Helen Otway's Page
Helen Otway's Groups
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Online Educators
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E-Learning and Online Teaching
(80 members)
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Educon 2.0
(88 members)
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Video in the Classroom
(46 members)
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Peer Coaching
(26 members)
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Mac Classroom 2.0 (220 members)
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Second Life (175 members)
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DigiSkills (365 members)
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Elementary School 2.0
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Distance Collaborations (202 members)
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Small but appetising - Bloggers’ Feast 2
This week a 2nd Bloggers’ Feast was organised. Unfortunately the turn out wasn’t as big as the last, but the company was great and the conversations fun and interesting. Jo McLeay organised the night and invited Andrew Churches whilst he was here in Melbourne visiting schools with his colleagues.
It was a great opportunity to [...]
Peer Coaching and Online Professional Learning Networks
Professional Learning for teachers can take many different shapes and forms. There can be workshops, presentations, action research and peer coaching. Most recently Online Learning Networks have emerged through the Read/Write Web allowing teachers to learn anytime, anywhere.
In their research Joyce and Showers (pdf) tell us that Coaching (Peer Coaching) is the most effective way [...]
Learning in the ‘hallways’ of Twitter
Dare I admit this in my blog? I think I am addicted to Twitter!
A day doesn’t go by without checking my Twitter updates. I haven’t quite put my finger on why it is so addictive. What possesses me to log on each morning to see what are people are doing, reading, saying [...]
Could this be for real?
You never know what could eventuate by being part of an online global network! Could this really by me running for president?
Saw this on Lenva Shearing’s blog.
Authored by helenotway. Hosted by Edublogs.
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Can ICT make a difference?
Can we make a difference to student learning through the use of ICT? As a classroom teacher who has loved using ICT in her class for many years, I have to say YES! However, it has always been difficult to articulate why I have felt this.
Is it because students are more motivated? Or [...]
Play on Wordles
This week there has been a fair bit of talk about Wordles. What this website does is take a bunch of words, or body of text and create word clouds using all the words. The more frequently the word is used the larger it is in the cloud.
Sue from Tassie wrote about Wordle [...]
The Power of the Professional Learning Network
When I first began teaching in the 1980s as a graduate, the people I would turn to for support would be my fellow teachers and my leadership team. They knew everything I needed to know about what to teach and how to teach it. Or so it seemed.
At times, depending on budget allocations, [...]
Moving to a Second Life…
I don’t know why I have taken so long to explore Second Life. It has been over a year since I first heard about it. I have read people’s blogs, joined groups on Classroom 2.o but not actually gone in to investigate further.
Well, in the last 24 hours I have mustered up the [...]
Google me right!
Last night Lucy Gray sent out a tweet on Twitter about Google Apps for Education. As I went on to explore her link I came across some resources that I thought would be really helpful for some of the schools I am working with. As a teacher I have often seen kids heading [...]
IWBs and Ministers at Dimboola Memorial SC
This is a photo taken on April 16th at the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College. DMSC put on a great 2 day conference to highlight their work with the Leading Schools Fund with the focus on technology in the classroom. Dimboola teachers were passionate about the use of their Interactive Whiteboards and had them set up [...]
Profile
- Hometown:
- My hometown is Melbourne, Australia.
- School / Work Affiliation
- I am an Ultranet Coach for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Western Metropolitan Region.
- About Me:
- I am very interested in creating learning environments that are real and purposeful for our kids. I am a teacher and peer coach and love to support teachers in their journey in integrating IT into their classrooms. I run PD for my school and for others - usually around the themes of powerful learning with ICT.
I have taken on a new role this year and will be working with a variety of schools within my region to support their adoption of the 'Ultranet'.
- Favored IM Account:
- helenotway@gtalk
- Skype Account:
- helenotway
- Twitter Account:
- http://twitter.com/helenotway
Helen Otway's Videos
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Running for President!
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Acid Rain
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A Fair(y) Use Tale Added by Helen Otway
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Reportable
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Isabel Allende: Tale of Passion Added by Helen Otway
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Stephen Heppell Added by Helen Otway
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If Everyone Cared Added by Helen Otway
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Push Paste Ad
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Added by Helen Otway
Helen Otway's Blog
Meeting Julia Gillard MP for Education
Posted on April 26th, 2008 at 4:00pm —
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Learning about blogs
Today we are working together to explore blogs and their purpose.
Moving forward with the Ultranet...
In the last two months I have been working in my new role of 'Ultranet Coach'. What this really means is working with schools and leaders in my region to support them in the use of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) as a meas for being ready for the Ultranet. Each school is unique and has its own strengths and challenges.
In Victoria we are working towards creating learning environments that best support… Continue
Posted on March 8th, 2008 at 2:56pm —
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Playing with Voki
Today I decided to create my own avatar with Voki.com. I began in the morning having a play with the tools - the different character heads, eyes, mouth and even make up! I chose my outfit and then changed my mind at least 10 times! This behaviour has no resemblance to me in real life!!! I chose a background - a photo of one of my classrooms. In this classroom the kids designed and painted the tables themselves. The room was designed for group and independent workers, with a couch and recliner, a… Continue
Posted on January 14th, 2008 at 11:30am —
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Not bad for PD during my holidays!
I've been on summer vacation now for 3 weeks and have had some wonderful learning happening in this time. Ever since I attended a workshop on blogs and wikis mid last year, I have been fascinated by the power of Web 2.0. Attending NavCon 2k7 in September fuelled my curiosity even more when I listened to a presentation on all things Web 2.0.
Now I have to say that the networks on Classroom 2.0 and Twitter have been major players in introducing me to a world of Web 2.0 apps. Where do I st… Continue
Now I have to say that the networks on Classroom 2.0 and Twitter have been major players in introducing me to a world of Web 2.0 apps. Where do I st… Continue
Posted on January 11th, 2008 at 5:05pm —
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Peer Coaching Training
Back in December I ran a Peer Coaching workshop for a group of 7 Victorian teachers. I was able to organisie my workshop with the help of Les from the Puget Sound Centre who gave me some tips for running a one day workshop. You see, when I was trained it was a 10 day intesive training program so a one day session needed serious modification.
The session ran well and I focussed on where PD was heading with ICT (Information and Communication Technology). We then worked on coaching skills… Continue
The session ran well and I focussed on where PD was heading with ICT (Information and Communication Technology). We then worked on coaching skills… Continue
Posted on January 2nd, 2008 at 6:04am —
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2007 VITTA conference
I'm off to the VITTA conference again this year and looking forward to hearing Stephen Heppell talk about 21st Century Learning with ICT. I'm interested to hear his views on how education is changing. I sometimes wonder if it is actually changing or if it is just dressed up prettier in our schools!
I'm running my Peer Coaching session this year with more of an emphasis on my research in US.
I've attached the link to the conference below.
http://www.vitta.org.au/conf… Continue
I'm running my Peer Coaching session this year with more of an emphasis on my research in US.
I've attached the link to the conference below.
http://www.vitta.org.au/conf… Continue
Home from NavCon2k7
I've just come home from the NavCon2k7 conference in Gosford, NSW, and had to start playing on my laptop straight away. I have explored so many Web 2.0 tools that should not only inspire my students but also the teachers in my school.
I'm really keen to try out rafi.ki with my Grade 4 class. We are learning about our environment, with a particular reference to droughts and global warming. It would be great for the kids to exchange ideas, stories and pictures about their environment with… Continue
I'm really keen to try out rafi.ki with my Grade 4 class. We are learning about our environment, with a particular reference to droughts and global warming. It would be great for the kids to exchange ideas, stories and pictures about their environment with… Continue
Posted on October 6th, 2007 at 12:42am —
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About Classroom 2.0
Steve Hargadon
created this social network on Ning.
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Finding Interesting Discussions:
Forum posts can be organized by the use of "tags." To see discussions on specific topics, click on the links below. Standardized tags you can use to have your posts included in the link results are shown in parentheses. You can also help by adding tags to others' posts. (To participate in the discussion on standardized tagging here at Classroom 2.0, see this page.)
By Tool:
- Blogging ("blogging")
- Calendars ("calendars")
- Collaborative Documents ("documents")
- Collaborative Idea Maps ("ideamaps")
- Collaborative Spreadsheets ("spreadsheets")
- Course Management ("cms")
- Gaming ("gaming")
- Google Earth ("gearth")
- Interactive Boards ("iboards")
- Instant Messaging ("im")
- Internet Telephony ("telephony")
- Mapping ("maps")
- Microblogging ("microblogging")
- Online Meetings ("meetings")
- Photo Sharing ("photos")
- Podcasting ("podcasting")
- Presentation ("presentation")
- RSS & Readers ("rss")
- Screencasting ("screencasting")
- Social Bookmarking ("bookmarking")
- Social Networking ("socialnetworking")
- Social Notetaking ("socialnotes")
- Start Pages ("startpages")
- Video Conferencing ("videoconferencing")
- Video Sharing ("video")
- Virtual Worlds ("virtualworlds")
- Webmail ("webmail")
- Wikis ("wikis")
- Art ("art")
- Biliteracy-Bilingual Education ("bilingual")
- Biology ("biology")
- Chemistry ("chemistry")
- English ("english")
- English as a Foreign Language ("efl")
- English as a Second Language ("esl")
- Foreign Languages ("fl")
- Geography ("geography")
- History ("history")
- Math ("math")
- Music ("music")
- Physical Education ("pe")
- Religion ("religion")
- Science ("science")
- Social Studies ("socialstudies")
- Acceptable Use Policies ("aup")
- Administration ("administration")
- Assessment ("assessment")
- Computer Labs ("labs")
- Cyberbullying ("bullying")
- Elementary ("elementary")
- Gifted ("gifted")
- Inter-Classroom Collaboration ("inter-classroom")
- Internet Safety ("safety")
- Middle or Junior High ("middle")
- Open Source Software ("oss")
- Parents ("parents")
- Philosophy / Pedagogy ("pedagogy")
- Pre-K ("prek")
- Professional Development ("pd")
- Secondary or High School ("secondary")
- Software & Service Reviews ("reviews")
- Special Needs ("specialneeds")
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Comment Wall (92 comments)
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Thanks for the welcome. Great to see and hear what others are doing and have time to jump into the sandpit and play. I hope to do more of this especially after reading your fab page you have inspired me to spend a little more time playing . Thanks for the inspiration. Clare :)
Thanks for the welcome. It is great to see teachers in touvh with the kids in their classrooms. This year has been an immense learning journey so far.
Would love to hear about some of your projects using web2.0
Have already registered for the on-line conference and am currently organising the College e-learning team to do so. I am currently working my ways through Technology Toolkit. We are currently supporting some staff groups to work with blogs with their students and so I would ne interested in linking them with other secondary schools working with blogging and wikis.
I am looking for teaching practices in using Web 2.0. I am a professor of Natural Sciences, working with young people from 17 to 24 years in Brazil. I hope I can contribute and get good experience here in the Classroom 2.0.
Thank you very much.
Francisco
Thanks for the warm greeting from across the ocean! I'm really excited to see what people are doing and finding ways to get my kids out there and connected, while learning at the same time. Looking forward to learning a lot myself!
Julie
I took the leap into blogging with my class (Yr 2's that I brought up from Yr 1) 18 months ago- and it's been an amazing journey! The kids, as young as they are, have really embraced Web2.0 tools as a way of sharing and reflecting on their learning and engaging in conversations - both local and global. The learning curve for us all has been huge and I've spent every spare minute reading blogs, listening to/watching podcasts/webcasts and playing with the tools (I can certainly relate to your 'PD during the Holidays' post). As an 'early adopter' in my context, I've certainly needed to draw on a PLN many times in the last year but haven't felt qualified to add my voice to the conversation - as silly as that seems from a teacher who is encouraging her class to do just that!
However, after spending 'all' of my holidays following the events at NECC08, I've decided the time has come to take another leap - so I've started to twitter and I've joined this community! I'm looking forward to the conversations and learning ahead.
Amanda
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