class will be happy to talk to you about why they like using Edmodo and how it benefits their learning.

1.30pm Williamstown North Primary School, Host: Felicity Minton - ICT / PE Teacher & eLearning Leader

Build student achievement, engagement and motivation through varying the integration of technology in the classroom
At Williamstown North Primary School, ICT contributes to the high levels of achievement, engagement and motivation in our students. We acknowledge that the fundamental importance of teaching and learning is to provide effective learning environments for all learners, as we prepare them in becoming 21s century learners. At Williamstown North Primary, we invite you to visit our classrooms to see a range of technologies in practice. Visit a 1:1 learning class and see how students use netbooks to collaborate through blogging, appreciate how interactive whiteboards can facilitate multisensory, hands-on learning, and understand how iPads can offer diversity in lesson delivery and student engagement.

Registration

If you are interested register online at:

http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2012/08/23/western-region-primary-school-study-tour-enhancing-learning-through-effective-use-ict