New(ish) directions

I had a nice conversation yesterday, with a friend who liked to read my other blog (the deep, meaningful, personal one - you have been warned!). And they suggested that it's probably about time I resurrected this old fellow.

I started this blog about 4 years ago, when my interest in teaching with technology was really taking off. The blog-making task was part of a 'Masterclass' I was attending (run, funnily enough, by the team I now work for), and as you can see, the momentum didn't really last. But, it's been here waiting for an opportunity to come back to life.

I am now blessed to be working in a job that gives me the time and the opportunities to really investigate the types of technological and educational innovations that make a real impact in the classroom. Things that (I believe) will eventually change the way we teach and learn. When I was speaking with my lovely friend yesterday, he commented on the fact that I'm always brimming with ideas and enthusiasm and that, for the most part, I don't really get the opportunity to share it.

So, knowing that I was a moderately successful blogger (well, I had more than 50 followers, that's successful isn't it?) in my personal life, I thought 'why not try resurrecting my professional blog too'?

So that's what I'm going to do. The thing about technology in education is that it all just moves so quickly. It's not that teachers don't want to take these things on, it's just that they don't know how/what/when is the best. So I thought I'd use this blog to bring together the research that I come across, the great writing I find on various topics, and of course the really cool resources that are available to make learning more personal, meaningful and flexible. Things that I care very passionately about.
I will also endeavour to do it all with an ACT/Australian perspective, so that you know that it will actually make sense in your context.

So please, have a look, tell your friends, and keep coming back so that I can keep you posted.

Check my blogs

I don't post often, but occasionally when I find a good blog or resource I pop it in my blogroll. If you know of anything, please chuck it in a comment and I'll put it up.

Interaction

Thought I'd share this link to an interesting article about IWBs.

What does interactive mean? And which interactive do we really want in schools.

The question's rhetorical by the way...

I'm baaaaaaack (?)

I've had a little (OK, a gargantuan) break from this blog. I've been busy with other school based projects and have concentrated my bloggyness on a more personal one.

But every now and then, I feel the need to get back into my digi blog. Never more so than now, when we've reached such an exciting time in education. And when I'm lucky enough to be playing a big (if not brief) part in it.

For the past six weeks, I have been working in a position with the fairly exciting title of 'Learning Technologies Officer'. It pretty much means what it sounds like it means: I get to spend all day learning about and working with technology that will be used to enhance education.

When I first started this blog (waaaaay back in March 2008, I never dreamed I'd be lucky enough to work in the job I'm now working in. I'd been learning from Learning Technologies Officers, and thought their job was fairly cool. But it hadn't crossed my mind that I could actually do it.

I've come in during  a fairly exciting time in our education department. We are in the early stages of adopting a new VLE (Virtual Learning Environment), and I've been busy both learning how to use it and teaching other people how to use it. Challenging, but fun!

Attitudes are also changing, with many schools now buying netbooks and iPads, and configuring their spaces to make flexible learning a reality.

But until I get my blogging act together again, I thought the best thing I can do is start piling in here the readings and resources that I plan to read or use. That way, I can find them all quickly. I do have a delicious account, but I thought I'd use this to. Then I can share them with you too! (if anyone actually reads it!)


http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ - This site has conveniently gathered the links to many awesome web 2.0 tools.

http://www.heppell.net/ - It's possible that too much Heppell could make me a little crazy, but he has some good things to say. I was lucky enough to meet him and hear him speak several times last month.

I'll add more later...
:)

Change of direction

Hi.
If you're still dropping in here, you've probably noticed I haven't posted for a loooooong time. My blogging focus has shifted and I'm now much more active here:

http://good-yeah.blogspot.com

Eventually I'll figure out how to put them together...

How cool is this?

Check this out:

I created this cartoon in less than 5 minutes on Toondoo (I know, I know, it's not the most earth shatteringly wonderful cartoon, but hey...). I insist you check it out!

All the stuff you never knew..

Hi. Well it's been a very busy few weeks for me (I know, what's new about that you ask?). Have spent today presenting the wonders of multimedia to some beginning teachers, despite being one of them myself...oh well, I don't think I upset the apple cart too much! ;o)
Unfortunately it's hard to properly showcase Audacity, Photostory and MovieMaker in 1.5 hours while also giving enough playtime (which I think is super-important in an ICT PD session), but I think it went OK. Hopefully at least one person will go away and try one of them in the classroom. Of course I don't actually use any of them much, seeing as how I have crossed over to Mac, but it's good to know there are some pretty good open source multimedia programs out there. Another message I got from today's discussions was that the Canberra government school system has so many different schools with so many different situations and resources (from a big, top-of-the range school with NO IWBs and NO infrastructure to install them, to a school with up-to-date, quality ICT gear available for all students and staff all of the time). And finally, I was again to hear how hard it is for ALL teachers (not just beginning) to do the great job they're all capable of. If only we all has some more time...

The Conference
Anyway, I guess it's not worth dwelling on. Because I had another, even more exciting experience this last week. I spent the weekend in Melbourne attending the 5th Annual Interactive Whiteboard Conference, which was an amazing experience and very eye opening! (thanks ACTDET and IWBnet!) I thought I was doing OK with ICT in the classroom, but let me tell you, I haven't even begun to scratch the surface! Luckily I was able to sit in with some truly innovative and high-quality educators. Hopefully some of it will rub off! So here are some of the highlights:

John Short was a very engaging speaker who had the whole group talking and interacting. He has created a heap of really cool powerpoint games based on classics such as "Who wants to be a millionaire" and "Memory". I know, I know, it's not that hard, but who has the time? (apart from John of course!). He has a soon-to-be-opened website which will be launched in October. I will share more details about this soon.

Chris Betcher is a well-known ICT educator with lots of great ideas. Check out his blog. The workshop I attended saw Chris showing us a bunch of really cool stuff. So I thought I'd put it up here (thanks Chris - hope you don't mind me passing it along!)

Phun is just about the coolest thing I have seen in a while! It is a free, 2D physics simulator. YOu just put objects on and apply all sorts of physics concepts, such as force, gravity and friction, to them. There are 40+ videos on youtube by people who have created some fun (or should I say Phun) stuff. Here is one:




Google Sketchup is also a great 3Ddrawing and manipulating tool. A little like a CAD program but from what I can see, much more user-friendly. And it's free. Check it out.

And I'd suggest keeping an eye on Chris's blog. There's bound to be much more eye-popping stuff to come.

Wow, that was tiring. I'm gonna have to come back to it because there's so much more to share!

Stay tooned...