Moving onto the next big thing!

Wow, what a year this has been working with such wonderful and dedicated teachers and educationalists.  Manaiakalani is an amazing project and I know it will continue to grow in leaps and bounds as time moves on.


Next year I will be back in the classroom again at St Pius X Catholic School teaching Year 5 students and will be able to put all that I have learnt, seen and experimented with this year into practice.  We will be back early February.


I look forward to sharing my classes work with our world audience and letting you see all the amazing work that my students will be producing in their online environment.


A very Merry Christmas to all our readers and may 2012 bring all that you wish.

'What Now' at Manaiakalani Film Festival

We had an amazing time at the Maniakalani Film festival and 'What Now' was there to experience it all.  They played the article about the event on December 4th.  Here is what they reported.

Beginning to write Cybersmart Curriculum

On Friday the Lead teachers for the Manaiakalani Project joined together at the Auckland National Library and began the process of writing the new Cybersmart Curriculum for their schools.


Miss Gleeson and Mrs Koloti went along for St Pius X and started to draft their ideas for the curriculum for St Pius X. 


They will now bring these ideas back to the staff at the school and together they will put this new exciting curriculum together. This new curriculum is to be put in place so the students at St Pius can be safe and understand learning online.

Year 4 Netbook Information Night

Well it is time to get our Year 4's ready for using their netbooks next year.  A parent meeting was held last Tuesday night where parents could come along and hear about what Manaiakalani is and what they are to expect next year.

This was well attended by our parents and was a great opportunity for them to be more involved in their child's school life.

Mr Coakley gave an excellent overview of Manaiakalani and where we are at with the TLN (Tamaki Learning Network), how the project is working in our current classes and where we are going next.

Manaiakalani Film Festival

Wow, what a wonderful day of celebrating the students achievements with their movie making today was.


Room 6, 7 & 8 presented their Films at the Manaiakalani Film Festival at Sylvia Park Hoyts, X-treme screen.  They were part of the 7 schools presenting.  It was a great celebration of the students work they have done in Media Studies.


The students introduced their movies clearly and with great diction and had the audiences total attention.  All three movies were very well received by the over 2000 people who attended the festival.
Well done St Pius X.


If you want to see the movies from the film festival click on the link below.

Attending ULearn 11

What a great conference to attend and share our journey with Manaiakalani.  Three of St Pius X staff attended this years ULearn Conference and it was wonderful to hear about what everyone else is up to with their ICT and also find new ideas that we could use.

Sarah had the pleasure of presenting about the SPX, Manaiakalani journey during one of the Breakouts.  It was extremely well received which is fantastic.

Many comments were shared across the conference about how inspiring the Manaiakalani project is and SPX are very happy to be part of it.

Lavinia's Narrative

Check out Lavinia's Narrative called 'What have you done with my Little boy', by clicking on the screenshot of her blog.  We have such clever people at SPX :-)

Emmanuel's Narrative

Check out Emmanuel's Narrative called 'The Adventure of Bob the Bird', by clicking on the screenshot of his blog. It is very well written.

Term 3

What a wonderful term it has been at St Pius X with the netbooks.  Many of the students have blogged about the awesome swimming pool that we had at the school and also we got to start taking home our netbooks.

There has been a lot of work happening on the Google Teacher Dashboards with children sharing all their work with their teachers which is fantastic.

With a writing focus on narratives it was great to see many students google docs with their individual narratives as well as collaborative efforts.  Many of these are being posted onto their individual blogs which I will share a link to over the holidays.

3 classes completed Films which have been entered into the Manaiakalani Film Festival which will take place on the 9th November at Sylvia Park, Hoyts Cinema, Mt Wellington.  I look forward to seeing them all on the X-treme screen.

I can't wait to see what the students will post onto their blogs next term.

Narratives at SPX

At St Pius X this term the students have been writing Narratives.  They are looking at the beginning, middle and end and trying to use good vocabulary to take their audience on a journey.  Here is Catherine's from Room 8 beginning to her Narrative.

Kohanui Street was a fabulous Street. Many people always wanted too walk down the street with their families. Often strangers from other parts of town came as well. You would never think it wasn’t a good place too walk.

Samara was a girl who lived by herself in a two story house and never slept. She always gazed outside her window keeping an eagle eye out for uninvited visitors. On a Saturday morning, a little girl named Emily and her friend Charlotte walked pass Samara’s house. They were bouncing a ball, then the ball landed on Samara’s grass.

Emily walked on Samara’s lawn and Samara climbed out of the well like a spider. Samara was out of the well like a flash and grabbed the little girl and headed back to the well with Emily. The look on Charlotte's face was indescribable, no one would have recognised her if they had been there.

Charlotte ran home and told her parents, but when she got there she discovered that they had gone on vacation and left a baby sitter. She told the baby sitter what had happened and described what Samara was wearing and what she looked like. Charlotte said, “she had red eyes, long hair that covers her face and her back, her hair was really long and she climbed out of the well like a spider and grabbed Emily”. The baby sitter angrily said, “Go to your room!”.

TO BE CONTINUED.........

To check out more of the narratives, click on these links.....
http://spxeneasiv.blogspot.com/
http://spxdanielt.blogspot.com/

Jonah Lomu Quiz

This morning at SPX we did some presentation work.  We did a simple presentation using the All Black's as our topic.  Here is the presentation I used as an example for the students in Room 6 to follow.

My Feelings Slideshow

In Room 6 today I shared with them how to use the Google App Picasa. They all used their webcams and took pictures of themselves displaying 3 different feelings.  We uploaded our pictures to our Picasa accounts and then we wrote captions onto each of them.  Finally we embedded our slideshow onto our blogs.

This is my one that I used as an example.

   

Homeward Bound Netbooks

Finally the moment has come at St Pius X for the students to take home their netbooks.  


Tonight was the night where an extremely large amount of parents gathered with their children to take home their netbooks.


The Principal (Paul Coakley) went through the TLN (Tamaki Learning Network) zoning so that the parents understood that this is a 3 stage project, where stage one is complete.  This meant that some students at the moment would not be able to link into the TLN wireless just yet, but it is coming.  


The parents took away with them a Home Agreement, which they signed before taking away their netbooks.  This agreement also had information about the Kawa of Care and the expectations the school had for the netbooks.


Maniakalani is all about - 'Any time, Any place, Anywhere' and we are finally making this an even more realistic vision.


It will be wonderful to see all the learning that the students will be able to do with their netbook at home as well as at school.

Third Week of Term 3

In Room 8 this week I taught the students how to use Google Presentations so that they can share their learning in a different way.  Check out what some of the students put together about the All Black's by clicking on the pics below.

Second Week of Term 3

This week has been a week of posting about the new swimming pool the school has for the term.  Check out what some of the students had to say by clicking on the pics below.

First week of Term 3

The students of St Pius X Catholic School are now back and 1 week into Term 3.  Many of  our students have been able to use their google doc accounts to put together a recount about their holiday experience and even reflect on their first week back.  

It is wonderful to see them all refreshed and ready to learn again.  They definitely missed their netbooks while they were away and so have enjoyed being able to get online again.

This term we have are looking forward to a lot more work being posted on the students blogs and also (fingers crossed) the possibility of finally being able to take the netbooks home.

We shall keep you all posted.

Student's Individual Blogs 4

Here are some of the individual blogs from St Pius X which you might like to have a look at. Click on the images below to check out these students blogs.

Student's Individual Blogs 3

Here are some of the individual blogs from St Pius X which you might like to have a look at. Click on the images below to check out these students blogs.

Are Net books a great tool?

These net books are a great tool but it could make us lose our handwriting skills. We can use this equipment but not all the time we have to get ready for college because some people can get really lazy and tired of writing. Then comes confidence, they can just chat online line with each other but when they go college will they have the confidence to talk to people face to face?

Cyber Bullying its very dangerous, is it really worth it?

Students look like they on tasks, but are they? there are a lot of inappropriate websites like Face Book and YouTube and Games. One click of a button and your there.

What happens if someone or your child drops or breaks your net book? will you get a refund or do you have to keep on paying?

In our maths there a calculators installed in our net books so people who find math exhausting they have some help.

Net books are very addicted in room 7, they just can’t keep they hand off the net books our teacher and sometimes our teacher Mrs Tui gets very frustrated.

By Simone

Good Little Netbook

As the screen begins to fade and flicker, I shut you down and close your cover. But I cannot get through a day without you. You know how much I need you in all I do, but then I read a lot you know and from the pages these thoughts flow. Therefore, you jumble within and die. These thoughts which I cannot write. Good little netbook you’re such a delight.


By Ofa

Student's Individual Blogs 2

Here are some of the individual blogs from St Pius X which you might like to have a look at. Click on the images below to check out these students blogs.

Student's Individual Blogs 1

Here are some of the individual blogs from St Pius X which you might like to have a look at. Click on the images below to check out these students blogs.

Ideas about Blogging

Thanks to Elizabeth, Lavinia, Kahlanie and Angelica for sharing their thoughts about the positives of having their own netbooks and their own blogs.

Is Our Net Book a good learning tool?

Yes our net book a good learning tool as I know from what others in the class have told me it is benefiting them as well.

We do most of our reading, writing and some of our maths on our Net Book. It helps me lots and it is very useful and I am getting used to. It is clear that the net book is not a tool for playing games or anything like that. Many people agree our net book is for learning but we are allowed to play educational games like tux typing and tux maths.

Everyone uses computers in business and so by me learning with a netbook it is allowing me to build up my computer skills and allow me to experience the benefits when I go out into the work force.

That is my opinion on weather or not our netbook is a good learning tool.

The netbook is a great learning tool because.......

* It is quicker than handwriting and you don’t need to sharpen your pencil. My example is if you learn how to “touch-type”, you can see it is much faster.

* It is easier to learn faster and not just looking at the white board being bored. My example is if I didn't listen I would have a second chance.

* We can use Internet like a library but different. We don’t need to share computers. We can just use a netbook of our own.

Netbooks are a great tool, it helps you a lot with your learning. It is better than a pen and a pencil. No more getting bored and just staring at the board all the time. The teacher can just send what you have to do. That's why the netbook is a great tool.

By Robertanna

Netbook Memory

Students remember the experience of getting their netbooks for the first time fondly.  Here is what a Year 6 student called Malia had as memories of the day.
The first thing on Monday morning we signed a contract as it was the start of the netbook project in our school, as we're are part of the Manaiakalani project. It was an awesome Monday 7th of March for rooms 6 & 7, for both classes it was breathtaking.

The first thing we did after signing the contract was to gently get our net books out of their boxes. The instructions to opening the interesting looking boxes were simple. First we had to carefully turn our boxes around to look at a special number called a Serial Number. Next we had to give our Serial Number to one of the adults walking around the class room, I gave my Serial Number to Miss G. “Next I want you to carefully turn it back around to the other side and then wait till I say the next instruction”

The instructions continued for awhile, but eventually we got to use our netbooks and explore what they could do to help us with our learning.

Sharing our Learning

On Wednesday the 15th June the students of St Pius X Catholic School had the opportunity to share what they have been doing on their netbooks with their parents.
This was wonderful to watch as the students shared their individual blogs and explained how they use Google docs in their classroom.

The expressions on the parents faces were both proud and amazement and the students were proud and enthusiastic.
These netbooks are a powerful tool for encouraging learning and motivating the students to want to both share and complete their work.

Home School Partnership

What a wonderful sight it was tonight to see so many St Pius X Catholic School parents coming along to support their children with their netbooks.
Tonight was a chance for the parents to get a better understanding of the Manaiakalani Project as well as share their opinions on the processes for sending the netbooks home.

The parents had some very interesting questions and also put forward some great ideas to the questions that were posed on chart paper around the room.

Once this had been done the students then shared their learning with their parents by showing them what they have been up to on their netbooks over the past two terms.  It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces and enthusiastic students being so proud of what they are doing in school.

An amazing night of learning and sharing.

Today's World

It is clear that in today’s world we must use computers as they have replaced the pen. As a learning tool in the classroom it provides me with access to the Internet.The Internet enables me to do mathematics games and google docs.

I think it is clear that it is very awesome, because it can help me with my keyboard typing and with my skill's generally.

It is very good because when there is a time when you want to tell some thing in private to the teacher you can always chat with her online.

I think it is a very good tool because it is always helpful in the class because when you have a presentation to share with the teacher with pictures in it, it can be done on line.

I think netbook's are so incredible because our class is so lucky to get one of these netbook tools and I am so happy to have a Netbook of my own too.

By Siliva

A Great Tool

Many students agree that the net books we use are a great tool because, it helps us more with our learning.
If we are studying on the Silver ferns netball team we can just jump on the Internet and search for them right away. It’s a faster and easier way.
I believe that the net book is an awesome tool because, when we want to ask our teacher something and with the class not knowing, we can just ask them on chat or email.
The net book is really fun to use. It helps me with my blogging, searching also helps me with typing skills. It really helps me with my spelling and because we can share our work with our teachers and other people.
I hope that I will try hard on my work, plus work hard to achieve my goals.

By Dorothy

The netbook is a great learning tool because.......

The Internet gives access to heaps of information. It is great for doing research on something when books have got not enough information.

It is quicker than handwriting and you don’t need to sharpen your pencil. If you learn how to touch type, you can see it is much faster.

It is much more easier to type than to write. My example would be when you are writing with a pencil and made a mistake and will need a eraser. But on a Netbook you could just press the backspace button and it would be gone like that.

When you are bored and want to have some fun, you could play some games or music on the Netbook. My example is to do it when times are appropriate and in your Netbook.

Finally the Netbook is a good use for school children because your documents can instantly be seen by the teacher on Google Docs once you “file” it. My example is to file a document once you created it.

That's why I strongly believe that the Netbook is a good learning tool because it gives you access to the Internet.

By Emmanuel

Sharing through our blogs

It is wonderful to see the thoughts of the students at SPX about their netbooks.  Here are some links to some of the individual blogs where students have shared their experiences with their netbooks.

Angelica's Final Countdown

Emmanuel's Netbook Experience

Anita's Rollout

Netbook Storage

We are well and truly underway with our netbooks now and are enjoying using them every day. Make sure that our netbooks are looked after when they are at school we store them in big metal boxes that are on wheels, called a COW (Computer on Wheels).

We have specific people in Year 7 & 8 who are in charge of putting all the netbooks in the COW's and ensuring that they are charged for the next day.

Here is Ilaisaane and Francis putting the computers away for the day.

Salamona's Netbook Thoughts

I enjoy typing on my netbook because when I write with a pencil my hands hurt but they don’t when I type. I really like to post my work on my blog because it lets lots of people view my work.

David's Netbook Thoughts

I enjoy looking at all the blogs, my favourite blog is spx Netbooks because it has cool movies. One thing that I find most exciting is using my netbook to help me with my work.

Robertanna's Netbook Thoughts

I enjoy playing games and doing learning activities on it. My favourite is the crossword game for my reading work. One thing I have learnt is to sign in to my blog with my google login.