Websites
Useful education websites:
1. Intrepica
Intrepica is an online English resource which allows students to connect and develop their pre-reading, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, reading fluency, grammar and comprehension skills. Students learn through explicit teaching and also games which allows the learners to work towards a reward. The students can also compete with their friends or other online students in a safe and educational environment. Teachers are also able to connect to this website to view their students’ progress and also analyse comprehensive diagnostics of their students’ learning.
2. Promethean Planet
This website provides educators with access to a range of Interactive Whiteboard resources varying in grade level, subject and themes. This site also provides the users with technical support and professional development resources. Promethean Planet is also allows teachers to discuss and share their lessons, ideas and resources.
3. Read Write Think
This website contains teacher resources including lesson plans, printouts and interactive activities. The site also contains professional development resources, strategies, events and advice. Parent and afterschool care resources are also included. The resources in this website range from Kindergarten to year 12 and vary in subject.
4. BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is a website design to create more engaging lessons. The website contains games, interactive lessons and quizzes which are easy to use and enriches the students’ learning. Although the resources are designed for teachers in the United Kingdom they are still able to be used in Australian classrooms, though some may have to be altered.
5. Free Typing Games
This website has a number of free online typing games which are very interactive and fun. These games would appeal to all students and progresses through the difficulties. This website also offers 40 lessons to use with the games. These lessons are based on particular areas of the keyboard as well as particular fingers and hands.
6. The Learning Place
This website would be great for a teacher who would like to incorporate technologies such as webcams, interactive white boards and media players into the classroom but is unsure if they will benefit the students’ education. Numerous in-school trials have been conducted on certain devices and programs and their results are shared within this website. There are also buying guides for classroom appropriate ICT’s.
7. Chat Danger
This website focuses on the dangers of using the services such as chat rooms, online games, emailing and mobile phones. The website is includes information on how to safely use the internet and mobile phones, cyber bullying, spam, protecting yourself as well as real life stories about children who did not take caution when using the internet. This website also has games for kids to develop their understanding of safety in an interactive way. In the resource section there are also a list of people that children can contact if they are in any trouble over the internet or even in general, such as the police and helplines. There is also a list of other website about internet safety.
8. Project Gutenberg
This website contains free ebooks. The use of these ebooks means that anyone who has access to the internet can read a range of books without buying or borrowing them. This website has a great range of free books including classics such as Animal Farm by George Orwell, and also special interest books, such as cook books. This would be a great way to encourage students to read, especially for those who prefer to read from a computer rather than a book which is becoming a popular.
9. Oz Teacher Net
This is a online community run by the Queensland University of Technology which has online curriculum ideas as well as networks for teachers and students. There are a number of design challenge ideas on this website such as land yachts. However, to gain full access to the content you have to register.
10. ICT Mindtools
This is a very basic website of resources for technology education. These resources are for multimedia and game making, graphic and animation, programming and others. Most of these resources are programs that would need to be downloaded and some need to be purchased.
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