Digital Education Revolution NSW

Here is a rundown on getting started with the laptops. It’s mainly an overview of the State project.

http://tinyurl.com/ykjz3he

Check out www.worldofteaching.com it has power point presentations on most topics in all KLA’s. you can save them to your computer and modify them as you want.  Most Agriculture topics are covered under”Biology”. Hope it is of some use.

I have added some links to resources that relate to specific KLAs. There are lots of resources available already on TaLe and this is a good thing. It means we can hit the ground running in our schools when netbooks arrive.

 It also allows us to focus on the job at hand which is to develop specific resources relevant to the Western Sydney Region where we teach. Where are the gaps and how do we cater for our students ?

 These are important questions facing us as a group.

I have been discussing the digital units of work with teachers and  a lot of teachers expressed their concerns about lack of skills in using the softwares.  I have been thinking about thier doubts and concerns and I have to say that our role is somewhat like a clothes designer. I have got a sewing machine and I can sew (basic straight lines) but I can only be a seamstress. I don’t understand the body shapes and the imaganation to design a garment. But a designer does not have to be good with sewing machine, however they know how to satisfy the client needs and they can get people to sew what they want. In terms of technology teachers do not necessarily have to be expert but they need to have the imagination how to design the unit of work that will take advantage of DER and they can get other people to help them with technology. To have this imagination they have to be exposed to the potential of technology like a designer is not able to operate twin needle or zipper foot but they know what it can be used for when designing clothes. I am not sure if I am making sense here or it appears to be giberish.

Support+SSP DER WSR

We are underway, developing resources for the DER in Western Sydney Region Support Units and SSPs. Netbooks can be a very useful tool engaging students in their learning. We aim to assist staff to engage students who have intense learning needs. We will do this with supportive quality teaching materials and methods sympathetic to the challenges faced by our students.