There are some exciting web conferences scheduled next week for both teachers and students in the Virtual Conference Centre:

*         Switching on to Literacy – Blogging

*         Act 4 Nature with Zoos Victoria (Student Session – join in
with your class!)

*         Music Matters

*         Tech-Talk Tuesday: Web Conferencing for Student Collaboration

*         What’s burning in eLearning? – What’s on the Horizon for P-12
Schools

*         Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Ultranet – Episode 1, A New Hope

*         Where’s the Remote? – Rural Education Forum

These sessions are free and you don’t even need to sign up. Further details of these sessions are below. Details of upcoming events can be found on the Virtual Conference Centre calendar at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/researchinnovation/virtualconferencecentre/program

Switching On To Literacy – Blogging

WHEN:                          Monday, May 31, 2010, 3:45 – 4:45pm

PRESENTER(S):          Nathan Black and Joanne Scott

SUMMARY:                  Are you a busy teacher who needs quick and easy tips for integrating ICT effectively into literacy sessions? Are you already using ICT’s in your classroom, but are looking for some new ideas and uses? Are you an enthusiastic teacher of Early Years student? This is the right place for you! Switching on to Literacy’ is a professional learning series aimed at promoting ICT use in the Early Years literacy classroom. We welcome passionate educators will all levels of experience with ICT. In this session, Nathan Black will demonstrate practical ways for using blogging tools within the classroom. We will look at the technology and explore ways that blogs can be used to enhance class activities.
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=switchingontolite
racy

Act4Nature with Zoos Victoria

WHEN:                          Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 2 – 3pm

PRESENTER(S):          Rick Hammond and Donna Livermore, Zoos Victoria

SUMMARY:                  Chat to Zoo experts each month and take the pledge to Act4Nature www.act4nature.org.au
<http://www.act4nature.org.au/> . 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and we’re asking schools to get involved. Each month we’ll be profiling a different animal species that is under threat and recommending a simple action we can all do to help. Students will be given opportunities to contribute their ideas and strategies to an online blog between sessions.
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=D.0CF489E02A6E495
D9D1489D20983A4

Music Matters

WHEN:                          Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3:45 – 4:45pm

PRESENTER(S):          Sally Walsh

SUMMARY:                  Are you ready to try new things in your music room? Do you want a forum to discuss and share new ideas for music technology? What about hearing from the experts about innovations in music education? If so, “Music Matters” is for you. Come and join us, share ideas, or just listen. In this session we will be discussing free and cheap software to add interest to music lessons. This session will show ways to involve students in music education without them knowing they are learning anything! Great (free!) ideas for using interactive whiteboards in your music room.
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=musicmatters

Tech-Talk Tuesday: Web Conferencing for Student Collaboration

WHEN:                          Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3:45 – 4:45pm

PRESENTER(S):          Claire Bloom and Anne Mirtschin

SUMMARY:                  Web conferencing software enabled Year 10 students from Warrandyte High School, Victoria, Australia to work in e-teams with students from Wellington Girls College in New Zealand. As a
virtual team students created a website that investigated and compared social networking habits across the schools, explored some of the social issues related to social networking and then reflected on the experience
of web conferencing. Hear Claire Bloom discuss the ‘nuts and bolts’ of establishing a web conferencing-based global project. Learn about the achievements experienced as students worked globally to achieve many
cultural understandings.
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=M.8152C2264B49785
5EFA90562C76F

What’s Burning in eLearning? – What’s on the Horizon for P-12 schools?

WHEN:                       Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 4 – 5pm

PRESENTER(S):          Mark Richardson

SUMMARY:               What will be the latest emerging technologies that will hit schools in the next few years? How pedagogically sound are they? How will these technologies enhance teaching and learning? Will schools, teachers and students readily take them up? Tony Richards from ITmadeSimple, will discuss the projections of The Horizon Report 2010 K-12 Edition, as well as sharing his ideas on the topic. What do you think of cloud computing, collaborative tools, game based learning, and mobile devices? These are rapidly becoming part on the school landscape. While others such as Augmented Reality and Flexible Displays may be just
over the horizon..
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=whatsburninginele
arning

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Ultranet: Episode 1, A New Hope

WHEN:                          Thursday, June 3, 2010, 4 – 5pm

PRESENTER(S):          Becky Marley and Narissa Leung

SUMMARY:                  A long time ago, in an Education Department far, far away, a revolutionary idea was born. Since its inception, the Ultranet represented a revolutionary vision of Web 2.0 and its potential for improving outcomes in Victorian schools. Well folks, the revolution is NOW! On March 10th the Ultranet was launched at Ringwood Secondary College. As Ultranet Coaches, Lead Users and intrepid teachers set out on a process of discovery with this new educational tool, this series will seek to bring together educators keen to make the most of the Ultranet in its various stages..
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=M.86C960AB8207714
BBEC43D22DE36D5

Where’s the Remote? – Rural education forum

WHEN:                          Thursday, June 3, 2010, 4 – 5pm

PRESENTER(S):          Cameron Peverett and Kane Horwill

SUMMARY:                  Feeling isolated or ignored? Struggling to find relevant PD close to home? Watch this space! Each week we will be discussing issues common to those in rural settings. Need more information or ideas on ICT? Additional Needs students? Classroom management? Become part of a collective group willing to share experiences, advice and professional development in a context relevant to you in a supportive and understanding environment. Our informal discussions will be aimed at narrowing the gaps of professional learning and advice available between rural and metro schools through the coming of digital age; where distance should no longer be a deficit.
SESSION LINK:
https://sas.elluminate.com/d.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=wherestheremote