ActivInspire is free software for both MAC and PC that allows you to interact with the commbox.
The paid version has extra features however you can interact in a similar way to Chalkbox with this software.
TWIG Science, Maths and HASS resource
This is a great resource for Science, Maths and HASS
https://www.twig-world.com
It has loads of short videos to grab the students attention, which is subject specific and resources to match with experiments and activities. It can also provide curriculum links to the Australian curriculum.
You can obtain a 30 day free trial and videos are easily downloaded using flash video downloader.
I hope you find this useful!
Interactive Pictures
Thing Link
Is a great website that allows you to create interactive pictures for your students. Below is an image of what it can look like however here is the link if you want to see it live
LIVE LINK
To get started:
- Go to the website and create a free account.
- Click CREATE and upload an image
- Click on the image and type your text.
- Save the image and you will be provided with a link to give to your students.
You can use the COMMBOX and allow the students to interact with the image.
The link can also be added to SEQTA to allow students to interact with the image on their ipad
Booking classrooms on SEQTA
SEQTA allows you to see if a room is available and book a classroom.
To do this go to your timetable and select calendar view
Click the time slot you want to book and add an appointment or a class.
From here you can alter the times and add a class of students.
NOTE: You cannot click where you currently have timetabled class however you can alter the times when you are editing. Therefore allowing you to book your timetabled class into a different room
SEQTA Creator – online lessons
Online lessons allow students and parents to access information at anytime quickly and easily.
Below is a link to a 25 minute video that goes through how to use SEQTA creator.
SEQTA creator video
Under the online lesson tab, click on a lesson and add modules onto your canvas
Benefits of Flipped Learning for students
- When students gather information at home by watching a introduction video or conduct prior reading, they can apply the new knowledge in the classroom, and ultimately are less frustration with their homework.
- When they don’t understand a new concept, they can ask questions and get immediate targeted answers.
- The time spent in the classroom becomes not enough for all the conversations and collaboration that inevitably spur from exploring subjects in a deeper manner.
- Last but not least, students who are absent due to illness, too long a commute, or any other reason, can catch up with their peers faster and easier with the flipped classroom model than with the standard one.
Leave comments for Students or yourself in marksbook on SEQTA
SEQTA allows you to leave comments on students work. They will see this comment with their grade when you submit their marks. You may also make private annotations that are hidden from the students.
Go to your marksbook and click on the speech bubble next to the students name on the assessment that you are marking.
Students can submit work on SEQTA e-submission
When you set up an assessment in marksbook tick the “Allow file upload (e-submission)” and students can submit their work straight to your marksbook.
Students need to save a copy of their work first, they can do this by saving to icloud drive, dropbox or by taking a photo or a screenshot of their work. If they have “icloud drive” enabled this is the easiest way however photos work just as well.
Students then go to the assessment tab in SEQTA and click on the appropriate subject. They can see all of their assessments and their due date. If the due date has passed the students cannot see the assessment.
Students then click on the blue arrow button 
on the appropriate assessement that will prompt them to add a file from SEQTA or their device. They click their device and it will then prompt them to add a file from the icloud drive, photo library or dropbox.
The file is quickly uploaded and you can see who has handed in their work.
TROUBLESHOOT If students are having trouble accessing SEQTA or WIFI they can airdrop their work to you and you can submit on their behalf. Go to your marksbook click on the name under the assessment that is being submitted and click the add file button. Remember to SAVE before you leave the page.
If you would like help on setting up your marksbook for e-submission please book an appointment with me 🙂
Calibration for new MAC’s
Unfortunately if you have a new Notebook for teachers that is a MAC computer needs to be calibrated with some new settings.
Please book an appointment with me so I can set up some new software on your MAC and re-calibrate your settings.
Interactive Whiteboard COMMBOX
The interactive COMMBOX is available for both PC and MAC users.
Click here INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD or type to following address into your browser https://whiteboard.commbox.com.au
This whiteboard not only allows the teacher to display information to the class but allows students to collaborate. Using the collaboration button
Teachers can share the board with their students using the collaboration button, click share this board and then give the students the generated web address.
If you are interested in trialling an advanced whiteboard COMMBOX is offering a 30 day FREE trial. Read more about the premium whiteboard by clicking here PREMIUM WHITEBOARD
FLIPPED LEARNING
SEQTA ENABLES FLIPPED LEARNING BY ONLINE LESSONS – a student centred approach
The traditional classroom is all about the teacher and the teacher’s needs. All the tools are the teacher’s to use, for the best delivery of instruction. The students are merely passive receivers of information.
However we all know students are anything but passive. Their natural curiosity makes them actively seek new knowledge, and when they’re passionate about a subject they try to learn all there is to be learned about it.
A student-centered approach to teaching shifts the focus from the teacher’s needs to the student’s. And this is what the flipped classroom model supports:
- When students gather information at home by watching a introduction video or conduct prior reading, they can apply the new knowledge in the classroom, and ultimately are less frustration with their homework.
- When they don’t understand a new concept, they can ask questions and get immediate targeted answers.
- The time spent in the classroom becomes not enough for all the conversations and collaboration that inevitably spur from exploring subjects in a deeper manner.
- Last but not least, students who are absent due to illness, too long a commute, or any other reason, can catch up with their peers faster and easier with the flipped classroom model than with the standard one.
Information is free and available at the fingertips of whoever cares to search for it, teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge for students. But don’t get me wrong; they aren’t obsolete either. In fact, they are more important than ever.
A flipped classroom is more demanding than the traditional one. Teachers need to identify the individual learning needs of students, making sure they all use the class time engaged with the learning process. And this can be harder than the traditional teaching model. At the same time, it comes with a set of rewards:
- When students come prepared to class, there’s little to no need for teachers to address content related questions. Instead, they can support students in better understanding the concepts through practical application.
- Once a lesson is completed online, it can be reused as many times as the teacher wants, until the content becomes outdated. But H2O will always be the symbol of water, the same as Alaska will always be the biggest US state in terms of area.
- The flipped classroom gives more freedom to teachers to decide upon how much time to spend with each student. Struggling students, great performers, introverted kids, and extroverted ones can get the attention each of them needs.
- Last but not least, it offers more transparency for parents, who will know exactly what their kids are preparing for at school. This can also improve the communication between parents and teachers.
The flipped classroom inspires teachers to offer a versatile and engaging way to share learning content, while putting more control into students’ hands regarding their own learning processes.
Reference: Mihia, L. 2016, elearningindustry
Integrating technology into the classroom 