OZ/NZ educators

Some criteria that could help teachers choose the right learning game for their classroom.

"Do you know many people who make use of sarcasm routinely? Sarcasm is quick to offend. We can try ignoring it, but this is ultimately not an answer."

"The term 'work-life balance' is a myth and sets many people up for failure. They either feel like their lives aren't balanced, or they don't have an understanding of what actually balance is."

"NOVA takes you simply, quickly and directly to resources that will inform your own strategic thinking on innovation in schools. for articles in the current issue addressing: assessment; case studies; curriculum; leadership; pedagogy; research; and thought leaders. NOVA focuses on leadership, curriculum, assessment, pedagogy and research, as well as bringing you thought leaders and case studies that address innovation." "

"Technologies enrich and impact on the lives of people and societies globally. Australia needs enterprising individuals who can make discerning decisions about the development and use of technologies and who can independently and collaboratively develop solutions to complex challenges and contribute to sustainable patterns of living. Technologies can play an important role in transforming, restoring and sustaining societies and natural, managed, and constructed environments."

Insights drawn from neuroscience not only provide educators with a scientific basis for understanding some of the best practices in teaching, but also offer a new lens through which to look at the problems teachers grapple with every day. By gaining insights into how the brain works-and how students actually learn-teachers will be able to create their own solutions to the classroom challenges they face and improve their practice. see video

"There are a number of things you can to do encourage intrinsic motivation in your students. Listed hints plus an infographic from Mia MacMeekin that explores 27 ideas to encourage this type of motivation in your students. Keep reading to learn more."

From Richard Byrne's "android4schools" site. A free Android app that is designed to help younger students learn how the human body works. The app features eight sections: circulation, muscles, the senses, kidneys & urine, skeleton, respiration, digestion, and brain & nerves. Each section contains short animated videos that explain the functions of each system and how it works.

Downloadable A4 writing aid for quick reference - words to describe someone's voice

A great list of links that suggest how you can use Lego to teach literacy.

A useful comic poster from CC Poland offers a good resource to begin discussions about Creative Commons. 6 types of licenses are discussed with with their separate conditions attached to each of them. "

"the way I use Evernote to go paperless has evolved, and while some of the earlier posts I wrote are still useful, they don't always reflect how I do things today. So I thought I'd use today's column to describe some of the ways my use of Evernote to go paperless has evolved over the years."

Take Control aims to support gamers whose gaming has gone from fun to harmful. It also has information for parents and friends of gamers who may have gaming problems. We tapped into expert advice from ten computer/console/phone gamers aged 12-17 as well as from university researchers and experts on gambling addiction to put together some screening tools, checklists and resources. Visit www.rasa.org.au/takecontrol to learn more.

DIY PD - 10 tips and resources to help you along your lifelong learning journey...

"Email is one of contemporary life's contradictions: at the same time a wonderful invention and a sure and steady productivity killer. A lot of people say the trick with email is to only do it at specific times, but I disagree. If, like me, you are a full blown email addict and need your hit, time management strategies simply aren't going to cut it. "