50 Days of ideas to use with theUltranet Message Boards

50 DAYS OF IDEAS TO USE WITH THE

ULTRANET MESSAGE BOARDS

USE THESE IDEAS TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION IN YOUR CLASS WHILE

LEARNING HOW TO USE THE ULTRANET!

PLEASE ADD ACTIVITIES TO HELP US GET TO 50!

BEFORE YOU START

– Make sure you have created a collaborative space and inserted the message board app.

– Create a new category for your discussion in the message board

– Get your students to join your space or assign them in yourself

– Show students how to reply to a comment- This is the easy bit!

– Don't forget to get in there yourself and add to the discussion. This will add depth and to the students' contributions

– If you need help - check the ultranet support site, ask a lead user or your Ultranet coach!

DAY 1- CAUGHT IN THE WEB!Step 1: Post this question: "What could we invent or improve using the thread from a spiders web?" Please explain your response.

Step 2: Add some research content: Wikipedia article on webs:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_webHow stuff works: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/spider5.htm

DAY 2 - WHO WOULD IT BE?

Step 1: Post this question: Is there anybody in history that you have read about that you would like to be?

Share some information about that person. • Who is the person you have chosen?• What did they do?• When and where did they live?• Why did you choose them?

DAY 3 - OUT OF SIGHT!

Step 1: Post this question: What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

DAY 4- A PICTURE TELLS 1000 WORDS

Step 1: Post this question: What comes to mind when you look at this picture?

Step 2: Insert a picture: use the picture button in the tool bar to add a picture to stimulate discussion. Try here for some picture ideas http://www.worldsfamousphotos.com/or have a look in wikimedia commons for creative commons photos:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

DAY 5 - WHAT IS IN YOUR PLAYLIST??

Post this question: Put your mp3/ ipod on shuffle. What are the first 10 songs/tracks that come up?

DAY 6- COLOUR MY LIFE

Post this question: What's your favourite colour and how does it make you feel?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apu123/3341723230/sizes/z/in/photostream/

DAY 7 HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Some parents are concerned about their child's use of multimedia.

What is a reasonable number of hours to spend using computers, watching TV and playing games each day?

DAY 8 BIG ISSUES

What do you think is the most important issue that humanity is facing in 2011?

DAY 9 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Should the government be able to have a say in our diets?

For example, should they be able to tell schools what types of foods are sold in canteens?

DAY 10 WHAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON?

If you could improve one thing about your school, what would it be? And why do you think it is important? What do you think can be done about it?

DAY 11- DREAM HOLIDAY

Where would you go on a dream holiday?

And what activities would you do?

Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503180180@N01/219162721

DAY 12- SPORTING ROLE MODELS

Who is a sportsperson you admire?

What sport do they play?

What team or country do they play for?

What have they achieved in their sport? Why do you admire them?

DAY 13 - UNLUCKY FOR SOME

Step 1: Post this question: The number 13 is considered bad luck by many people. Tell about a time that you had bad luck or maybe someone you know. Try to put as much detail into your response as you can.

DAY 14- CHARACTERS!

Who is the most interesting book character you have read about?

What is the character's name? Which book or series do they belong to? Why was this character the most interesting in your opinion? Was it what they did? Was it how they thought? Was is it the qualities the character displayed?

DAY 15 - WHO CHOOSES WHAT I LEARN?

Students should be able to choose what they learn at school?

Agree? Disagree? Why? Why not?

Make sure you put up arguments to support your claim!

DAY 16- ULTRANET??

What have you found most interesting about working on the Ultranet so far?

What are the good points?What are the bad points?

What other ways can we use the Ultranet for our learning?

DAY 16- ULTRANET??

What have you found most interesting about working on the Ultranet so far?What are the good points?What are the bad points?What other ways can we use the Ultranet for our learning?

DAY 17- PRIME MINISTER

If you could be Prime Minister of Australia for 1 month what would be the most important issues you would address?

Why are they important?How would you promote it?What path would you take to ensure every citizen was involved?

DAY 18- WIGGLES, HI5 OR PLAYSCHOOL

We all watched them when we were kids......but which is the best?Outline your argument. • Think of entertainment value• Learning value• Age groups it caters for• The characters it has• The activities• The music and songs

DAY 19- DISASTER

Your local community has been affected by a major flood and you are the Senior Officer of the State Emergency Service for your town.

What steps would be required to alert the members of your community?Who would you turn to for assistance?Talk about the concerns you might have inin conducting such a large scale recovery process.What might be your biggest challenge?

DAY 20- FACEBOOK Somebody places an inappropriate photo on Facebook of one of your friends without their consent.

What do you do???How can you resolve this problem?Who can you turn to for assistance?Would you tell the person involved,if so,how would you go about doingit?What would you suggest to stop thisfrom happening in the future?

DAY 21- SCHOOL Your school has decided that there will be no recess or lunch break, but more classes, due to the fact that breaks create bullying opportunities within the school grounds.

What are your initial thoughts?How would you remedy this issue?What are the merits of this change?What are the negative points to this statement?How would you address this change if you were on Junior/Senior school council?Who might you contact for support?

DAY 22- SMS Somebody in your class sends a text to everyone else in the class, that is highly inappropriate and completely untrue! Talk about the feelings you would be experiencing.What path would you take to resolve this issue?Who would you contact about this problem?Why might this have happened?

DAY 23 - END OF THE WORLD

Today you have been told that the world may end in 2 weeks!

What would you do?Why would you do it?Could you change the path, if so what would you attempt?

DAY 24- PARTY

Your parents agree to having a party via invitation only, but you find there are people turning up that weren't invited.

Would you ask them to leave?What do you say to your parents?How do you host a party, yet worry about peopleturning up, who weren't invited?Create a thread about how you would address thisissue.

DAY 25- THE TEACHER'S PET

Somebody said that you are the teacher's pet! The class start to say things that are very negative and hurt your feelings. How do you feel?Do you express your feelings or do you hide them? Comment on your answer.How do you fix this?Who do you talk to about this issue?

DAY 26- PROVERB

Every cloud has a silver lining

What does this proverb meanto you?

DAY 27- THE GOLDEN ARCHES

McDonalds stated their food is the most healthiest takeaway food offered.

Do you agree? Why/Why not?How would you check if this correct?Who might you contact regarding this statement?Why does this statement matter?

DAY 28- ICOSIKAIOCTAGON

Did you know that a 28-sided polygon is called an icosikaioctagon. Can you even pronounce it?? What interesting facts can you find out that have to do with the number 28??

Share them with the group.

DAY 29- AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATION

The Australian Government have passed a law that states thatno citizen can download anything for free on their computer, iphone, itouch, ipad,etc! Every download will cost at least $5.oo.

What are you initial feelings?How would you approach this statement?If you oppose it how would you respond?If you agree how would you back up it up?

DAY 30- COMMUNITIES

Your local community have decided that the school bus is costing too much money to run, so parents will need to get their children to school via their own transport.

Is this a fair statement? Why/Why not?Compose a message for the Education Department explaining your views.

DAY 31- THE OCTOPUS TREE!

You have just found the best site http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/but someone questions it's credibility!

Why would they question this site? How can we ensure it is authentic?Contribute to the thread about what you believeand what you have found.

You created this website, how do you sell it?

DAY 32- SCHOOL IS OUT!

You have just read in the newspaper that schools are being closed down! Naturally you feel exhilarated, but.......

How will you learn?How will you socialise?What will you do during the day?Who will help you to gain the skills you needto enter the workforce or get a trade recognised certificate?How will you get to university?Respond to this statement if you were a parent.

DAY 33- SKATE PARK

Your local council have decided to close the Skate Park because too many young people are there late at night. They are concerned this could create some problems. Your are required to propose an argument that will change the minds of the local councilors and keep your skate park open.

List your arguments and supporting evidence.

DAY 34- $100 000 TO SPEND

Your school has been given a grant of $100,000 to spend. As president of the student council you are asked to make a proposal to the school on how the money can be best spent to enhance "Student Learning".

DAY 35- "MOVING ON"Your Mum and Dad announce that the family is moving interstate and they have enrolled you into a new school. You leave in 2 weeks!Use De Bono's hats, to make a statement for each on your thinking around this new situation.

DAY 36- FRIENDSHIP

Your best friend has just been told they have a life threatening disease that is incurable. What things could you do to help your friend in need?

DAY 37- IPAD VS LAPTOPS

Argue which is the best device for students to use at school to increase the quality of their learning.

Ensure you support your arguments with evidence.

DAY 38- DRUGS IN SPORT

Come up with at least 5 consequences you believe should be enforced if a sportsperson is legitimately caught using banned drugs.

DAY 39- LIFE

Comment on the best thing that has happened to you at

school so far.

DAY 40- SPEED

The speed zones should all be changed to have no limit.

 Comment on whether you agree or disagree and give reasons for your choice.

DAY 41- NEW LAW

Our government have just passed a new law that states:

"Only people who have been born in our country can live here. All other citizens need to leave immediately" Comment on your thinking aboutthis new law.

DAY 42- CHANGE

If you could change one thing about schools, what would it be and why?

DAY 43- ATTITUDE

Your sports coach tells you that they are disappointed with your attitude during the game. You have no idea why they have said this. What would you do to remedy this issue?

DAY 44- PET

If you were allowed to have any pet you want, what would it be and why?

DAY 45- NEW STUDENT

A new student has arrived in your class and you have beenasked to make sure they are comfortable and feel welcome.

What do you do?How do you feel about this task?Who do you approach for help?

DAY 46- END OF THE WORLD

You have read and heard that the world is going to end on 31st December 2011. What do you want to do before this date

and why?

DAY 47- INTERNET

The Australian government have decided that our country should no longer have access to the internet due to cyber-bulling, copyright and privacy issues. From a student's perspective, build an argument on why we need access to the internet.

DAY 48- WHAT'S IN A NAME?

At home task- Message Board entry: Why did your parents choose your name? Share the reasons why they came up with it ...and what you think of it.If you could change it, what would it be?

DAY 49- ACROSTIC NAME

Create an acrostic poem that describes you using your name. Use the text colour and font tools to make it stand out.

MarvellousAnimatedResourcefulCreative

DAY 50- 50TH BIRTHDAY

Imagine you are 50 years old. Looking back on your life so far, what do you hope to have achieved? What are the things that you will be proud of? What are the things you think you will value most?

DAY 51- MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

The message boards that we use on the Ultranet have a rating system based on the number of posts a person adds to them. The highest rank is a Yoda (50 posts) and the lowest is a Youngling (5 posts).

If you could create a rating systemwhat would it be?

Would it have a theme (like the Star Wars one?)

How many rankings would you have?

Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/297280955

DAY 52- VEGETABLE VS MEAT

So your parents have decided that they will no longer be eating meat products in the house as they are boycotting "animal treatment" issues they have seen in the Media.

Devise an argument why you as ayoung person, need to consume some meat products in your diet.

DAY 53- DESIGN

You have been asked t

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