KITS NEWSLETTER --                                                Volume 1 Number 1

July 1999

Welcome to the very first issue of the Kristin (Junior) Information Technology Suite (KITS for short) Newsletter.

This newsletter has been put together with the aim of informing you of hot tips, topics and talk in the area of computers in the classroom. I’ll also be keeping you informed of what we are doing in the lab.

There is a lot happening at the moment in classrooms and institutions around NZ and elsewhere.

You can click on the blue links to be taken directly to the Internet address where these events occur. Some blue links may be email addresses which you may wish to respond to.

TELECOM
Telecom – you will find a whole lot of information on on-line or collaborative investigations at this site http://www.tef.telecom.co.nz Topics for 1999/2000 include "Year 2000" "Sail of the Century" (Americas Cup) and "Race Fever" (Americas Cup) For further info see me as I have the teacher’s pack and activities to go with this. Next term it is possible that the year 6 students may attempt our very first on-line unit of work which would involve audio-conferences with other schools and even celebrities.

TEACHING ON LINE
This is a really great place to find information on many teaching topics. This web site is hosted by the people who put out the NZ Magazine "Starters and Strategies". I get a lot of my information from this place.
http://www.teachingonline.org

APEC
Want your children to find out a bit about this or do a mini reseach project? This could be for you.
http://www.apec.govt.nz. Apparently there are lots of student activities to download, photocopy and distribute

MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries)
You can find out a lot about our local resources and how we keep them safe by going here.
http://www.maf.govt.nz

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP TO FIORDILAND
This costs $35.00. You can "visit" fiordiland by computer. You class can take part in a journey with others via the Internet. This is a complete "package" of work. It could be rewarding.
http://www.learns.org.nz/99

CONSERVATION WEEK – August 2-8
There is a web site set up to give information about this. Go to this site and type in "Conservation Week" in the "search" box.
http://www.doc.govt.nz

AUCKLAND ZOO McDONALD"S RAINFOREST EXHIBITION
If you can’t visit this exibit at the zoo then you can view it here by taking a "virtual tour" using the Internet. Most pages can be printed out as resource sheets and include updated environmental news, fun activities and on-line competitions.
http://www.zoorainforest.co.nz

LIFE EDUCATION WEB SITE
This site may hold some resources we can print off. Haven’t viewed this one yet.
http://www.lifeeducation.org.nz

MY FAVOURITE SITE OF THE WEEK!!!
http://www.crayola.com
Can’t tell you about it – you’ll have to try it yourself – or better – get your students to.
OK then a bit of a hint – try the colouring book or the preschool section if younger! This is fun. Watch out – they’ll want to print these. I’ve got a trick they can use to colour them on the computer to save paper. Let me know if you like it.

Feel free to mail this to anyone who you think may find it useful.
Please let me know if you found it a help
Any suggestions or comments are more than welcome.

Patrick   mail me at:  [email protected]