ICTeD Services

Apple's iBooks2 and iBooks Author - Collected Readings

The launch of Apple's  iBooks2  and iBooks Author at the Guggenheim NYC on January 19th 2012, has engendered great educational debate about the role of technology in schools.
It is a great thing to have the debate, but you need background first.
Here's my reading list on the iBooks2  and iBooks Author. My thoughts on the topic will come in a later blogpost.

The Official

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/index.html#video-textbooks

http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/

http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/#hero-video

http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ibooks-author/id490152466?mt=12

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-u/id490217893?ls=1&mt=8

https://eduapp.apple.com/

http://images.apple.com/support/itunes-u/docs/iTunesU_Course_Guidelines_011912.pdf

http://www.apple.com/support/ibooksauthor/getstarted/

 

How To's and Tutorials

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apples-ibooks-author-hands-on/

http://mashable.com/2012/01/19/ibooks-author-app-review/

http://creativity-online.com/work/apple-ibooks-author/25959 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr076C_ty_M

http://www.tuaw.com/2012/01/23/ibooks-author-an-ebook-publisher-looks-at-apples-textbook-crea/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEUdd8vxK3M

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/tablet-apps-in-education/2012/1/20/ibook-author-a-very-special-tme-tutorial.html or

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/tablet-apps-in-education/tag/ibook-author-tutorials

 

Here's a PMI [ Plus, Minus, Interesting / Implications] on links I have found


Plus

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/01/19/an-in-depth-review-of-ibooks-author/

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_shines_with_ibooks_author/

http://frank-lowney.blogspot.com/2012/01/ibooks-author-and-coming-etextbook.html

 
Minus

http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/19/2718701/apple-ibooks2-textbooks-hardware-questions

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/productivity_apps/232500227

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/apple-ibooks-author-ties-your-book-to-ibookstore-1056419

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/23/initial_ibook_2_titles_offer_disappointing_interactivity_.html


Interesting / Implications

http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/21/an-ipad-in-every-childs-hands/

http://edudemic.com/2012/01/ibooks2/

http://edudemic.com/2012/01/apple-open-standard/

http://www.macworld.com/article/164914/2012/01/four_open_questions_about_ibooks_author.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBooks

http://wanderingacademic.com/technology/ipad-2/will-ibooks-author-create-a-wave-of-self-published-teachers/

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/how-to-create-your-own-textbook-with-or-without-apple/

The author has single licence for graphic through Envato / Graphic River

Western Region Study Tour: Integrating ICT into your Primary School Program.

Hope you can join me as part of
ICTEV - Western Region Study Tour: Integrating ICT into your Primary School Program.

Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 09:00 - 15:30

From the ICTEV website.

Following previous successful study tours within the metropolitan area, we are pleased to offer this study tour program in the Williamstown locality of Western Region to assist with ideas for you to integrate ICT into your primary school program. The format of the study tour is to provide a mini bus to transport you between three schools in one day. These study tours are a great opportunity to join with fellow teachers, share ideas and see what other schools do. They are days for observation and to discuss the various approaches being used with ICT in the classroom to achieve exciting outcomes in student performance.
Each school has a differing approach to the integration of ICT and yet in each school their students are obtaining excellent results through the use of ICT in the primary years.  In this tour there is an emphasis on the 1:1 program, with detailed descriptions of the planning that went into its successful implementation. Each school took a varying pathway, which provides delegates with choices and alternatives to consider for their own situations. On the tour you will be taken by bus between Williamstown Primary School, Seabrook Primary School and Altona Primary School.

My part of the itinerary:
 Meet at Williamstown Primary School, Cecil Street, Williamstown for a 9 am start.

9.00
 Williamstown Primary School - Host: Mark Richardson, ICTeD Services
Mark Richardson, ICT Coordinator at Williamstown PS, will introduce you to the ways that the school organises its curriculum around its notebook/netbook trolleys and interactive whiteboards. Find out how these devices are used in English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies and learn how you can plan activities like these for yourself. Examples of planning and activities will be shown and you will be able to talk to teachers about their work.
Topics covered will be:
    •    The importance of whole school ICT / eLearning planning;
    •    How to plan great ICT / eLearning lessons;
    •    The organisational and technical support that is needed;
    •    Using Bloom's Digital Taxonomy as a planning tool;
    •    Making the most of all the software on PCs and Macs;
    •    Using Interactive Whiteboards to enhance classroom management, teaching and learning.
Mark will also demonstrate some of the great Web 2.0 tools to use in the primary classroom, discuss the assessment of student work in ICT / eLearning lessons, explain how a Learning Management System can enhance your lessons and conclude with describing how PD can be integrated into these activities.

Followed by
11.00
 Altona Primary School - Host: Danielle Webster and Robyne Luketic
Making the most of the Ultranet: Strategies at Altona Primary School to promote and encourage teachers' learning.

1.30 
Seabrook Primary School - Host: Delores Giordimaina
In 2011 Seabrook Primary School implemented a one to one MacBook program.

To register go to
http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2011/10/27/western-region-study-tour-integrating-ict-your-primary-school-program

Hope to see you there!!

My PD Offerings for October, 2011

For VITTA

Reinvent your Teaching with Challenge Based Learning!

Find out how Challenge Based Learning can invigorate teaching and learning of Primary and Middle Years classes! It is an approach that is highly engaging, embraces authentic learning and is great for students and teachers to use 21st century learning skills. Find out about the theory and seeclassroom examples.
A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

DATE: Thursday, October 20, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/reinvent-your-teaching-with-challenge-based-learning

*********

For VITTA

What's New in iLife '11?

Just got a new MacBook, maybe through the DEECD Notebooks for Teachers and Principals program? You will notice that it comes with the new version of
iLife.

This will be a hands-on session as much as possible. A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to
support this learning.

. So what's new in iLife '11?
. What are the changes?
. What are the implications of this upgrade for the classroom>
. Exploring what's new in iPhoto?
. Exploring what's new in iTunes?
. Exploring what's new in GarageBand?
. What about iWeb & IDVD?
. Exploring what's new in iMovie?
. What are some great things you can do in the classroom with iLife '11
. Where to after this session?

DATE: Thursday, October 27, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

 To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/whats-new-in-ilife-11

*********

For ICTEV

Western Region Study Tour

Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 09:00 - 15:30

Visit three schools during the day [Williamstown PS, Altona PS & Seabrook PS]

Synopsis of Williamstown component

9.00 am
Williamstown Primary School - Host: Mark Richardson,
Whole School ICT/eLearning planning at Williamstown Primary School.

Mark Richardson, ICT Coordinator at Williamstown PS, will introduce you to the ways that the school organises its curriculum around its notebook/netbook trolleys and interactive whiteboards. Find out how these devices are used in English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies and learn how you can plan activities like these for yourself. Examples of planning and activities will be shown and you will be able to talk to teachers about their work.
Topics covered will be:
• The importance of whole school ICT / eLearning planning;
• How to plan great ICT / eLearning lessons;
• The organisational and technical support that is needed;
• Using Bloom's Digital Taxonomy as a planning tool;
• Making the most of all the software on PCs and Macs;
• Using Interactive Whiteboards to enhance classroom management, teaching and learning.
Mark will also demonstrate some of the great Web 2.0 tools to use in the primary classroom, discuss the assessment of student work in ICT / eLearning lessons, explain how a Learning Management System can enhance your lessons and conclude with describing how PD can be integrated into these activities.

Member Cost: $160.00 Non-member Cost: $190.00

Register here http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2011/10/27/western-region-study-tour-integrating-ict-your-primary-school-program

Hope to see you at one or all of these events

Teaching Takeover: A new model for junior school ICT lessons

Tomorrow start my ICT teaching for this term with Grades 1 and Grade 2. I'm really looking forward to it, as are the students I think. With 3o new computers in our ICT Teaching and Learning Centre , we have been able to roll out the old computers into those grades. So for the first time ever, Grade 1s and 2s students have reasonable access to computers in their classrooms as well as access to weekly lessons in the ICT Teaching and Learning Centre. Lessons started last term with me taking lessons with these classes and with the teacher present, [demonstration lessons]. This model will continue this term but tweeked as part of this Teaching Takeover model. The lessons are based on the school's ICT /eLearning Scope and Sequence.

Here is an example of the Grade 2 Scope & Sequence.

The first sequence of lessons for Grade 2 comes from Online & Networked Resources, Developing Competency using Purple Mash, a website that the school has a subscription.

The model is this. I take a lesson with the whole class and the classroom teacher [as a demonstration lesson]. Students can practice these skills taught in their classroom during the week. When students return to the ICT Teaching and Learning Centre a week later, they complete a second lesson, which is revision and extension. This second lesson is taken by the classroom teacher. I am in the room as a mentor / coach and can assist with the technology and pedagogy.
Plan for the first sequence of lessons.

Using Purple Mash - Lesson One

Revision of previous content:
• Revision of login process, correct holding and usage of mouse and sitting posture.
• Revision of safety rules
• Revision of the Dock and the Desktop

New content:
• Brief introduction to the Internet. What is it? How do we get there?
• Introduction to Safari as a Web Browser
• Introduction to School Intranet
• Purple Mash Login and password
• Sandpit time with what’s on the home page [ 5 minutes]

• Activity One: The Purple Mash Home Page
    How do we print?
    How do we save?

• Activity Two Creative Tools 2 Design and Make
    Purple Mash at home

• Activity Three Games > Simple City > Cafe

Using Purple Mash - Lesson Two

Revision of previous content:
• Revision of Purple Mash login process

New content:
• Activity Four [to be negotiated with classroom teacher]

• Activity Five [to be negotiated with classroom teacher]

I really looking forward to teaching / mentoring in this model. I will write late on it's success or otherwise.

Some of the cohort last term in ICT !

BYO Project! Term 3's Action Learning ICT Project

I just came across DEECD Research Paper last night.

Using student assessment for professional learning: focusing on students' outcomes to identify teachers’ needs

http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/publ/research/publ/timperley_using_student_assessment_for_professional_learning.pdf

This paper outlines a ‘cycle of inquiry’ which systematically builds teacher knowledge to improve teaching practice for students and teachers. The paper shows how principles of student assessment can be applied to evaluate not only student outcomes, but also the learning needs of teachers. The inquiry cycle asks teachers to evaluate their own performance through evidence gathered in the classroom and then assess whether their current teaching practices are meeting the needs of their students. Through this process, teachers are better equipped to identify their own needs for professional learning.

I've only skim read it so far, but I did like its organisational model.

Why? Because it was a good structure for the lunchtime ICT / eLearning Professional Learning sessions I am organising at my school. As outlined in earlier posts, I have been running sessions every Tuesday lunchtime this year. I was happy with the direction and content of those sessions and the responses of my colleagues. However, I not sure how much of the content I covered got through the classroom door [ i.e. the skills taught at the sessions were not becoming part of classroom practice]
So hence, a new action learning model for these PD sessions. Here's the outline.

BYO Project! Do some action learning with your students and learn some ICT skills along the way. ICT / eLearning Professional Development -Term 3, 2011

This term’s optional lunchtime PD [1:00 – 1:40, Tuesdays, ICT Room] will focus on action learning. 

The idea is that in these sessions you come along with an idea or a project for ICT / eLearning that you are interested in completing with your class[es]. This project can be an individual or a PLT project. These sessions will provide the input and support that you need to complete the activity with your students. In between these sessions you teach the activity with your students. At subsequent sessions you can discuss the work that you have taught, seek further resources, support etc. [ It’s big on coaching and peer support!]

Hopefully should be fun and educational too!

In this first session we will discuss your project is terms of the following:

• How does this project fit in with your PLT term planner?
• How does this project fit in VELS ICT and the other VELS Domains?
• What equipment will be needed to complete this activity?
• What software / Web 2.0 tools will be needed to complete this activity?
• What skills will you need to teach this activity?
• What skills will your students need to complete this activity?
• How can the Ultranet be used in this project?
• How will you assess the activity?
• What other support will you need to complete this activity? [Maybe this is me taking a skill tutorial with you students or making some screencasts.]

Here are some of my ideas for projects that you could do, [but don’t be limited by these]. And don’t be overwhelmed, you would only be picking one of these!

 • Digital Video making with Flip Cameras
• Movie Editing with iMovie • Exporting Movies
• Stopmotion animation with iStopmotion
• 3D modelling using Kahootz or Google SketchUp
• Making great publications with Pages
• Interactive Whiteboards, [Beginning / Intermediate / Advanced]
• Multimedia Presentations with Keynote [much, much better than PowerPoint]
• Incorporating Ultranet [Release One] into Teaching and Learning
• Shooting and manipulating digital images
• Making websites with iWeb
• Using Purple Mash in the classroom [P-4]
• Using BrainPop in the classroom [3-6]
• Using Moodle with students
• Teaching CyberSafety with my students
• Making Podcasts
• Making Music with GarageBand
• Research skills and web searches
• Setting up a personal or class blog
• Using online spaces in the classroom [Voicethread, Glogster, etc]

or 

• An idea you have already!!

 As I wrote before, don’t be put off by this big list! If you are interested in doing an interesting eLearning activity with you students come along next Tuesday lunchtime and we can work out a project for you! If you have an idea already, still come along, so we can talk about resources and getting you started quickly. 

Will write an evaluation at the end of the term!

ACCE Study Tour 2011 Day 14: Washington - SIIA, COSN, McKinley Technology HS & Fairfax County

Big day in Washington DC. A day of policy and school organisation stuff. Three of the four sessions were hosted at the Software & Information Industry Association, [SIIA]. Interesting presentations and discussion.
Next presentation was from the Consortium of School Networking [CoSN] which is about advancing K-12 Technology Leadership. Here are links to some of CoSN's initiatives. Will certainly read further when I return to Australia.

Third Presentation was about partnerships and internships at McKinley Technology HS. This was a great session in which few punches were pulled!

Then after lunch off to Fairfax County, to meet their Superintendent. This session really highlighted the differences between school districts and why leadership is paramount!

Dinner was a great meal and a chance to catch up with the folks from Pearsons!


Next Stop Philadelphia & ISTE!!!