Waterview Connection 3 Newsletter #1 for Teachers
Tēnā koutou Shelley here,
Welcome to Waterview Connection 3 - going underground with New Zealand's biggest road project. This Virtual Field Trip gets under way on 13 September 2016.
Things to do from this newsletter:
- View the Waterview Connection 3 web site for student preparation
- Take part in the free PLD webinar for this field trip
- Book an audioconference by emailing shelley.hersey@core-ed.org
- Email shelley.hersey@core-ed.org with your content requests for this year's Waterview Connection 3 field trip
- Prepare your students for their field trip
- Check out the Resources section with useful links
- Sign up an ambassador to join us on the field trip
- Follow Shelley on Twitter @ShelleyHersey
Key dates
- Wednesday 24 August at 3:30pm - free PLD webinar for this field trip http://www.learnz.org.nz/support/pld-and-webinars
- Tuesday 13 September - The Waterview Connection 3 Virtual Field Trip gets under way!
- Friday 2 September - Last day for audioconference bookings with Shelley - shelley.hersey@core-ed.org
- Thursday 8 September - Audioconference questions due with Shelley - shelley.hersey@core-ed.org
- Thursday 8 September - Deadline for Ambassadors to arrive at Shelley’s home office ($35 payment to be sent to the CORE Education office).
1. Free PLD webinar
- Take part in the free PLD webinar for this field trip at http://www.learnz.org.nz/support/pld-and-webinars.
- PLD webinars are designed to help you and your students get the most out of a Virtual Field Trip experience.
2. Enrol All your classes
- Please enrol all the classes you are taking on this field trip through your MyLEARNZ control panel. This enables us to report accurately to our supporters, continue to offer LEARNZ free of charge and it helps us to support you and your students.
3. Audioconferences
- Personalise the field trip for your students by taking part in a live audioconference using the MoE audiobridge at no cost. During audioconferences students will be able to put questions to experts who are on location.
- One 20-25 minute audioconference will be held each day on 13-15 August.
- Details about connecting to audioconferences are in your MyLEARNZ control panel.
- All you need to speak in an audioconference is a speaker phone.
- Check the audioconference topics on the timetable and book your audioconference now by emailing shelley.hersey@core-ed.org.
- Running alongside the formal, structured live audioconference is the associated visual support like webcam view, photos and summaries of answers in the LEARNZ Adobe Connect room. This room will run for an extra 20 minutes after the audioconference to enable you and your students to spontaneously ask extra questions and have them answered, live. The platform is easy to use and is the same as for the LEARNZ PD sessions.
4. Your suggestions
- Do you have suggestions for the Waterview Connection 3 field trip website?
- Email shelley.hersey@core-ed.org if you have a request for content such as field trip videos or photos.
5. PLD webinar
- Take part in the free PLD webinar for this field trip at http://www.learnz.org.nz/support/pld-and-webinars.
6. Ambassadors
- Schools are invited to send an ambassador on this field trip.
- Sign up your ambassador through your MyLEARNZ control panel.
- Your ambassador must arrive no later than Thursday 8 September.
7. Ask-an-Expert Web Board
- Once your class has read the Waterview Connection 3 background readings, students are welcome to ask questions on the Ask-an-Expert Web Board.
- Students should read 'Guidelines for using Ask-an-Expert' before posting questions. Students don't need to register when posting questions.
8. Pre-test self-assessment
- The pre-test is an opportunity to find out more about what your students know before the Waterview Connection 3 field trip.
- The link for the post test will be available after the field trip. Email help@learnz.org.nz to request your class results.
9. 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.
10. Connect with the field trip via Twitter
- Follow Shelley on Twitter @ShelleyHersey #learnztrip for links to new information leading up to the field trip, as well as live updates once the field trip gets under way.
- More on using Twitter with LEARNZ here: http://www.learnz.org.nz/support/twitter
11. For teachers who are new to LEARNZ:
- There is no prescribed way of using a LEARNZ virtual field trip.
- Curriculum links are available for you to check and see how the field trip relates to your class programme.
- Use your teacher access login (username and password) if you use the site for planning purposes.
- Give the class login (username and password you set up for them in MyLEARNZ) to your students to use in class and at home.
- For help with login procedures see login explained and/or call 0800 22 55 53.
- There is a planning sequence in the Resources section under the heading Contributions. This short term lesson sequence makes use of all field trip components for a 3-day virtual field trip.
- The Prepare Students section of the Waterview Connection 3 site ensures your students are ready when the field trip gets under way.
- The background readings give an overall idea of the topic and can be used to generate further inquiry. The activities consolidate new learning and encourage deeper thinking.
- During the field trip your class can follow the action in my daily diary, watch the videos, and ask questions or listen during live audioconferences with our experts. Combined with the background readings, activities and Ask-an-Expert, these components are powerful mediums for inquiry learning.
Ka kite anō and I will catch up with you all again soon.
Shelley,
LEARNZ Field Trip Teacher
@ShelleyHersey
