Hunter Central Coast Region - Grapevine

Moving on with Moodle

Some Moodle hosting ideas:

Sentral

Maybe you’d like your own server on site.  Fast.

Ask around for other providers

External dedicated hosts

Bright Cookie

Moodle.com.au

NetSpot

Catalyst

I’m not necessarily recommending any one of these. This is just an example of a range of services out there. Just google a phrase like ‘managed moodle hosting’ and choose pages from Aus..or whatever.

If Moodle is taking off at your place, why not make your case within the school plan, planning school as a place where access to learning is 24-7 , reliable and relevant.

Waltzing our future
Waltzing our future
You’ll come a waltzing our future with me
And they sang as they tucked their netbooks in their school bag
You’ll come a Waltzing our future with me

… anyone like to add some verses?

Check out this iPhone application:

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/wordpress-2/id335703880?mt=8

Managed to critically assess WiFi access across the Nth & Sth Islands
of NZ…
NZ is VERY tech savy. Lot’s of WiFi:
- closed WiFi
- public WiFi, requires an account
and a VERY small amount of
- FREE WiFi (easy to see, as it is packed with backpackers- with
Notebooks, Netbooks & did I tell you I have an iPhone AND so has the
rest of the world!)
AND
- 3G WiFi (*be careful of the ‘roaming’ WiFi charges)

I used a bit of all the above. Most ‘multi-national take out/away
food places offered WiFi access through an external provider @ a cost
to you. Some were FREE and usually provided a ‘password’ on the
receipt/tax invoice.
NO real OPEN ‘floating’ FREE WiFi like other countries?
I purchased a couple of WiFi access accounts @ about $5/hr which was
OK! Unfortunately if you’re travelling there wasn’t a ‘national’
company so I needed to purchase access in 1 hr chunks.

NZ must THE Backpackers place-to-be! HEAPS of ‘em! So if it’s FREE or
cheap then they know!!!

* send from the Patagonia Chocolate Resturant, Queenstown- mmmm FREE
WiFi!!!

Just finished creating a Survey (in the form of a Quiz) in Moodle of the previous posting- will publish to H/CC Moodle- Soon http://hccweb2.org/hcclearnsys/

DRAFT- doN’T AnSWer these QUesTioNs!
WiFi Access
* What ‘out of school’ WiFi access points/shops/etc. have you attempted to use with your Netbook?
* What ‘out of school’ WiFi access points/shops/etc. has been successful?
* Have you got WiFi Internet access at home?
* Have you been able to access your home WiFi Internet access?

SOFTWARE
* What software/applications ‘on’ your Netbook have you used?
* What software/applications would you like to use BUT have not got ‘on’ your Netbook?

COMMISSIONING PROCESS
* Please rate the 4 periods used to commissioning/taking ownership of the Netbook? 1 - 5
* What were the most important issues discussed during the 4 periods used to commissioning/taking ownership of the Netbook?
* What would you have added?

TEACHING & LEARNING
* What subject/courses have you used your Netbook in?
* What has been your best lesson using the Netbook?

ONLINE SERVICES
* What online services have you accessed?
- TypingMaster
- Moodle
- Library Enquiry
- World Book Encyclopaedia
- other…

BLUETOOTH
* What Bluetooth devices have you connected your Netbook to/with?

EMAIL
* Who have you emailed using your Netbook? Students @ Wadalba, Relatives/Parents, Teachers, Friends outside WCS, other?
* Who has emailed you? Students @ Wadalba, Relatives/Parents, Teachers, Friends outside WCS, other?

FUTURE FOCUSED NETBOOK SKILLS
* What software on your Netbook would you like to learn before the end of 2009?
* What hardware on your Netbook would you like to learn before the end of 2009?

PARENTS
* Have you demonstrated to your parents/caregivers your Netbook?
* What questions did your parents/caregivers have of the Netbook and Netbook programme at WCS?

MORE
* SEE if YOU can come up with BETTER QUESTIONS???

Creating folders within Favorites -> Internet Explorer (IE Browser) to store Internet addresses.
Start Now! You will NEED to save your favorite (bookmarks) 100’s + over the next few years.
It is MUCH easier to save them into ‘category folders’ that you have created in IE.

Internet Explorer (IE) -> Add to Favorites -> Organise Favorites -> [New Folder]

* Make some of the following now, you can move, delete etc. later when you refine your organisation.
* School Certificate
* Folders for each of your 2010 Subjects
* personal folder for your interests, sports, hobbies, entertainment…?
etc.

To make the MOST of your Netbook you MUST fully charge the Netbook before school.

The Netbook has a ‘SMART’ battery which:
* only allows charging when it is needed eg. under a percentage of full
* does NOT care if you leave your Netbook plugged in all the time while @ home

Leaving WiFi (Wireless) and Blue tooth networking ON will use power and shorten the charge in your battery.
* Turn OFF WiFi when not connecting to a Wireless network
* Turn OFF Blue tooth- most of the time

Develop a ‘habit’ of plugging in your Netbook when you get home OR before you go to sleep to ensure your Netbook is ready for work/school the next day.

** There is no need to shutdown your Netbook at the end of every period. Simply close the lid which will put the Netbook to sleep and CONSERVE power.

Most students have indicated that their Netbook will last up to two days of constant use!

How does your Netbook go?

We’re looking forward to working with Year 9 SRC reps tomorrow to find our their views on DER and to share some thoughts with them.

We’ll be posting some of the input on the blog which has been created for the day. For a sneak peek, check out

http://hccweb3.org/eldoom

Tips & Tricks emailed to our Yr9 students.

WiFi Connection @ School
You would have noticed WiFi access points fixed to the ceilings of ’some’ rooms in; Library, H, J and D block. We have received info. that WiFi access points will be extended to every roomin our school … SOON???
WiFi access points SPILL out into adjacent spaces, including outside & inside study/work areas.
* currently access to the Internet, by DERNSW Netbooks may be limited or not available if you are not near an access point.

The ’stair’ icon @ the bottom right of your screen will tell you your current WiFi access.
**** CHECK that WiFi is TURNED ON- on the front left edge of the Netbook you MUST see 2 blue lights. The blue light on the right indicates that WiFi is ‘on’. If not press the green network button , to the right of the power button!
•hover your cursor over the ’stair’ icon fir more info.
• A red cross through the ’stairs’ means NO access.
To attempt reconnection

•double click the red cross/stair icon
•close the Netbook lid, wait, then relog in
•shutdown, then restart
*** you MUST be in range of an access point to connect
*** you DO NOT need WiFi to continue working with applcations eg. Microsoft OneNote etc.

We are always looking to you to feed back your Tips & Tricks so that they can be shared with others.