Develop+Your+Skills+for+the+Ultranet

= There are lots of things you can do to develop your skills for the Ultranet. Follow the links in the table below to find out more. =

Teachers and students will search within the Ultranet for a combination of their school content and tap into system content which is available in FUSE like Connect, Digilearn resources and resources being developed by a range of cultural organisations. Teachers can already create learning sequences by selecting from a range of resources including videos, images, websites and interactive activities. They can then be stored as resources in each teacher's 'MY DESK' area. A short code is then provided giving students access to the whole package. || Access the FUSE Homepage Click on 'Teacher Login' and enter your Edumail username & password. Scroll down to access the video tutorials so you can get started. Follow the links to see some learning packages I created called 'The Amazing Human Machine' and Anzac Day. || Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary. Become familiar with the site as this is what your students will be using. Run a session showing your students how to use the site and encourage them to use the search function to locate information they need. || Experiment with all the features. || You can invite people to share your calendar (family for birthdays, students for class events etc). ||
 * = Skill = || = Why you need to learn it. = || = Action = ||
 * [[image:FUSEbutton.png]] || **FUSE is now the library for the Ultranet.**
 * [[image:connecttext.png]] || Connect has various portals created to suit individual student needs. There are help menus on each site. Students can access various sections including
 * **Play & Learn** (Early Childhood)
 * **Music** (Early Childhood)
 * **Explore** (Early Childhood)
 * **Stories** (Early Childhood)
 * **Art Stuff** (Early Childhood)
 * **What's new** (Primary & Secondary)
 * **Featured** (Primary & Secondary)
 * **Things to do** (Primary)
 * **My backpack** (Primary)
 * **Connect** (Secondary)
 * **Tools** (Secondary) || Access the relevant portal that your students will use
 * [[image:blogstext.png]] || A blog is short for web log and is a website created by a group or individuals who want to create a running commentary of entries in reverse chronological order. You can record your thoughts and progress, resources and ideas etc and make it public, or private. Ultranet users will have this function available to them. || Find out about blogs by watching 'Blogs in Plain English.' Subscribe to a useful blog (my favorite is Larry Ferlazzo). Search Australian Edu Bloggers to find one you like. ||
 * [[image:Wikistext.png]] || Ultranet users can add a wiki to any space they want to. Wikis are an excellent way to collate information and showcase learning. This wiki should give you some idea of the functions available when you create a wiki. || Create your own wiki, either for personal use or a class wiki. Fill it with resources (documents, videos, links, text, images). Play around with improving your wiki. Try Cool Text for text, logos & buttons or Getting Tricky with Wikis. ||
 * [[image:bookmarks.png width="287" height="84"]] || Bookmarks allow you to save and organise your favorite web sites. There are tons to choose from. The Ultranet will allow users to store their bookmarks which will be available for them to access online 24/7. || Find a useful bookmarking site that you like from this directory. My favorites are Delicious (add me **rscans** to your network to view my bookmarks) and SimplyBox.Start to collect the most useful websites you visit so you are ready to transfer these to the Ultranet. ||
 * [[image:Maps.png]] || Google Maps will be a widget (added application) that Ultranet users can add to their pages. They are extremely useful to use and can be used for a range of purposes (locating the community resources students can access - libraries, health services, hospitals, doctors etc). || Create a Google Maps account and set up your own maps (of family, favorite restaurants, places to visit ect). I used a Google Map to list all my network schools. Google has excellent support in their help menus.
 * [[image:Polls.png]] || Polls will be available to Ultranet users. This will allow you to survey your audience on any topic you choose. They are a great way to collect and instant show the audience the results. || Try using a survey tool to create your own poll with your students. Get some feedback on your teaching effectiveness or their preferences in studying a topic. One of my favorites is Survey Monkey(try their help section) but there are many more. ||
 * [[image:RSSfeeds.png width="300" height="95"]] || The Ultranet will allow you to track RSS Feeds (Really Simple Syndication) on your favorite websites. Most sites have RSS feeds (orange box with white waves) that allow you to keep up with any new information posted. || Check out Newbie's Guide to Google Reader to learn about RSS Feeds. Start an iGoogle or Pageflakes page. Search from iGoogle add stuff, or available flakesto personalise your page. ||
 * [[image:Calendar.png]] || Calendars will be a feature of the Ultranet serving the purpose of allowing users to organise their time and activities. || Familiarise yourself with the calendar linked to your Email account or set up a Google Calendar
 * [[image:Email.png]] || Soon every student will have access to email on the Ultranet and you will be their support person, or the recipient of their assistance. You should find out how to do things you currently can't such as adding attachments, creating mailing lists, archiving your emails in folders etc. || Brush on on your Edumail skills by accessing Quick Guides, Getting Started Guides and Acceptable Use Policies for Internet, Email & other electronic communications. ||
 * [[image:Communities.png width="314" height="84"]] || The Ultranet will provide the structure to create virtual communities of groups formed with your school. Each community must be moderated by at least one teacher. You can form communities with other groups/schools in Victoria as well. You could start organising the structure of these groups (moderator, member, purpose). Ideas include sporting groups, hobby groups (chess, craft, cooking), curriculum groups (Maths, Science, ICT) || Document information about current and possible future groups. Find out who is interested in forming a new group. Develop relationships with teachers in other schools interested in a common purpose. ||
 * [[image:Wall.png]] || In the Ultranet the landing page on the eXpress Space is similar to Facebook or MySpace. Teachers and students will have a wall where they can communicate with their communities. || Create a Facebook or MySpace account and learn how the wall works. Take a MySpace Tour or access Facebook Help. Find and add friends and family, or colleagues and spend time learning how these sites work. ||
 * [[image:Portfolios.png width="288" height="95"]] || Teachers will have a professional portfolio and students will have a digital portfolio space in the Ultranet. These will provide an ongoing record of development. This space is also designed for learning goals to be created and reflected upon. || Read the sample statements relevant to your experience (graduate, accomplished, expert & leading). Start collecting digital samples which reflect your & your students learning. Explore digital portfolios to find best practice examples). Create learning goals for yourself and your students & prepare to reflect on these. ||
 * [[image:ICT_Skills.png width="279" height="95"]] || The Ultranet is an ICT platform and you need to develop confidence and skills in using ICT for teaching and learning. This is an exciting journey and there are endless opportunities to develop skills in your own interest areas. || Access the ePotential Showcase or your individual continuum and learn something new. Use the @Web 2.0 ideas on the wiki ||
 * [[image:Photos.png]] || Students and teachers will have the facility to create photo galleries on the Ultranet. These are designed for appropriate images that provide evidence of learning or achieving goals. || Make sure you are confident in using a digital camera, and can upload and delete images. Find out how to take photos by reducing the megapixels, therefore reducing the space they take up when uploaded. Experiment with the software on your computer to enhance images (remove red-eyes, crop etc). Begin collecting images that provide evidence of learning. ||
 * [[image:cybersafety.png width="304" height="84"]] || It is critical that you and your students are aware of cyber safety issues to remain safe and behave legally on any Internet based application, including the Ultranet. || Find information on Cybersafe Classrooms (DEECD) or NetAlert (Aust. Govt.). ||
 * [[image:VELS.png]] || When you begin creating and allocating learning tasks to students on the Ultranet they will be all be linked to VELS Standards and Progression Points. You need to know the curriculum inside out and refer to it frequently. The Ultranet will require you to have a purpose, linked to VELS, for every learning task you give your students. || Access the VELS websiteand documentation frequently in planning and assessment time. Use the Development Continuums & Assessment Maps to support your teaching. ||

= =