Discontinuation

We have moved to the suburbs so this blog is now defunct.

A small but suitably attired group of staff members celebrated Sophie's 'big' birthday (it's not 21 and ends with zero) with a morning tea last Friday. Staff not normally at work on a Friday requested a second performance on Monday and so like Dame Nellie Melba, we had a reprise of the 'food' part of the celebration - but not the 'singing'. Thanks to all the well-wishers - may there be many more birthdays with zero!

Start the Term with New technology

The Victoria Centre now has a new 'Smartboard' located on Level 3 Room 1. Shirley has baptised the 'magic' machine with her Pre-CSWE group and some new students took to the machine with confidence and interest,

whilst others found that the eye-hand co-ordination will require some practice.

Others were keen to work on their own 'smartboard' at their desk!

The Smartboard has all the programs available to make it interactive but as yet does not have an Internet connection. There is a great deal of user support available free from the suppliers who install and give on-going PD to primary and secondary schools as well as the tertiary education sector.

This classroom will now become a 'hot' room and not a home room: all teachers are encouraged to make use of the opportunity to incorporate this very helpful learning tool into the delivery of their program.

Melbourne Cup Level 6 results

First: Dorothea on "Efficient"
Second: Hem on "Purple Moon"
Third: Dorothy on "Mahler"
Last: Philip on "Tungsten Strike"

Also ran: Liz, HT and DL.

Safest Workplace in the West

We seem to be working in the safest workplace in WA! Only one hazard was spotted and this by Pat N who has received a "Worksafe" pack.

Somebody had stood a flip chart easel most precariously against the secure recycling bin in the 6th floor staffroom, thereby risking it falling over/on someone when trying to access the bin.

Please store/stack things safely against a wall. Personally my knee still suffers from tripping over that typewriter 15 years ago.

STOP PRESS

Ah yes, there was another hazard reported but it lies outside our actual workplace and can only be referred on. Lenore noticed that when evacuating last week the step to the fire escape on level One is a bit raised and could be a trip hazard. This will be passed onto the Building Management. Lenore has also received a Worksafe pack.

New Resources

Just a reminder that there are some new resources available:
It's Easy - a set of 4 Powerpoint slideshows on CD to practise vocab at Prel Cert level. Vegies, Fruit, Jobs, Places. Use them in the Lab or borrow the projector and use them in your class. Available from the library.
Sight Survival - DVD in English, French, Dinka Swahili, Arabic and Farsi explaining various sight signs. However, the dialogue is extremely fast and maybe it would be better to mute and pause if you're doing it with a Prel Cert class. Available from the library.
Spelling Fusion - new Protea software; Interactive Picture Dictionary for Cert 2 /3,500 words as opposed to 800. Available in the Lab.
Leisure Words - brought to you by the makers of Shopping Words; low level vocab development - however, a bit confusing and I'll see if I can get a map together. Available in the Lab.

Daffodil Day

Colleen would like the City staff to know that we raised $254.40 for Cancer Research as our contribution to Daffodil Day. Thanks to everyone who supported (and also a big thanks to Colleen who did the organising and just ran down to the bank in the rain!)

PD in October

PD is finalising the program for the staff development sessions on October 9th, 10th and 11th but before we do so, is there anything in particular that anyone would like to suggest having a session on?

 

Feel free to pass on ideas about any sort of training or development you would like to be doing,  but please get back to us (Philip 9229 3609 or Sue 9229 3623) by the end of next week (17th August).

 

Thanks

 

SBS looking for migrant youth

INSIGHT IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH A MIGRANT BACKGROUND AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE PART IN A FORUM ON INTER-GENERATIONAL ISSUES CONFRONTING THEM
 
* If you arrived here as a young person, how are you adjusting to your life in Australia?

* What are some of the difficulties you are experiencing with your family in relation to your identity?  

* How have you responded to pressure (if any) from your parents to maintain the family religion and culture?

* How have your parents reacted to some of the decisions you have made in relation to
education, career path, choice of partner, marriage, level of freedom etc?
 
* How have world events shaped your migrant experience?

We are looking for people from all backgrounds, but especially young people who have arrived in Australia more recently from African countries, Afghanistan, Iraq.
 
We are also looking for children of migrants who are still coming into conflict or disagreement with their parents, even after being in Australia for a generation.
 
We are also looking for parents who may be willing to participate and address some of these issues also.
 
If you are interested, or know anyone who may be interested, please email Carol ASAP
carolia@sbs.com.au 
 

The achievements of some of our students!

I am constantly amazed by what some of our students achieve and the way their lives can change.

You may recall that last year's winner of the Adult Learner's Week Award for New Migrant was Afeif. Recently I heard 2 excellent pieces of news about him. I was told that Afeif was the opening speaker at the W.A. ACE Conference recently and what an inspiration he was for the Adult Community Education sector. And today I heard he has been shortlisted for the Kit Denton Fellowship (see below) and is waiting for the outcome which will be announced in Sydney at the end of the month. We hope he's successful as he has now made some excellent networks with the W.A. literary scene and local poets like John Kinsella.

NEW $25,000 FELLOWSHIP FOR AUSTRALIAN WRITERS

One of the nation’s leading media personalities, Andrew Denton, has announced a new $25,000 fellowship named in honour of his late father.The inaugural Kit Denton Fellowship, presented by the Australian Writers’ Foundation, was launched at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington with special guest, acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Stephen Sewell.

An initiative of the Australian Writers’ Foundation (AWF), the charitable arm of the Australian Writer’s Guild (AWG), the Fellowship is to reward courage and excellence in performance writing and allow a writer to develop a project over the coming year. From the website http://www.awg.com.au/artman/publish/article_426.shtml

A subsequent piece of news I had related to one of our students who completed the Entree to Work course last term. I will let Anna Vanderbom (who taught the ESL component of the coourse) describe her meeting with Mohamed when she met him recently.

" He gave me a hug, and whenever I was about to say goodbye, he'd shake my hand again and tell me how happy he was! He didn't want to leave! He's working at the Langley Hotel part time - just round the corner! - Nicole found him work experience there! - and on request has just been given more hours. He asked me how my new class was and wanted to know if they were becoming friends yet, because once that happened, you stopped being shy and everything was easy. He said he's now making friends at work and there's lots of people helping him.He's aiming to build up to full time there."

"He showed me pictures of his wife and children. He just kept on saying how happy he was and how the Entree course had helped turn his life around. Basically, he didn't stop being radiant and beaming as only Mohamed knows how!I think he's a real star of the Entree course - do we still need the picture of a person successfully finding work? He's so photogenic!"

I think that these encounters really do tell us that what we do can have an impetus to people's lives changing and moving on to give them serenity and a sense of purpose and belonging.

If you have any more stories - it would be good to share them on this blog.

Sophie Burrows

A girl for PJ

PJ has a daughter, Amelia Jane, who was born at 1817 yesterday in Attadale. (3.2kg)

Pics to follow.

To lecturers teaching the Citizenship course

Some of the lecturers in the Vic were unaware of the fact that we now have support material for lower level Citizenship courses in the form of a

 

• CD-ROM (which has been installed in the Vic Lab)
• DVD which replaces the older video.

 

If you don't know about these materials, have a look in the Library.

 

 

New WA Human Rights Act

At a meeting I attended last week, participants were asked to comment on the proposed WA Human Rights Act.

 

If you wish to have your say and be involved, please go to www.humanrights.wa.gov.au and click on submissions.

Fwd: Great E-Learning Workshops

Just received an email about some workshops on e-teaching - if you're interested pls let Philip know before you register.

Professional Development Workshops

2007

E-Learning Workshops

The Department of Education and Training is committed to supporting Professional Development for practitioners involved in the delivery of Vocational Education and Training (VET) across the sectors in WA.

This program of training and learning opportunities is one of a number of strategies, supported by the Department, that will assist in maintaining a base of highly skilled VET practitioners.

Podcasting : Basic

Podcasting is a much talked about innovative practice and many VET practitioners are starting to see the practical applications for teaching, learning and assessment. These hands on workshops will enable participants to find out what the hype is about and give it a go themselves.

Date: Wednesday, 1 August 2007 Time: 8.30am - 12.15pm (registration 8.15am)

Location: WestOne Services, 1 Prospect Place, West Perth

Facilitator: TBA

Mobile Technologies : Basic

Mobile technologies are now part of everyday - from mobile phones to advanced pocket organisers. These workshops will look at the current and future trends of mobile technologies and how they are being applied in the VET sector. This is a hands-on workshop and practitioners will be able to have a go at using the devices to support their VET practice.

Date: Wednesday, 1 August 2007 Time: 12.45pm – 4.30pm (registration 12.30pm)

Location: WestOne Services, 1 Prospect Place, West Perth

Facilitator: TBA

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling now plays a strong role in the VET sector. This hands-on workshop will explore how others in the VET sector are using digital stories as well as providing practitioners with a supportive environment so that they can build their own digital story.

Date: Wednesday, 5 September 2007 Time: 8.30am - 12.15pm (registration 8.15am)

Location: WestOne Services, 1 Prospect Place, West Perth

Facilitator: TBA

CMS, LMS or Web 2.0 the way to Go : Basic

What is LMS, CMS and Web2.0 and how can these support organisational teaching. Learning and assessment needs? This hands on workshop explores all three and looks at their pros and cons.

Date: Wednesday, 5 September 2007 Time: 12.45pm – 4.30pm (registration 12.30pm)

Location: WestOne Services, 1 Prospect Place, West Perth

Facilitator: Sandra Robinson

Adopting E-Learning in Small RTOs

This workshop focuses on the preliminary steps towards adopting 'best fit' infrastructure to support the RTOs teaching, learning and assessment requirements.

Date: Friday, 14 September 2007 Time: 8.30am - 12.15pm (registration 8.15am)

Location: SIDE Learning Technology Centre, 164-194 Oxford Street, Leederville

Facilitator: TBA

Using Web Conferencing in the Workplace

Web conferencing is increasingly being used as a standard e-business practice. This workshop will enable practitioners to explore the basic principles and more importantly to focus on the methodologies of using these effectively.

Date: Friday, 14 September 2007 Time: 12.45pm – 4.30pm (registration 12.30pm)

Location: SIDE Learning Technology Centre, 164-194 Oxford Street, Leederville

Facilitator: TBA

How to Register for the Workshops

To register:	Register online by following the prompts at: https://corpsystraining.wa.gov.au/VetRegOnline/EventCalendar.aspx?Reset=Y For assistance, contact Michelle Robinson on 08 9264 4681 or email michelle.robinson2@det.wa.edu.au
Cost:	$55.00 (incl. GST) for a half day workshop $99.00 (incl. GST) for a full day workshop This professional development opportunity is heavily subsidised by the Department of Education and Training.
Your input:	Let us know what you want from these workshops and if you have any special needs when you register.
Enquiries:	Phone: 08 9264 4681 Fax: 08 9264 4688
Close of registrations: Registrations close 5 working days prior to the date of the workshop
Statements of attendance will be issued to participants after the event.

Present of the Year

Do you remember the stags? (now ignored and neglected in Sophie's office)

Do you remember Philip's flashing Jesus clock? (taken off the wall as too blasphemous)

Do you remember Shirley's tissue box cover? (still there and often used as a hat)

What about Lindy's butterfly clock? (taken back to the shop and left on the counter)

Well, move over, after just one term Ann-Marie has received the definitive class present -the fertility gnome (the Afghani (!) student who gave it to her said it was "for the bedroom") ...

Photos of Refugee Day Concert

Stills of the concert will be found in Z:/Student Access/Refugee Day and are accessible to all students.

If students want copies of the pictures it is up to the teacher to organise (or not).

The cut down video is now in the same location. You can show it on the screen together in the lab or get the students to view it individually; it's just under 2o mins long and rather a rush job and if anything needs editing out please tell me.

Re: Addressing the Selection Criteria Workshop

Philip has advised me that the Workshop Time has been adjusted to
accomodate the finishing times of various classes.

The workshop will now be held:
TIME: 4.30 - 6.30pm
DATE: Tuesday19th June 2007
VENUE: Conference Room Level 6

Please advise anyone who does not have access to email and may be
considering attendning.

Thanks
Sophie

Addressing the Selection Criteria Workshop

To assist those lecturers who are applying for the Lecturers' Pool, there will be a 2 hour-workshop on addressing the selection criteria conducted by Lee Lenyk. This will be held on

Tuesday 19th June in the Level 6 Conference Room, Level 6 , 16 Victoria Avenue, Perth

from 4pm to 6pm.

 

In the meantime, you are advised to downlaod the appication form from the college website (http://www.westcoasttafe.wa.edu.au )and job details (http://www.jobs.wa.gov.au/ - enter West Coast TAFE) and prepare the application.

 

Ingrid has a few books on this theme in the Staff Library which have been put on closed reserve.

WATESOL workshops - June 23rd

If anybody is interested in attending the workshops below, please let Philip know.

We have 2 members' "tickets" so first in, first served.
Permanent lecturers may claim the Workshops as Accrued PD time (at PM's discretion).

WATESOL are pleased to present a day of workshops focusing on using
storytelling to improve ESL students' literacy and fluency. Numbers are limited, so please
get your registration in early.

STORIES IN THE CLASSROOM
Saturday 23 June
Central TAFE room N325, on the 3rd floor, North Wing
Aberdeen Street, Northbridge

Morning Session: 9.00-12.00
Andy Wright International Story-Teller

$5 for Members + $10 for optional lunch
$15 for non-members + $10 for optional lunch
My Stories, Your Stories, Our Stories: Story-Telling in Language and
Literacy.

Story-Telling is an important way of breaking down cultural and
language barriers, and building bridges to shared learning. It is
widely appreciated as an essential method for gaining information and
insight into the experiences of migrants of non-English speaking
backgrounds.

This workshop will examine the five languages of story-telling and
how these languages can lead to a greater understanding of the
teaching of written and spoken English.
The workshop will promote a holistic view of language learning
including tips to make learning playful and integrated. As well as
some basic tips to stimulate our own story-telling and the
story-telling of our students.

Andy Wright has been telling stories around the world over the last
two decades. He performs in theatres, schools, churches,
kindergartens, libraries and to numerous conferences, and festivals,
giving in excess of 4000 performances a year.
www.storyteller.net.au


Afternoon Session: 1.00-2.30
Celeste Blundell Camden Readers Theatre workshop
(Please note, this session is limited to the first 20 applicants.)
Readers Theatre is a fun and interactive reading and performing
process that gives students opportunities to improve literacy,
pronunciation and fluency as well as gain confidence using English.
Learn how Readers Theatre can be used in ESL classrooms by trying it
yourself. Celeste will take participants though different stages of
using scripts with students and give information about how any story
can be adapted for Readers Theatre.

Learnscope 2007 - ITube, YouTube

Learnscope started last Friday in Albany at Great Southern TAFE and instead of the expected 2 AMES lecturers, 6 turned up. (non-AMES). Now, I was thinking that many new teachers were not here when I sent out the info on the project and although I was trying to keep numbers manageable, there is no reason why anybody who is interested should not come along (with observer status).

The introductory session is this Friday from 4 - 8ish ( light refreshments willbe served) in LAb 2 in the Victoria when we will be going through some of the communication software we will be using and decide when to hold the fortnightly sessions.

For further details on what we are going to do in the project please see this project blog entry

You can find other information in the blog(amesls.blogspot.com) , but as it is in reverse chronological order, zoom down to the first entry first.

Please let me know if you intend coming along.