Year 9 Animation/Multimedia

After creating an animation in Flash last term, students are using the skills learned in class to design a webpage. Students are learning HTML coding enabling them to design a webpage for a specific audience. Currently students are working from set tasks on the Animation VLA to complete their projects.

Some of the animations created in Term 1 will be displayed in the Art and Technology Exhibition.

Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote can be used to organise lessons, resources, etc. It can also be used as a tool for display; or it can organise your work for sharing with the class.

Student portfolios
Student assignments, work samples, assessments, etc. are saved in a OneNote notebook for easy access and sharing and can follow the student from year to year. Keep in mind that students can record audio/video directly to OneNote. This could be extremely valuable in language classes where audio is a regular part of the assessment process.


Teacher portfolio
You can use OneNote as classroom evidence of teaching practices or student work/assessment. OneNote is a great tool to organise audio, video, lesson plans, work samples, professional readings/responses, etc. You could create tabs for each standard and add pages of content to demonstrate how these standards are met.


Recently, the Year 9 Staff were trained in Microsoft OneNote. This was followed up with a PD session for all Year 9 students. The feedback from staff and students has been fantastic.



As we move towards a 1:1 computing environment, software programs like OneNote will play a vital role in assisting users to better organise and manage their data.

If you would further information about OneNote or interested in organising PD for your department, please don't hesitate to contact the ITS Department.

Year 9 Netbook Program

The distribution of netbooks to all of the Year 9 students has now occurred and they are already using them in many areas of their learning. This is a very exciting time for both students and staff and the productive and safe use of ICT will be a major focus of the Year 9 program for the rest of the year.


Parents will be kept up-to-date through the Year 9 Portal and information about cyber safety will also be provided to parents and students.














Some of the plans for the near future include the use of online discussion forums, the use of software to organise and enhance note taking skills in the classroom, creation of different forms of media, development of effective research skills and use of the school portal and Virtual Learning Areas to disseminate both curriculum and co-curricula information to students.

Updates about the netbook program will be shared with staff throughout the year.

Tim Clemens.

ICT and Music

Year 7 music students learn to use Cubase LE a Music Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) program which allows for the creation and recording of music as well as the manipulation and editing of existing MIDI files.


Year 8's use Cubase and also learn another program called Adobe Audition. This program allows for the recording of the human voice and real instruments.















Later in the course the students record music tracks, voices and foley and then synchronise these original parts to short movie trailers which we then present to the class. In year 9 the students learn advanced MIDI techniques and start to learn Cubase 4 which is a professional music production program from which above CD quality recordings can be made.

Interactive Whiteboards | Geography & History

The IWB is a fantastic tool which can provide great opportunities for enhancing classroom learning. It is enormously engaging for both teachers and students alike. From its simplest function, as a touch-screen "whiteboard" operated with the tip of a finger, you can use it to practice diagrams, symbols and make illustrations. Among its most useful applications is in annotating maps, diagrams and images. In Geography, using a world map, students can practice placing the equator, plot the locations of active volcanoes or colour code the nations of the British Commonwealth. Among its most exciting other functions is the spotlight. A particularly good use for this is when examining the extraordinarily detailed Bayeaux Tapestry in History. The tapestry has so much detail, but placing the spotlight on the focus of the moment allows students to concentrate on exactly what is being discussed. Students love to 'play' on the whiteboard and really enjoy this new way of learning.

If you would like assistance or further information about using IWBs in the School, please don't hesitate to speak to Mark.

Mark Dolbel

Windows MovieMaker in Science

Ann Brown has introduced MovieMaker in Science to facilitate visual thinking and was able to use Moviemaker in her Science class to develop understanding of molecule shapes.

The students were asked to imagine how a sugar molecule would look like if they could see it. The only clue given was that molecule shapes had some kind of balance or symmetry about them. This is the result of imaginations into the molecular world!

2007 Information Communications & Technology (ICT) PD Program

Digital Portfolios

Digital portfolio assessment is an innovative form of alternative assessment that allows teachers to see the academic progress and accomplishments made by a student over time. Digital portfolios also provide students with the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned over the course of a semester or a year. When used appropriately, digital portfolios can be an excellent component of your overall assessment plan. Software used: Blogger, MS Photostory & MS PowerPoint.

If you would like any help creating a Digital Portfolio, please don't hesitate to contact Phill on ext 342.

Multimedia & Podcasting - Staff Presentation

ICT Showcase & Share, October 24th 2006

Multimedia & Podcasting Presenter: Allyson Ferguson
















Podcasting is the distribution of audio or video files, such as radio programs or music videos, for listening on mobile devices and personal computers. Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen when they want, where they want, and how they want. To get a full appreciation and understanding of the possibilities of podcasting, it is worth taking the opportunity to subscribe and listen to a range of them. You may find that you are able to discover some podcasts that will serve some value in your classrooms.

Allyson introduced this exciting technology to her students in Term 4 adding a very innovative approach to the delivery of classroom content. Students were exposed to a range of different ICT skills and were given the opportunity develop these skills throughout the set task.

Summary of task:
Students to create a podcast of an interview with a Greek god, goddess or mythical creature.
English class to cover content
ICT class to cover technology i.e.
Using an MP3 player
Podcasting
WavePad

Bloom’s taxonomy is happening:
Knowledge/comprehension
Application/analysis
Synthesis/evaluation
Thinking styles
Analytical
Sequential
Wholistic & creative
Interpersonal (a little)

If you would like more information about this project or would like to learn about how you can use podcasting in your subject area, please don't hesitate to contact Allyson.

Online Bookings - Staff Presentation

ICT Showcase & Share, August 29th 2006

Online Bookings
Presenter: Jarrad Abel

This term we will be trialing online bookings for ISC rooms and computer labs through Learning Point. The change to an online system should provide for greater flexibility in planning and organising bookings.

> Log onto Learning Point
> Click the drop down box in the top left corner
> Select ‘Reservations & Bookings’
> Click the drop down box in the middle of screen
> Select ‘Book Classrooms’

If you need any assistance using this booking system, please do not hesitate to contact Robert on 363 (ISC Senior School).

Blogging to promote literature

Through a professional development activity run by The Centre of Youth Literature in May 2006, Marianne Lee was introduced to the world of blogging. Seeking new ways to promote literature and reading Marianne went on to create the CBC Book Week blog, the Wide Reading blog and Year 9’s Writer’s Gig blog.

The CBC Book Week Competition blog involved students posting a review of one of the shortlisted books for 2006.All students who posted a review enjoyed a Book Week luncheon in the ISC where book vouchers were awarded for best weblog entries. Ther were many entris and for the first time boys were well represented in a Book Week competition which was most likely due to the technology component.

Year 7 and 8 English students also posted reviews on the Wide Reading blog for their extended reading activity. The public space of the blog enabled students to view other students work which gave a new dimension to this type of activity.

Scot Gardner was the guest author for the Writer’s Gig in Sept 2006 which was attended by Year 9’s from Sale College, Catholic College, Maffra Secondary College and Gippsland Grammar.Marianne created a blog so that students from the four schools could converse with Scot and give him feedback about his books and writing. The blog was a great strategy as it allowed the schools to interact and gain some prior knowledge about Scot before they attended the workshop.

Visit Marianne's Blogs:

http://www.bookweek.blogspot.com/

http://www.writers-gig2006.blogspot.com/

If you would like to learn about blogging in your subject area or how Marianne can help you develop a blogspace, please don't hesitate to contact Marianne.

ARC GIS - Staff Presentation

ICT Showcase & Share, July 18th 2006

ARC GIS
Presenter: Tim Clemens

Geographic inquiry and geographic information systems (GIS) are important in assisting educators, students, and their institutions to answer personal and community questions with local to global implications. GIS in the classroom helps foster critical thinking and problem solving, 21st century workforce skills, and citizenship and community participation among young people and educators.

During Geography classes at Gippsland Grammar in 2006 there have been a number of innovations. The most important of these has been the introduction of Arcmap 9.1. This is one of the latest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software packages. GIS is used by many companies in Australia and overseas, for planning and development. It is also used by government and educational departments, to provide a hands-on tool for the creation of maps and for the analysis of geographic information. In schools it allows students to learn about this new technology whilst investigating the world around them.

In Year 11 we have completed a study of the world’s tectonic plates and their effect on humans using Arcmap 9.1. The software allowed students to map the locations of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions for a specific year and to look for the relationships between them. It was also then possible to identify the cities in the world most at risk from major earthquake damage or volcanic eruptions. Another aspect of the study was to examine the processes that create and cause these events in order to understand the formation and characteristics of volcanic environments, as part of Unit One of the VCE course for Geography.

In Year 12 students used the software to compare the population structures of countries around the world, including examples from Europe, Africa and Australia. This allowed the students to then examine the factors leading to the similarities and differences found during this task.

Year 10’s also used the software to investigate the causes and effects of hurricanes and cyclones. They examined the case study of Hurricane Mitch in Central America in order to evaluate why this Hurricane was so deadly compared to others in the region. This involved the use of satellited images, rainfall data, windspeed data and maps of the regions infrastructure and population.

I am looking forward to further developing innovative and engaging units of work using this software and incorporating all the latest technology available and in doing so develop within the students an understanding of the world around them and of their role in its management.
If you would like to learn more about this program, please don't hesitate to contact Tim.

Blogging - Staff Presentation

ICT Showcase & Share, July 4th 2006

Blogging
Presenter: Helen Dosser

A ‘blog’ is short for weblog. It’s an online journal or website where messages are posted and displayed. Blogs enable more than just a personal writing space, they invite users to participate in a larger community.

The key idea is to create critical conversation and connections in the learning experience. Blogs enable more than just a personal writing space, they invite users to

participate in a larger community
promote communication
develop literacy and ICT skills
they invite users to reflect

Helen uses Blogs in English to help students develop new thinking and learning skills that produce creative and innovative insights. Please feel free to visit Helen's classroom blog to see how she has been able to use this emerging technology with her students:
http://www.msdosser.blogspot.com/

DARTFISH Media Release - Education Week

Innovative and Emerging technologies at Gippsland Grammar

Gippsland Grammar is proud and excited to be only one of five schools in Victoria using Dartfish Video Analysis Software. Dartfish is used by teachers in Physical Education classes to collect, analyse and present data to students for review and assessment. Dartfish is used by the Australian Institute of Sport and was most recently used at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Dartfish at Gippsland Grammar provides sports students with the opportunity to work with the same technology as used by elite coaches and athletes to better learn and understand concepts in Physical Education.

Gippsland Grammar uses innovative technology across the curriculum to transform the learning environment of the future learner. Students use ICT to create, visualise thinking and communicate at all levels of learning and are supported by teachers who embrace technology. The schools computer network and ICT facilities have been recognised as being a leading learning resource and the school is always developing ICT programs to support student learning through emerging technologies. Gippsland Grammar’s state-of-the-art Intranet system allows parents to follow their child’s learning and be directly informed of daily activities at the school. Pod casting, Blogging and Interactive Whiteboards are just some of the new technologies introduced to enhance learning at Gippsland Grammar.

Dartfish- Staff Presentation

ICT Showcase & Share, May 1st 2006

Dartfish
Presenter: Don Gaskill

Dartfish is an advanced video analysis software package that is being used in our PE department to collect, analyse and present data to students for review and assessment.

Dartfish is used by many professional sports organizations, The Australian Institute of Sport, and most recently it was used at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

We are one of 5 schools in Victoria to be using this technology, so in terms of using ICT to add value in an area that traditionally has not been big on technology, we are leading the pack and our PE department really needs to be congratulated on what they are doing.

Dartfish gives us the ability to deliver instant visual capture and feedback, during class or training, it immediately improves communication by using visual feedback, and it allows the teacher to share their perspective on each movement or performance.

Use of video based feedback and analysis is now seen as an essential component in teaching and learning, especially in sports development.

ICT for visualising thinking

ICT in PE (specifically Dartfish) assists student thinking processes, it allows students to reflect on the thinking strategies they use to develop understanding. Students review video footage to assess their suitability for new situations, and to clarify instruction and thought. Dartfish allows students to break down activities, compare, analyse and highlight technique development and enhance their ICT skills.

ICT for communicating

ICT in PE (Dartfish) improves teacher to student communication through the support of the video image, technique demonstrations, and automatic, instant or delayed feedback after a performance or movement. Knowledge sharing and the expression of ideas is promoted through discussion and class presentations. Staff can use Dartfish to print images and pass lesson content via email.

ICT for creating

By involving students at different levels (equipment setup, recording and viewing), students learn to use ICT efficiently to capture, validate and manipulate data for required purposes.

Don's Thoughts

It is important to harness students existing skills and knowledge in order to incorporate ICT into lessons effectively. But you also need to ensure that the use of the technology is: properly planned appropriate geared to support the activity. Above all, make sure that students have ‘hands on’ opportunities to use ICT to support their learning.

2006 Information Communications & Technology (ICT) PD Program

The 2006 Information Communications & Technology (ICT) PD Program builds upon the new and innovative technology available in the school, is focussed on departmental goals to provide meaningful learning experiences within the VELS framework, and provides opportunity to expand delivery and use of ICT.

The three primary channels for ICT PD delivery and knowledge share available this year as part of our program include:

Departmental ICT PD - achieving departmental ICT goals
Whole School PD - 'just in time' model
ICT Showcase & Share - ICT showcase at Staff Meetings (information)