News
Apr 1, 2013
Bulli Beach
The rock platform at Bulli Point features some remarkable colours and formations. I shall allow the photographs to speak for themselves.
Apr 1, 2013
Resources for the iPad
An extensive set of links regarding iPad implementations, the experiences of teachers and students with iPads in the classroom, scholarly articles, and reviews of iPad apps.
Mar 31, 2013
Malay wedding in Singapore
Every time I play these clips the music simply entrances me. The repetitive percussion and the rise and fall of the rhythm and the crescendos that writhe around you are just mesmerising.
Mar 30, 2013
The Rolling Plum
Do you remember “Open Road” and the story of the Rolling Plum? Did you attend primary school in NSW during the 1960s? What are you memories of primary school?
Mar 29, 2013
Giving students words…
The students have started writing their responses during a writing activity. You notice that perhaps one or two students have barely written a sentence…
Mar 26, 2013
Bury the HSC
The sooner the HSC is dumped the better. It has changed little since 1976. It has spawned a plethora or rules, regulations and requirements that have ripped the very heart and soul out of education.
Mar 24, 2013
Desktop iPad Support Apps
Desktop applications that can enhance and empower your iPad experience include Disk Aid, Handbrake, Reflector and Air Server. Transfer files, convert video & display the iPad.
Mar 24, 2013
Mount Keira Ring Track
Darcy Moore and I went for a walk around Mount Keira yesterday. Mount Keira, with an elevation of about 470 metres, dominates the escarpment west of the city of Wollongong.
Mar 16, 2013
iPad and the Cloud
I have updated a number of documents relating to the iPad and accessing the Cloud. The three doucments in question provide guides for Readdle Documents, CloudOn and Google Drive.
Mar 16, 2013
Guide to iMovie on the iPad
I have updated my guide for iMovie on the iPad. iMovie on the iPad is in many ways a significantly better application than its much larger cousin on the Apple Mac.
Mar 9, 2013
Pages Guide
I gave the guide for Pages a bit of a spruce up and I have uploaded the latest version to this web site. It covers just about everything you may need to know. Pages is quite a good app and if Apple only allowed users to access DropBox for the sharing of files it would(…)
Mar 7, 2013
Singapore workshops April
EdTech workshops this April in Singapore at the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and the Institute of Adult Learning. See you there!
Mar 6, 2013
Farewell Posterous
Posterous is shutting down. One of the better tools on the web. Simple, innovative, functional. I guess it was bound to happen as it was purchased by Twitter.
Mar 5, 2013
Keynote Guide
Created a guide for Keynote on the iPad. It is quite comprehensive and covers just about all the features of the app.
Mar 1, 2013
Victorian iPad Workshops
Victorian iPad Workshops happening soon! See you at my Victorian iPad in Education Workshops facilitated by the team of Release The Geek. Melbourne and Wodonga.
Feb 25, 2013
iPad in Education
This workshop is designed to demonstrate the practical use of the iPad as a tool in teaching and learning. Workflows, tactics and tips will be shared with all.
Feb 23, 2013
End of the day
A teacher’s desk at the end of the day. Books, pencils, scissors, laptop, cables, and a humongous toolbox. The end of a two week teaching cycle. TGIF.
Jan 14, 2013
Sootie speaks his mind
I shared a photograph of my cat Sootie reclining alongside me on the sofa today and Colin Gallagher tweeted that he looked like quite a character. Well, here he is.
Jan 14, 2013
Song Dong Exhibit
Exploring the Waste Not exhibition by artist Song Dong at Carriageworks provided an intimate and very real insight into the lives of post-war Chinese people.
Dec 6, 2012
Full throttle writing
Full throttle writing and high speed engagement can be a good start to any lesson. Settling students at the beginning of a lesson can be a challenge. Organisation is the key
Nov 5, 2012
Rainbow Lorikeets
There were a few Rainbow Lorikeets in our garden this afternoon. I was photographing the sky at the time & managed to take two photographs of the birds as well.
Oct 25, 2012
Teach past, teach future
We need a new subject. It’s focus should be on the future. Not sure what to name the subject. But we need it. Maths, English, Music, History, Art, Science, Geography, and… Life.
Oct 23, 2012
Mountain Tweaks
After installing Alfred last week I decided it was time to remove the Spotlight icon from the menubar so I did a little research and installed Mountain Tweaks to do the job.
Oct 22, 2012
Alfred productivity app
A couple of keystrokes allows me launch an app, open a file, locate a file and launch a web site. Typing a single letter such as “p” can allow me to rapidly launch Pages or Powerpoint.
Oct 20, 2012
Post offices in the future
Interplanetary travel is a given by the year 2000, aliens are regular visitors by the year 2050 and kids are attending school on the moons of Saturn.
Oct 20, 2012
Tossing out the past
Tossing out the past so it is not a burden in the future. Over the years I have gradually been giving away old stuff and dumping other crap so there is no shit to worry about when I die.
Oct 20, 2012
Tweets 1958AD and 2058AD
As I was researching Tommy Tomorrow I discovered this seemingly prophetic opening page even though the officer is only using a whistle. “Tweet! Tweet!” Enjoy.
Oct 20, 2012
Larkin in space
I was once unwittingly part of an optimistic vision of the future where space exploration was quite matter of fact and exploring the planets was no more difficult than going for a bush walk today.
Oct 5, 2012
iOS6 file upload
One can now upload files to sites on the Internet from within the Safari and Chrome browsers on the iPad following the iOS6 update. Specifically, images hosted in the Photos app.
Sep 26, 2012
iPad apps I possess
I regularly conduct iPad workshops in Singapore for the Centre for Excellence in Teaching at Nanyang Technological University and also at the Institute of Adult Learning. As part of that process I wished to share the apps that I presently have installed on my iPad.
Sep 15, 2012
September Sunset
Yet another beautiful sunset. I went outside to unwind and an array of clouds in the western sky bore the promise of a glowing sunset.
Sep 6, 2012
Treated like crap
The teaching staff feel powerless, unable to act. My friemd said this particular student has a debilitating impact on their day, their feelings and their motivation. In a nutshell she said she felt like shit.
Sep 5, 2012
More than money needed
“Asian children live in cultures that respect hard work and education. In contrast Australian children are encouraged in the weird expectation that all learning must be fun.”
Sep 2, 2012
Seen at dusk
Love looking at the sky. There is always something happening and I am yet to see a repeat. Back in May, Venus was quite bright in the western sky following sunset.
Sep 1, 2012
Riding by lake and shore
Bike riding around Lake Illawarra and along the coast down to Barrack Point. Incredible scenery, a peaceful cycle path and plenty of flora and fauna. Recommended to all cyclists with an interest in photography.
Sep 1, 2012
Lake Illawarra Ride #2
These photographs were taken on the 1st September 2012 during a bike ride from Barrack Point through to Lake Illawarra and Oak Flats. They were taken with a small Nikon S9200 Camera.
Sep 1, 2012
Lake Illawarra Ride #1
These photographs were taken on the 10th June 2012 during a bike ride from Barrack Point through to Lake Illawarra and Oak Flats. They were taken with a small Nikon camera.
Aug 26, 2012
Neil Armstrong 1930-2012
As you know Neil Armstrong has passed away. The Apollo 11 lunar landing in July 1969 was a defining moment in my life. I built models of the Saturn space rocket and the Lunar Model. I collected newspaper clippings and made scrapbooks.
Aug 22, 2012
Viking Online Resources
Recently updated the web links for the Vikings. The sites vary in quality however they can act as an entry point for the exploration and study of Viking history and culture.
Aug 19, 2012
Work, life and death
After all, when you are on your deathbed, reminiscing about your life, do you really think you will be caring about all the boxes that you ticked, the promotions your received and the nice shiny offices that had your name on the door?
Jul 6, 2012
Notes from Taiwan
7-11 stores in Taiwan, and Japan for that matter, are an adventure in themselves. You can purchase just about anything. Anything. They also provide courier services. Food, drink, beer, snacks, nik-naks, and so on. One can spend ages in a Japanese 7-11 captivated and intrigued by what is on the shelves.
May 13, 2012
Zendags go north
Went for a ride with my friend Evan along the cycle track that follows the coast from North Wollongong through to Sandon Point and beyond. It was a perfect afternoon and the cycle track was not too crowded.
May 12, 2012
The skies inspire
During this Autumn the skies over the Illawarra have been impressive, particularly at sunset. The moon has been a part of these evening performances as well.
May 12, 2012
Waxing lunar
A few weeks back I was capturing the clouds as sunset progressed and I made a few attempts to photograph the moon through the thin evening clouds. A few of the photographs are in the gallery below.
May 12, 2012
Sky on fire
The photographs in this gallery were taken on the 7th May 2012 looking west towards Nebo from Figtree. This Autumn is proving to rich with the most impressive of sunsets and these images demonstrate how the sky seemed to be on fire this particular evening.
May 12, 2012
Iridescent eve
The photographs in this gallery were taken on the 12th May 2012 looking west towards Nebo from Figtree. I had the feeling given the cirrus clouds and the sunset that there mighty be iridescent clouds and luckily my prediction proved true.
May 12, 2012
Autumn sunset #2
The photographs in this gallery were taken on the 5th May 2012 looking west towards Nebo from Figtree. Another brilliant sunset. There have been many.
May 12, 2012
Autumn sunset #1
The photographs in this gallery were taken on the 28th April 2012 looking west towards Nebo from Figtree. This Autumn is proving to rich with incredible sunsets.
May 10, 2012
Zendogs ride in Malaysia
A couple of Sundays back I went for a bike ride with a group of friends in Johor, Malaysia. We rode from Pengerang to Sungei Rengit. We rode through small kampongs, past the homes, gardens and local makan places. No rush, no traffic, no hustle, no bustle.
May 6, 2012
On ya bike!
Bought a new bike. It is a Giant Cross City hybrid bike. Basically a flat bar road bike. Recent bike riding experiences in Singapore and Malaysia convinced me it was time to purchase a new bike.
Apr 14, 2012
Ulu Ubin Ride
Riding a mountain bike around Pulau Ubin on a hot, steamy day. There is a gallery of photographs for you to check out. People, flora, fauna, boats and signs.
Apr 13, 2012
The End of an Era
I think I know how Singaporeans must feel as the places they know well are torn down and swallowed up in the name of progress. Their kampongs, favourite eating places, schools and homes.
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