Collection update

Software new to the collection:
GIMP is a free software program that allows upper primary and secondary students to use tools for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring, from the simple to the professional standard. This can support all learning areas, but is particularly useful for visual arts and technology.

GeoGebra is free dynamic mathematics software for upper primary and secondary school, connecting arithmetic, geometry, algebra and calculus.

Software version upgrades:
Look through the Adobe Creative Suite 4 software to see what changes the upgrades from the previous CS3 versions have brought.

The Crocodile series of software has been redesigned and is now available under the Yenka trademark. This collection supports upper primary and secondary school students in maths, science, ICT, and technology by providing interactive 3D simulations of concepts often difficult to convey in a classroom situation. They even have a couple of titles for free download (look through these Software for Learning pages for the free ones), and also allow free use of all their software to students and teachers at home.  
 

What's happening at school?

Visit the Software for Learning delicious links to examples of student digital work.

Check out the video of the news item that Close-Up made about Point England School.

A Year 11 French teacher, from Mount Maunganui College, Shirley Bain recently introduced glogster  to her class. The students were invited to create a glog that would introduce themselves to French students that they would later meet face-to-face as part of an exchange. The teacher sent us the link to one of her student's glogs, commenting: "To find a tool that makes students want to write, in French, was worth millions. The link to student achievement is clear – not only has her level of writing already improved but her confidence and engagement levels have shot up enormously. Where before she wrote a short paragraph in her exercise book, now she has a long essay of NCEA level quality. And she keeps going back to it!"
 

Effective Pedagogy

Rochelle Jensen and Fiona Grant have been appointed to promote the effective use of Digistore and Software for Learning in the NZ education environment.
Rochelle and Fiona have created the Software for Learning wiki to support school leaders and teachers with effective e-learning practice. Visit this wiki to hear from inspiring classroom teachers who share practical examples of how they have used e-learning to support teaching and learning in the New Zealand Curriculum.

Connecting with Room 8 In this e-story Pam Seath, from Bellevue School, shares how a blog has been used in her junior classroom to foster a learning community.
 

Spotlight: Digital Technology Guidelines (DTG)

The DTG website aims to clarify the technology pathways from secondary school into tertiary institutions and to careers in ICT. Look at this module for year 11: Game Making - teachers can download and personalise this module where students use the free Game Maker  to experiment, build, and test a game. Other software used in the module includes the free software products Gimp, and Audacity. The collection of  New Zealand case studies and modules will be added to as the year progresses. 
 

Lunch box - sharing the good stuff

The Lunch box blog, written by Sarah Jones, member of the e-Learning Team at the New Zealand Ministry of Education, was launched in July of last year. It provokes discussion on software, digital media and e-learning research and innovation in New Zealand schools.
 

Share – where?

Get published: The Snapshots collection is an evolving community project. Why don't you consider contacting us (at sfl@tki.org.nz) about a lesson that you have done  involving the use of software, and we can look at getting you published.  
Tell us about something we don't have: Use the online form to suggest software that you have successfully used.
Let us know what you think: Each product page has a review form (scroll down to the bottom) so that you can let us know what you think of the software, give hints and tips, and pass on some lesson ideas.
Show us what you are doing: Send us (at sfl@tki.org.nz) the URL of your class or work that your students have published and we will add it to the Software for Learning delicious links.  
 

Professional learning

TakingITGlobal workshop opportunities MoE-subsidised workshops are being offered to give teachers the tools and knowledge to effectively use the TakingITGlobal website.  (You can check out TIGed in the Software for Learning collection). Look through the wiki to see how the NZ curriculum can be supported by participating in the TakingITGlobal projects.

ULearn09 7 – 9 October 2009, Christchurch. With a focus on integrating new technologies to empower learning and transform leadership, the ULearn conference is not to be missed. You can now register your interest, or respond to their call for presentations.

Auckland Un-Conference May 9th 2009, Auckland. This is a relaxed opportunity to explore some of the new technologies, and is very much about giving and receiving. Check the wiki for more details, and see the last year's participants' reflections on Voicethread.

Un-Conference BOP is a similar event to the Auckland Un-Conference, being held in Tauranga on the 19th June. See their wiki for further details.