PART 2: Speaking and listening  and digital imaging 

I.C.T allows greater opportunities for:

• Pair work- talking, such as asking and answering questions.
• Extends interaction between children through the use of webcams, digital video, etc. 
• This allows chance for feedback and reflection on the processes involved in talking, both in groups and individually.
• Explanation from children.
• Transportation- MP3, MP4 are good devices for listening.

Devices children could use in schools:

Through I.C.T devices children have so many different ways of speaking and listening to communicate with one another. This session gave me so various new and advanced digit devices that I now I will be using, when I qualify as a teacher.  :)

These devices include; Talking photo albums, Talk tins, Talking cards, Podcast, digital cameras and webcams. 

Talking cards and Talking photo albums are brilliant devices which can be used in class to help EAL (English as an additional Language) and SEN children. There also very useful for children during phonics, the way each phoneme  should be pronounced. Very beneficial for stories and presentations, lastly a super idea to have them when u go on trips and then display them on display boards from interaction. 

 

  Talking photo albums                                                        

Talking tins advantages:

• Easy
• Can be used for Phonics
• Sending messages
• Can be used fro activities on tables and group work in the classroom.
• Talk and display
• Treasure hunts

Talking tins record and playback messages, music or sounds effects. Spoken words can be captured quickly and reviewed through listening, rather then reading. There inclusive and a good educational resource allowing voice message, to be recorded in any language. Talking tins are easily altered to sort all levels of abilities.  

Talking Tins

Podcast

• Podcast's were first designed by Apple in late 2004. The idea was to have a type of digital radio that could be downloaded onto iPods and other MP3 players that were made of audio other than music files.
• Basically, a podcast is a digital media file that is downloaded directly from a streaming Internet source. 
• They are distributed on the Internet using syndication feeds, or free use websites, and are hosted or authored by a podcaster. The media files are downloaded onto a computer, whether it is a home PC or a Mac, and then can be directly downloaded onto a digital media device like an iPod or other MP3 player. 
• Many people simplify the podcast definition simply by calling it an online, prerecorded radio program over the Internet.

Podcast <--- The first time the children at this school make their own 'Podcast.'

Digital Cam- My attempt on using the Digi cam in class!! :) Not bad I thought... Check it out!!

We started of with making the play dough figures and then moved onto using the Digi cam and snapping as we moved the objects, this created a moving scene. 

This was a FUN and very insightful lesson for me, not only did i learn how children can use I.C.T devices to help them whether this be, SEN, EAL or Gifted and talented children. ALL children can benefit from the devices in one way or another. I also had great fun making the scene myself with others..... A Thumbs up from me..... :)

PART 1:Digital and computer control 

To know how a child learns become one!! Testing out the equipment! 

Computer control: Is to program the computer to do a job or to produce a device for example sensor's, light or movement detection. 

Inside the home                                                                 Outside the home
- light switch                                                                          - Traffic lights
- Microwave                                                                          - Car locking system
- Sky plus                                                                               - Electric gates
- Sleep mode                                                                          - CCTV camera's
- Central heating                                                                   - Barcodes
-Alarm clock
- Washing machine

Why do we use the computer to control things? hummmm..... well
Firstly like us humans they do not get tired 'zzzzzzzz.' they don't need coffee to keep there concentration. Mistakes computers 'do NOT make' UNLESS humans program the device wrong. Best advantages computers are repetitive they can complete something EXACTLY the same over and over and over again...... Lastly they are cheap. ( Problem: yes!! although they may be useful our job levels decrease as computers have taken over.) 


To make things work there must be a procedure. A procedure is a sequence of instructions or commands that a CPU (central processing unit) stores.
It is important that the procedure is written correctly so that things happen in the correct order. 


Program's that we can use in schools: 

ROAMER, PIXIES AND PIPS : The Roamer, Pixie, Beebot and Pippin are examples of a programmable robot. Children use these in the classrooms on many occasions (get to experience REAL scientific equipment ) They are good for demonstration many skills that children can develop on.

Skills:

• Shapes
• Angles
• Turns
• Communication (language)
• Co-ordinates
• Sequencing
• Prepositions (next to, between, on the left/right etc)
• Direction
• Spacial awareness

However misconceptions do arise and therefore need to be cleared up for example, the robot's are all program differently so the Bee bot a turn would not be a turn and then mover. Some children get this system confusing unless modeled to first. 

To extend the child: Give a route to the child, complex shapes.......

Beebot in action (Treasure map)                                  Beebot...travelling to form a square

Computer Monitoring 

Computer monitoring involves the use of sensors for two main purposes: 

1. As a scientific measuring tool to record information about environmental changes over a period of time. The resulting information can be examined in a table or as a graph. This is usually known as data logging. 
2. To provide feedback for a control system.

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Children can use the data loggers for many lessons (C.C) Data logger

• Investigations on temperature changes
• What temperature does a plant grow best in? 
• At what time is the traffic on Hendon high road the loudest?
• Are out ear muffs (made in D&T) effective?
• which material is a good insulator?

• Good use for Cross curriculum lessons (Literacy, geography, science... )
• Imagination
• Chance to plan an investigation
• Record results

Digital Microscope 

Before lesson : SHATTERED  

After lesson: As HAPPY as a kid in a candy shop

SMART- Interactive white board

This session was ALL about interaction, the interactive white board. we learnt about how to use the board, why to use the board and how others use the board. In my opinion SMART is the way forward --> :) So today i'm blogging strengths /weakness and showing you a little of what I learnt. So don't STOP reading its in fact kind of interesting.  

Smart board you tube video

1. Endless possibilities
2. A big computer

• Websites
• Resources – number lines, Calculator, Number squares
• Easy access
• Quicker
• Can be Updated

R.M instructional strategies

Robert Marzano  " A good teacher uses technology well, to be effective you have to be confident and experienced."  

Considerations

1. Reliability-Always have plan B- back up just in case.)
2. Height - It should be interactive, so children can access it too.
3. Position- to ensure all children can see the board.
4. Light - sunlight, glare and reflection.
5. Access - of course you have to be able to have one first.
6. Text visibly- important the text colour chosen can be see (most importantly if you have changed the background colour.)

Benefits

1. It developments discussion skills.
2. Different kinds of learning ( visual, auditory and kinesthetic (SEN, EAL).)
3. Record-able
4. Creative
5. More simulation and engaging (Edutainment.)
6. Develops ICT skills.
7. Develops thinking skills.
8. Webs links and resources.

NOW let the fun part begin: 

After learning and having a play about with the interactive board and testing out the basics we all learnt a special effect. Our groups effect was 'Click and fade.' 

The Click to Reveal Effect

Creating the Click to Reveal Effect

1. Open a blank page in SMART Notebook software.

2. Type or place the information you want to hide and reveal on your SMART Notebook page.

3. Click the Gallery tab, and type button in the text box.

4. Click the Search button. The search results appear.

5. Select the Pictures folder to display several images of buttons.

6. Click and drag the thumbnail of a button to your SMART Notebook page. The button is added to the page.

7. Drag and drop the button over the object you want to hide and reveal. 

Animating the Click to Reveal Effect

1. Left-click the image of the button on the page.

2. Select the Properties tab, and then select Object Animation.

3. Select Fade Out from the Type drop-down menu.

4. Select Locking > Lock in Place from the button’s drop-down menu to remove the blue selection box from appearing around the button.

Using the Click to Reveal Effect

1. Press the image of the button on the page. The button fades out, revealing the hidden object

underneath.

2. Press the revealed object to reset the button to its original state, Tip: You can insert multiple click to reveal effects on the same SMART Notebook page. The click to reveal effect adds an interactive element and hands-on approach to lesson activities. Students can verify their work and receive instant feedback by pressing the animated object on the SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard. Another extraordinary effect, made simple.

MY Click and fade demonstration.....

Setting up my blog

Today I decided that I would create a blog that will keep track of my progress during my PGCE I.C.T sessions. I will look at what I have Learnt, my difficulties and my strengths in each session. To be fair I have never set up a blog before or thought about it. Setting a blog account to my surprise was pretty straight forward, signing up and your ready to go. Its the 'GO' part which is not as easy as I thought. A blog as you may know is a mini journal but for children it allows them to express themselves. Children get to be creative, show new skills and develop on previous ones. Just from a simple blog children expand and grow. 

Place of computing and ICT in the National Curriculum

Four main areas children should develop through ICT are :

• Finding things out
• Developing ideas and making things happen
• Exchanging and sharing information
• Reviewing, modifying and evaluating work as it progresses.

From this session now looking back at what is required from the national curriculum in ICT, blogging is a VERY effective tool. It allows all this four areas to be tied in through the creation of a child's blog.

Teachers do not forget the Internet provides as many resources as needed why not use them to there full capacity. Fronter, Espresso, The British museum and The British Pathe these are just a few..........

Web 2.0 in education

What is Web 2.0?

Why do we use it?

Where do we use it?
How do we use it?
Is it useful?
Are these the the kinds of thoughts your having?? because I certainly did. Web 2.0 I had never heard that before, well that' s what I thought. Web 2.0 is a trend in the use of the World Wide Web technology and web designs. It aims is to aid creativity, information sharing and to collaborate among users . From this the web has evolved and developed communities and hosted services  such as social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, you tube and Skype,) blogs, wikis and folksonomies. 

Web 2.0 seems to suggests a new version of the World Wide Web where as before it was simply used for emails and basic functions well not anymore, the web is forever growing, it has not limits!!! Software developers and end-users use the webs in a complete new dimension. 

      

BLOGGING 

Blog it!!!       
                                                                                    

Bring out the writer in your children and what a way to do this, blogging!! Children in many schools are encouraged to start blogging. WHY???? 

1. Children love having an audience, they instant recognition and approval that comes from a crowd, a simple 'like' can do wonders on a child's confidence.
2. It can help develop good spelling habits, grammar skills, and develop a love for writing at a young age.

Benefits:

• Responsibility/Commitment - Daily Posts, having regular updates require children to be disciplined and responsible.

• Communication - Increased Communication with Friends and Relatives blogging or journaling gives children the opportunity to connect with relatives who might live some distance away.

• Technology - Exposure to Internet Technologies, (Important in life today.)

• Improved Writing Skills/Improved Spelling - When presented with an audience, children will want to present their "best" work. Spell-checking helps children be aware of spelling errors when they occur.

WORTH watching!!

Is does seem obvious when you talk about e-safety what it is? and how we can stay safe but you would be surprised on how easy to it to forget the small things such as changing privacy settings, trusting people and most of all ‘How to make the environment your children are in safe.’ This can be as small as limiting internet access time, having a safe lock system in place SAFE LOCK and even making children aware of the dangers. Key thing to remember the 'smallest of things make the biggest difference.'

E- safety polices within schools reflect the importance of safe use of information systems and electronic communications. It should highlight the need to educate children and young people about the benefit, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.

Blogging involves the Internet which is global, remind children not to disclose personal information including names, addresses or location of events they plan to attend.

Staying Safe Online: Safety Software!!

WOW What a session that turned out to be.......