What's the Plan, Stan? Newsletter 1

What's the Plan, Stan? Newsletter #1 for Teachers

Tēnā koutou Andrew here,

Welcome to What's the Plan, Stan?. This Virtual Field Trip gets under way on 17 October 2017. This field trip is supported by EQC and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

Things to do from this newsletter:

View the What's the Plan, Stan? web site for student preparation
Take part in the free teacher-only PLD webinar for this field trip
Book a web conference by emailing andrew.penny@core-ed.org
Email andrew.penny@core-ed.org with your content requests for this year's What's the Plan, Stan? 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 Andrew on Twitter @andrewpenny01

Key dates

Tuesday 17 October - The What's the Plan, Stan? Virtual Field Trip gets under way!
Friday 6 October - Last day for web conference bookings with Andrew - andrew.penny@core-ed.org
Thursday 12 October - Web conference questions due with Andrew - andrew.penny@core-ed.org
Friday 13 October - Deadline for Ambassadors to arrive at Andrew’s home office ($35 payment to be sent to the CORE Education office).

1. Free teacher-only PLD webinar

At 3.30pm on Wednesday 27 September take part in the free teacher-only 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. Web conferences

Personalise the field trip for your students by taking part in a live web conference. During web conferences students will be able to put questions to experts who are on location.
One web conference will be held each day on 17-19 October, divided into a formal first part and an informal second part.
Details about connecting to web conferences are in your MyLEARNZ control panel.
Check the web conference topics on the timetable and book your web conference now by emailing andrew.penny@core-ed.org.
Running alongside the 15-20 minute formal, structured live web conference is the associated visual support like web cam view, photos and summaries of answers in the LEARNZ Adobe Connect room. This will run for an extra 5-15 minutes after the formal part of the web conference to enable you and your students to post extra questions in the chat pod 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 What's the Plan, Stan? field trip website?
Email andrew.penny@core-ed.org if you have a request for content such as field trip videos or photos.

5. Ambassadors

6. Pre-test self-assessment

The pre-test is an opportunity to find out more about what your students know before the What's the Plan, Stan? 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.

7. 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.

8. Connect with the field trip via Twitter

Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrewpenny01 #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

9. 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 registration and login procedures see login explained and/or email help@learnz.org.nz.
There is a planning sequence in the Resources section. 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 What's the Plan, Stan? 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 web conferences with our experts. Combined with the background readings and activities, these components are powerful mediums for inquiry learning.

Ka kite anō and I will catch up with you all again soon,

Andrew