Shakeout Newsletter 1

Tēnā koutou, Andrew here,

Welcome to Shakeout. Join me and the ambassadors in Christchurch for the lead up to the ShakeOut Day of Action.

Things to do from this newsletter:

view the LEARNZ Shakeout web site
email andrew.penny@core-ed.org with your content requests for this year's Shakeout field trip
book an audioconference by emailing andrew.penny@core-ed.org
take part in the LEARNZ group on the VLN - Shakeout discussion thread
prepare your students for their field trip
Sign up your ambassador
check out the Resources section with useful links

1. Key dates

Friday 2 October - Last day for audioconference bookings with Andrew - andrew.penny@core-ed.org
Friday 9 October - Deadline for Ambassadors (and $35 payment) to arrive at Andrew's home office
Thursday 8 October - Audioconference questions due with Andrew - andrew.penny@core-ed.org
Tuesday 13 October - The Shakeout Virtual Field Trip gets under way!

2. Enrol your class

The Shakeout field trip takes place from 13-15 October based in Christchurch. Please enrol all the classes you are taking on this field trip; this enables us to report accurately to our supporters, continue to offer LEARNZ free of charge and it helps us to directly support you and your students. Enrol using your MyLEARNZ control panel.

3. Your suggestions

Do you have suggestions for the Shakeout field trip website? Maybe you would like a video made on a specific topic, or career for your students.
Email andrew.penny@core-ed.org if you have a request for content such as background pages, field trip videos, diaries or photos.

4. Audioconferences

Make the most of this opportunity to personalise the field trip for your students by taking part in a live audioconference using the MoE audiobridge at no cost.
Each day, there will be one formal 20-minute audioconference. Your students will be able to put questions to experts live on location in Christchurch.
Details about connecting to audioconferences are in your MyLEARNZ control panel.
Taking part in audioconferences is a great activity for your class.
All you need for an audioconference is a speaker phone.
Check the audioconference topics on the timetable and book your audioconference now by emailing andrew.penny@core-ed.org
New: Running alongside the formal, structured live audioconference is the associated visual support like photos and summaries of answers in the LEARNZ Adobe Connect room. This room will run for an extra 20 minutes after the audioconference to enable you and your students to spontaneously ask extra questions and have them answered, live. The platform is easy to use and is the same as for the LEARNZ PD sessions.

5. Join the Virtual Learning Network - VLN

Join the LEARNZ group on the VLN to share your ideas and gain inspiration from other teachers using the Shakeout field trip.

6. Ambassadors

Schools are invited to send an ambassador on this field trip.
Sign up your ambassador through your MyLEARNZ control panel.
Your ambassador must arrive no later than Friday 9 October, addressed to me at;
238A Kerikeri Inlet Road, Kerikeri, 0230.

7. Encouraging Parental Involvement: Home-School partnerships

Teachers, you can communicate with parents about supporting your students' learning during this field trip. Find out how and get the text for a letter or email home.

8. Contacts

If you have questions regarding the field trip please email me andrew.penny@core-ed.org.

9. For Teachers new to LEARNZ:

There is no prescribed way of using a LEARNZ virtual field trip.
Curriculum links are available for you to check and see how the field trip relates to your class programme.
Use your teacher access login (username and password) if you use the site for planning purposes.
Give the class login (username and password you set up for them in MyLEARNZ) to your students to use.
For help with login procedures for the audioconference section, see login explained.
There is a planning sequence in the Resources section under the heading Contributions. This short term lesson sequence makes use of all field trip components for a 3-day virtual field trip.
The Prepare students section of the Shakeout site ensures your students are ready when the field trip gets under way.
The background readings give an overall idea of the topic and can be used to generate further inquiry. The activities consolidate new learning and encourage deeper thinking.
During the field trip your class can follow the action in my daily diary, watch the videos, and ask questions or listen during live audioconferences with our experts. Combined with the background readings, the activities and Ask-an-Expert, these components are powerful mediums for inquiry learning.

Ka kite anō and I will catch up with you all again soon.

Andrew
LEARNZ Field Trip Teacher