VOTE NOW – Doodle 4 Google – My Australia

Just about everyone uses Google. If you are reading this there is about a 99.9999% chance you’ve heard of Google. Google’s search Engine ‘doodles’ are well-known. Christmas, Halloween, July 4 and other notable days always have a new ‘doodle’. Next year’s Australia Day logo will be designed by an Australian Student.

Doodle 4 Google is a great competition that gives all Australian students from years 1 -10 the opportunity of designing a logo for Google. Students have to write a short supporting statement that explains their doodle.

The Lesson Resources provided by Google are very helpful. They include sample doodles and lesson plans for teachers.

Although the date for submitting entires has passed, people can now vote for the doodles they like.

Have a look at the entries and VOTE NOW. Voting closes midnight Friday 9 November. I am sure you will be delighted with the quality of student work.

The winning doodle will appear on Google for 24 hours on Australia Day, January 26, 2008.

The competition is divided into four groups:

• Years 1 – 3
• Years 4 – 6
• Years 7 – 8
• Years 9 – 10

The National winner will receive $10,000 worth of technology equipment for their school, an interactive touch screen whiteboard as well as a 15-inch: 2.4 GHz Macbook Pro for themselves.

The other 3 group winners will receive an interactive touch screen white board for their school.

There are other prizes too.

More than 10,000 Australian students submitted entries.  Did your children have the opportunity?

Keep your eyes open for competitions that give such wide-ranging benefits. Tell teachers about them.

Statistics for Students

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), as the name suggests, is the primary source of statistical information about Australia.The ABS now produce a range of useful information for schools. I wonder how many schools know about this service.

The ABS has promoted the service by contacting all Australian schools advising about the CensusAtSchool program. The program is only one of the many resources for schools and students. Students will learn about Australia, the world AND also improve their data input and analytical skills. We all know students need to acquire these skills. The benefits are multiple and significant.

Ask the staff at the school your children attend about the CensusAtSchool program.

But there’s more. Have a look at 1330.0 – Education News, Oct 2007 for information about what the ABS has to offer schools.

There’s an International Statistical Literacy Competition for students aged 10 to 18 from any country.

Parents have all heard about problems with standards of literacy and numeracy in Australia. Using the tools available from the ABS is one way of increasing student engagement with numeracy and literacy. Does the school your children attend use these tools? Ask at your school now. Talk to other parents too. Spread the word about these great tools and resources.

The wussification of children

I stumbled across this article and agree with the sentiments it expresses.Do you pamper and over-protect your children?

Warning: Fun ahead / Safety first, yes, but today’s overprotected kids need to live a little

This story has more information. I am sure most parents can relate to the differences in the activities they engaged in as children compared with those they allow their children.

The Poop

Homework Tips

Homework can sometimes be a real drag for our children.

But homework plays an important role in developing an array of useful skills.

This article has some helpful hints about how we can help our children.

Hot Homework Tips for Parents

Ubuntu – next version coming soon

For those of you who know a little about computers and have given up on Windows – Ubuntu 7.10 is coming soon.

Navigate from the following page to check out the features included in and with Ubuntu. Oh, it’s free too.
Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

There is also an Education version for servers and clients. They are free too.

Trouble is, most schools lack experienced IT people and are therefore unable to adequately implement the software. As a result, schools are missing out on significant savings – at a time when budgets are under considerable pressure.
Edubuntu Home Page | edubuntu