I have just begun to be able to develop some new ideas for ICT clubs and am currently working to create a 'school radio show' with my current group.
Previously in ICT club we have used a range of one off sites to explore free activities that are on the internet, this has gone really well and the girls have their eyes opened to the online world and the possibilities.
However, with many students returning term on term to the club, I need to take a fresh approach to how we run the club in order to keep things new and exciting. This term I have decided that we will work on an extended project which does not impact on learning in lessons for the girls but widens their skills.
We will be using Audacity to edit together a podcast radio show. The Audacity skills are something we are currently exploring with Year 6 as part of their music lessons but as yet have not had much success with. I am hoping that by giving some students the skills to use Audacity, we might drive a better use of the software in their other lessons.
The plan is this; learn the tools and functions of Audacity, recording sounds using the microphones on the ICT suite headphones. The sound quality is not brilliant but it is good enough for the purpose for now.
We will then try and migrate the project onto the tablet computers, recording sound bites around the school and saving them to a shared area. These could be on any topic that the girls fancy.
We will then return to the ICT suite and edit our clips, hopefully recorded to a reasonable quality, into a podcast which we can share with the school.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Sunday, 13 October 2013
A New Year - More ICT
With the arrival of a new academic year came the arrival of some much anticipated tablets to our school. As I wrote about, at some length, we decided upon going for a Windows based tablet in order to simplify their integration into the school and the network.
As such, we have purchased 11 HP tablets for the school. After some initial delays in configuring the Windows 8 tablets to work with the Windows 7 network (we had not considered the issue of pupils logging onto two different operating systems) we are now up and running.
The first stages of getting the tablets in wider use within the school has been a little impacted by strain on the server which has hopefully now been resolved. I have noticed one issue that we are looking for a solution to, it is that the 'tiles' that appear on the desktop of the tablet change regularly. On occasions one can see just the main Windows 8 apps, on other occasions, this includes a desktop shortcut and IE shortcut, the third option that shows itself is for the user to be able to see all of the programs that are available through the school network.
This is currently not a problem and we are trying to work out what causes this to happen, the idea solution would be to add tiles for the software that we use the most at a certain point in the interface. I was put off for a while with the fact that the IE logo often disappears until a student saved my blushes and pointed out to me that Bing is also involved with the internet. The famous phrase involving wood and tress springs to mind.
So our current status is that we have a class set (1 between 2) of tablets in our school as well as the ICT suite. My mission for the year is to develop staff confidence in using the tablets for a range of activities whilst further testing and developing the ICT syllabus that I worked to develop last year. Oh and the assessment sheets that I have uploaded.
Aim for July 2013: School-wide tablet policy and staff training completed, ICT syllabus tested and reviewed for the first year (compared against the new NC ICT as well as the Chris Q skills that it already uses) and assessment developed, pupil self-evaluation and teacher evaluation against 'I Can...' statements.
As such, we have purchased 11 HP tablets for the school. After some initial delays in configuring the Windows 8 tablets to work with the Windows 7 network (we had not considered the issue of pupils logging onto two different operating systems) we are now up and running.
The first stages of getting the tablets in wider use within the school has been a little impacted by strain on the server which has hopefully now been resolved. I have noticed one issue that we are looking for a solution to, it is that the 'tiles' that appear on the desktop of the tablet change regularly. On occasions one can see just the main Windows 8 apps, on other occasions, this includes a desktop shortcut and IE shortcut, the third option that shows itself is for the user to be able to see all of the programs that are available through the school network.
This is currently not a problem and we are trying to work out what causes this to happen, the idea solution would be to add tiles for the software that we use the most at a certain point in the interface. I was put off for a while with the fact that the IE logo often disappears until a student saved my blushes and pointed out to me that Bing is also involved with the internet. The famous phrase involving wood and tress springs to mind.
So our current status is that we have a class set (1 between 2) of tablets in our school as well as the ICT suite. My mission for the year is to develop staff confidence in using the tablets for a range of activities whilst further testing and developing the ICT syllabus that I worked to develop last year. Oh and the assessment sheets that I have uploaded.
Aim for July 2013: School-wide tablet policy and staff training completed, ICT syllabus tested and reviewed for the first year (compared against the new NC ICT as well as the Chris Q skills that it already uses) and assessment developed, pupil self-evaluation and teacher evaluation against 'I Can...' statements.
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Hiatus
Progress has been delayed temporarily due to the pressures of also being a class teacher. I have been snowed under with assessments and reports for a few weeks which have taken all of my attention.
Encouraging prices were received from Asus regarding their VivoTab which we are looking to persue as a school, should the funds be available to do so and depending on whether Asus are able to develop a more rugged case than a simple sleeve as this would possibly be a little light weight for young children.
On other fronts, I have had a brief meeting with the people from RM regarding their RM Books and RM Unify products. I can see that if we were a secondary institution we would already be seriously tempted to use them. At the moment I believe the amount of suitable content falls short of what we might want in the Primary market but it sounds promising that there will soon be much more.
RM Unify looks like a good product from initial specs. I am due to have a look around using a temporary log on that I have been issued with. This is also on hold due to assessments but the idea of a software that links reading material, google docs and other sevices together with one app sounds like a nice plan, although I am sure it must not be quite that simple or it would have been done earlier.
Encouraging prices were received from Asus regarding their VivoTab which we are looking to persue as a school, should the funds be available to do so and depending on whether Asus are able to develop a more rugged case than a simple sleeve as this would possibly be a little light weight for young children.
On other fronts, I have had a brief meeting with the people from RM regarding their RM Books and RM Unify products. I can see that if we were a secondary institution we would already be seriously tempted to use them. At the moment I believe the amount of suitable content falls short of what we might want in the Primary market but it sounds promising that there will soon be much more.
RM Unify looks like a good product from initial specs. I am due to have a look around using a temporary log on that I have been issued with. This is also on hold due to assessments but the idea of a software that links reading material, google docs and other sevices together with one app sounds like a nice plan, although I am sure it must not be quite that simple or it would have been done earlier.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Tablet Use In Primary
I have decided that it is worth putting together some thoughts about where a tablet computer can be applied to the primary classroom.
* Adding context to English lessons;
My initial thoughts apply to doing poetry. I have an image in my head of studying Wordsworth, reading about the lonely life of clouds whilst students are able to stop and wonder about what surround them in the gardens. We could jot ideas about the clouds onto a collaborative document, take pictures of interesting clouds and then share when back in the classroom.
* Personal Art research;
I enjoy looking at new artists, when we do a Geography based topic we will always look at an artist from that country. For instance at the moment we are looking at Mexico and Diego Rivera. I wish for the children to recreate one of his works of art, practising shading skills with the pencils. Each pair of students could go away, research Rivera's art and find their favourite We could put together a short note about why we like it, pick out the key artistic features and then ultimately create our own replica. Along the way the tablets become a picture frame, first to hand around the class to look at examples of Rivera's work, as a picture gallery to show the range of pieces on a windowsill and ultimately as a screen in front of the pupils that they can zoom in and out of to pick out details.
* Group Reading / Story Books
Small groups of children have a certain book open on the tablet that they can then read and use to answer comprehension questions or to discuss a lively text. Younger children can use a service such as Oxford Owl to have the book read to them. Work can immediately come from the text in the form of a piece of work on the tablet, written work or even drama that could then be videoed or photographed and shared with the class.
* Science;
Many uses in Science, in my mind. The tablets can be used with great science resources such as BBC Science Clips for revision or research. The video camera can be used to capture footage and photos of experiments and tests that can immediately be placed into a piece of work or shared with the class for a review on the whiteboard (providing the tablet has access to a shared folder on the server)
These are thoughts, a brain storm if you will, of what I would love to use mobile computing for. It adds and extra dimension, option and further flexibility to the teaching within the classroom. If pupils wish to take a piece of work in a different direction then this is possible.
To me, all of this would be wasted without two key features... When first discussing tablets with my Head, and 2 members of the board of governors, I was extremely keen to raise 3 issues with the iPads we were trialling. Whilst possibly only a stumbling block, I am glad I mentioned these issues;
- Lack of flash player. May teachers have adapted to the Internet world by finding websites that include the games and information that they wish to teach. To require teachers to keep finding these pages as well as wondering whether there is an app for that is a big requirement of staff hours.
- Lack of connection to the network. I wish for my pupils to be able to share information with one another, the iPad needs a 3rd party app to connect to a windows network, or an email account. This is hard for a 5/6/7 year old to consider and work with. Possibly older classes could manage but I want a tablet to be all encompassing.
- Printing, the iPad only likes AirPrint enabled printers. We do not have a wireless enabled printer. Imagine the possibilities should we be able to... connect to the network and use the network server to link via wireless to a printer.
I am working steadily, although building up a head of steam with this and getting quite passionate. If I achieve one thing with my trials of different tablets it will be to work out what tablets work at a primary level with smaller budgets, less children and Windows based networks.
* Adding context to English lessons;
My initial thoughts apply to doing poetry. I have an image in my head of studying Wordsworth, reading about the lonely life of clouds whilst students are able to stop and wonder about what surround them in the gardens. We could jot ideas about the clouds onto a collaborative document, take pictures of interesting clouds and then share when back in the classroom.
* Personal Art research;
I enjoy looking at new artists, when we do a Geography based topic we will always look at an artist from that country. For instance at the moment we are looking at Mexico and Diego Rivera. I wish for the children to recreate one of his works of art, practising shading skills with the pencils. Each pair of students could go away, research Rivera's art and find their favourite We could put together a short note about why we like it, pick out the key artistic features and then ultimately create our own replica. Along the way the tablets become a picture frame, first to hand around the class to look at examples of Rivera's work, as a picture gallery to show the range of pieces on a windowsill and ultimately as a screen in front of the pupils that they can zoom in and out of to pick out details.
* Group Reading / Story Books
Small groups of children have a certain book open on the tablet that they can then read and use to answer comprehension questions or to discuss a lively text. Younger children can use a service such as Oxford Owl to have the book read to them. Work can immediately come from the text in the form of a piece of work on the tablet, written work or even drama that could then be videoed or photographed and shared with the class.
* Science;
Many uses in Science, in my mind. The tablets can be used with great science resources such as BBC Science Clips for revision or research. The video camera can be used to capture footage and photos of experiments and tests that can immediately be placed into a piece of work or shared with the class for a review on the whiteboard (providing the tablet has access to a shared folder on the server)
These are thoughts, a brain storm if you will, of what I would love to use mobile computing for. It adds and extra dimension, option and further flexibility to the teaching within the classroom. If pupils wish to take a piece of work in a different direction then this is possible.
To me, all of this would be wasted without two key features... When first discussing tablets with my Head, and 2 members of the board of governors, I was extremely keen to raise 3 issues with the iPads we were trialling. Whilst possibly only a stumbling block, I am glad I mentioned these issues;
- Lack of flash player. May teachers have adapted to the Internet world by finding websites that include the games and information that they wish to teach. To require teachers to keep finding these pages as well as wondering whether there is an app for that is a big requirement of staff hours.
- Lack of connection to the network. I wish for my pupils to be able to share information with one another, the iPad needs a 3rd party app to connect to a windows network, or an email account. This is hard for a 5/6/7 year old to consider and work with. Possibly older classes could manage but I want a tablet to be all encompassing.
- Printing, the iPad only likes AirPrint enabled printers. We do not have a wireless enabled printer. Imagine the possibilities should we be able to... connect to the network and use the network server to link via wireless to a printer.
I am working steadily, although building up a head of steam with this and getting quite passionate. If I achieve one thing with my trials of different tablets it will be to work out what tablets work at a primary level with smaller budgets, less children and Windows based networks.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Asus VivoTab ME400
Further to a post the other day about the borrowing of a tablet to test at school, I have been making interesting progress.
First off, I really like the windows 8 touch environment... on a tablet. I can see how it might be a distraction when using a desktop but this is a different issue.
The tablet arrived and I have been glued to it ever since. It is light, well put together and has a really good screen. I have also been impressed by the responsiveness and accuracy of the touchscreen panel.
I have written on here about my issues with tablet computers in the past. Primarily my issue lies in two areas, the lack of Flash player and the ease of integration with a Windows server network. Both of these issues have been cast aside with the use of a tablet that runs a full version of Windows 8.
I can access all the great sites that I have been recommending to other teachers, www.oxfordowl.co.uk, the BBC bitesize websites and many others. These were inaccessible in the past because I had no flash player to work with.
I have also talked to my Network managers and have come up with a shared folder on the network that can be mapped to the Asus device. This allows pupils to save the work to the server and then instantly access it from a wired, desktop PC in order to file in a safe place or for the teaching member of staff to review with the rest of the class. The best example of where this could be applied is, I guess, with Science where the teacher is looking at Mini Beasts. She can send a class out in the gardens to photo mini beasts, they can wirelessly upload their pictures to the server where the teacher can review as a class and then set work for other lessons where the pupils produce some work about these pictures and their exploration.
I am currently sold, I hope this first real love of my tablet life will continue and we will have a match for my school but I am going to continue to thoroughly test whilst looking into the cost of these items.
First off, I really like the windows 8 touch environment... on a tablet. I can see how it might be a distraction when using a desktop but this is a different issue.
The tablet arrived and I have been glued to it ever since. It is light, well put together and has a really good screen. I have also been impressed by the responsiveness and accuracy of the touchscreen panel.
I have written on here about my issues with tablet computers in the past. Primarily my issue lies in two areas, the lack of Flash player and the ease of integration with a Windows server network. Both of these issues have been cast aside with the use of a tablet that runs a full version of Windows 8.
I can access all the great sites that I have been recommending to other teachers, www.oxfordowl.co.uk, the BBC bitesize websites and many others. These were inaccessible in the past because I had no flash player to work with.
I have also talked to my Network managers and have come up with a shared folder on the network that can be mapped to the Asus device. This allows pupils to save the work to the server and then instantly access it from a wired, desktop PC in order to file in a safe place or for the teaching member of staff to review with the rest of the class. The best example of where this could be applied is, I guess, with Science where the teacher is looking at Mini Beasts. She can send a class out in the gardens to photo mini beasts, they can wirelessly upload their pictures to the server where the teacher can review as a class and then set work for other lessons where the pupils produce some work about these pictures and their exploration.
I am currently sold, I hope this first real love of my tablet life will continue and we will have a match for my school but I am going to continue to thoroughly test whilst looking into the cost of these items.
Internet Safety
Today we began to enact a program of Internet Safety talks. I am a firm believer in delivering lessons myself, but that it is also beneficial for the pupils to hear from a relevant professional who may offer a different stand point.
We have made links with the charity (ISC)2 who work with Childnet to deliver the SMART rules presentations to school groups. We ran talks to the Year 3 and Year 4 girls today which were very good. It is nice to offer them a chance to quiz an outside professional as well as for that person to quiz them about their knowledge. Some eye-opening answers were given when the classes were questioned about their use if ICT at home, with regard to social networking, downloading music (all legally it has to be said) and other areas.
We are taking a step further from here and we have the same presenter delivering more detailed talks to the girls in Year 5 and 6 which will further develop their awareness of Internet safety.
In addition to this, something I have been keen to do at all the schools I have had contact with, we are offering parents talks in the evenings. The talks are with the same charity to offer families a complete knowledge of the risks that the Internet presents if not treated with the sufficient respect. The response to these should be interesting and I shall be keen to see the number of attendees on this first occasion of, what will hopefully become an annual partnership and scheme that we deliver at school.
We have made links with the charity (ISC)2 who work with Childnet to deliver the SMART rules presentations to school groups. We ran talks to the Year 3 and Year 4 girls today which were very good. It is nice to offer them a chance to quiz an outside professional as well as for that person to quiz them about their knowledge. Some eye-opening answers were given when the classes were questioned about their use if ICT at home, with regard to social networking, downloading music (all legally it has to be said) and other areas.
We are taking a step further from here and we have the same presenter delivering more detailed talks to the girls in Year 5 and 6 which will further develop their awareness of Internet safety.
In addition to this, something I have been keen to do at all the schools I have had contact with, we are offering parents talks in the evenings. The talks are with the same charity to offer families a complete knowledge of the risks that the Internet presents if not treated with the sufficient respect. The response to these should be interesting and I shall be keen to see the number of attendees on this first occasion of, what will hopefully become an annual partnership and scheme that we deliver at school.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Mobile Computing
After much emailing different people we have now made solid progress! I have been in contact with manufacturers of Android tablets and Windows themselves regarding our needs from a tablet and our concerns about the issues we might have with the world famous, fruit based brand.
I have continually struggled with the application of a non-windows based OS in our school environment. I do not intend to have a high maintenance ICT program, I enjoy the freedom and cost effective nature of using free software in our teaching and as such have been struggling with the idea of a more app based OS. I would like to avoid a tablet device that would require us to, for example buy 12 tablets @ £400 and then spend further money on each and every app, especially if we wish to avoid adverts. Initially, we would wish for a word processing facility, just in case. For the iPad, the best is Pages. £4.99 per app on 12 tablets is another £60 spent for one app, scaled up to all the iLife apps for iPad would see us spending another £200+ on apps very quickly.
This in mind, I was keen to try the Windows tablets that are appearing. Microsoft themselves do not, at present appear to be committing to placing Surface in schools as they have not fully rolled out their Surface Pro and associated infrastructure to liaise with schools. The Surface Pro, I was informed by someone at Microsoft, is the only tablet of the Surface range that will support Domain links.
I was stumped, until I saw a link to the ASUS VivoTab SMART (ME400) a Windows 8 based tablet (or Windows 8 Pro) for around £400. "Bargain," I said to myself and promptly contacted ASUS to see about trialling one. 2 Days later and a quick phone call and I am currently awaiting the arrival of our test device which we have for 2 weeks. This represents fantastic service from the guys at ASUS and I hope to see how we get on.
So... for now this is it, detailed testing will hopefully proceed. Have we found the Windows based tablet for the school market? I would love to report back.
I have continually struggled with the application of a non-windows based OS in our school environment. I do not intend to have a high maintenance ICT program, I enjoy the freedom and cost effective nature of using free software in our teaching and as such have been struggling with the idea of a more app based OS. I would like to avoid a tablet device that would require us to, for example buy 12 tablets @ £400 and then spend further money on each and every app, especially if we wish to avoid adverts. Initially, we would wish for a word processing facility, just in case. For the iPad, the best is Pages. £4.99 per app on 12 tablets is another £60 spent for one app, scaled up to all the iLife apps for iPad would see us spending another £200+ on apps very quickly.
This in mind, I was keen to try the Windows tablets that are appearing. Microsoft themselves do not, at present appear to be committing to placing Surface in schools as they have not fully rolled out their Surface Pro and associated infrastructure to liaise with schools. The Surface Pro, I was informed by someone at Microsoft, is the only tablet of the Surface range that will support Domain links.
I was stumped, until I saw a link to the ASUS VivoTab SMART (ME400) a Windows 8 based tablet (or Windows 8 Pro) for around £400. "Bargain," I said to myself and promptly contacted ASUS to see about trialling one. 2 Days later and a quick phone call and I am currently awaiting the arrival of our test device which we have for 2 weeks. This represents fantastic service from the guys at ASUS and I hope to see how we get on.
So... for now this is it, detailed testing will hopefully proceed. Have we found the Windows based tablet for the school market? I would love to report back.
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