Tuesday, 18 December 2012

My final lesson in ICT

Presentation Time......

In this lesson I was with two other students and we were presenting a 10 minute example of a starter or plenary to a lesson for Ks1 or Ks2. I decided to do a plenary on Light Sources for a year 1 class. I used random word generator, click to disappear and balloon pop. I found this last day really fun and interesting watching my group present different topics.
I just want to say good bye and see you in wide WEB world!!

Monday, 10 December 2012

Games and M Learning

 KODU

This is a visual program specifically designed for making games - it is designed for children (but I had a great time on it!) so i really is enjoyable for anyone.
Here is the game I made....




This software is appropriate to the National Curriculum 'Developing ideas and making things happen'. It states that in key stage 1 children should be taught to try things out and explore what happens in real and imaginary situations (Ks1 2d). Here is a link which may be helpful in why it is useful in primary schools: Teach Primary it explains how it can engage children and that 'Kodu in the Classroom is a set of resources that have been developed for education to help you introduce Kodu as either a one-off experience, or as a sequence of lessons'.




Dance to Advance

 

I then went on to test and create my own 'Dance to Advance' game. This is designed to be interactive and really fun. A question will appear in the middle box and the player must select the correct answer from a choice of 8 answers. The pack comes with two dance mats so that children can step on the correct answer - without the use of mats it is just as fun on the computer keyboard. I created my own game based on number bonds to 10. In my middle box a number such as 4 will drop down and children must select the right answer - in this case 6...

M Learning
What is M learning?
A hand held device which allows children to record, take pictures, GPS and games. It is great for outdoor learning... gone are days when you use paper, it starts to rain and all your work is ruined and becomes impossible to use. With these devices you can use in almost any kind of weather, have the work recorded so that you can pick up where you left off or use it as a quick and easy way of reminding yourself on the work that was previously done.

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

Computer programming & Modelling

Using software for modelling in the classroom is important because it teaches children about reaching a decision based on trial activity before we commit ourselves to the real thing. This is an important skill for children to develop because the idea about 'what will happen if....' is important for children to think about.
Modelling is also very fascinating for children and their are lots of program examples that are good to look into such as Tizzy's Tools.
Modelling is also seen in the National Curriculum: in KS1 children should be taught to try things out and explore. In KS2 children should be taught to develop ideas and make things happen, to use simulations and explore models in order to answer 'What if...?'questions.

LOGO
Programmable toys like Logo are important to learning because according to Papert's Philosophy - the essence of logo involves thinking about processes; about how you are doing what you are doing.

This can also help with children's learning as it develops their mathematical skills with shape and number. It is also more interesting to really see how a design was created rather than just seeing the finished product.

Speaking and Listening

ICT provides children with the opportunity to use certain technologies that provides them with what can be argued as a more enjoyable way of learning. For example the use of ordinary talk does not give children the chance to remember and refer back to, so with recording devices children can record conversations and use it for various activities and different days.

Devices such as Mp3s or Mp4s enable children to listen on the move and can as a result provide a more practical lesson witch might have been restricted to four walls previously.








Talking Photo Albums:
Personally I found these rally exciting!! They support speaking and listening skills on the literacy framework by focusing on:
  • photo sequences
  • presentations
  • hiding and revealing pictures
  • word recognition
This is can be really useful in a Primary classroom, especially if you are working SEND or EAL children who may find it hard to access the curriculum with verbal o written instructions. The Talking Photo album can also be really good for use in Science - children are able to take pictures of an investigation at each stage and then provide explanations using speech over the pictures.