SSCL iCentre News
An occasional newsletter for teachers. Issue 2 Term 3 2014
What's new?
What’s new this term in the iCentre? Lots! We’ve been busy learning and creating – here’s what we’ve been up to…
T3 kicked off with Professional learning
Lego movie maker
Apps Petting Zoo
7I work for 5 weeks exclusively using iPads
Half our ipad set was loaned to 7I for the last half of this term. All core subject lessons were taught with the ipad as the major source of content delivery and as a conduit to the activities done both in class and for homework.
Students were regularly surveyed to gauge their levels of enjoyment, engagement, and to gather their reflections on using the device. The feedback was been very positive – teachers have also been pleased with the trial. Different subjects engaged differently with the device – in English iTunes U was the main content delivery system and this proved to be a winner with students as content such as video, text and images were always accessible. iTunes U enables students to work at their own pace, follow a flipped learning model and always have the information at their fingertips.
Evernote was the replacement for an exercise book. Chosen because there are mulitple entry points – all mobile devices as well as computers – both at home and at school, Evernote was found by the students to be easy to use and convenient.
Perhaps one of the biggest drawcards to using an iPad was that it was one device that replaces many – ultimately such a device could replace text books, booklets and be equipped with apps that will encourage creative responses to learning.
Some of the apps used during the trial include:
Educreations, iMovie, Evernote, Aurasma, Comic Life, Coach’s Eye, Minecraft, Lego Moviemaker, Doodle Buddy, paper 53 and many more.
Check out our website about the trial to see the survey results and information about the apps we used plus lots more.
Find us on Social Media and online
Email: sonya.south@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: http://sscllibrary.weebly.com/
Location: Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia
Twitter: @SSCL_LIBRARY
SSCL KnitWits
Knitsters across the school have been getting together to hone their craft in the iCentre at Lunchtime. Students and teachers alike are getting down with their needles and we are making some great progress. We hope in the future our skill level will be good enough to participate in a project such as “Wrapped with Love”. Many thanks to Brendon Bearman, Michelle Hudson and Suzanne El Achi who have shown their talent and been part of the craziness that’s been the Knitwits. A huge thank you as well to Annie Fitzgerald who donated lots of needles and wool for our group.
Knitwits
Such concentration!
Learning to stitch
ASTRO BOY ON DISPLAY!
We continue to highlight a variety of reading genres through our displays. Astro boy stood guard over our display of graphic novels, comics and manga this term and the books were complimented by video on the Screen donated earlier in the year by the P and C. Look out for next term’s display.
graphic novel
Videos play at luchtime
Astroboy
Year 10 History visit the local library
Lisa and I took the Year 10 history elective group to the local library this term and it was a really beneficial visit. The lovely ladies in the library gave us a tour and had some specific information for our students to assist them with their elective personal choice project. Most of the history class signed up to the Library which is a must for all our students. That gives them access to not only the book collection, but a huge array of online resources. Some of the databases and journals are too expensive for us to hold here at school so for our students to have access online is amazing.
If you’d like to organise a visit for your class, please let me know.
New Periodicals - great reading in the iCentre
Our recreational magazine collection is really popular with titles such as Empire (Movie reviews), Yen and Frankie (Indi fashion / craft / lifestyle), Inside Sport, Australian Photography, Historicool new to the Library.
Old favourites like Wheels and Tech Life are still also available.
Of interest to teachers I have taken a subscription for 'History Today' online. If you’d like to access this the details are: User name: sscl. Password: sscl2040
We also are receiving a print copy of ‘New Internationalist' as well as access to their vast online back issue collection. We have student and teacher login ins available. This publication is useful for a range of subjects including Geography, Science, History, International Studies, and Accord and deal with pressing issues around the globe such as globalisation, environment and sustainability, indigenous issues, race and gender issues and much more. It will also be particularly useful for our Year 7 ProBL unit at the beginning of 2015.
Teacher account: Username: teachersscl Password: 8507teacher
Student account: Username: ssclstudent Password: student2040