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Promoting literature to students

By Bob Docherty

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

I have always believed that one of the best qualities of human beings is their ability to take an emotion, an experience, a fantasy, or a fact and write it in a way that only real experience can surpass. Taking good literature to students in schools is not only essential but also the best way to ge

From the desk of a cataloguer

By Julie Styles

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

can send resources into one of our agencies around Australia or New Zealand to be catalogued. We aim for a 14 day turnaround for these cataloguing requests. If you live a long way from the nearest metropolitan agency, we provide an online cataloguing request form. When you can’t find a resource on

SCIS is more

By Dr Ben Chadwick

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

Professional learning In May SCIS spent a delightful week with some of our Queensland subscribers. Many thanks to: Albany Creek High School, the O'Shea Centre, and Assisi Catholic College for hosting our professional learning workshops. If you missed out and would like to attend another Queenslan

Supporting Australian book creators

By Laura Armstrong

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

u've got to make some money! You like to eat, don't you?', the arrival of an ELR payment gives me the opportunity to slow down a little, and focus on quality, not quantity. Without ELR, I'm not sure I would be able to devote myself full-time to my creative work. Not only is it a valued financial boo

Website and app reviews

By Nigel Paull

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

d winning app allows students to engage in virtual experiments. Like the chemistry sets of old, students can undertake experiments involving gases, liquids, and solids. However, unlike the chemistry sets of old, this app offers students a safe and clean alternative by using their iPads rather than a

Scootle Community

By Daniel Hughes

Issue 94, Term 3 2015

ou can just dive right in; the site is intuitive and you can begin exploring your options. However, it is important to get your profile sorted pretty quickly. There are over 400 networks on Scootle Community so you are likely to find several that you are interested in. You can browse them on the 'N

Taking note of nonfiction

By Peter Macinnis

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

re some of his insights about how to determine what makes a good information book. What makes notable nonfiction? I was asked to deal with three questions: What do judges look for in awards? What should library staff consider when selecting non-fiction? How can library staff and readers

Learning online: MOOCs for library staff

By Martin Gray

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

With teachers being required to take on regular professional development, but often being both time and funding poor, many educators are turning to the phenomenon of the Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC. A MOOC is a form of distance education which can be studied at a student's own pace and i

BlackWords: celebrating writers and storytellers

By Dr Anita Heiss

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

Looking for some assistance in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in your curriculum? Then spend some time exploring BlackWords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writers and Storytellers, created by the research community of AustLit: The Australian Literatu

Following @IndigenousX

By Michael Jongen

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

is the voice. Its significance was recognised by The Guardian Australian edition which runs a weekly feature in its ‘Comment is free’ section: Five questions to @IndigenousX . @IndigenousX features diverse and thought-provoking hosts who provide perspectives from remote, rural, urban, and metropo

Bring the teachers in: enticing teachers into the library

By Brett Moodie

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

taff are flying. Here is a breakdown of our method: 1. The library as a place for staff professional development In 2013 the Deputy Principal requested to use the library as the venue for staff professional development sessions that take place before school every second Friday. Despite student

Supporting Australian book creators

By Laura Armstrong

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

llow instructions to provide a data file report or a backup file from their school library management system. Previous participants report it to be a quick and painless process. Australian book creators value ELR Many Australian book creators have told us how much they appreciate the support of

SCIS is more

By Pru Mitchell

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

ype. To understand more about the changes and the difference between transitional SCIS standards and RDA, check our blog post . If you have further questions about RDA contact SCIS or your library system provider. Cataloguing item-in-hand or with one hand tied Play 'guess the subject heading'

New and revised subject headings

By Soula Kipos

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

ibson and Bruce Sterling, published in 1990. Since then, the genre has seen a large number of works published, such as Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines quartet and Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic series, and has influenced a variety of other works, such as Disney's Treasure Planet

Website and app reviews

By Nigel Paull

Issue 90, Term 3 2014

learning areas of maths, English, art, and PE. Material includes: documents, videos, rubrics, ICT material, and country information regarding the 16 qualifying teams. SCIS no. 1664454 Healthy Active - a healthy and active Australia www.healthyactive.gov.au Emanating from Australia's Departm

To inspire or to instruct

By Ta'afuli Andrew Fiu

Issue 91, Term 4 2014

centres were full with educators coming from miles around–some travelling overnight from smaller townships–seeking new ideas and positive answers to questions from the classroom. It was humbling for me to witness the universal passion attendees came with. They all knew one thing: that change is nee

SCIS is more

By Dr Ben Chadwick

Issue 91, Term 4 2014

ts of authorities. As always, check with your system vendor. I hope you enjoy this issue of Connections. Please get in touch with us if you have any queries or comments about articles or issues raised. I look forward to communicating with as many of you as possible over coming months.

Taking the guesswork out of genre

By Brendan Eichholzer

Issue 91, Term 4 2014

y are also a playground for young minds. Students who discover the joys of reading for pleasure are well positioned for enhanced literacy, language acquisition, cultural understanding, and social skills (Clark and Rumbold, 2006). The school library is a vital part of this discovery process. The avai

Graphic novels: providing a different perspective

By Karen Gray

Issue 91, Term 4 2014

imodal texts that tap into the way students already learn. The Australian Curriculum: English has a strong focus on visual literacy. Students are required to read and view a wide range of texts as a key outcome. Becoming visually literate means students read and interpret the purpose and intended

Historical fiction in the classroom: reflecting on Our Australian Girl and Do You Dare?

By Jane Goodwin

Issue 91, Term 4 2014

ing, history, English, literacy, SOSE, geography, and even in subjects like philosophy as they can be used as a springboard for self-reflection and enquiry into one's own personal history. Both series also link to the curriculum's overarching general capabilities as they explore values of kindness,