Callow Review

This blog demonstrates how a class can develop and contribute to a blog. It has posts with updates on what the class have been up to and includes pictures of the work they have been doing. It is a really useful tool for teachers to create a class blog or to see an example of how one works. There are links to other Australian school blogs, blogs from around the world and also links to websites that cover the subject content that the class is learning and blogging about. It also provides a page of links with interactive games and activities that are related to assessment areas for the students to practice on.

Here's the link

Tree Octopus Video

This video is a great example for classroom use to demonstrate to students the dangers of believing everything you read on the internet. The way that the information on the tree octopus is presented makes it appear as though it is real and students will think it is authentic. It would be a great way to introduce a lesson on critical literacy and to teach students the importance of verifying whether the information that they have found on the internet has come from a reliable source.

New Literacies Definition

New literacies encompass the new digital technologies that are now available and the change in mindset towards a culture that values the sharing of information for the benefit of all involved (Callow, 2008). Some of these include blogs, wikis and social networking sites that operate within different values and rules than the literal  world which are more flexible and based on collaboration (Knobel & Lankshear, 2006).