collaborate, communicate, create
heatherblakey
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Homepage: http://heatherblakey.global2.vic.edu.au/
Posts by heatherblakey
Teaching With Passion
Aug 11th
Do you consider yourself a passionate person? What are the things about which you are passionate? Are you passionate about kids and helping kids learn? Are you passionate about opening up new vistas of experiences and understanding for others which – absent your intervention – they might never experience? Are you passionate about creating moments of unforgettable learning? Learning that is SO engaging, so motivating, so interesting, and so fun – that those fortunate enough to experience it will NEVER forget it? Nevada elementary teacher Brian Crosby is this kind of person, and this kind of educational leader. Brian gave the world a seventeen minute glimpse into his 4th grade classroom a few weeks ago in Denver at the TEDx event. I strongly encourage you to set aside seventeen minutes of your day and listen to what Brian had to say.
Managing Blogs
Jul 30th
Blogs on Global Teacher and Global Student, like Edublogs, use the Word-Press content management system (CMS) that makes it easy to manage a blog.
Click on the links below to see some helpful videos. The user interface in these videos differs somewhat from the standard Word Press interface on many blogs, but the principles remain the same,
A Genie Visits Malmsbury Primary School
Jul 29th
Grade 4/5/6 students in the Big Room at Malmsbury Primary School were very excited when they learned that a Magic Genie was headed their way, willing to grant all their food wishes.
Apart from using Hero Factory to depict the cool Genie they are using Wordle to put together a blissful food order. How much can they get onto the screen in ten short minutes?
Meanwhile news teams are headed out to the school and you will find some of their reports when they make Voki’s.
Open Access
Jul 26th
The discussion about keeping blogs open and teaching students to use the internet safely is a vital one. This post about Why I Think Blogs Should Be Open will provide some discussion about why it is better to have an open door policy when it comes to blogging in schools.
This school blog is an example of the work that can be done when you fearlessly apply technology in the classroom.
Be Alert – Not Alarmed
Jul 24th
Rather than fail our students by not realizing the full potential of social networking we need to remember the old line of being alert and not alarmed.
Knowledge is power. If we don’t teach students how to travel safely in the cyber world who is going too?
If we live in fear we miss life and opportunity. Students need to be taught to think, to be alert so they don’t get hurt.
Brave New World
Jul 22nd
A very thoughtful blog about the whys and wherefores about using a range of technologies for learning and teaching. Tania raises issues and shares her thoughts and discoveries about how to work with teachers to deliver some of the best opportunities to students
Open Door Policy
Jul 17th
In the past school doors seemed almost impenetrable. New Age Technology has changed all of this and today you can wander into classrooms all over the state. I visited Malmsbury Primary School recently and found that all the grades there are using blogs to showcase their work, share ideas and communicate important information.
Malmsbury Primary is welcoming visitors and asking visitors to leave comments. You can begin by visiting the Little Room and then wander into other rooms and see just how students are using their netbooks and applying Web 2.0 tools.
Aladdin’s Cave of Educational Riches
Jul 10th
Doorways hold a fascination for many. As a tourist in faraway places I loved to photograph doors and doorways. One of the problems of being a tourist is that you rarely have access through fascinating private doorways and, unless you stay with locals, never do see within.
This front page at Global Teacher is like a doorway. The difference is that everyone is free to go through the door, explore and benefit from the exciting things that are happening within the worlds beyond.
Simply check out the links on the sidebar. The ‘doorways’ listed under Best Blogging Practice will lead you into an Aladdin’s Cave of current educational riches. Take the time to support work which is being so generously shared by making positive comments.
Be warned! Like Ariadne you may well need a thread as you navigate this labyrinth of wonder.
Some Golden Rules
Jul 10th
With all this talk about cyber bullying, episodes on Facebook and the government applying internet filters it is timely to remind users of some basic precautions. I have worked on the internet for twelve years and I have been blogging since blogs appeared in 1999. So far I have had little to concern me but then I do make it a practice to put some locks in place and just as I managed my classroom, I make it a practice to be present and manage my blogs. Common sense rules apply here at Global Teacher.
Schools using Global Teacher and other blogging environments are strongly urged to apply some guidelines. Various schools have adapted what are basic rules. The following from ‘The Wild Library’ at Monivae is just one example of Blog Guidelines.
When working with this blog and each of our other blogs, Monivae students need to ensure that they follow these important guidelines. They are designed to make sure that you enjoy these spaces.
• Only ever use your first name or a nickname when you are writing on this or other blogs or wikis
• Never use any other students last name
• Never post any personal information–such as your home phone number or home address on this or any other blog or wiki
• Never share any of you usernames or passwords with anyone and never log in as another student
• Remember the “Grandma” that anything you put on the internet could be read by your grandmother so only write things you could say to the nicest of grannies
• Be a good online citizen and never write or post anything that could hurt anyone else
• Always check with an adult if someone asks for your phone number or to meet you
• Always tell your parents or teacher right away if you come across anything that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Never make arrangements to meet anyone over the internet without telling your parents
• Make sure you publish only your own work. Don’t under any circumstances use other people’s work and call it your own
• Be aware that images and website content may be subject to copyright. Do you have the right to use the material?
• Make sure that you read over your writing before you post it to check the spelling and that it reads okay
Adapted from ‘The Rules Rule’ on Emily L BPS Blog
Language Blog
Jul 7th
Some bloggers really do manage to make good use of all the applications on the net.
Little wonder that Langwitch wins awards.
