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Transfer iPad files to other devices
iPad and sharing content in the classroom. The most noteworthy aspect of the iPad is its simplicity. When providing Professional Development to teaching staff I normally ask that they forget everything they have learnt before about operating computers. I also ask that they leave behind any preconceptions of how the device works at the door. Don’t over complicate, just tap to get going. But this is not easy, especially after many years of learning why file structure is important, how a “Home” folder works, and why...
read moreAdobe in Education
Bright Ideas from Adobe To most of us, Adobe are known as the company who develop Photoshop. Others know them as the company behind industry standard tools such as Illustrator and Acrobat. More recently they have been getting media attention with their proprietary format Flash, its lack of support on the iPad and Apple’s reluctance to support this versatile developers tool. It appears that this has sent shock waves through the company. Adobe have always had a strong presence in education. In 2011 their Creative Suite of software...
read moreNotebooks for Teachers
iSupport are pleased to announce the Notebooks for Teachers sessions. The training days are being hosted at 4 schools here in Perth and have been developed exclusively for teachers who want to utilise the MacBook to assist teaching and learning. Rossmoyne S.H.S – Monday 21st May Ocean Reef SHS – Monday, 28th May Waroona D.H.S – Tuesday, May 29th Applecross SHS – Tuesday 5th June I will be showcasing tried and tested classroom methods which I have found aid in the retention of information and improve the learning...
read moreiPad teacher support
Please find below a free resource which will help teachers get familiar with the iPad. The PDF is scaled down from a document with complements my iPad in Education Professional Learning session. Please share amongst your colleagues. iPad in...
read morePreparing for iPads
creating an effective and sustainable teaching and learning environment. Enabling our teachers to provide effective pedagogy in the classroom is paramount. Equipping teaching staff with tools to assist in their day to day tasks such as planning, organising and collaborating is also a priority. At my school we have a successful MacBook 1:1 environment. We utilise Apple wikis, podcasting, iMovies and iTunes to access a multitude of media. But we have also, perhaps unknowingly invested into “Apple Technologies”, their mantra and as...
read moreGreat resources for educators who flip
As a teacher in this digital age there has never been such a wealth of free and relevant resources available. Just yesterday 2 exciting pieces of educational news was announced: 1. TED launched a new channel on YouTube yesterday. This will be an extremely valuable resource for teachers. Check out the youtube link below. “A permanent initiative, TED-Ed harnesses the talent of the world’s best teachers and visualizers, extending great lessons beyond a single classroom to anyone with internet...
read moreA Brief Review of “21st Century Education”
A brief review of “21st Century Education” In 2007 our Labor government promised a Digital Education Revolution. By December they were sworn in, funds made available and schools entered into a modern and technology rich twenty-first century education. But the very concept behind this title can be ambiguous, and the transition sometimes complicated and overwhelming. In this article I will address key areas which I feel are becoming crucial for a twenty-first century education to succeed. When I studied audio engineering in the UK I was the...
read moreControl Z
Putting control into the parents hands. Control is something which I feel parents are losing a lot of when their child comes home from school with a shiny new computer. I often imagine the groans from some parents as they realise that years of disciplined upbringing, routine and careful social selection is certain to come undone. Those of us using a windows computer will also know that ‘control Z’ simply means undo. Just a quick key combination which has been around for decades that can retract the most horrific of mistakes. Perhaps a...
read moreTop 50 Educational Apps of 2011
I have compiled a list of the apps which I have used and highly recommend as “tools in the classroom”. Used under supervision of a great teacher, these apps can provide a solid foundation to some outstanding lessons. I suggest that as a teacher you take just 2 or 3 relevant apps, and really deconstruct them. Evaluate how they might compliment your lesson plans. It is all to easy to get overwhelmed at the choice available on the App Store. New apps for the Australian classroom Four Corners 50 Years – Australian...
read moreEnglish and Digital Literacy
Free Teaching Resources. Throughout the digital revolution there has always been one consistent feature of every desktop and laptop ever made… The keyboard. And I don’t think our qwerty layout is going anywhere. English Literacy is obviously a teaching priority. Learning correct spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting are schooling “101’s”. But there has never before been such focus on digital literacy. Learning how to hand address a letter with attention to your word spacing (Tracking) and word height (Leading) was...
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