A HUGE Thank-you...

I need to say a massive thank you to Jack and Laura (Rm 14) who helped me out today. I was panicking about using the technology for Rm 19's assembly on Fri and Jack and Laura gave up their lunchtime to set up the data show and sound system. Jack was also a great problem solver and found a solution as the big sound system wasn't working.
The Tech Wizards are ACE!!! Such a good idea to help out teachers!
Thank you to Reed and Anthony who tried really hard to get things working this morning - I really appreciate you trying. They also helped clear away all the stuff at the end of school even though they were not on the roster!
FAB team players!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will all work smoothly on Friday!

mission to Mars day two!

Positives
Andrea learnt a lot of new things today
The 3D warehouse was a big help!
Sketchup was hard but FUN!
It was fun making skecthup!
James learnt what Earth has that Mars hasn't.
Luka foound out how to import things into the 3D warehouse
Building things in sketchup for mars.
We had another fun day
The tech wizards were helping out well, really good at explaining how it worked, they are smart, whenever there was a problem they could help solve it
they are nice people, they didn't get angry if we didn't know something, they were good at teaching us how to use the programmes.
Minus -
Sketchup was hard to use and you had to wait for things to load.
Couldn't always get things to work
People have destroyed the EARTH! Bother!

Mission to mars

Positive+

Learning the different programs

Sketchup

Facts about mars

I can now teach my class how to use sketchup

People were brilliant to work with, Mr Stokes looks forward to working with them tomorrow.

Had a great day

Can't wait for tommorow

Negative

Computers were sluggish

Kids Congress Evaluation Day 1

Here are some of our thoughts about how it went day one. Rob decided to change how he was doing this as everyone looked quite tired! That is why this appears unfinished.

Positives:

• using google earth to look at different countries (Jack)
  
• It was fun to use sketchup.
• Google earth was quite different.
• The participants didn't need constant support, they got on with their job.
  

Improvements for tomorrow:

• None recorded
  

Feedback for Tech Wizards:

• If you couldn't do something they could help you.

Meeting Minutes Term 2 Week 3

• Meeting started really late so we didn't get any time for new learning. Solution - Rob to book in Tech Wizards on duty to set up datashow/laptops prior to meeting start each week.
• Please put in the Tech Wizard spreadsheet in google docs which day you prefer for our meeting now that FPS has changed days (has to be either Monday or Tuesday).

Kids Congress Organisation: click here for planning, who is going in which car, etc.

• Time to leave school- check the list for whose car you are going in. Be at school no later than 8.10 ready to get to Hoyts Entrance of Science Alive by 8.40am.
  
• Full school uniform both days. 
• Bring your lunch.
• You will leave Science Alive at 2.45 each day to get back to school by 3pm.

Links to Class Blogs and Wikis

Here are the links to our class web sites, whether they be blogs or wikis:

• Room 14 - blog
• Room 9 - blog
• Room 17 - blog
• Room 15 - wiki
• Room 19 - blog
• 
  

Kids Congress Preparation

This meeting is for all Tech Wizards who want to attend Kids Congress next week. If you cannot make it it is essential that you follow through and catch up in your own time. Planning is on this document: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhhbb9zb_60gtzj4fd5

The Kids Congress site is here...

Agenda:

1. Your role at the Kids Congress - support the learning of the group.
2. Organisational stuff (permission letter, transport, collection from Science Alive, equipment, technology 2 go for the weekend).
3. Run through the plan with Toby and Rob.
4. Pre-requisites for Tech Wizards to attend (learning SketchUp and Google Earth, teaching skills). Tech Wizards who do not know how to use SketchUp and Google Earth by the end of this week cannot come sorry.
5. SketchUp tutorial & Google Earth tutorials - time to learn the skills.

Key Downloads:
All this software is freely available for mac or pc. Please remember to check with your parents before downloading/installing at home though (it just makes life easier!).

1. Google Earth - download here...
   
2. SketchUp - download here...
   

Key SketchUp Tutorials:
Key Concepts for using SketchUp (orbit, zoom, pan):


Drawing shapes:


Using the modify tools:


Create a chair (some more advanced tools):


Selection tools:


Once you have completed these tutorials, choose a minimum of 5 from this list (they will take you to youtube):
Paint Bucket - Components - eraser - rectangle - lines - circle/polygons -
arcs - move - rotate - text & 3D text - walk

Key Google Earth Tutorials:
Navigating the globe in version 4.3:


Sky Mode:


Read the document: 5 Easy, Cool things you can do in Google Earth...
Making movies with google earth...


There are many tools to learn in SketchUp and Google Earth, if you want the more try these:

• SketchUp Video Tutorials
• Google Earth Tutorials

Meeting Minutes Term 2 Week 1

1. Kids Congress Week 3 Thurs/Fri - Please get yourself on this google doc (using your blogger login/password) and decide which workshop you'd like to help lead. Next week and week 3 will focus on the skills you need to help out in these workshops
2. Tech Wizard Roster - we still have the same problem of people who promise to do the roster not following through and completing it. Solution from Connor - two TWs are responsible for this and are booked in each week to complete it (thank you Laura and Holly for doing this every Monday). We will use the Tech Wizard google doc spreadsheet for this. Rob has emailed you an invite to this document. To find out more about google docs, check this video:
   
3. Other Business - anyone who does not have their blog account going, and is on the TW blog, has until the end of this week to solve this problem. Two of you have no FirstClass for a while as you both left the pod outside the office for others. This is not good enough lads.

Actions:

• Rob - invite all TWs to the TW Spreadsheet google doc. (done)
• All - accept the invitation to the TW spreadsheet and enter in when they are available each day for Laura/Holly.
• All - get onto the Kids Congress google doc and decide which workshop they want to be involved in.
• All - learn the essential skills of Google Earth and SketchUp by following the online tutorials. This must be done by the end of this week to ensure you can come to the conference.
  
• Laura/Holly - complete TW Roster. Let Rob know if they have any problems.
  
• George/Reed/Anthony - problem solve to get themselves going with blogger by the end of this week.
  

Supporting Teacher Learning

Congratulations to the Tech Wizards who helped some of the senior team in the holidays. What you do is important work that will help future children at Fendalton School!

Rob