Kony 2012

I wanted to share a video with you that Jenny sent an email out about yesterday. While it's quite long - 29 minutes - it's definitely worth watching and sharing with your friends and family.

The video was created by an organisation called Invisible Children, and it's about a many called Joseph Kony and the many horrific things that have happened in Uganda because of him. He is responsible for the kidnapping of over 30,000 children who have been turned into child soldiers (who are training to kill or mutilate other people - including their own parents) or sex slaves.

Invisible Children is trying to stop Kony, by having him arrested (he is number one on the ICC's list of most wanted people). To make sure this happens the people of the world need to spread the word and make Kony famous - not to celebrate what he has done but in order for the leaders of the world to take note and do something about this. Through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, the people now have a stronger voice and can make a difference. So please watch this video and get inspired and involved.

• To sign the pledge click here
• To donate click here
• To visit the store click here

Salesian Movie Night - The Fall

A last minute reminder to everyone that our social club is holding a movie night tomorrow night (Thursday 9th March) in the OLC. The movie that will be playing (as you can see above) is called 'The Fall' and is highly recommended by Peter Krausz, our school's own movie critic! Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is $5. It will be BYO snacks, however you may purchase soft drink ($2.50), beer and wine ($4.00) if you wish. Don't forget to put your name on the list, which is located on the general information board near Ward One in the staffroom. We hope to see you there!

Description taken from IMDB.com

In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances.

Searching the Library Catalogue

I know many of you have been wondering how to find out what resources we have in the Library (or the new Teacher Reference section in the Staff Room). About a year ago we switched our Library software over to a program called vLibrary. One of the great things about vLibrary is that it's accessible via the internet which means you can access it from your laptop or from your iPad! One easy way to access it is from the nifty link I've placed in the toolbar of this blog which you should be able to see on the right hand side of your screen.

Or! Another way to access it is via the programs menu that automatically opens whenever you log into your computer. On the left hand side you can click to open the Library folder and there you should be able to find v-Library.

Once v-Library is open you are free to search for whatever you need. As you can see below you can choose to search in a variety of ways, be it by title, keyword, author, media etc. For example if you're interested in searching for all the DVDs we have on Volcanoes you would type Volcanoes into the Keyword box and then in the Media drop down menu select DVD.

Beneath the main search area you are able to select where you would like to search. If you would just like to search for what we have in the Library you can leave Salesian College Library selected and click search. However you also have the ability to search through Google, Fairfax News, Britannica etc. which opens up a much larger range of search results.

If you have any questions or need for us to take you through using v-Library, you are more than welcome to come to the Library Staff for help. We are happy to answer any questions, or even run through a quick training session with you.

SpiderScribe

SpiderScribe is an online mind mapping and brainstorming tool. It lets you organize your ideas by connecting notes, files, calendar events, etc. in free-form maps. You can collaborate and share those maps online, with other teachers or your students. There is a video on the website which shows you exactly how Spiderscribe works - I've also posted it below for you to look at.

The good thing about Spiderscribe is that it's free to use, or you can choose to pay for an upgraded account.  You can see an example of a map that someone has created about Cognitivism here for you to get some ideas on how to use this great tool.

Apps recommended by a College Student

Carly, from one of my favourite blogs 'College Prep' has written up a list of her favourite iPad apps that she uses for her college classes. Instead of re-listing them here I'll direct you over to the blog entry as she explains them best. I've used one of the apps that she's recommended, Dropbox, which is fantastic - and the others she's recommended look great as well. I love the idea of XanEdu, with teachers being able to make up their own course material for the students to easily access via their iPads - there's so much you can do with it.

The Joy of Books

I'm not sure how many of you have seen this little video that's been all over the internet recently, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. It's a really cute, feel good video of what happens in a book store after it closes.

Herald Sun's Top 5 Apps

I apologise for the delay in posts recently. As you might have noticed, we've had quite a few adventures and things going on in the Library from the start of this year, plus we've been dealing with internet blocks.

 I recently noticed this list of top 5 iPad Apps in the Herald Sun and thought I’d share them with you. I’ve actually used a couple of these myself, and have found them quite good.

1. Wonky Donkey

This best-selling kid’s book now comes in an interactive version for iPad. Kids can run their fingers over the text to hear the story or how any word is said or spelt. They can also colour the pages with the paint palette mode.

Price: $5.49

App Store Rating: 5/5

This is clearly too young for most kids at Salesian, however it may be great for some of the struggling readers. It also shows how far eBooks have come along, and there are other books out there which would be more suited to older readers.

2. Houzz Interior Design Ideas

Need inspiration for a spot of home redecorating? This app has a huge database of design ideas, with more than 200,000 high-res photos. Browse photos by style, room or location and save your favs to your virtual idea book.

Price: Free

App Store Rating: 5/5

This app sounds like it would be great for any students studying art, or design.

3. Pay Assistant

If maths wasn’t your strong suit at school, this app can help stop you short changing yourself at shops and restaurants. It includes calculators to tally up savings at sales, tips and your change.

Price: $1.99

App Store Rating: 5/5

4. Please Touch the Exhibit

Celebrate Melbourne Museum’s 10^th birthday with this app. It takes you behind the glass cases of some of the treasures on display, including Phar Lap, the creatures of the Dinosaur Walk exhibit and the animals of the Wild exhibit.

Price: Free

App Store Rating: 3/5

I haven't had a chance to download this app yet, but I really want to. It sounds like it gives you a chance to see exhibits in the Melbourne Museum without actually going there and seeing all the information in relation to them. Definitely worth a look I think!

5. Melbourne Literary

Discover the literary treasures of Melbourne, the second UNESCO City of Literature. This app is a guide to book shops, literary locations and monuments, ‘hip lit’ cafes, writers and books set in the city.

Price: $2.99

App Store Rating: 5/5

This is one of the apps that I have on my iPhone (as well as the Melbourne Historical App) and I really like it. It allows you to find little gems around Melbourne which you might not have found normally, including shops, momuments, cafes etc.