High Country hi-tech Newsletter 3

Kia ora koutou, Shelley here

It is great to have you on board for the High Country hi-tech field trip to Twizel. This trip is supported by LINZ Land Information New Zealand.

Things to do from this newsletter, (previous field trip newsletters can be read here):

check access to computers and Internet-connected devices
if speaking in an audiconference check phone lines and speaker phone
give students the open access field trip link plus the login that you set up for them in MyLEARNZ which is needed to access the audioconferences
print audioconference questions
remember to read Shelley's first diary on Tuesday morning
first audioconference at 9.15am on Tuesday
take part in the LEARNZ backchannel - more
first videos with questions online Wednesday
send examples of children's work to share

1. Key dates and Times

Tuesday 12 May - Virtual Field Trip to Twizel gets under way. First audioconference at 9.15am on Tuesday.
Tuesday 12 May - Read Shelley's first diary and look at the images.
Friday 5 June at 4pm. Teachers submitting evaluations by this time and day are eligible for the prize draw.

2. Audioconferences

Check the Audioconference page which has links to all aspects of the audioconferences.
Students from speaking schools have been coming up with some interesting questions, which you can print off for your class to follow during the audioconference.
The High Country hi-tech audioconference activity is also available for students to work on as they listen.
You can listen live to audioconferences on the Internet or to a recording later.
Audioconference summaries can be emailed to shelley.hersey@core-ed.org

Please remember:

Listening Schools (via the internet) - Your class can listen to audioconferences as they happen via the live stream on the website.
Speaking schools - Press the mute button to un-mute your phone so you can talk and then press the mute button again as soon as you are finished speaking.
Speaking Schools - If other students are listening to the audioconference on the internet, ensure they are in a different room to the one being used for the audioconference.

LEARNZ Backchannel

Throughout the High Country hi-tech field trip, the LEARNZ backchannel will operate during live audioconferences.
The LEARNZ backchannel will include live chat where students, or teachers on their behalf, can:
- share ideas
- ask extra questions
- answer questions
- watch related visuals
- contribute links and other examples of their classwork.
Look out for an email invitation within the next few days that includes instructions and the link. It's an excellent opportunity, especially if you missed out on being a speaking school.
Find out more about the LEARNZ backchannel in LEARNZ support.

3. Activities

Get the students primed and ready to learn by doing the activities for this High Country hi-tech site.
Take a look at the planning sequence in the Resources section - good for helping you keep your class on track during the field trip.
With the class username and password that you set up for them on MyLEARNZ, students can share their learning at home with family.

4. Twitter updates

Follow me @ShelleyHersey #learnztrip on Twitter during the field trip for highlights as they happen.

5. Videos

During the field trip, videos with captions and questions are uploaded to the website each morning.
The first videos (from Tuesday) will be online on Wednesday morning.
Video questions and answers are uploaded for you (the teacher) in Resources

6. Encouraging Parental Involvement: Home-School partnerships

Teachers, you can communicate with parents about supporting your students' learning during this field trip. Find out how and get the text for a letter or email home.

7. Web board

During the field trip students from your class can add their questions to the High Country hi-tech Ask-an-Expert Web Board (in the pop-up just login as usual, click on High Country hi-tech and post a question).
The Ask-an-Expert Web Board will remain active for 4 weeks following the trip and then it will be placed on the High Country hi-tech Website under a new link called 'Questions-Answers'.
Teachers are expected to manage the way their students use Ask-an-Expert. Your school's Internet Use Policy should govern the way students behave online.

8. CONTACTS

If you have questions regarding the field trip please use the NZ Teacher Freephone 0800 22 55 53, or email help@learnz.org.nz.

See you all soon,

Shelley
LEARNZ Field Trip Teacher