For the last few years I have been promoting the possibilities of mobile
technology. I could see great opportunities for collaboration, innovation and
pupil autonomy. Now, in schools all other country, there is an iPad craze. I'm
not so sure of the actual tech but some of the concepts are sound. I do
however, feel that, nothing much has changed, except children are using APPS
instead of applications...such a world of difference? For me it should be about
autonomy, having a digital device that does it all is quite empowering. The
tablet, iPad, iPod, smart phone, whatever device you have available empowers
the user to select whatever tools they need for the job in hand. That's the
power of mobile technology. Not the device. Not the name tag. Good pedagogy will
ensure that the learning comes first, the technology is just a means to an end.
I spent the day in Casllwchwr Primary School on Monday, observing a dream
realised, outstanding practice and children motivated. In the junior
classes, each child has their own mobile device, and in the infant classrooms
there are plenty to share. The children are no longer dazzled by the
technology nor are they fazed by adults stopping to ask questions as they work.
Will we be witnessing a radical change in pedagogical approaches now or will we
be wondering where the money went?
Posted from my tablet whilst watching the football!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Tim Rylands Inspires
I have been to lots of conferences and courses during my time in education, for CPD etc., and no matter how good they are, I can't help but look at the clock and wonder wistfully when the coffee break will allow me to re-establish a connection between my brain and the rest of my body. Today, in ESIS listening to Tim Rylands, however I felt like a child waiting for the next instalment of my favourite TV programme, and I could not believe when it was time to go home, let alone break for coffee!
I met Tim Rylands a few years ago at Bett when I accidentally walked in to a seminar on Gaming in Education. I have been an avid fan ever since. As a lecturer in higher education I am always looking for new and exciting ways to reach our 21st century learners, and as such I often endorse Myster Rylands and his amazing approach to teaching and learning. Tim has always been supportive when I send my students in his direction, guiding them in their journey to innovative practice. After today's activities at ESIS I can see why they come back to university bursting with enthusiasm. Tim and Sarah are incredibly inspiring, I'm not sure it would matter what they were talking about though, as they are such charismatic individuals. But their chosen topic is ICT to Inspire and inspire they surely do. The blog is amazing, it is a fabulous resource and a great way to inject interesting and creative ideas to feed your children's enthusiasm to learn! Their training days are incredible, but the most important aspect of the whole approach is the realistic and believable way in which they deliver their wares, giving you real life contexts and examples, so that you truly believe you can do it too!
A great day and I'm looking forward to seeing how it is all put into practice tomorrow in school...
I met Tim Rylands a few years ago at Bett when I accidentally walked in to a seminar on Gaming in Education. I have been an avid fan ever since. As a lecturer in higher education I am always looking for new and exciting ways to reach our 21st century learners, and as such I often endorse Myster Rylands and his amazing approach to teaching and learning. Tim has always been supportive when I send my students in his direction, guiding them in their journey to innovative practice. After today's activities at ESIS I can see why they come back to university bursting with enthusiasm. Tim and Sarah are incredibly inspiring, I'm not sure it would matter what they were talking about though, as they are such charismatic individuals. But their chosen topic is ICT to Inspire and inspire they surely do. The blog is amazing, it is a fabulous resource and a great way to inject interesting and creative ideas to feed your children's enthusiasm to learn! Their training days are incredible, but the most important aspect of the whole approach is the realistic and believable way in which they deliver their wares, giving you real life contexts and examples, so that you truly believe you can do it too!
A great day and I'm looking forward to seeing how it is all put into practice tomorrow in school...
Friday, April 27, 2012
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!
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