Kidblog

As part of our co-curriculum program I will be introducing a group of students to kids blog. This is done as a class activity with students being listed as users and I am able to control what is happening on the blog. We will be communicating and sharing our news, ideas, work and recommendations with a small school in India.

http://kidblog.org/home/


With Kidblog, your students can write anywhere: from the computer lab, at home, and on their iPad or smartphone. And you can stop lugging around all those paper notebooks!

Motivate your students to write. Kidblog gives your students’ writing a meaningful purpose and an authentic audience. Teachers control all privacy settings so nothing goes live until you say so. Learn more about Kidblog's unique features.

Kidblog makes it easy to publish rich multimedia content. Seamlessly embed slideshows, videos, podcasts, artwork, Google Docs, and your favorite Web 2.0 tools like Storybird, Animoto, Glogster, etc. All in a single, secure e-portfolio that you’ll be proud to show parents and colleagues.
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Sculptris program - create a helmet - INFINITY

Task Card – Infinity 12 points

Goal: Using the Digital Sculptris program and the 3D printer, you will design and create a helmet that could be used in the future defence of our country.

For this task you will need:

‘An open mind’

Robocop joining crime fight

After completing the infinity task of making a helmet that could be used to protect our defence force, the students were very excited to see in the newspaper that Queensland police are arming their faces with glasses with Robo-cop like abilities.

1st Assignment from the Term 2 Matrix

The kids have outdone themselves, what an amazing effort.  Not only are the assignments top quality but 90% of the students have passed their assignments in on time.  Woohooo the time management is improving with them taking more responsibility for their learning :)

This assignment was based on World War I. Students where required to make a soldiers tool box, with their memorabilia, a personal letter and 5 diary entries.  They were very well written, showing that plenty of research had happened.

Infinity Bionic Hand completion

The year six students found this task challenging, understanding programs that were far beyond the grade six level. It took some time, however, mission accomplished. The students were thrilled seeing their hands and components being cut out by the laser printer and seeing their final results.

Infinity Extension Group

The extension group are in the process of creating an image of a bionic hand and the workings within. We are in the designing stage, with students drawing their designs then uploading it onto the computer. They are then required to change the image so they get a vector image that the laser printer can read. They will be able to show their design with a variety of colours and display their hand on a stand. They are excited and focused on the task at hand.

Programs and equipment being used:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Laser Printer

The programs they are using are quite complex and they are requiring extra time to get their heads around it, remembering these students are only in Grade 6.

One to one Laptop Program

The introduction of the one to one laptop program is vital to the successful running of the new matrix learning system we are implementing to Grade 6. This will allow students to become the independent learners we are encouraging them to be.

Matrix Learning Area

The new learning environment has been well received by the students. They are excited about the Matrix and eager to get started. It is bright and inviting. It has been great to be able to use the four rooms so effectively, with the students moving between rooms easily.

Haiku for Mathematics

The next challenge is that we have outgrown our Learning Management System, so are now designing a new way of delivering our mathematics to the students. Finding resources that are in line with our strands and utilise our technology is very time consuming. However, I am hoping that students who are struggling can continue to practice at home with the help of their parents, as there will be enough resources to give them direction and assistance.

3D Challenge

The extension of students is always a challenge. This term we are doing the human body. My idea for extension is for students to look at bionic's in people and I want them to create a 3D image of their bionic part and break it down and show how it all works.  Remembering these students are only 10 -11 years old, this could in fact be quite a challenge for both them and me.  So searching I have begun....looking for a program that could be used for this... have found a couple, now will they do what I want them to...

http://download.cnet.com/mac/3d-modeling-software/

If you know of a program that would be suitable for a Mac...would love to hear from you :):)

An exciting journey ahead. Can't wait to see what these kids can do :)

Example Task Card

STIMULUS CARD A4 – 3 points

Goal: Complete a Survey Monkey with classmates about their food preferences

For this task you will need:

·   Pre-requisite Lesson required before you start this task

·     Appropriate questions

·     Access to a computer

·     Access to the Internet

·     Knowledge of Excel Program

Overview: For humans to keep their body healthy they need to maintain a balanced diet and do regular exercise. In this task you need to research and compose questions to other students. Your surveys results need to be presented in excel with a graph and a detailed conclusion of what those results mean.

PRE-REQUISITE LESSON – Mrs McGregor (How to ask a question/survey monkey program)

 Step 1  - Research what makes a balanced diet and how much exercise is required for a student your age to maintain their health.

 Step 2  - Compose at least 10 questions from your research that will help you to determine how many students actually maintain a healthy life style. Ensure your questions are not repeating themselves. If you pose your questions so they cannot be answered with a yes/no answer, you should be able to get more details.

  Step 3  - Go online to Monkey Survey.  http://www.monkeysurvey.com/ complete the free sign up option. Design your survey using your questions from Step 2. You can select from a range of multiple choice or answer options.  Make sure you change the ‘collect results’ page to go to your email address.  Email your survey to 10 – 20 of your friends; ask them to complete your survey ASAP.

PRE-REQUISITE LESSON – Mr Wilson (Excel program)

  Step 4 – Compile your survey results in Excel, this program will also allow you to create a Graph to show the outcomes. You need to analyse your results and write a 100 – 200 word evaluation in ‘Word’ of what the results mean in relation to the research you did on healthy lifestyles.

Presentation: Complete this task and submit it digitally or as a hardcopy to your teacher’s in-tray after you have completed a self-evaluation.

Submit - Excel Graph, word evaluation  and self-evaluation.

National Curriculum:

Plan appropriate investigation methods to answer questions or solve problems (ACSIS103)

Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena (ACSHE098)