Change bLog

Today we started the first of our weekly ICT staff training sessions. After a shaky start (which lasted half an hour) we had some fun with Google Docs, working collaboratively on a presentation. Unfortunately, this shaky start made everything appear far more complicated than it actually was. However, as our staff became aware that they could edit each other’s work we began to have more fun! Pictures were added by dragging photos from flickr onto the document. Flickr is useful because, using an advanced search, photos can be found that are copywrite free, or at least only partially restricted using a creative commons license. We will probably talk about properly attributing a persons work them at a later date (I don’t want to scare them off), as we shamefully haven’t included any in our presentation. The presentation can be seen by clicking on the link below.

http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dcpbrp4d_9cd2d3nfv&invite=hhjxqpt

It was mentioned that this technology could have positive implications for teaching and learning, but no concrete ideas were presented as to what these might actually be. Any ideas or actual proof of the use of flickr or Google Docs in the classroom would be appreciated. Please add your comments!

I’m increasingly frustrated by the amount of useful content that is blocked in school. I’m also increasingly frustrated by the number of useful gadgets that are banned in school. I know this is nothing new and I’m certainly not the first person to blog about it, but this is a good place to vent my frustration.

Two of my teachers needed video clips for their lessons today. One needed the Diet Coke and Mentos (sorry, can’t link to YouTube version in school) video for a science lesson and one needed Chamberlains infamous ‘Peace for our time’ speech. After a teacher commented that ‘you’ll never find Chamberlain on YouTube’ I set about proving them wrong. Today I have a memory stick containing both of the clips, downloaded with CosmoPod, ready to transfer to the teacher’s MacBooks. But I find it soooooo annoying that I have to go home and download these videos, which in itself is a bit dodgy as I don’t have permission from the owner, when YouTube works perfectly well on its own. If a student wanted to gain access to inappropriate material, they could, and they do sometimes. There are numerous way around the various blocking and filtering systems that are in place in our schools and the students know how to use them!

Another teacher has heard of of Derek Robertson’s work with Nintendo DSs in maths lessons and want w a piece of the action. This is exciting news as other teachers take up the mantel and integrate ICT their classrooms across the curriculum.

Something very exciting is happening. Well, I think so anyway. Next week we start the first of our after school ICT CPD sessions for staff. These will be a weekly forage into the world of ICT with an emphasis on web based tools. We’ll see a demo, then have a go, then hopefully discuss their actually usefulness on here, in particular, how do these things actually enhance teaching and learning? In time I hope that other teachers will be doing the demos as they go from following to discovering. Let’s collaborate!

edit – OK, so the links and picture posting didn’t work. Maybe it’s not quite frictionless yet. But it will be soon.

Comments are now unmoderated, scary stuff!

OK, so the video blogging didn’t really happen. I didn’t see everything I wanted to see and I didn’t want to see everything I saw. However, I learnt a heck of a lot and met and heard from lots of people.

Firstly, the show. It was big, but a few things stood out. Firstly, most companies on the ground floor wanted to sell interactive whiteboards and accessories, especially anything to do with quizzes. I think there are better options for both. I’ll leave the quizzes for another time, but the whiteboards issue is interesting and well trodden. The two major interactive whiteboards perveyours were there in force, serious force. Tucked away in a corner was a smaller company/reseller providing a solution that was, in my opinion, far more interesting.

The mimio ‘digital whiteboard’ had some pretty nifty features. It is designed to turn any flat surface into an interactive whiteboard. It is portable and can place on a desk as a graphics tablet for a fraction of the price of a SMARTBoard of ActivBoard.

Even more resourceful and a lot cheaper is this Wii Remote solution previously blogged by Will Richardson.

Secondly, I made some really interesting contacts with other people working with children of a similar profile to me. It’s very exciting and I’m sure I’ll be blogging about it soon.

Finally, the teachmeet, which was great. I’ll post separately about that tomorrow, time permitting.

Apple at BETTShow08

Originally uploaded by Ant Jessop

The apple stand was great. The demos were very practical and may have convinced me that iMovie08 is usable. And no quizzing software or voting pads in sight! Did they know they were at BETT?

The BETT guide to saving the planet

Originally uploaded by antjessopuk

All this stuff from just two hours at the BETT Show 2008. And this is a technology exhibition?