Resources & Weblinks from Edutopia

Below are some weblinks from the Edutopia site.  This is a USA based site, but it has some interesting ideas and activities that look good for classes.  I am not teacher trained though - so I just put them here, and let the experts (all of you) rifle through for anything useful.  

Take a look when you have a little spare time and check them out.  I have also mentioned it on the Blog List on the main page, so you can check them out for yourself. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-clever-teacher-tested-tech-hacks

https://www.edutopia.org/article/engaging-students-community-based-projects

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-origami-teach-children-about-endangered-animals

https://www.edutopia.org/article/building-sustainable-future-one-classroom-time

Here we go - 2022!

Welcome to 2022 - and whatever that will bring for us all!   It has been an interesting couple of years so far! 

A big welcome to our new staff as well.  And please don't listen to any scary stories that the other staff tell you about me - it's all fibs!  I am truly the sweetest person around here!  

Please see below for a brief run through of what is available/offered through the Library.  If you have any questions, please just ask and any suggestions would be appreciated as well. 

"Below is a list of some of what we can help you with. I put this list up each year, so if you go back through the posts, it is all there. Anything else? If there is something that you think we can help with, just come and have a chat. We have learned to be fairly good at pulling rabbits out of hats and we also like a challenge - most days anyway!  

• Looking for a particular book or resource? Come and talk to us. We can organise an Inter-library-Loan or help you find where to purchase it.
• Resources: Books, DVDs, Magazines and Newspapers, iPad sets, Digital Cameras, Video Recorders, Computer Mice sets, Data Projectors, Teacher Reference, Chess sets,.. 
• IWB area and a bank of computers, as well as laptops that are available to be booked for classes.  The B3/B4 laptop trolley is only to be used in the Library area, however.
• Help with research, proofreading of assignments, suggestions for books to read - we are your people.
• A place to display your amazing class work.
• Collation of websites and ideas for subjects/classes
• Booking sheets for: Library areas, F Block Laptops, Headphones, iPads and now for the Computer Room as well. 

Students have a 3 week borrowing period while staff have a month. For most of the resources, we can adjust the loaning period for whatever is needed - at least till the end of term. However, this doesn't include the AV materials - that is a 1 week loan period only.

The school also subscribes to the TV4Ed system so if you are looking for something that has been screened on TV at some point, let me know and I will do my best to find it and put it on the school system for you to access.  This often solves the problem of staggering and buffering while streaming the program.  I can usually have the required programs up on the system within 24 hours - assuming that they are available on TV4ED, of course. "

So ... here's wishing you all an awesome term/year with lots of books and reading involved.  Let me know any way that I can be of help to you this year. 

2021 finally coming to an end!

 We made it - and survived!  Well, I think we did anyway?  

It has been a tough year in SO many ways - and I'd like to thank everyone who has been there and helped to make it all work.  I truly appreciate the support. 

Time for you all to spend the next few weeks relaxing and getting ready for whatever 2022 brings us.  (To be honest, I think that maybe we need to view the Terms and Conditions before we accept it!)  

Remember to take the time to READ!  It is relaxing AND research shows that it lowers the blood pressure.  Besides - the Dinosaurs didn't read, and look what happened to them!  Why take the chance?? 

For those of you moving on from here, I wish you all the best wherever you go and for those of you staying on, I'll see you all back here next year to do it all again.  

Merry Christmas and the best of everything to you all!  

More Edutopia Weblinks

Check out the weblinks below - they are from the Edutopia website (which is American based - but may have something you could use). 

Not being a teacher, I am just guessing as to what may be helpful - so I'm hoping that this may be of some use - otherwise check out the Edutopia site for yourself. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/framework-boosting-high-school-students-math-confidence

https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-math-games-you-can-use-class-today

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-simple-outdoor-science-lessons-inspire-students

https://www.edutopia.org/article/engaging-students-community-based-projects

Referencing and Bibliography Websites

This is probably running a bit late in the school year - but it will be there for next year.  The first site is actually a game to teach skills needed - and the other two will help put together bibliographies for assignments - which is a skill that is needed for anyone with aspirations of going to Uni at some point. These sites will help cut a couple of corners and also cover a variety of referencing methods. 

https://refquest.westernsydney.edu.au/

https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/how-do-i-cite-electronic-sources

https://www.citethisforme.com/

International Day of People with Disability

 Tomorrow, Friday 3rd December, is the International Day of People with Disability.  Check out the link below for more information.  

International Day of People with Disability (idpwd.com.au)

Two weeks to go to the end of the school year ... but who's counting?? 

ABC and Education

I came across these links while chasing something else.  I'm sharing them with you in the hopes that they may be of some use.  The source checker one is actually a game (like Factitious) which might get the kids on board for checking out some 'fake news' material.  Who knows? 

There are also a couple of weblinks regarding mini lessons and secondary programs. 

https://www.abc.net.au/education/media-literacy/

https://games.abc.net.au/res/media-literacy/source-checker/index.html

https://www.abc.net.au/tveducation/programs/mini-lessons/13417954

https://www.abc.net.au/tveducation/programs/secondary/

Anyway, take a few moments and have a look.  They may be of some use to you and give you some ideas. 

QR codes again

Well, it has been a while since I extolled the amazing uses of QR Codes - but I came across this site the other day (as you do!) which allows you to input a series of questions and the system will generate QR Codes that can be used in a type of scavenger style hunt.

I have made one up to try out for Girl Guides - so we'll see how that goes.  It can literally be used for anything as far as I can see - any subject, any style of questions or quizzes.  Even for reflection questions in class. 

I am a huge fan of QR Codes, as you will see if you go back through some of my posts.  I have used them for Library Orientation activities, in teaching classification in Science to year 7s and often used them in Wide games and activities in Guides.  

I have also put together a review quiz on Multiplication tables for Ms. Squires, used them in a Library Display for Picture Book Month and in a class about advertising methods. 

Anyway, enough of my soapbox!  

Check out this website and let me know what you think.  (Oh, and the QR Code I have added has a message in it!  😀) 

 https://www.classtools.net/QR/

World Science Day for Peace and Development

Today is World Science Day for Peace and Development - which always happens on the 10th November each year. 

Check out the couple of links below. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Science_Day_for_Peace_and_Development

https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldscienceday

Game about Fake News

Something that may be of use in your class - 

Factitious is a game that is designed to help students practice identifying real and fake news stories. The 2020 version of the game features stories about COVID-19.

To play Factitious simply go to the site and select start. You'll then see an article appear on the screen. Read through the article, click the source listed at the bottom, and then select either the green check mark or red X to indicate whether or not you think the article is a real news story. After you make your selection you'll get instant feedback and an explanation of how you can tell if the article was a real or fake news story.

Points are awarded in Factitious based on accuracy, speed, and whether or not you viewed the source link before making a guess at the legitimacy of the story. The 2020 version of Factitious contains three rounds with five stories in each round.

http://factitious-pandemic.augamestudio.com/#/

I have posted this one before - but it appears that this is the updated link.  

Happy World Teachers Day

 

Carry on being AWESOME!!  

A thought to ponder..

Here's an image that may give us all something to think about .. we forget that there are always eyes upon us seeing how we behave in life - and that will then become their rationale for behaviour! 

Global Media & Information Literacy Week

According to the Australian School Library Association - this week is 'Global Media & Information Literacy' week, which will be running from 24th October to 31st October.  I have included a link below with ideas on how to celebrate this week.  

As well - the 8th to 12th November, will be 'Scams Awareness Week' which runs each year with input from the ACCC.  There is also a link for this one for further information.  

https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/globalmilweek/2021/howtocelebrate

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-scamwatch/scams-awareness-week

 As scams are big business - and big trouble for a lot of people, these links could be handy to share.