News forum

OzProjects Upgrade

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:15:35 GMT

by Lynley.

Hello,

OzProjects is about to launch a brand new look. We hope you like the new colour scheme, banner and themes for each category. Even though the home page looks quite different and the project spaces have new themes, the basic layout and project activities have not changed.

Your user name, password and log in should work exactly the same. However, please beaware that your project will look quite different and you might need to make some small changes to the layout of your project to make it look its best.

The OzProjects team is standing by to provide you with information or assistance if you need it. Please email ozprojects@edna.edu.au.

Lynley Clark
Service Manager - Building Online Communities
Education Services Australia
182 Fullarton Road
Dulwich, SA 5065
p + 61 8 8334 3217
m + 61 413803027
e lynley.clark@esa.edu.au
w http://www.esa.edu.au.edu.au
Visit edna at http://www.edna.edu.au
Visit me at http://me.edu.au/p/Lynley

Pacific islands support project

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:54:52 GMT

by Cecily.

Hello everyone,
A new Support project for teachers has just been made available on the OzProjects website at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=140. Students are welcome to have a look at it too!

This project provides examples of online activities suitable for Year 7-10 students which support the resource Pacific neighbours: Understanding the Pacific islands. It provides teachers with ideas for using online tools to enhance student learning about the Pacific and includes examples of the following
• Forums
• Maps and images
• Quizzes
• Making a postcard online
• Animations, interactive resources and photos
• Creating graphs online
• Online surveys
• Timelines and mindmaps

This project provides examples of how these tools can be used. Student participation is not expected in this project space. If teachers would like their own OzProjects space to develop a project using some of these ideas they can request a space by completing the online form at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/mod/feedback/view.php?id=69

For more information or assistance please email ozprojects@edna.edu.au.

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects

A new look for OzProjects

Tue, 25 May 2010 03:19:31 GMT

by Cecily.

OzProjects will soon have a new colour scheme, banner and themes for each category. The home page will look quite different and the project spaces will have new themes. The basic layout and project activities will not change.

Your user name, password and log in should work exactly the same and the content of your project space (if you are a project creator) will not change. However, your project will look quite different.

We hope you like the refreshed look (coming soon). Please let us know what you think or let us know your concerns by emailing ozprojects@edna.edu.au.

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects

Little White Dogs Can't Jump

Mon, 24 May 2010 02:19:39 GMT

by Cecily.

The story Little White Dogs Can't Jump will be read simultaneously around Australia this Wednesday 26th May at 11 am. Did you know the book is now available online at http://www.alia.org.au/storytime/? There is also a link to the online version of the story from the Early Years Book Club at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=86.

As well as online stories and activities to follow up the theme of the story the Early Years Book Club project is encouraging teachers and students to discuss National Simultaneous Storytime in an online discussion forum at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/mod/forum/view.php?id=3686. Share your ideas, opinions and experiences after listening to the book on Wednesday and find out how others participated in this special event.

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects

Early Years Book Club activites to support National Simultaneous Story Time

Wed, 19 May 2010 04:45:04 GMT

by Cecily.

On Wednesday May 26 at 11 am the story Little White Dogs Can't Jump written by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith, illustrated by Bruce Whatley and published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia will be read simultaneously to children in a variety of venues around Australia.

In this story Smudge and his family have a problem to solve. Smudge's legs are so short that he can't jump into the car! One of the children in the family devises a series of ingenious ways of getting Smudge into the car‚ but none of them work. Finally‚ it is Mum who solves the problem.

In support of this special reading event, online stories and activities to follow up the "dog" theme have been added to the Early Years Book Club at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=86.

You can follow links in the project from this page to read some "dog" stories online or create your own story, watch some videos about different breeds of dogs or try some interactive games and quizzes such as Mutt Maker, The International Puppy Quiz or Pair the Puppies. There are also some "singalong" links.

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects and Global Education

What is a malapropism?

Wed, 05 May 2010 01:41:51 GMT

by Cecily.

Hello everyone,
Malapropisms can be a lot of fun. If you are not sure what they are you might like to read Paul Collin's latest book The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler. Information is available at http://thereadingstack.blogspot.com/2010/02/guest-blogger-author-paul-collins.html

Paul will be a special forum guest in the Middle Years Book Club project at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=21 from May 10-21. He will be available to answer questions about his work as an author and publisher. Maybe you could even make up your own malapropisms to share with him! Click here to view the forum. Please note that you must be enrolled in the project to add a new topic or reply.

For more information or assistance please send an email to ozprojects@edna.edu.au

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects and Global Education

World Cup Soccer

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:50:24 GMT

by Cecily.

Hello everyone,
A new project has just become available on the OzProjects website at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=132.

It has been created in celebration of the FIFA World Cup Soccer 2010 which will take place in South Africa from 11th June until 11th July. The project has a global education focus and allows students to celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2010 whilst also learning about some of the global issues facing South Africa and participating nations. It includes online resources, printable activities and discussion forums.

For more information about OzProjects visit http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/

Assistance is available by emailing ozprojects@edna.edu.au

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects and Global Education

People of the Pacific.

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:07:41 GMT

by Cecily.

The People of the Pacific global project at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=126 is a place for students to develop knowledge and understanding of the Pacific people and their cultures. By collaborating online students will develop an appreciation of our responsibilities as global citizens and explore opportunities to take action.

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6 aims to combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases. Malaria is prevalent in several Pacific countries. It retards progress towards economic well-being among the affected communities.

In Activity 7 of the People of the Pacific project students can discuss mosquitoes and malaria in a forum, read about malaria and answer some questions online, add some information to a wiki, share photos and create or design an online postcard, board game or brochure.

This activity is based on a teaching activity Malaria published on the Global Education website at http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/2050

For more information or assistance with global projects or OzProjects please send an email to ozprojects@edna.edu.au

Cecily Wright
Coordinator - OzProjects and Global Education

Author, Kim Miller, answers some questions

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:50:00 GMT

by Cecily.

Hello everyone,
Author Kim Miller is a special guest in the Beware of Books project at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=27 until March 31st. He has answered some questions in the project forum about early influences on his writing and his work as a prison chaplain.

You can read the answers to the questions by going to the forum at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/mod/forum/view.php?id=3201 .

If you are enrolled in the Beware of Books project you can also add a question to the forum and Kim Miller will answer it.

For assistance or further information please email ozprojects@edna.edu.au

Kind regards
Cecily Wright
Coordinator-OzProjects

Beware of Books special guest

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:53:31 GMT

by Cecily.

Hello everyone,
Beware of Books at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=27 is a place where senior secondary students can discuss books, publish book reviews, and occasionally meet an author.

From 15 -31 March Kim Miller will be answering questions in the Beware of Books Project. Kim is the author of They Told Me I Had To Write This and other books for young adults.

Find out more about Kim and the writing of this book at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=3200 .

Enter the forum at http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/mod/forum/view.php?id=3201 to ask Kim a question.

For assistance and further information please email ozprojects@edna.edu.au

Cecily Wright
Coordinator- OzProjects