Links2Learning Workshop

Here are all the links the Link2Learning crew need for their workshop with me today.
(Sydney Institute, 29th June 2005)
AND THEY ALL WORK NOW!

Toolboxes
www.aris.com.au/cyberc Check out the Cybercentre toolbox. This has lots of numeracy and literacy activities including maths space invders!
www.deadlymob.org - this is a cool website. But I got confused! The ACTUAL toolbox is at Deadly JAM. Sorry guys. Both are great resources.
Where's the Party Check this one out for activities on health stuff for young folks.

Got a toolbox? checkout The Toolbox Champions site. Here you can find out more about Toolboxes and how to use them. The Toolbox champion can give you assistance in implementing your Toolbox purchase.

Want to buy a Toolbox? This site will tell you how.


Free Tools
Gimp: Like photoshop, but a bit techy to install. You may need assistance!
Open Office : Just like Microsoft Office - yep, it will talk to your Office files and other people's office files. Being used by the National Archive of Australia, US Defence Dept, Scotland Yard...it must be OK!
Flickr: free photo hosting and sharing. Has a blogging function - join up and you can blog any image from Flickr.
Skype: free voice online (make phone calls - cheap!)

Not so free:
elluminate: conferencing/video software. like the one demonstrated by Steph in our workshop.

Great Websites for Learning
Google Images: go to Google and click images: find lots of pictures (watch the copyright!)
TAFE studylinks : TAFE site with links to good learning sites for any topic
ABC: great site with lots of games and learning materials
Vibewire: a great site for young folks who are interested in self-expression
BBC: lots of learning materials. Use the menu on the left to find education/learning sections
Wikipedia: encyclopedia built by people; select English, but if you need other languages, there are several available!
Reachout: a site for young people with emotion/mental difficulties to read other people's stoies and communicate with others


Sites with some integrity: if you want to direct their web browsing to 'better' kinds of sites
v8 Supercars: for the car heads, has a kids section (right hand side of menu)
NRL: for footy heads
Skate Locate: how to find skate parks, as well as a bit of a sk8 community
Australian Music Online: for those that like going to gigs and stuff
Triple J: trendy radio station with excellent site: games, news, audio
*if you need more, find sites that apply to YOUR kids*


Quick search tips:
http://www.google.com/
– use several words that are specific to your search, eg: hammond c3 australia (to find other hammond organ enthusiasts/stores), community organisation web site hosting nsw (to find free web hosts), xbox fans australia (to find a community of gamers in australia), how to change a tyre australia (to find instructions on changing a tyre)

– localise your serach to get rid of irrelevant stuff (type in nsw or australia at the end of your search, or the town/city)

– the advanced search options give you better choices such as domain (you can select to get only .org.au sites, to avoid commercial sites), the time since the site was updated (good if looking for info on a recent event/publication, not 2 year old sites that haven't been updated), and you can copy your URL into a search box to find Similar Sites. That is, if you find a good site you can find other sites just like it.