Nov 16 2009
Outcome Based education is dead
The official word: (Just click on fullscreen and then zoom -+ bottom left)
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Nov 15 2009
School 2.0 Bookmarks (weekly)
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Digital School Library Leaves Book Stacks Behind
This school did away with a traditional library and opted for a complete digital experience for their learners.
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Resource wiki for presenters and change agents in schools
“The Moving Forward wiki houses a collection of resources to help presenters and change agents as they help move schools and universities forward into the 21st century. If you have a resource to add, please do so!”
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This site was specially written and organized to make Biology learning easier. More than 1800 questions and answers are available to help you study Biology in the easiest way possible.
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Elluminate workshops edu calender
These free online workshops/webinars with great educational topics are always great. Just wish I had more time!
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Tapped In Calendar of PD events
Always great things, talks and topics here. Check this calender regularly or add to yours. Very worthwile
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“Nearly six years ago, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills released its signature toolkit, the MILE Guide for 21st Century Skills: Milestones for Improving Learning and Education. Today, this toolkit has been revised and updated to reflect new realities and the P21 Framework for Education. “
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A Simple Guide To Set Up Your School On Facebook
“Creating a Facebook page for your school or college isn’t as simple as it is when you’re just creating a personal page. There are several pitfalls that I came across when doing so that Facebook simply hasn’t addressed, and the administration process involved in adding schools on Facebook is more complex than a normal profile.”
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Security in a web 2.0 world and beyond
“Learn how to stay ahead of malware, viruses and emerging threats while battling reduced budgets and resources. Attend this session to hear experts discuss the trends that will impact network security and child safety—Web 3.0, cloud computing and outsourcing—and how you can prepare for the future. Plus, technologists from top school districts including Duval County Schools and Denver Public Schools reveal how they successfully guard their students and networks from Internet-based threats. “
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A nice simple video on 21st century learning
Sometimes the ISTE, Partnership and ALA skills for the 21st Century are too complex and overwhelming… becoming just one more thing for teachers to do. Here, Littleton Public Schools has simplified the shift to just four simple categories…
Sometimes the ISTE, Partnership and ALA skills for the 21st Century are too complex and overwhelming… becoming just one more thing for teachers to do. Here, Littleton Public Schools has simplified the shift to just four simple categories… -
Scribblar.com – simple, effective online collaboration
Using Scribblar, users can collaborate on their own online whiteboard or “room” – featuring many of the tools familiar to users of Smart or Promethean boards – lines, text, shapes etc. You can upload your own images where you and others can edit it or comment on it.
In addition to the whiteboard – there is a chat box to communicate with other users, and there is also a voice chat option as well.
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Creative Commons Audio for your IWB
“Luckily there are many sites that now provide audio files under a creative commons licence. You can use these freely, as long as you attribute the original source. Sometimes you can even licence them to use commercially if you wish.”
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7 rules for ICT teachers, co-ordinators and leaders
Down to earth invaluable tips!!!
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Historical Moments You Can Relive
Got a love of history, some extra time, no money, and an internet connection? Then check out these best 101 moments in history on video to relive at no charge. There are historical videos on the presidents, famous speeches, breakthrough moments in space exploration, along with moving moments in culture, all found easily on YouTube.
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A great site on Evolution with multimedia
Teacher resources and more
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Twitter Education Virtual Conference
“Twitter Education Virtual Conference”
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Should laptops replace textbooks? A poll- go vote!
“The age of the textbook may be bowing out — or it may not” So far laptops are winning…. Some interesting comments on the topic as well. Go vote!
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A collection of PLN (personal learning networks) visualisations from around flickr. How do people see their PLN’s?
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Social Media in Learning examples
I agree with this list 100 %
- Centre for learning & performace technologies is a very social site which provide a mostly inforamtion about the technologies for appearing on the bases of the performance.
Premium White Pro – post by valriedeleon
- The Learning Technologies conference, now in its tenth year, attracts many of the world’s leading learning speakers, thinkers, visionaries and practitioners and over 350 conference delegates.
Ultimate Acai max – post by sharieoneal
- Centre for learning & performace technologies is a very social site which provide a mostly inforamtion about the technologies for appearing on the bases of the performance.
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epubBooks: FREE eBooks in the EPUB format for your iPhone, Sony Reader, and many other eReaders
EPubbooks.com provides a selection of high quality, free ePub eBooks, for everyone to read. It is devided into sections for easy reference: Books, authors, genres and ereaders. You will need an ebookreader to read them but just see the ereader page or if you use a Firefox browser you can download the extension and read it straight in your browser here: http://www.epubread.com/
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Africa Geographic digimag – Bringing Africa to the world
This is an absolutely amazing interactive magazine- I REALLY wouldn’t mind having all my magazines in this format. Interactive beautifully illustrated with photos, video snippets and scrolling info bars. Lovely. Could be great in the Geography class/library.
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Bloom’s Taxonomy Poster for Elementary Teachers
- – post by ms-yu3
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Learning Tools Directory : Over 3,000 tools listed
All the social media tools are listed here- lots of which I have not played with yet…
- – post by angelamaiers
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Nov 08 2009
School 2.0 Bookmarks (weekly)
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Open education resource database
This resources database is an open database of resources about OER; for example, papers in academic publications, newspapers articles about OER, interviews, etc. This is not a database of OER, although we do encourage resources about OER to themselves be open. A list of OER blogs can be found on the News in Open Education page.
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Enjoy these great stories as you see thousands of hand-selected and relevant pictures, slide-shows, videos, audio-clips, documents and other primary sources linked, in context, where you need them.
Thanx Andrew… -
Do you want to start a wiki? Look through the list to pick one!
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How facebook saved a suicidal teens life
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OpenOffice.org Education Project’s goals are to establish a bridge between OpenOffice.org and the world of education as well as recruit and train new developers.
As part of its activities in close relationship with teachers, we identified a need: a suite dedicated to education and particularly in the first degree.
Thus was born the project OOo4kids (pronounced “OpenOffice for kids”). OOo4Kids is a lighter version of OpenOffice. Org:
* Dedicated to 7-12 years
* With specific adaptations to the world of education
* Who works everywhere (Linux, Mac OS X, Windows)
* International / Multilingual -
Keeping Students Safe Online (e-book)
The Web offers valuable resources and advantages to students, teachers, and administrators-but it also has the potential to present dangers. The critical issue is how to balance the benefits of the Web with the legal and ethical challenges it presents. This eBook will guide districts as they create solutions for protecting students and data
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“Manifesto for Creativity and Collaboration in the use of Web 2.0 – Google Docs
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Response to a Criticism about Using Twitter in the Classroom
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After all, kids can write all kinds of nonsense on a sheet of paper and spread it around school, as well; they’ve been doing that for generations. Yet, I don’t see too many teachers wondering whether we should allow them to write.
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Lesson and tool Ideas to Inspire
A collection of collaborative presentations, which offer a large number of ideas for engaging lesson activities. They are the result of the collaboration of teachers from all around the world.
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(Thanx Andrew for this one)
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Browse a timeline of war and conflict across the globe
Using Googlemaps all conflicts and wars has been plotted on the map with more information.
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Could Texting Be Good for Students?
Let’s face it: Texting is here to stay. The average 13- to 17-year-old sends 2,900 texts a month, according to the market research firm Nielsen. And while it might be a punishable offense in most schools, some teachers say that texting has educational tie-ins and that it can teach positive language skills, the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina reports.
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And a new study from California State University researchers has found that texting can improve teens’ writing in informal essays and many other writing assignments.
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A collection of podcasts- you can compile your own selection or link to your own.
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PDClipart.org is a HUGE collection of public domain clip art. The collection is FREE and NO REGISTRATION is required.
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A baseline study on South African graduates from the perspective of employers (PDF)
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Top 50 Mobile Learning Resources
A brilliant list of mobile learning sites and blogs!!!
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m4Lit A teen m-novel project in South Africa
A great powerpoint from Steve on his teen novel…with some interesting stats on cellphone use….
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Download Free Wallpaper of the Earth From Above
This site has amazing photographs of earth for about 100 countries in context. Can be great for classroom use. Very informative and amazing.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Nov 04 2009
Public Seminar: Our Education system what is the way forward?
The education school at Wits will be hosting another public seminar. Download the invitation from here.
Nov 02 2009
A twitter /facebook chat room
I am always looking for new ways to create backchannels or online meeting spaces. So this following little tool, Savor Chat, quite intrigued me and I thought that we could try it out. I will leave the chat room open for now, just to see how it works.
Basically you can sign into the chat room with either your twitter username or your facebook e-mail address and password. You can also choose if you want your tweet/update to appear in yout twitter /Facebook home stream. You can access it on the Savor chat site or embed the chat into your blog/site using an iframe. It does however, have google ads on with links to chat rooms. This could be a calamity when using it with learners. The creators of the site are working on a paid version where you can remove advertising and will be offered more advanced features.
Whenever someone post you get a direct message notefying you as well as a sound warning (if you have set it that way).
If you want to see how it works, come chat to me here: http://www.savorchat.com/chat/learn-with-maggie
Nov 02 2009
Good luck to our matrics
It is that time of the year again and I am sure nails are being bitten, hair are standing on end (in the case of parents and teachers), candles are being burnt on both ends and nerve endings are fragile.
But don’t worry- focus and fly!!!!
Here is the exam timetable so that we can keep track of who is having nervous breakdowns!!!
2009 NCS Exam Timetable
| WEEK 1 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 26/10 | German, Portuguese, Hebrew P1 Home; First and Second Add Languages (2hrs) Electrical Technology (3hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, Home; First and Second Add Languages P1 (2hrs) Latin P1 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 27/10 | Information Technology P2 Theory (3hrs) | German, Portuguese, Hebrew P2 (2hrs) Home; First and Second Add Languages |
| Wednesday 28/10 | Consumer Studies (3hrs) Nautical Science P1 | Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu Arabic, French, Italian; Spanish, Home; First and Second Add Languages P2 (2hrs) Latin P2 (1½ hrs) |
| Thursday 29/10 | Mechanical Technology (3hrs) | Agricultural Management Practices (2½ hrs) |
| Friday 30/10 | Afrikaans Home Lang P1 (2hrs) and First (2hrs) and Second Add. Languages P1 (2½hrs) | German, Portuguese Home and First Add Languages P3 (2½hrs) |
| WEEK 2 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 2/11 | English Home Lang P1 (2hrs) and First (2hrs) and Second Add. Languages P1 (2½hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu Home and First Add Languages P3 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 3/11 | Geography (Theory) P1 (3hrs) | Geography (Map work) P2 (1½hrs) |
| Wednesday 4/11 | IsiZulu, isiXhosa, SiSwati, isiNdebele Home Lang P1 (2hrs) and First (2hrs) and Second Add. Languages P1 (2½hrs) | Music P1 Theory (3hrs) |
| Thursday 5/11 | History P1 (3hrs) | Computer Application Tech P2 Theory (3hrs) |
| Friday 6/11 | Mathematics P1 (3hrs) Mathematical Literacy P1 (3hrs) | Civil Technology (3hrs) |
| Saturday 7/11 |
| WEEK 3 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 9/11 | Mathematics P2 (3hrs) Mathematical Literacy P2 (3hrs) | |
| Tuesday 10/11 | Afrikaans Home Lang P2 (2½hrs) and First and Second Add Languages P2 (2hrs) | SePedi, SeSotho, SeTswana, XiTsonga, TshiVenda Home Lang P1 (2hrs) and First (2hrs) and Second Add. Languages P1 (2½hrs) |
| Wednesday 11/11 | Accounting (3hrs) | |
| Thursday 12/11 | English Home Lang P2 (2½hrs) and First and Second Add. Languages P2 (2hrs) | |
| Friday 13/11 | Physical Science (Physics) P1 (3hrs) | Dance Studies (3hrs) |
| Saturday 14/11 | ||
| WEEK 4 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 16/11 | Physical Science (Chemistry) P2 (3hrs) | Visual Arts (3hrs) |
| Tuesday 17/11 | IsiZulu, isiXhosa, SiSwati, isiNdebele Home Lang P2 (2½hrs) and First and Second Add Languages P2 (2hrs) | Dramatic Arts (3hrs) |
| Wednesday 18/11 | Economics (3hrs) | |
| Thursday 19/11 | SePedi, SeSotho, SeTswana, XiTsonga, TshiVenda Home Lang P2 (2½hrs) and First and Second Add Languages P2 (2hrs) | Agricultural Technology (3hrs) |
| Friday 20/11 | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) | Afrikaans Home Lang P3 (2½hrs) and First Add Lang P3 (2½hrs) |
| Saturday 21/11 | ||
| WEEK 5 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 23/11 | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | |
| Tuesday 24/11 | History P2 (3hrs) Maritime Studies Equine Studies | Religion Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday 25/11 | Business Studies (3hrs) | SePedi, SeSotho, SeTswana, XiTsonga, TshiVenda Home Lang P3 (2½hrs) and First Add Language P3 (2½hrs) |
| Thursday 26/11 | IsiZulu, isiXhosa, SiSwati, isiNdebele Home Lang P3 (2½hrs) and First Add Lang P3 (2½hrs) | Design (3hrs) |
| Friday 27/11 | ||
| Saturday 28/11 |
| WEEK 6 | 09:00 | |
| Monday 30/11 | Agricultural Science P1 (2½hrs) | English Home Lang P3 (2½hrs) and First Add. Lang P3 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 1/12 | Agricultural Science P2 (2½hrs) Nautical Science P2 | Tourism (3hrs) |
| Wednesday 2/12 | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3hrs) | Music P2 Comprehension (1½hrs) |
| Thursday 3/12 | Mathematics P3 (2hrs) | Hospitality Studies (3hrs) |
| Friday 4/12 | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3hrs) | Religion Studies P2 (2hrs) |
CONCLUSION OF THE 2009 NSC EXAMINATION: 4 DECEMBER 2009
| WEEK 0 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Wednesday 07/10 | Computer Application Speed Test (Optional) at 8:00 | This period will be closely monitored by the PEDs and the DoE to ensure that controlled examination conditions are observed. |
| Thursday 08/10 | Computer Application Tech P1 (3hrs) Practical | |
| Friday 09/10 | Information Technology P1 (3hrs) Practical | |
Nov 01 2009
School 2.0 Bookmarks (weekly)
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- – post by acerview54
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“From next year, pupils across the country will do fewer projects, and teachers’ workloads will be reduced”
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Bridge House School – Internet Acceptable Use Policy
Maybe we could use this as a base AUP and build /change form it…???
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Internet2 and School Libraries: The Time Is Now (More Than Ever)
Does the word Internet2 conjure images of a mythical realm off-limits to the masses of web-surfing plebeians? A forbidding place where computer engineers and the academic research elite speak in esoteric computer programming dialects and move terabytes of data through big pipes at the speed of light? At Horace Mann Elementary School in West Allis, Wis., Internet2 is helping transform the school library into the heart of digitally enabled innovation and learning. So what is the real Internet2, and why does it matter to K-12 schools and libraries? James Werle and Louis Fox have the answers!
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Finding New Things to do with an IWB
“I’m interested (read desperate) to see the revolutionary value adding aspects. I have an IWB, I love using my IWB, but I need to grasp the ideas and strategies that move people to describe it as a ‘revolution’ in learning. Show me an idea that is actually new!!!”
- – post by timsparacino
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Banning cellphones not the answer – The Teacher
Steve uses a great metaphor for why we should not ban cellphones…
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Leaving digital footprints that count
This wiki deals with the reasoning behind and the tools needed to manage your digital footprint
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The great debate: is e-learning effective?
Is e-learning really effective? Or is it a buzzword that promises much but deliver less? Trying to learn a language online has been likened to learning how to swim without entering the water. But more learning is likely to be delivered electronically in the future.
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If you can’t use technology get out of teaching!
A must read article for all teachers.
- – post by diigo_master
- See this Review of the Teachers – post by diigo_master
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The purpose should be creating the new information environment, one that’s at the core of our children’s ‘outside the classroom’ experience with technology. We have to bring digital, networked, abundant, overwhelming information into the classroom. The focus needs to be on the information and the learning not on the technology.
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Motion Chart of Internet Usage World Wide or fun with numbers
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Ebook: Netbooks in K-12: Thinking Big by Thinking Small
Over the years, the question of how many computers per student or per classroom has emerged as a pivotal issue. Advocates for different perspectives agree that technology-enabled learning is important and the ideal is one-to-one computing and anytime, anywhere learning. In today’s economic environment, school districts must budget wisely and get the most out of each dollar invested. One way to address student computing and anywhere anytime access is with netbook PCs. This eBook will explore the issues and showcase districts that have implemented successful and cost-effective programs.
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The Teacher Tap: Professional Development Resources for Educators
“The Teacher Tap is a free, professional development resource that helps educators and librarians address common questions about the use of technology in teaching and learning by providing easy access to practical, online resources and activities. “
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Guidelines for Policy Makers on Child Online Protection - Zunia.org
In order to formulate a national strategy focusing on online child safety, policy makers need to consider a range of strategies.This document includes a number of key areas for consideration. These Guidelines have been prepared in the context of the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative in order to establish the foundations for a safe and secure cyber world for future generations. They are meant to act as a blueprint which can be adapted and used in a way which is consistent with national or local customs and laws. Moreover, it will be appreciated that these guidelines address issues which might affect all children and young people under the age of 18 but each age group will have different needs.
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A report on how we view our digital footprints (form Pew)
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My maths literacy research paper
My paper on the agonies and successes of creating an informal online community of practice /learning ecology for mathematical literacy teachers in South Africa. It also explains the tools I used and how it impact(ed) on the community.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Oct 30 2009
My poem: Last Friday
I read through Tom Barrett’s little newsletter that he compiles for his fellow teachers and was intrigued by the little tool that he introduced them to, called Write Rhymes. It helps to compile rhymes (duh) and is a very creative way to get your learners to write a poem. So I tried my hand at it and this is what I came up with……
Good morning last Friday
How did you get here?
I thought you were still far away
You sneaked up on me, that’s clear!
I still had so many things to do-
A whole month seemed so vast
But you in wisdom turned the clock
And now I am left aghast
So take me back to Monday first
So that I can try again
To pick up pieces of my life
That I lost – God knows when!
Very rudimentary and the list of rhyming words did not always inspire me, but it made me think. So this little tool get’s the thumbs up form me. Why don’t you give it a try and let me know (or post below) some rhymes???
Oct 28 2009
South African bursaries for matrics
The year 2009 is fast approaching its end and most young people are
pondering on what to do in 2010. For those who are thinking of tertiary education I suggest that you have a look at bursaries offered on the following sites:
- www.sasolbursaries.com
- www.absa.co.za
- www.hcifoundation.co.za
- www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za (for teacher training)
There are also opportunities for new graduates. All major banks offer
graduate development programmes. For the Training Outside Public
Practice (TOPP) offered by Liberty Life you may contact
vikashi.chetty@liberty.co.za . The revenue service is looking to take in 200 BCom graduates in 2010. For more on this you may contact graduates@sars.gov.za
If you know of any other opportunities for our matrics leaving school at the end of this year, please add it as a comment.
Good luck- the future awaits!!
(Thanx @ceanlia for sending me this)
Oct 25 2009
School 2.0 Bookmarks (weekly)
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Loads of Maths eBooks for download
Wow, what a gem of a site where you can download great mathematics ebooks to enjoy
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If teens are confused by Twitter, what’s the right SocMed tool in school?
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The Educational Equity Center (EEC) at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) is using social networking to connect with United States (US) parents and educators about how to foster girls’ interest in science and technology, and to communicate why that is important. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Science: It’s a Girl Thing! is an early childhood science programme offering web-based resources detailing science-based activities for parents and children to do together at home, with supplementary how-to videos and discussions available online.
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“A Danish – South African initiative offering Mobile solutions for Literacy Training and Skills Development.”
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Thoughts on Setting up a Student Created Wiki
This really brought it home: “as we already know, the technology itself does not develop the skill, nor is it the teacher; the technology is only a tool, and teachers must remain committed to the collaborative process if students are to fully engage and develop the skills necessary to work collaboratively with their peers”
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The Great IWB Debate – The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution
Will be following this debate with interest seeing that I now have my very own mobile iwb!!! (and having great fun using it)
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Blooms Taxonomy Tutorial FLASH
This visual tutorial is really inspiring. Well done!
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“Write a comment or poem in the shape of hearts or other symbols.
Send a greeting or post to MySpace or your blog.” -
“Nearly ten years’ worth of research conducted by The Pew Internet & American Life Project examines the growing role of technology in our lives, our changing expectations about how to find and use information, and the impact these changes will have on libraries and other institutions in the future.”
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Education Week: Twitter Lessons in 140 Characters or Less
A wonderful article about twitter in education
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Today’s students, she added, are going to need to have highly developed critical-thinking skills, be able to digest large amounts of information, and determine what’s important and what’s not. Those are the very kinds of skills they tend to use with Web 2.0 tools,
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This month, the UN’s International Telecommunications Union launched a blueprint for child online protection, drawn up jointly by welfare groups, regulators, law enforcement officials and the industry, that will be updated every year.
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Understanding what GIS is and what it can be used for. With a GIS application you can open digital maps on your computer, create new spatial information to add to a map, create printed maps customised to your needs and perform spatial analysis. In this worksheet we explore the basic concepts behind Geographical Information Systems.
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Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies
“”Many youth in the United States have fully integrated the Internet into their daily lives. For them, the Internet is a positive and powerful space for socializing, learning, and engaging in public life. Along with the positive aspects of Internet use come risks to safety, including the dangers of sexual solicitation, online harassment, and bullying, and exposure to problematic and illegal content. The Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking, comprising 50 state Attorneys General, asked this Task Force to determine the extent to which today’s technologies could help to address these online safety risks, with a primary focus on social network sites in the United States.” “
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LearnTrends 2009 -online conference
The theme/focus this year is on Convergence in Workplace Learning. We will bring together people who look at different aspects of learning and knowledge work to understand better what’s going on in those areas and how we should be thinking about this holistically.
As always, this conference is about getting together interesting people who bring a slightly different perspective and have meaningful conversation around innovation in workplace learning. We typically get more than a thousand people signed up and at least a hundred in each session.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
