NSW DET self created resources
There are an abundance of resources created by teachers for…themselves. One day I hope we reach a point where we are no longer ’self-conscious’ and actually share our resources with the intention of helping others. I can cite a few to begin with. Jenny Eather who created the fantastic Rainforest Maths – if you google ‘Jenny Eather’ it will lead you to Writing Fun an indispensable classroom resource FOR ALL TEACHERS. Now, Jenny is at Bilambil PS, the homepage is just, WOW! All created by Jenny. Yet, where on the DET network are you guided to the fact that Jenny Eather has these resources ready for you to use?
Another excellent place to resource excellent classroom materials is wherever Stu Hasic leaves them. His main site Stuhasic.com includes STEMS which is truly a godsend for any yr 6 coordinator. Why this is not used by schools across the NSW DET is beyond me!?! He also has a free ‘Jeopardy’ game that can be modified by the classroom teacher. Instant resource that WILL have an impact on your class learning cycle.
Stu has freshly developed a ‘SRN’ Student Response Network tool. Think of it like a buzzer type application where students have to select the correct answer from A, B, C or D and submit their response via the software at their computer. The results of which will be displayed on the main screen (IWB/Projector etc).
Then, of course, there are resources that have been developed ‘in-region’. Unless you are a techcentred user you probably don’t even know these exist.
A nice easy ’starter’ site is at SWS (South Western Sydney District). The simple to use ICT tasks are faultless for the technology beginners. Find an idea that suits your current learning cycle and follow the steps. Instant ICT integration. Now that computer at the back of the room has some use.
One of my favourites since way back when includes CAP (Country Areas Program). What’s there? Well, Collies Clicks for starters. Ready made webquests that have hundreds of schools participating from Australia and overseas. (there are thousands of schools in NSW and yet this EXCELLENT ICT resource can only muster a small percentage of those)
The availability of Bloom’s grids is nothing to scoff at. Not to mention the excellent MOTN (maths on the net) which should be a weekly ritual for all S2 and S3 classes in NSW. Complete the activity as a class and then submit the answer via email. Who would have thought the integration of technology could be so…easy?
The CAP site has many more offerings. Take some of your RFF and explore the benefits to be had.
There are many more resources out there, created by US. Yes, DET employees with ideas. Creating, using and posting their creations. BUT, we don’t tell anyone about them. We just hope that other teachers will find them, by chance. Ho hum! We need some sort of advertising system. Like Delicious? Like Twitter? Like email? Like a DET forum? Like…
Filed under: teacher and tagged CAP, class, ICT, ideas, jenny eather, resources, sreg, stu hasic, teachers
Thanks pixeltoy! The SWSR site’s very good. You’re right – there are many who are sharing what they do with others and it’s great to see, but so few teachers seem to know about it, so thanks for highlighting. Sydney Region actually has a really cool ICT Forum for DET staff. Email me if you’d like me to set you up an account.
Why haven’t I read this blog before now…That is a place Web 2.0 can, again, be infused, let’s take away the ’self-conscious’ element. Like you suggest, with the submiting the answers/responses/learning via email, it is very very easy to do the simple things. That sends me back to one question: why are more doing more?
We do need an adversiting system, or perhaps we already have one: our students.
Pixeltoy you are right. It is a marvel what is under our noses. We have to keep sharp and bright in our search and practise techniques. I imagine we are in for a decade of transition from the traditional “in school” corporate knowledge model to a lateral Web 2.0 knowledge landscape where learning communities reorient their ICT and Information Literacy skills. The deep change is on. We need to constantly communicate and team build.
Another invaluable site created for all to use is
Inter-Lace http://members.ozemail.com.au/~slacey/index.html.
Created by teacher librarian Sue Lacey and still maintained by her in retirement.