At Horsham 298 Primary School we have:
Check Daily
You should switch your computer on daily and then check if your Internet connection works each day. I check that it is running several times daily which means I am aware if there is going to be a problem before I set students to work.
SINA Logons
I am suggesting that you use Internet Explorer instead of Netscape as it allows you to save the logon and password. Very handy.
All year level logons have been restricted to the EduCache to save money and to provide the maximum protection for students.
Teachers should logon using their school e-mail logon as this has no such restrictions. It also allows you to view our Intranet site MyInternet which has news and information about the Internet and a new school site for posting IT information.
Please read your e-mail at the beginning and end of the week at the minimum. E-mail is meant to be an immediate form of communication. Delete all old e-mail by putting it in the Trash Can and then Empty the Trash.
Eudora or Outlook (or Outlook Express)
Personally I like Outlook Express as it allows you to send more than just plain text, saves e-mail addresses in the Address Book and allows you to select attachments directly from the document. I find it less cumbersome than Outlook. Why not give it a try?
A copy of our Learning Technology Plan is available from the Principal or myself. It will be updated again during the year.
Shutting Down
Please make sure you use the Shut Down Menu.
Printing
The Print Server collects all print jobs from the 16 computers and sends them to the printer.
New Software
CD Server
The following CD disks are in our CD Network server
1. Infopedia
2. Encarta World Atlas
3. Australian Clip Art
4. Down Under Collection Clip Art
5. HyperStudio
6. Kid Pix Studio
7. CSF 2
8. Switched on Curriculum
Bar code Scanner on Book Mark
We have installed a new scanner for our Library BookMark computer. It allows us to disconnect it from the computer and using a battery pack to do shelf checks and then download shelf check to computer on return.
USB Digital video cameras
I have set up a USB video camera on the Averkey computer. This is for teacher use.
I have set up 3 new digital video cameras for use with NetMeeting and the VicOne video conferncing support are for trialing some video over the Internet in Semester 2.
Microphones
Please treat these carefully. Microphones are easily damaged by students/teachers??? Why not buy your own combined headset for the class. They're only about $13 from Billy Guyat including GST.
Sony Mavica Digital Camera
This recently purchased digital camera through Global Classroom funds allows you to save photos directly to a floppy disk. It also allows short 15 second mpeg movies to be saved to floppy disk. Really handy. No connections. Rechargable battery.
Kodak DC20 Digital Camera
If you wish to borrow it and you wish to have portability, you will need to buy 2 batteries (worth $20).
I have made many alterations to this during the term. It is a great source of information about our school and district. It has many links that are worthy of using with your students.
WimmeraNet
WimmeraNet is on VicOne. It is part of the Central Highlands Wimmera Home Page which is maintained by Jenny Goldsmith. Check out the KidsClub and the PD sections for news.
Global Classroom Projects
The DEET Global Classroom Project funds schools to provide innovative Internet projects for schools. A request for funding is issued during Term 4 each year. GCP Facilitators are provided for each District to support projects. If you have a good idea you should develop it and attempt to get some funding for next year. So far we have used funding for CRT days, software, video camera, CD writer, reference books, soft toys and postage for Internet projects. As a GCP Facilitator email me about your project.
Our school is fortunate to have 2 funded GC Projects.
The 100s and 1000s project has several pages of information and ideas for use with the new century and millennium.
Notebook Computers
Normally these are distributed in March and October of each year. The current Government has made a commitment to roll them out 12 months ahead of time: i.e. by the end of next year. This means there will be 2 more rollouts this year. Submissions by mid July.
AUSTAR Pay TV
All schools will be connected to AUSTAR this semester via the SofNet satellite dish for programs such as National Geographic Channel, etc. That means schools need to ensure that all classes have access to the satellite dish for SofNet and AUSTAR. All TVs, I believe, will need to be of the newer style so that they can tune into the appropriate frequency.
As part of our schools involvement the staff at Horsham 298 have made a commitment to be one of 15 schools to participate in a study of the use of the Notebooks for Teachers Initiative in their classrooms. This involves logging a monthly online report to Deakin University and completing an annual Survey (like the Learning Technology Survey)
When completing these Surveys staff need to include all your computer PD. This includes CAPC, LWTI, Navigator Schools, LT Conferences, Self Paced CDs, local PD, Internet and computer discoveries and learning new software. Often the last 3 items are worth hours of your time. It is legitimate PD where you learn something!
Notebook Support
I have set up each computer to work on our school network, given each recipient a printed copy of available resources, a range of software to use, created a web page for Notebook Recipients and printed a copy of the Notebook Academy notes.
Last year we met regularly on the last Thursday of each month.
Please read your EduMail at least once a week. Please note that the EduMail logon is your DEET record number (the old T0 number) and not the same as the logon for your School Internet User logon (SINA)
IT Technician
Our IT Technician began Term 2. Please list all problems on Problem Solving sheet and I will prioritise it for the technician's visits on Fridays.
Help
Beginning and End of Term
Check that all computers work
This includes:
If you have some good ideas why not share them? We all benefit from sharing.
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Ideas to use for each year level |
Recent Memoranda |
Useful WWW sites |
Recent Newsletters |
Professional Development |
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Horsham 298 Home Page |
WWW Projects |
Good books and resources |
Reviews of software and sites |
WimmeraNet Home Page |
