As promised we have put up our Validating PD proforma after modifying as per Dawn's suggestions.
It is located in our Skydrive in the VIT Professional Development folder and will remain there as a permanent fixture. This is a public folder and does not require you to sign in to your MSN passport/Windows Live! ID to access.
To save this to your computer; click the link, open the File menu and select "Download a Copy".
The blog:
The work we have put into the blogs is starting to pay off. It's being utilised by CRTs and others across Victoria now averaging over 500 views a month with a wide variety of pages being accessed.
We have recieved a couple of new members this month, and had more request to be added to our eMail list, because they found the blog online. We have also referred a number of more distant CRTs to a network closer to their location, both Regional and Metro, in the last couple of months.
Network Awareness.
We touched on this is a previous post but we would like CRTs to mention the Networks to schools, teachers, student teachers and other CRT's if the opportunity arises. We aren't using this as a recruitment drive!
It has come to our attention that many regional CRT's still aren't aware that CRT networks are operating throughout Victoria in a variety of locations. With the looming changes coming our way in the way that VIT assesses PD activities, especially moving to a yearly cycle instead of 5 yearly, it is important that CRTs know they have access to the Networks to fulfil their PD requirements if they need them.
We don't think that CRT Networks are for everyone but we DO believe that everyone should be offered the choice on whether to join or not.
Help us make sure everyone gets this choice!
Mel.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Electroboard CRT targeted PD Workshop.
Electroboard have created a SMARTboard PD that is specifically targeted to the needs of CRTs and, for a limited time, are offering this to all victorian CRT's at a special half-price introductory fee of $158.00.
"These courses are available for enrolment now and there are limited spots so I would recommend that you get in early as spaces will fill very quickly. These are accredited training courses will also be available on the PDi/Victorian Institute of Teaching system also, so the hours you complete will go towards your professional development hours."
You can view the brochure for this PD here:
Note: This is a PD opportunity run by the Electroboard Training Academy. It is not run by the Wodonga CRT Support Network, Network Coordinators were just asked to get the word out to all Victorian CRTs. That being said, if you work regularly in a school using SMART products we believe it's a good idea to at least consider this opportunity and get in on the introductory discounted PDs if you think it's worthwhile.
You will get a total of 8 Verified PD Hours via a Pdi number to enter through MyVIT.
You will need to take a Laptop with the SMART software installed to take with you. You can download the 30 day trial software here:
http://www.seeshareshape.com.au/see/SMART/software.aspx
If you regularly work at a school using SMART products you can request a key to allow you to activate this software, and use it free, on any SMART product.
If you are getting the training to help you get work in schools using SMART products you can use the trial version of the software for this PD, just make sure you don't install it too soon so you have time left on the trial!
You should also check out their SMART BUG program if you are intertested in training:
http://www.seeshareshape.com.au/share/smartbugs.aspx?EventRegionID=5
Note that we are also holding an Electroboard PD in 2012 but numbers are limited. These may be an excellent way to keep up if you miss out on a seat!
Mel.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Community Advertising.
We are now advertising the network's Monthly Meetings and PD workshops through http://www.mycommunityconnect.com.au/ and their community event calendar. The Wodonga CRT Support Network's account application has been approved and our first calendar event is up (the Dec 7th monthly meeting)!
This is a free advertising website run by Southern Cross 10 for regional, not for profit organizations and groups across Australia. Each month our meetings and PDs will appear in the calendar (which can be sorted by Region) and there's also a chance that we will receive Radio and TV advertising (it's not guaranteed, keep that in mind!).
The television channel will be Southern Cross 10 and the radio stations will be 105.7 the River and 104.9 Star FM. We gratefully thank these stations for their support of community events!
We hope this will raise awareness of CRT Networks throughout regional Victoria, both with CRTs and in the greater community. We encourage all regional networks to at least consider using this great resource!
Mel.
This is a free advertising website run by Southern Cross 10 for regional, not for profit organizations and groups across Australia. Each month our meetings and PDs will appear in the calendar (which can be sorted by Region) and there's also a chance that we will receive Radio and TV advertising (it's not guaranteed, keep that in mind!).
The television channel will be Southern Cross 10 and the radio stations will be 105.7 the River and 104.9 Star FM. We gratefully thank these stations for their support of community events!
We hope this will raise awareness of CRT Networks throughout regional Victoria, both with CRTs and in the greater community. We encourage all regional networks to at least consider using this great resource!
Mel.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Monthly Meeting: December 7th
The next Monthly Meeting for the Wodonga CRT Support Network will be Wednesday the 7th of December to be held in the Wodonga South Primary School library. The meeting will go from 4pm to 6pm with late arrivals and early departures welcome. As usual, time sheets will be kept for VIT PD requirements as a backup to your submissions should you be audited.
This meeting will be literacy/reading focused. Network Coordinator Melinda Lichnovsky-Klock will bring out some of her reading activities that she has been using throughout the year with great success (from Prep to VCAL at Belvoir and in other schools) and share her strategies.
Entry is gold-coin donation to cover the cost of afternoon tea and tea/coffee/milo.
Please RSVP via email to wodongacrt@vit.vic.edu.au by Monday 5th December so food can be arranged. You can turn up on the spur of the moment but you might miss out on the bun and cake!
Regards,
Mel.
This meeting will be literacy/reading focused. Network Coordinator Melinda Lichnovsky-Klock will bring out some of her reading activities that she has been using throughout the year with great success (from Prep to VCAL at Belvoir and in other schools) and share her strategies.
Entry is gold-coin donation to cover the cost of afternoon tea and tea/coffee/milo.
Please RSVP via email to wodongacrt@vit.vic.edu.au by Monday 5th December so food can be arranged. You can turn up on the spur of the moment but you might miss out on the bun and cake!
Regards,
Mel.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
PD opportunities.
Dawn Colcott.
Dawn Colcott, the head coordinator of VIT's CRT Network Initiative, will be in Wodonga in May, 2012. She is keenly aware that we don't get a lot of attention from VIT this far from Metro and would love to have an evening session with us.
As many of you might be aware, it became economicly unviable for VIT to run anything for CRT's this far north due to dwindling attendances. This severely increased the cost-per-head of these ventures making them just too expensive for the benefit they were offering. This will be our chance to begin to turn the tables on this decision. We are already having attendances to PD's similar to the numbers they used to get and this is growing all of the time as word of the network and it's PD opportunities spread throughout the CRT community.
With what we have planned next year we see it getting only bigger and better.
While we aren't sure we will ever change this decision it is certainly worth trying to do and all it will take is bums on seats to give them some cause to rethink this decision.
We will announce a firm date and a content outline both on this blog and our Network PD blog as soon as we have all of the information in our hands. We ask all of you to seriously consider attending this session! It will be in all of our own best interests.
Electroboard SmartBoard PD.
We have secured a Smartboard PD for term 2 in 2012.
Due to the format of the PD the maximum participants is to be set at 16. The current plan is for it to be initially open to network members only. It will only be opened to non-network members a couple weeks before bookings must be finalized if any places remain.
This will be a full day PD and it is our current understanding that it will be PDI approved but we are waiting on a few answers to give definitive information.
We are announcing this far earlier than we normally would because of those low maximum numbers. If we recieve sufficient interest there is an opportunity to run this PD again in Term 3 for a further group of 8 or 16 but we need to see some feedback in order to decide whether it's worth planning/funding for a second run. If we run it a second time, positions will be open to all CRTs from the announcement date.
If we run it a second time it will be an "extra" PD over and above the schedule we have already planned on, not replace another planned PD. It is important to us that we maintain variety in topics of our PDs to ensure that everyone can attend something relevant to their teaching needs.
Other PD.
We are also fairly certain that Term 1 will include a full day Mathematics PD. We have secured a presenter and are just waiting on funding approval to make the announcement and open booking. Our Term 3 Full-Day PD is also fairly certain, with a presenter having been obtained and hefty work going into a proposal that will obtain funding approval.
We will announce when the funding is approved in a general way when we have it and then announce Topics, Presenters and dates when bookings open. The current plan is to allow at least a 42 day booking period (6 weeks) for any full-day PD if possible.
Mel.
Dawn Colcott, the head coordinator of VIT's CRT Network Initiative, will be in Wodonga in May, 2012. She is keenly aware that we don't get a lot of attention from VIT this far from Metro and would love to have an evening session with us.
As many of you might be aware, it became economicly unviable for VIT to run anything for CRT's this far north due to dwindling attendances. This severely increased the cost-per-head of these ventures making them just too expensive for the benefit they were offering. This will be our chance to begin to turn the tables on this decision. We are already having attendances to PD's similar to the numbers they used to get and this is growing all of the time as word of the network and it's PD opportunities spread throughout the CRT community.
With what we have planned next year we see it getting only bigger and better.
While we aren't sure we will ever change this decision it is certainly worth trying to do and all it will take is bums on seats to give them some cause to rethink this decision.
We will announce a firm date and a content outline both on this blog and our Network PD blog as soon as we have all of the information in our hands. We ask all of you to seriously consider attending this session! It will be in all of our own best interests.
Electroboard SmartBoard PD.
We have secured a Smartboard PD for term 2 in 2012.
Due to the format of the PD the maximum participants is to be set at 16. The current plan is for it to be initially open to network members only. It will only be opened to non-network members a couple weeks before bookings must be finalized if any places remain.
This will be a full day PD and it is our current understanding that it will be PDI approved but we are waiting on a few answers to give definitive information.
We are announcing this far earlier than we normally would because of those low maximum numbers. If we recieve sufficient interest there is an opportunity to run this PD again in Term 3 for a further group of 8 or 16 but we need to see some feedback in order to decide whether it's worth planning/funding for a second run. If we run it a second time, positions will be open to all CRTs from the announcement date.
If we run it a second time it will be an "extra" PD over and above the schedule we have already planned on, not replace another planned PD. It is important to us that we maintain variety in topics of our PDs to ensure that everyone can attend something relevant to their teaching needs.
Other PD.
We are also fairly certain that Term 1 will include a full day Mathematics PD. We have secured a presenter and are just waiting on funding approval to make the announcement and open booking. Our Term 3 Full-Day PD is also fairly certain, with a presenter having been obtained and hefty work going into a proposal that will obtain funding approval.
We will announce when the funding is approved in a general way when we have it and then announce Topics, Presenters and dates when bookings open. The current plan is to allow at least a 42 day booking period (6 weeks) for any full-day PD if possible.
Mel.
Meetings page.
We have put up new page.
Contained in this page are the scheduling for all meetings up until May 2012 and some basic information on what to expect.
http://wodongacrtsupportnetwork.blogspot.com/p/monthly-meetings.html
Mel.
Contained in this page are the scheduling for all meetings up until May 2012 and some basic information on what to expect.
http://wodongacrtsupportnetwork.blogspot.com/p/monthly-meetings.html
Mel.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Some activity.
A new page for the blog is having some finishing touches put on it and should be up in the next couple of days. It will contain information on monthly meetings and the schedule for the next 6 or so meetings.
It would have been up today but we're in negotiations for a Maths PD and the tentative date would mean moving a meeting so we'll hold off a few days until we have that sorted.
We've recieved news that there's 2 new networks this quarter bringing the total to 26 Victorian CRT Networks. Congratulations goes out to Anda of Leongatha and Prue of Traralgon. Best of luck in all of your endeavors!
Mel.
It would have been up today but we're in negotiations for a Maths PD and the tentative date would mean moving a meeting so we'll hold off a few days until we have that sorted.
We've recieved news that there's 2 new networks this quarter bringing the total to 26 Victorian CRT Networks. Congratulations goes out to Anda of Leongatha and Prue of Traralgon. Best of luck in all of your endeavors!
Mel.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Gronski Review: Have your say!
Last night I recieved this eMail from the AEU. Have no fear, it's not about Union matters!
Mel.
If you have a few minutes today, please go and look. If you agree? Either send the form letter they offer or make something more personal. There's a high likelyhood it won't get read since they will probably get a flood of them but you never know!If you think public schools like ours in Victoria are worth investing more in, take action on Tuesday November 15 (tomorrow).
Join in the National Day of Action for Public Education and send a message to the federal funding review about what a difference more funding would make. Your message will go to the head of the funding review, Mr David Gonski, Education Minister Peter Garrett and your local federal MP.
It is your last chance to have your say before the funding review finishes next month.
Send your message now.
It will only take a few minutes.
With parents, principals and teachers around the country all acting tomorrow (November 15) it will send a powerful message about the need for change. Remember public schools teach two thirds of students but under the current system they only get one third of the funding.
The Gonski Review, which is the most comprehensive review in over 30 years, is our best chance to change this inequitable situation.
You can learn more about the National Day of Action and the campaign for better funding at www.forourfuture.org.au.
Mel.
Monday, November 14, 2011
DEECD Inspire Magazine Nov 2011
View the online version in your browser. Nov 2011 Inspire Downloadable PDF - Use this link to view the PDF version in your browser or right click the link and use "Save target as" to keep a permanent copy on your computer.
DEECD Inspire page - Bookmark this page to check for new editions each month or find older editions!
Mel.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Meetings have started up again!
Thankyou to those who attended!
We talked about the changes to the PD requirements through VIT and the reflection process. We finished off the the meeting by working together to complete Validating Professional Development paperwork together!
We also spent some of the time on the library computers setting up Google and Microsoft Passpart accounts so the attending members could post messages on the blog and access the Skydrive. Getting our members to be a little more computer-savvy and be able to keep in touch with each other will help us all to keep our PD up to scratch!
Some suggestions that were made for future meetings have been taken on board.
At each meeting we will endevour to complete a professional reading, with discussion between members at the meeting. This was planned this time of course but it was a very big meeting! In the future though, for a while at least, we will finish each session by completing a Validating Professional Development form. This will help you get a jump-start to your PD portfolio as well as make sure everyone picks up on how to do the reflections for their own research into PD.
We will put the pro-forma we used for the reflections at this meeting onto our Skydrive, as promised, but we are going to run it past Dawn Colcott at VIT first. This will make sure you have a bullet proof pro-forma to work from.
We talked about the changes to the PD requirements through VIT and the reflection process. We finished off the the meeting by working together to complete Validating Professional Development paperwork together!
We also spent some of the time on the library computers setting up Google and Microsoft Passpart accounts so the attending members could post messages on the blog and access the Skydrive. Getting our members to be a little more computer-savvy and be able to keep in touch with each other will help us all to keep our PD up to scratch!
Some suggestions that were made for future meetings have been taken on board.
At each meeting we will endevour to complete a professional reading, with discussion between members at the meeting. This was planned this time of course but it was a very big meeting! In the future though, for a while at least, we will finish each session by completing a Validating Professional Development form. This will help you get a jump-start to your PD portfolio as well as make sure everyone picks up on how to do the reflections for their own research into PD.
We will put the pro-forma we used for the reflections at this meeting onto our Skydrive, as promised, but we are going to run it past Dawn Colcott at VIT first. This will make sure you have a bullet proof pro-forma to work from.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Happy Birthday
Happy 3rd birthday to the Wodonga CRT Support Network for yesterday.
Three years ago yesterday we held our very first meeting.
Sorry I missed posting this as I was in meeting mode yesterday!
Three years ago yesterday we held our very first meeting.
Sorry I missed posting this as I was in meeting mode yesterday!
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