Interesting ideas from Barone reading

"What makes today’s kids really sit up and fires their
neural fibers? Technology. Kids don’t see laptops,
MP3 players, cell phones, PDAs, DVD players, and
video games as technology, it’s just life. Schools need
to connect education to their students’ lives with
technology." (Wright, 2008)

3 Key ideas from the reading that I think teachers would be able to use are:

- Innovative reading sessions: Using IM (instant messaging) for students to pair-share during classroom reading sessions and using a timeline graphic organiser to model sequencing of the text.

- Individual access to class webpage: Posting links and information for students on the class webpage so that students are prepared for the teaching and learning activities expected for the day. Making this a morning routine for all students, I think, is beneficial in getting the classwork in order and teaching responsibility.

- Reading group blogs: Joining a blog where students reading the same text are able to share and comment on each other's postings.

References: Barone, D., & Wright, T. E. (2008). Literacy instruction with difital and media techologies. The Reading Teacher, 62(4), 292-302

Copyright

Using links to the Australian Copyright council, I've attempted to answer some questions about copyright at university and schools. 
http://www.copyright.org.au/pdf/acc/infosheets_pdf/g053.pdf/download

Can I copy material from the internet for research?

Yes, as long as it is for study or research purposes and the copying is deemed 'fair'.  

What constitutes research and fair use?
According to the Copyright Act, "research"means “diligent and systematic enquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover facts or principles...”

It also says that you do not need to be enrolled in a course, ie. you could be researching or studying something for yourself. 
For important information about what is 'fair' use of copied materials see: http://www.copyright.org.au/information/cit028/wp0059

Can students use music in videos that they make?
Yes, if it is for research or study purposes and as long as it is not used publicly (outside the classroom), entered in competitions or broadcast on TV. 

More information on : http://www.copyright.org.au/g038.pdf 

References: Australian Copyright Council. (2010). Australian Copyright Council. Retrieved Oct 2010, from Using copyright material for research or study: http://www.copyright.org.au/information/cit028/wp0059

Happily Blogging

08 AllStars, Belmore South Public School - allstars.edublogs.org
Clever Cookies - http://clevercookies.edublogs.org/

These are both great educational blogs where students from the school are able to share their input and see it all on the www. It has a lot of useful links to other student and school blogs, tools and information, and makes good use of pictures and slideshows.

I think these blogs are appropriate for Stage 2-3 students. They are well set-out and provide good clear templates for other students to create their own blogs.