Blogs and why we should use them

A thought provoking slideshow - comments please!

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Use of web 2.0 in lessons

On Monday and Tuesday I decided to try revising with 10I using web 2.0. I set up a blog site for them

scphysicsrevision.blogspot.com

This took about 2 minutes to do. I let the students chose the template (honest), I don't have such bad taste - but want them to identify with the process. The lesson aims were to produce an online mind map and podcast and post on the blog. They were encouraged to comment on each others posts and I also commented on each post to encourage and provide advice for improvement. I must say that the lessons were thoroughly enjoyable and some terrific learning took place. Most students gave a mark of 7/10 for the effectiveness of the learning experience and 10/10 for enjoyment. One student said that she preferred to learn with her text book, pen and paper. I asked her if she had been able to do that in the lessons and she replied "yes". The learning was flexible and differentiated and students worked in their preferred style.

Lesson aims


Today, my Y12 students worked on a collaborative mind map to revise for their exam. This was impressive and although incomplete, was a very powerful process.



I really encourage you to add the collaborative use of web 2.0 into the mix of possible learning activities where appropriate. Sit back, relax and enjoy the experience.

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Online storage space

I have just found a convenient and free space to store your files online called mydrive.ch - it has the added advantage of being in german as well as english so you can improve your language skills. You can store up to 1000 Mb (1Gb) free, which should be enough and of course you can set up a range of accounts for different topics.





It is easy to set up links to your files in your blog or wiki so students can easily access file you want them to have.

Idle Musings

Hi all,

So the list of possible ICT activities to integrate into teaching is currently:

- Concept maps
- PowerPoint
- Podcasts
- Still image
- Moving image
- Websites/Social networking sites
- Also writing documents/posters/leaflets and posting them online

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Stew

PYP amd MYP Senior science curriculum group day

ESF Heads of Science met at RCHK to learn more about the IBO's PYP and MYP programmes. Schools are evaluating their year 7 - 9 programmes and are considering removing content to engender process, skills and enquiry based learning. However the first step was to find out about the primary years programme, as all ESF primary schools are engaged in its implementation. Chiqui Colet, RCHK PYP coordinater, gave an eloquent presentation followed by Brian McCann, HOF Science also at RCHK, where he outlined the key features of the MYP and some of the reasons why he felt it was a better programme than other options available. We also had a tour of the fabulous facilities in the Science faculty, including the solar panels on the roof. The day ended with a discussion on the science passport, which was felt to be an effective cross phase document, with some minor changes. The ideas generated today would be fed back to ESF centre.

I enjoyed Jay's web 2.0 presentation and use of google docs. I actulally thought he said Google ducks! We need to show eveyrone at some stage how to use this. I might use it with the Y9 sc competition, so that they can prepare their presentations. Science presentation was excellent too!
Mike

CPD day 14th May presentation

Exemplars of good practice

The following wikis are exemplars of how to use free blog sites to develop learning material. They are aimed at the learners. Both use the wikispaces format which looks good - but in practise I found it difficult to format and set up nicely; also easily to crash. However these three examples look good and may help as you set up your learning area.

Open professional development
IB extended essays
Ms C's Technology wikispace

Podcasting

Although auditory learners tend to be in the minority, teachers often rely on this teaching style. Podcasts provide a kinaethetic way for students to role play, revise and collaborate using podcasting sites such as podbeam.com.

Powered by Podbean.com

Podcasts can be made using "audacity" a powerful sound editor / freeware.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/


Using audacity


The main screen and the tool bar




Curser – move this to where you want to record/play
Zoom – in to see smaller time intervals or out to see more time
Use this to adjust volume.
This can be used to move your recording to where you want it.


When finished – file menu/export as an MP3 file.


Free Sound effects and music
http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/index.html
http://freeplaymusic.com/

Powerpoint not powerpointless

Power point presentations are easy to make and are excellent for visual (the majority) of learners. They can also be used to scaffold your lessons; starters, plenaries, learning outcomes, and exposition as well as provide powerful images which help to set contexts clearly.

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However it is also easy to become over enthusiastic and loose the plot ................

Mindmapping

Mindmapping has been used for some time to help learners brainstorm on; what they want to learn, what they are learning or what they have learnt. Effective use of colour and images can increase the usefulness. Online mindmapping facilitates sharing and collaboration between students.

http://www.mindmeister.com/.

Teaching rooms

Teaching rooms and laboratories will undoubtedly change as learning evolves