Hello all,<br><br>We hope that you're enjoying your holiday break and will return to school next week refreshed and ready for a brand new term! VITTA is running a jam packed PD program in term two kicking off with the exciting <b>Open for Education</b> day on Wednesday 29th April. <b>Open for Education</b> is designed to give teachers P-12 an opportunity to develop their Open Source software skills through a full day of hands on sessions conducted by experienced teachers and Open Source experts. <br>
<br>All attendees will be introduced to a variety of applications including online publishing, graphic design, animation and take home a complimentary CD with Open Source software and documentation that can be freely distributed. Interested in attending? Read more below or download the <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/documents/item/173"><b>Open for Education</b> brochure</a>. Register at <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents">www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents</a> See you there!<br>
<br><p><b>OPEN FOR EDUCATION<br></b></p>
<p><b>Date: </b>Wednesday 29th April, 2009<b><br>Time: </b>8:30am -
3:30pm<b><br>Venue: </b>Forest Hill College, 178 -180 Mahoneys Rd, Burwood East,
3151 (Mel Ref 62 C5)<b><br>Fees:</b> VITTA Member - $240 | Non-Member -
$300<br><b>Register:</b> <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents" target="_blank">www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents</a><br></p>
<h3>Why: the software is free</h3>There are many fantastic Open Source
applications available to teachers and students for education. Open Source tools
are free to use, and are distinct from Freeware. Open Source users have access
to strong user and developer communities that teachers can tap into, supported
by online documentation, help and examples.<br><br>This professional development
day includes workshops of various best of breed Open Source applications for
education, as well as sessions by experts about Open Source and open approaches
to education.<br><br>All attendees will be introduced to a variety of
applications including online publishing, graphic design, animation and take
home a complimentary CD with Open Source software and documentation that can be
freely distributed.<br>
<h3>Who: the experts</h3>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="558" height="199">
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<tr>
<td>
<p><font color="#ff0000">Paula Christophersen</font>, ICT Curriculum Manager,
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has managed the development
of the ICT domain within the interdisciplinary learning strand of VELS
(Victorian Essential Learning Standards)</p></td>
<td><font color="#ff0000">Donna Benjamin</font> is currently President of Linux
Users of Victoria and was the lead organiser for Australia's largest free and
open source conference, <a href="http://linux.conf.au/" target="_blank">linux.conf.au</a> in Melbourne in 2008<br></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font color="#ff0000">Mark Richardson</font> is Professional Learning Officer
for VITTA. He is also ICT coordinator at a primary school. His interests are in
ICT professional development, teaching ICT, Web 2.0 and Macs in
education<br></td>
<td><font color="#ff0000">Jacinta Richardson</font> is a director of Perl Training
Australia and open source advocate. She is a regular speaker at conferences and
events around Australia.<br></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font color="#ff0000"> Pia Waugh</font> is an Open Source consultant and
community leader who is passionate about creating better opportunities for
people through open access to technology and education.<br></td>
<td> <br><br><br><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br>
<h3>Program</h3><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/documents/item/173" target="_blank">Download the full Open Source for Education program</a> to find
out about the range of presentations on offer. Choose from: <br>
<ul><li>Open Source for Primary </li><li>Animation and Games </li><li>Graphic design </li><li>Online publishing for Education </li><li>Office Tools </li><li>Video & Audio Tools <br></li><li>plus many more... <br></li>
</ul><b>All</b> concurrent sessions are <b>hands
on labs</b>! Hurry, all sessions are strictly limited so ensure that you
register soon to secure your place. These sessions will sell out. <br>
<p><b>Register online at <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents" target="_blank">www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents</a><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/trainingevents" target="_blank"><br></a></b></p>-- <br>______<br>
Lisa Chadderton <br>Senior Project Officer <br>VITTA<br>P: +61 3 9495 6836 <br>F: +61 3 9495 6834 <br>M: 0402522596 <br>E: <a href="mailto:lisa@vitta.org.au">lisa@vitta.org.au</a> <br>W: <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au">www.vitta.org.au</a> <br>
Suite 209, 134-136 Cambridge St <br>PO Box 1099 <br>Collingwood VIC 3066<br>