Hello all, I want to let you know that Vicki has arranged 4 VC sessions with the Science Advisor ( Warren) for Primary teachers.
These will be held at the VC Rooms at the WestNet Schools and you are welcome to attend. This does not need to be the ICT person it can be any teacher on your staff.
The sessions run for an hour, 3:30 - 4:30, the dates for these are 13 March, 15 May, 21 Aug and 23 Oct.
Warren needs to send out some resources in advance of the sessions so I need the names of those wanting to attend into me into me asap.
WestNet schools have sessions like this in other areas of the curriculum. Vicki would like to ensure that this is extended out to the Primary sector, in saying that though our Pre-School teachers may like to attend and see if it is of value for them.
If this is successful then Vicki and I can look at other areas you would like for next year and see if it can be arranged. A great example for other sessions is the SW Cluster Art training, here is a teacher with an area of expertise that through VC could show staff techniques that will help develop students skills in this area, and you do not need to leave town or get in a reliever to attend. (Well most of you)
The following is a list of the WestNet Schools so you know which are near you. They are all aware of you coming and I will finalise numbers and names with Vicki and she will contact the schools once I have them to confirm the sessions.
Greymouth High School, John Paul II, Westland High School, Buller High, Reefton Area School, Murchison, Karamea Area School and South Westland Area School.
Send me an email of the people who will be attending asap, especially for the session on March 13.
Bye Bernie
bernie@ictwestcoast.ac.nz
Tags: collaboration, planning, VC sessions
26.Feb.08 
Important Dates, News 
Comment (1)
This link will take you to the Kids Congress site in Christchurch. At the SW Cluster meeting it was voiced about how great this event is for children and wouldn’t it be great to run something similar on the Coast. The school that hosts it has the children organise the event.
Anyway to get this idea out there I would like some comments on this post from people who have been and any ideas about possibly holding our own one from others.
Kids Congress in Christchurch
Tags: Kids Congress
26.Feb.08 Sites of Interest Comments (2)
I spent the day at SWA School with the South Westland Cluster. While the Teachers and Principals did their planning a group of Yr 5&6 students spent the day with Vicki, learning how to use their intranet and meeting their email buddies from the other schools, who they will be working with throughout the year. The students were very busy as were the Teachers and Principals.
I shared with the cluster a bit about the project and asked them how I could support them. We discussed some issues the are having with ICT and some exciting things they are doing with ICT collaboratively, lastly we booked a week for individual visits. The dates are on my calendar.
In the afternoon the Teachers and Principals got together with Julie the Art Teacher from SWA School who had designed the art unit for all of the schools to use. Vicki and her had put together a unit which included a visual biography on Colin McChan which they edited from a documentary from TV One and all the resources they would require. The group planned out the finished works, as the individual schools work will be bought together in August to be joined together to make one piece to be put on public display. Julie went through the techniques and skills the students will practice and showed the group how she will teach the students, and how she progressed through the lesson plan for them. Julie will be available to the group for support during the year.
I have uploaded some pictures I have taken of the group will they were with Jackie. I will get the cluster to share their progress of the unit for you all to see.
Vicki has the last unit they took, I will upload some pictures and information on that when I get it.
Well done guys, you do not let being isolated stop you from working as a group for the best teaching and learning for your students.
Bernie
Tags: art, bubbleshare, SW Cluster
19.Feb.08 Sites of Interest, Visits Comment (1)
Derek is an ex-coaster. He was Principal at Granity School years ago. He was the driving force behind the P.O.L.O teacher training course, which has seen a number of teachers being trained here on the West Coast. Derek also worked for the Correspondence School before moving onto work at CORE.
It is worth subscribing to his Blog to keep up with what is happening in ICT in Eduction not only in New Zealand but around the world. His Blog
Bernie
14.Feb.08 Sites of Interest Comments (0)
This is a copy of our first newsletter.
Feb 2008 Newsletter
Here is a copy of the first questionnaire if you require it.
System & Strategies Questionnaire
13.Feb.08 Newsletters Comments (0)
Hello, I am off to SWA school to join their planning meeting and see what exciting things this cluster is doing with their Year 5 & 6 students. I am really looking forward to this.
Next week I am off to Rotorua to the ICT Cluster Conference, I hope to bring back lots of ideas for the classroom and for ICT Professional Development.
I have booked the E-Learning adviser to visit the West Coast for the 2nd week of terms 2 & 3. After next week I will start visiting everyone, I look forward to seeing what great things that are already happening in your education centres and schools.
A reminder to everyone, remember to fill in your questionnaire and ensure I have your staff names.
Bernie
Tags: E-Learning Advisor, SWA School
12.Feb.08 News Comments (0)
Welcome to Ictwestcoast.ac.nz. This is where you will be kept up to date with what is happening with the project and important dates etc.
09.Feb.08 welcome Comments (0)
