Principals+-+what's+come+out+on+top

=What has bubbled to the surface of our Mental Beroccas?=

Breeze Meetings
A 15 minute meeting for 7.45am on Thursday March 27 - Lynn will set this meeting up along with the audio bridge number. Agenda - to connect using the new breeze server meeting rooms.

Your user name is your email address Go to www.breezeserver.co.nz Type in your login Then click on forgot password and one will be sent to your email address. dkfjdlfkksdljfjflf

The past three workshops have covered the following

 * Scratch - freeware for animation and programme, the Middle School Maestros linked gaming to digital literacy
 * Web2 tools - the Tuakana Team immersed themselves in a range of tools to spark some thought about connecting children to an authentic audience.
 * Podcasting - the Junior Jammers looked at how this tool is enhancing oral language for one of our cluster classrooms, and the potential it has for more of our classrooms.

=Implications raised that require your support as school leaders=


 * Scratch is a free download - however this raised the following concerns: must we wait for a technician to download this? To which log on will this download be available? We are happy to have room log ons - but are not so keen to have compulsory separate student log ons? There is a ranging feeling of empowerment/disempowerment in relation to the ability to "whitelist" pages in smartnet.
 * Skype, wikispaces and voicethread will all need "whitelisting" and will most likely require admission through schoolzone. We need to get this addressed before Term 2 begins. Machines used will need headphones and mics.
 * Podcasting - teachers will need access to www.podomatic.com please address this with your smartnet and schoolzone servers.
 * //**all teachers have remarked on being so busy with lots of commitments....I wonder if you feel this way....and I wonder how learning can happen or be consolidated by adult or child as a learner if there is a feeling of being committed to so many things?**//

=Positive Feedback=
 * Overall there are engaging and critical conversations surrounding ICT and Inquiry - people are more familiar and excited, they want to connect between schools and classrooms.
 * Lake Rerewhakaaitu spoke highly of the positive impact the shortened lunch time and mid afternoon break is having on learning - even their learning readiness. All though it has challenged the way they have lost some prep time in the shortened lunch hour.
 * After the ICT EPS staff meetings - those staff members appear to want to have a greater understanding or ability to use smartnet "whitelisting" themselves
 * Log ons to machines and the server - where once were generic may now need to change as teachers develop a better understanding of how and why the log ons work.