Friday, February 27, 2009

Finshed! The End! C U lata folks!

All I can say is im not sure how i ended up the front during our little "jig" What was that about???? My last break out was on digital photography. Nothing really new that wowed me but it did remind me of some of the things I used to do and have forgotten.
Was looking forward to hearing Wes speak and he did not let me down. It was great to listen to him and twitter with new twits. Am at home now and I can hear my bed calling me so am off to see if my bed needs a cuddle.

L@S dinner

I am so glad that I had the most entertaining/interesting company at our table. The dinner had seen better days so I was very happy with the company. We had Waimokoia and some Botany Downs staff at our table. I "networked" amongst various tables and even managed to get some business cards! (not sure how that happened and now not sure who was who!) The band was great playing some old favourites although they did stuff up ABBA's WaterLoo song so Belinda thought. I am now home and bugger me on my blog at 12.47am thinking either I am smart not going out because I have to drive back to Auckland 2morrow or really old, borning and crusty coz I am at home?? You decide!!! (Please no comments regarding this) lol

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Day 2 L@S

As always Pam Hook was an outstanding presenter. She managed to get the word "tits and nipples" into her Keynote. A lot of interesting points were made which can be seen on the wiki.

Ian Fox and Lenva Shearing shared their e-Portfolios from Bucklands Beach Intermediate. Some awesome examples of what chn have produced! I'm sure that with practice our school e-Portfolios can be as exciting and as informative and what I saw today. It was interesting the amount of discussion that went on with pros and cons. Lenva shares some great sites on her wiki.

Learning@Schools

Expectations were running high after attending ULearn 08 so was looking forward to Rotorua. My first breakout was great. Podcasting with Steven Doyle. He knows his stuff! He went a bit fast for the people that were not used to using iWork but was very helpful. Picked up some great tips for recording in GarageBand. I was really looking forward to my next breakout about Solo. Was disappointed that the session was more on a life journey rather than on Solo. 3rd Breakout was Literacy through photography. Anne was a first time presenter and she did a great job. She reminded me just what a powerfull tool the digital camera can be.!!! I think I am going to change my idea of recording my children doing their reading to getting them to video each other and then uploading the video to their e-Portfolio. Am now sitting here waiting for Pam Hook to speak who we spent a whole day intensive course wtih her.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Testing . . . Testing . . . Testing . . .

Well it's week 4 of Term 1 and the buzz word is testing testing testing. I have completed my asTTle reading and maths, Whew! Next up was Numeracy Gloss testing. It makes a huge difference when the children come up from the previous year with the stages that they are at. So the Gloss didn't take very long. P.M and Probes were next on my agenda! I had this brilliant idea (I think shooting myself in the foot is going to be less painful) I thought I would record the chn reading onto garageband and then upload their reading onto their e-portfolio. Great in theory! It has taken me nearly a week to complete 5 records! I found that using the in built microphone was just not cutting it so I went and borrowed the school lapel microphone. Once the children got over the excitment of their voices being recorded and of wearing a microphone we were away. Now i just need to complete these and then upload them to their e-portfolio pages. I am hoping to do this again at the end of the year so the children and the parents have a record of the improvements being made in literacy. If you see me limping its because i have thrown the towel in and have shoot myself in the foot! :)