Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Some new Web 2 tools
I'm sure that Doink is not a new discovery for some of you but here is a lovely new animation tool that is free and easy to use and embed on your website, bog or wiki.
Tyrannosaurus by Terik, made at DoInk.com
The creator says this about his animation "A new kind of tyrannosaur called Yutyrannus huali has recently been discovered, and it was covered from head to toe with downy feathers, making it much more likely that T. rex was also covered in feathers. (It still would have been much too heavy to fly, though.) The idea of the scariest predator of all time being soft and fluffy was just perfect for this FND"
Tyrannosaurus by Terik, made at DoInk.com
The creator says this about his animation "A new kind of tyrannosaur called Yutyrannus huali has recently been discovered, and it was covered from head to toe with downy feathers, making it much more likely that T. rex was also covered in feathers. (It still would have been much too heavy to fly, though.) The idea of the scariest predator of all time being soft and fluffy was just perfect for this FND"
Story Bird
Storybird is a fab web 2 application that uses collaborative storytelling to connect people. You can create your own stories or create a Storybird in a round robin fashion by writing your own text and inserting pictures, then pass it on to a friend! You then have the option of sharing your Storybird privately or publicly on the network. The final product can be printed, watched on screen, played with like a toy, or shared through a worldwide library.
What’s more it is simple to begin the collaboration fun. Someone starts a Storybird by writing a few words or grabbing a few images. Then the next person takes a turn, adding more words and pictures, once you have finished you can share the Storybird. All this can be done sitting side-by-side or across the country from each other. I have tried to write my own, but I am yet to try the collaboration element. Here is one I stole earlier!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
To blog or not to blog!
One of the ideas of blogging is to imprint your ideas on a new and wider audiences (and save paper), that the printed test alone can reach. I am under no illusions though, my blog is not read by many, but for me, my blog is a place to collect and share ideas even if it's only for me! I read some great blogs, and then I place a sample of my finds here on my blog. I guess that most people are now using Twitter for this sort of concept; that’s a place for those able to be more concise that me! I digress, something not allowed on Twitter! (maybe they have something there!) My initial point was to share and save paper– re-blog, however an idea that Tim Rylands shared with me this week and that is to create a PDF from a blog post. You can make a professional looking document from your blog, or blogpost to put up on a wall display, or to have as evidence in hard copy. They do look quite professional, however they don't allow you to have any say in the design or layout. Check out the button on the top right of my home page Joliprint creates a nice looking page from your blogpost and could be used quite effectively in a classroom if you want to print the children’s post for a different purpose. He also mentions other applications that provide a similar service check out his post 
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Some great new titles for Primary ICT
At last there are some great titles for using emerging web technologies in the primary classroom! I have been suggestive, for a number of years, about the great opportunities for using Web 2 in the primary setting. However, there has been some resistance, especially from LAs that manage schools web access. My students have also been quite sceptical at times, although they do humour me to some extent. The concerns range from internet safety, access to the relevant sites, time restraints and expertise. None of these concerns are to be scoffed at I know, but we must provide our primary school children with the skills they need to be successful learners of the 21st century otherwise we are not fulfilling our obligations at educators.
These two new titles for 2012 give great practical examples of how to actually integrate innovative ICT tools in the classroom. Barber & Cooper, “Using New Web Tools inthe Primary Classroom”, have written a practical guide for enhancing teaching and learning with new web tools. Their book is written for those interested in the application of new web-based ICTs to primary teaching. It has been specifically designed for anyone who works in the primary classroom or who is training to do so. It is divided into 2 sections; the first section justifies the use of Web 2.0 tools, laying the ground work for the second section which gives specific and tangible ways in which these technologies can enhance classroom practice. “The Really Useful ICT Book” from Jesson and Peacock is more of an overall technology across the curriculum guide – but it is up to date and incorporates a range of new tools as well as the more traditional ICT resources that many of us are more familiar with. Both are well work a look.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)