Story Scrapbook

Tristan Bancks has created a free multimedia brainstorming app, Story Scrapbook, which allows you to bring images, videos, texts and web grabs on virtual pages to create an interactive story.  You would probably find this a useful inspirational tool for those students who find are reluctant to write stories.  As a contemporary tool it has the potential to engage and stimulate students who may otherwise lack interest in written expression.

 

You can find further information at  http://www.tristanbancks.com/p/story-scrapbook.html

 

-Tina-

vLibrary updated URL

Our Library catalogue - vLibrary - now has it's own URL which will hopefully be a lot easier for you all to remember than the old one. This is a great tool which you should all take adavantage of as it not only allows you to search for the great resources the Library has to offer, but allows you to search through databases like EbscoHost and fairfax news, but also online on websites such as Google, Wikipedia and much more!

The new URL is v-library.scr.vic.edu.au/vlibrary. I would recommend everyone adding vLibrary as an icon on your iPad's home screen. To do so all you have to do is open Safari and type in the URL above. Once the page is open select the following button and then select Add to Home Screen. Rename the button to vLibrary and select Add. And voila! a shortcut will be added to your iPad!

you are not special

I don't know if anyone's seen this video floating around the internet on different blogs but I think it's worth a watch. It's a very good, and quite funny, commencement speech for the graduates of Wellesley High school, but I think it could apply to all areas of life and for any of us. Very thought provoking and definitely worth the 12 or so minutes it takes to watch it.

Creating your own tests and quizzes online

[Image Source: My Lot]

 

For those of you who may be considering devising your own online tests or quizzes for your students, there is an online tool, ClassMarker, you can use gratis to do so.  Classmarker is an award-winning website which allows educators to create online tests and quizzes which are marked instantly.  Although it is a commercial website, educators are able to use an abbreviated free component for up to 100 tests per month and it is supported by any browser.  Features: multiple choice quiz, free text quiz or punctuation quiz.  The url is:  http://www.classmarker.com/

 

Other online build your own test websites you may like to consider include:

 

www.easytestmaker.com

 

http://quizstar.4teachers.org/

 

- Tina -