Diginews - Newsletter

	14/07/08
Kia Ora, Welcome to Diginews. If you have been using digital content and would like to share your students' learning experiences or give feedback about this newsletter or Digistore content, please contact us.

NEW DIGITAL CONTENT

Science Learning Objects

Eclipse image.

Can understanding contour lines be a challenging concept? Check out Contours.

Skeletal System image.

Construct a human skeleton, one bone at a time and learn the names of the bones, try Bones in our skeletal system.

How a rheostat works image.

Find out How a rheostat works to control an electric current.

Conductors and insulators in circuits image.

Conductors and insulators in circuits enables students to test different materials for electrical conductivity using an electric circuit.

Colours of objects image.

Find out why some things appear coloured and others white or black with the Colours of objects

SHARING OUR STORIES

Why Recycle?

Recycling image.

At Maeroa Intermediate, Suzette Ipsen used ‘Why Recycle?’ to introduce the topic of Zero Waste. “Using the data projector we worked through the LO stopping to discuss issues, our own environment and how perhaps we said the right things about recycling but were we actually doing it?” Afterwards the students used the LOs on laptops to extend their knowledge. “It was great to have the explanations of technical language. We referred back to the LO as the unit progressed”.

How did students respond?
“Better than reading a book, it was interesting”.

“It was good, if we wanted more information it was just there on the LO”.

“I think students were more motivated to learn through these means”

Any advice?
“Yes, get out there and use them, the best resource available to us. The LOs are relevant to our teaching, the students are focused, they enjoy using them, they’re NOT games, they are NOT told the answers straight away but given feed forward comments”

Numeracy
A number of the Learning Objects have been developed to help support the development of number strategies. Schools that are implementing the Numeracy Development Projects are likely to find these Learning Objects particularly useful.

Units of work are available in the Number section of the nzmaths site providing guidance to help teachers integrate these Learning Objects into their classroom programme.

Digital Media Essay Contest Teenagers from around America were encouraged to think critically about the role of digital media in their lives. Of the 133 essays submitted, 14 winners were selected, check them out!

Interactive Whiteboards: Are you using them? Check out what Peter Kent has to say in the article, See it to believe it, in Issue 8 of Interface. Or, have a look at Interface's lesson plans, 18 to choose from featuring different aspects of ICT.

What is it?

Digistore Te Pataka Matahiko Our Digital Storehouse is the New Zealand gateway to a collection of quality learning objects and digital resources for use in your classroom. Provision of quality assured, digital content is part of The Le@rning Federation (TLF) initiative, a collaboration between the governments of Australia and New Zealand. Access to the Digistore repository is free, although there are Conditions of Use. Schools need to be registered to access content online or to upload the content to your school intranet from a DVD supplied on registration. In Digistore you will find key links to The Learning Federation site, snapshots of teachers and students working with Digistore content, information about software, and opportunities to seek support.