Issue 109
Term 2 2019
Website and app reviews
Website and apps reviewed for school library staff
150 science experiments
www.fizzicseducation.com.au/category/150-science-experiments
One hundred and fifty categorised science experiments are available on this easy-to-navigate website. Clear, step-by-step instructions and photos are also a feature. Details are available regarding school visits by the Fizzics Education team.
SCIS no. 1907148
Australian geography
www.ga.gov.au/education/classroom-resources/australia
Geoscience Australia has provided a wealth of quality material for students and teachers about many aspects of Australian geography. Material includes fact sheets, maps, cut-out models, posters, landform dimensions, interactive quizzes, and astronomical information.
SCIS no. 1912882
Book creator
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/bookcreator-for-ipad/id442378070?mt=8
This feature-packed, easy-to-use app allows primary and secondary students to electronically publish ebooks, manuals, comics, and magazines. Teachers can access additional resources to enhance the app’s classroom use, and undertake a one-book free trial, via the associated app, Book Creator One, also available as Book Creator for Chrome.
SCIS no. 1567276
Educational publishing awards Australia
http://edpubawards.com
Each year the Australian Publishers Association organises the Education Publishing Awards to ‘reward excellence and innovation in the industry’. Categories include resources for primary; secondary; and tertiary, TAFE, and vocational. This website is a useful resource selection tool for school library staff and teachers.
SCIS no. 1909720
Farm and livestock management software
www.agriwebb.com
AgriWebb is an Australian software company that has devised a product to assist farmers with record-keeping, enhancing farm productivity, and ensuring their audit and accreditation needs are met. Teachers of agriculture can trial this software for 14 days free of charge.
SCIS no. 1907319
News and articles – ABC Education
http://education.abc.net.au/newsandarticles
Informative and thought-provoking education news and articles feature on this authoritative website. Users can search by topic or browse through a variety of categories including podcasts, reviews, trends, opinions, and a selection of subject areas.
SCIS no. 1909653
Pizza fractions 1
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pizzafractions-1/id374084320?mt=8
What a fun way to teach fractions to primary students! This free app is ranked in the top 100 education apps in the USA. Students use animated pizza shapes to master fractions in a format (pizza) they are familiar with. The app has various levels of difficulty, with score data and timing for each round a highlight.
SCIS no. 1751411
Project rockit
www.projectrockit.com.au
Educators can peruse details of Project Rockit’s student workshops and school visits, which focus on cyberbullying, trolling, sexting, inappropriate content, and online gambling. Project Rockit states that they are ‘youth cybersafety partners of Telstra, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google and YouTube’.
SCIS no. 1909658
Quick graph
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/quick-graph/id292412367?mt=8
Featuring a simple interface and several introductory examples, this scientific graphing calculator for iPhone and iPad offers both 2D and 3D capabilities. The basic version is free; optional extras are available via in-app purchase.
SCIS no. 1909666
Tasmanian archives + heritage
https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/archiveheritage/Pages/default.aspx
Part of the rich history of Tasmania is available to explore via this broad-ranging resource from Libraries Tasmania. Searchable material includes images, film, audio, family histories, newspapers, blogs, and guides to using the archives.
SCIS no. 1909680
Topic explorer
https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/topics
Emanating from the National Library of New Zealand, this site features over one hundred wide-ranging topics for primary and secondary students. Resource material has been gathered from New Zealand and international sources, and features videos, websites, images, primary sources, and articles.
SCIS no. 1909689
Wearable and voice-activated tech
www.schrockguide.net/wearables.html
Kathy Schrock has compiled a comprehensive guide for teachers who are pondering incorporating both fitness trackers and voice-activated devices into their teaching programs. Topics include using Fitbits in the gym and classroom, and the impact of voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa in schools.
SCIS no. 1909708
The websites and apps selected for review are often of a professional nature and should be initially viewed by teachers and library staff to determine suitability for students. The links, content and address of these sites are subject to change.