Technology use in UK

Steph commented on Professor Stephen Heppell's website http://www.heppell.net/ which was mentioned in the latest Connected Classroom Bulletin.
The examples of what students are doing in the UK with ICT are very interesting.

Ultimo Staff meeting

This is my second attempt at a blog for my use in staff meetings and inservices. This one is 'better' as it is more organised and I have learnt how to customise my page more AND how to make links in the posts.

I have posted ideas [BELOW] that I hope to cover OR may not have time to show, for potential projects in your classroom. I hope they are of benefit to you. I will add more as time permits - I am not an addicted blogger OR at least I haven't develop the blogger habitus yet.

Interactive activities

An interactive whiteboard (IWB) is not just a glorified whiteboard/ blackboard. There is HUGE potential for scaffolding students learning about texts in contexts using them. It can be used to teach about the Internet - searching, selecting, evaluating; to teach about the field; to teach about a text is constructed; to create a text collaboratively in a student group or as a joint construction; to name just a FEW suggestions.

A useful program for creating language-based activities, such multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the World Wide Web, is Hot Potatoes. The students can INTERACT with the whiteboard.

More multimedia

Of course multimedia texts can be produced/ created using
MovieMaker
Powerpoint.
- This program can also have basic animation AND be made as a hypertext, like an Internet site but without the need of a connection.
iMovie
iPhoto

Creating multimedia

Making a photo montage with music or combining video, photos and music is made easier with these 2 sites:

Animoto
One True Media

Voices of the World is a wiki that students around the world contribute their productions to, based on a topic each month. They use either of these programs.

For other multimedia tools - try the program called Garageband.

If you are interested in animation then the software program Kahootz may be for you. If really wanting to take off then you might like to investigate Machinima. I know about these but have not used them myself or with classes.

Stories on-line

Looking for on-line reading of pictures and novels?

Try these sites:

Story online
Tumblebook Library
Reading Planet

Some children's literature authors also place chapters of the books on-line. Some of these may also be read aloud. For example:

Morris Gleitzman
Andy Griffiths

Wikis

Want to know more about what a wiki is?
Watch this video -

Wikis in Plain English

For a site to create your own wiki, go to -

Wiki spaces

Blogs

BENEFITS
Enabling Web2.0 skills in students
Introducing new literacies and associated skills to students
Integrating web/ Internet in an authentic and exciting way into classroom curriculum
Authentic activity but beyond the paper-based reviews
Students can discuss the text in class and then share their ideas
Sharing ideas – have to read to be able to contribute
Students write about what they have read
Develop a community of learners beyond the classroom
Motivating

SITES you can use:
http://edublogs.org
http://www.blogger.com/home

Blog examples

You may like to have a look at these examples of school and class blogs.

Belmore South Pubic School
Susan Silverman's
Cathy Cassidy's