Anne from St Mary's School in Mosgiel joined our 'Grow an Idea'conference to share her experience of using Twitter to sustain her own e-learning development after her cluster programme ended.
Find out more about using Twitter as a tool for professional growth by visiting Anne's wikispace, http://growanidea.wikispaces.com/
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Stretching Our Understanding of Writing
Petra at GSNS has focused her Action Research this year around one of her writing groups. Find out what she has done and view the progress of her writers in this Powerpoint she presented at the 'Grow an Idea' Sharing Conference.
Using a Blog to Communicate while on a School Trip
Leanne and Claire from George Street Normal School were interested in exploring how they could utilize a blog to enhance communication and learning while on an overseas trip with students.
This same idea could be used to communicate with family during school camps or other learning experiences which distance students and family.
http://gsnsjapantrip.blogspot.com/
This same idea could be used to communicate with family during school camps or other learning experiences which distance students and family.
http://gsnsjapantrip.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
THINK Conference
Follow this link to catch up on what happened at the THINK Conference. Links to Jill's resources are available on the wiki.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Elective Experts Connect with Senior Students at GSNS
Students select electives at GSNS run by experts in their communities. Read about their projects and elective focuses in their presentation below.
Scientists and Seniors at George Street Normal School
George Street Normal Seniors have been working with Scientists to learn about acids and bases and ecosystems. They explain how they connected with these experts to explore the world of Science.
Room 6 and the Senior Team connect with special people and places
Room 6 at George Street Normal and the rest of the senior team have been involving many community members in their learning and using ICT to organise this time and connect with these people.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Connections with Australia- Blogging and Skype
Room 12 at George Street Normal have entered the Connection Challenge. They have been making buddies with a class from Sydney. Firstly they looked at their Blog and their buddy class looked at Room 12's Blog. The two classes wrote comments on each others Blogs. Then they decided to Skype each other. Room 12 used the Interactive Whiteboard to see each other on Skype. This is what Room 12 had to say about the experience:
"It was very fun and we asked them lots of questions to find out about their lives in Sydney."
Next, class 5D (in Australia) sent Room 12 a parcel with lots of goodies in it. They wanted their Kiwi buddies to learn about Australia and things that are native to Australia. Room 12 all loved trying the caremello koalas and posted 5D a parcel with a kiwi and pineapple lumps and other things.
"We hope that we can Skype them again soon. You can visit our Blog anytime you want to see some photos of our connections with 5D. You can see this at www.gsns-team12.blogspot.com. You can also listen to this amazing news on our District 12 news show. We hope you like the music."
"It was very fun and we asked them lots of questions to find out about their lives in Sydney."Next, class 5D (in Australia) sent Room 12 a parcel with lots of goodies in it. They wanted their Kiwi buddies to learn about Australia and things that are native to Australia. Room 12 all loved trying the caremello koalas and posted 5D a parcel with a kiwi and pineapple lumps and other things.
"We hope that we can Skype them again soon. You can visit our Blog anytime you want to see some photos of our connections with 5D. You can see this at www.gsns-team12.blogspot.com. You can also listen to this amazing news on our District 12 news show. We hope you like the music."
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Liberton Room 2 Connection Challenge
Click here to read about what Room 2 at Liberton Christian School did for the Otepoti Connection Challenge. Well done Room 2 a prize is on its way to you.Liberton Room 2 Connect Challenge
Some of the students from Room 2 at Liberton Christian School setting up their new webcam and headset so they can Skype experts they contact in the future.
Some of the students from Room 2 at Liberton Christian School setting up their new webcam and headset so they can Skype experts they contact in the future.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Teaching Typing- a waste of time?
Wendy Langley and Bilinda Offen
Lee Stream School Action Research Project
Whole School NE-Y8
This is the research write-up that Bilinda and Wendy submitted to their BOT.
Very interesting results!!!
Do you give students opportunities to type and develop keyboarding skills? Could you see a purpose for this? See what they did in the PDF report below.
Click on the PDF and it will open in a larger window, you can then zoom to increase the size of the document...
Lee Stream School Action Research Project
Whole School NE-Y8
This is the research write-up that Bilinda and Wendy submitted to their BOT.
Very interesting results!!!
Do you give students opportunities to type and develop keyboarding skills? Could you see a purpose for this? See what they did in the PDF report below.
Click on the PDF and it will open in a larger window, you can then zoom to increase the size of the document...
Book Reports with Bling!
Natalie Barnett
George Street Normal School
Year 0-3
Teaching Inquiry Question
How do I extend gifted readers through the use of ICT?
The Highlight of the Project
The highlight of my project was the use of a blog as a learning journal. I created a blog “The Brainstorm Lounge” and recorded my ideas throughout my learning journey. The blog became a great reflective tool as well as an avenue to share my ideas with other teachers. My blog can be found at the following address:
http://thebrainstormlounge.blogspot.com
What I did
Where to Next
This year I am really interested in extending the use of my Bookworm wiki by adding more activities and using the wiki with a new group of children. I am also looking forward to assisting my colleagues to develop similar wikis to meet the needs of the students in their class.
For my Action Research Project for 2010 I will be focusing on integrating the use of an iPod Touch and an Interactive Whiteboard into my classroom programme.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Video and Numeracy
Sarah Gilbert and Erika McAliece
Outram School
Year 5-6 and New Entrant
Sarah and Erika shares their journeys using a wiki to enhance their Mathematics programmes and help parents understand the Numeracy Project.
See their PowerPoint presentation below.
Outram School
Year 5-6 and New Entrant
Sarah and Erika shares their journeys using a wiki to enhance their Mathematics programmes and help parents understand the Numeracy Project.
See their PowerPoint presentation below.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
DO COMPUTER GAMES HELP YOUR X TABLES?
ALAN ROBERTSON
LIBERTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
YEAR 3, 4, 5
Teaching Inquiry Question
Can computer game activities assist the learning of student’s X basic facts as effectively as traditional methods?
Rationale:
The Highlight of the Project
Actually seeing a marked improvement in the students’ basic facts knowledge and speed recall and secondly seeing them enjoy the learning style that they preferred – some wanted and loved the computer and others chose and loved the traditional learning style. Their attitude responses showed that overall it was a positive experience for them.
What I did
First of all I found a variety of x Basic facts game and practice type applications on the internet then linked them directly to a maths page on my class wiki.
Then followed the procedure as outlined below…
The hardest bit was finding suitable websites that gave a balance of practice , knowledge and appropriate applications rather than just fun and games – once the time was spent and the games were put onto wiki then it was well worth the effort.
Conclusions
I don’t feel that there was any really conclusive evidence that one way of learning is much better than the other – but after discussing the programme with students and comparing the improvement results I feel that the most important indication was that the students appreciated
the opportunity to try and learn in some way that would best suit their interests, skills and attitudes – The project...
Where to Next
What difference has your Teaching Inquiry made to student learning?
LIBERTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
YEAR 3, 4, 5
Teaching Inquiry Question
Can computer game activities assist the learning of student’s X basic facts as effectively as traditional methods?
Rationale:
- Help improve student’s basic facts speed and accuracy recall
- Prioritise and provide a variety of regular basic facts recall and practice activities
The Highlight of the Project
Actually seeing a marked improvement in the students’ basic facts knowledge and speed recall and secondly seeing them enjoy the learning style that they preferred – some wanted and loved the computer and others chose and loved the traditional learning style. Their attitude responses showed that overall it was a positive experience for them.
What I did
First of all I found a variety of x Basic facts game and practice type applications on the internet then linked them directly to a maths page on my class wiki.
Then followed the procedure as outlined below…
- Gave students an attitude questionnaire / Pre-test (Baseline data)
- Explained the intention / expectations and activity styles
- Allowed students to elect learning style - (teacher to balance similar test results for fair comparison at end)
- Daily practice – teacher guidance / support
- Students worked in pairs - balanced turns in roles
- Research period = 7 weeks
- Occasional reflection times during process
- Post test and attitude / response questionnaire
The hardest bit was finding suitable websites that gave a balance of practice , knowledge and appropriate applications rather than just fun and games – once the time was spent and the games were put onto wiki then it was well worth the effort.
Conclusions
I don’t feel that there was any really conclusive evidence that one way of learning is much better than the other – but after discussing the programme with students and comparing the improvement results I feel that the most important indication was that the students appreciated
the opportunity to try and learn in some way that would best suit their interests, skills and attitudes – The project...- reinforced the importance and need for regular, disciplined basic facts revision and practice
- made it obvious that any practice and focus does have beneficial results and effects on children’s learning
- highlighted the fact that children do have different learning style preferences and where possible teachers should provide opportunities to help cater for these needs
Where to Next
- allow children the opportunity to have some input into the type of learning style they would prefer when learning their basic facts
- deliberately incorporate opportunities for a mixture of both computer activity and traditional learning methods for basic facts practice in class programme
What difference has your Teaching Inquiry made to student learning?
- All Students improved their x basic speed and knowlege
- Both learning methods were enjoyed Computer: Av Pre 49.37 Av Post 70.87 Average Increase 21.5 and Traditional: Av Pre 52.12 Av Post 69.12 Average Increase 17
- Another very positive result was that the students really did enjoy the experience and opportunity to learn how they wanted to, and they too were very pleased and proud of their progress
- The attitude indicators for two similar questions in the Pre and Post Test questionnaires had a positive reversal of responses – Ratings moved from 13 to 31 enjoyed basic facts learning, 26 to 13 didn't mind basic facts learning , 3 to 0 didn't enjoy basic facts learning.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
SELF-ASSESSMENT - using ICT to self assess.
Andrea Thorburn
Dunedin North Intermediate
Year 7 and 8
DNI Dance Wiki
Dunedin North Intermediate
Year 7 and 8
DNI Dance Wiki
AIM
To find a way to improve self-assessment using ICT (especially for dance)
WHY?
We ask the children to assess themselves ALL 
the time, using many different methods examples: rubric, continuum, levels… and for many different curriculum areas. For some students they are fantastic at being able to self-assess whereas for others it’s just a guessing game. I wanted to improve this and decided to start with the area of dance because I take a dance and drama enrichment class.
OLD METHOD
The class would observe each other when practising their dances and give critical feedback so that everyone could improve their dance for the final performance.
After the final performance the class would give feedback to the pair regarding what they did well and what they still needed to work on.
NEW METHOD
In groups of 4, students watched each other practising their dance, when one pair felt ready they would get the other pair to film them and vice versa.
They watched the final dance on computer and used it to fill in their self assessment sheets.
DID IT WORK?
Yes, the self assessment sheets had more written comments on them compared to other times. The students felt they could write more for the comments because they had seen it themselves rather than been told by class members what they had done well and what they needed to work on.
WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME?
- Spend more time on video techniques.
- Book video for first thing in the morning so that I could make sure it was charged over night, rather than middle or end of day when other teachers had used it and not charged it!
- Begin it very early in the term so that the holidays don’t interrupt the flow.
WHAT ELSE COULD THIS TECHNIQUE BE USED FOR?
- Any practical assessment
- 1 student had a wonderful suggestion that inquiry presentations could be filmed and put on a wiki for parents to see.
- Using videos not only to make movies but to enhance self-assessment and for a chance for parents to view what their child is doing at school was incredibly valuable and I will use it a lot more in the future.
- I would like to see videos as another common tool in the class, just like digital cameras have become common place.
ICT for the ICT Illiterate Confessions of a Converted Luddite!
Clemy Wright
Outram School
Year level Year 2/3
Link to...
Room 9's blog http://room9youshine.blogspot.com/
Otago Daily Times article about Clemy and Room 9's national blog award
Teaching Inquiry Question
How can the classroom blog pass more into the hands of the children and give them greater ownership of Room9youshine.blogspot.com and how can we further strengthen the communication between home and classroom.
The Highlight of the Project
(It was amazing winning a national award last year. But more amazing for me was seeing the children rise to the challenge and work so well in their blog teams and delight in their achievements.
What I did
I mentored parents who could then become mentors in the blog process. I mentored key pupils to act as mentors for the rest of the class. I modelled regularly and gave plenty of feedback of their achievements. I tried to remain an invisible member of the team and to focus entirely on the children
Problems / Difficulties and my Solutions
Homes without wireless meant it was difficult to share blog achievements with families. I always have new posts displayed on the large screen for the children to see when they arrive in the morning. I chose my parent helps for the blog team with care to ensure that the children drove the projects.
Conclusions and Where to Next
It has been a huge learning curve but also a reminder that many of the processes on a computer are essentially simple and it is just a matter of practice makes perfect.
What difference has your Teaching Inquiry made to student learning?
There was involvelent from the whole class. We even began to classify the comments we made on the blog. A level 1 comment was a simple phrase such as, “Cool picture John.” A level 2 comment included some reflection on the post etc. The whole science of blog writing became familiar, enjoyable and above all easy.
Outram School
Year level Year 2/3
Link to...
Room 9's blog http://room9youshine.blogspot.com/
Otago Daily Times article about Clemy and Room 9's national blog award
Teaching Inquiry Question
How can the classroom blog pass more into the hands of the children and give them greater ownership of Room9youshine.blogspot.com and how can we further strengthen the communication between home and classroom.
The Highlight of the Project
(It was amazing winning a national award last year. But more amazing for me was seeing the children rise to the challenge and work so well in their blog teams and delight in their achievements.
What I did
I mentored parents who could then become mentors in the blog process. I mentored key pupils to act as mentors for the rest of the class. I modelled regularly and gave plenty of feedback of their achievements. I tried to remain an invisible member of the team and to focus entirely on the children
Problems / Difficulties and my Solutions
Homes without wireless meant it was difficult to share blog achievements with families. I always have new posts displayed on the large screen for the children to see when they arrive in the morning. I chose my parent helps for the blog team with care to ensure that the children drove the projects.
Conclusions and Where to Next
It has been a huge learning curve but also a reminder that many of the processes on a computer are essentially simple and it is just a matter of practice makes perfect.
What difference has your Teaching Inquiry made to student learning?
There was involvelent from the whole class. We even began to classify the comments we made on the blog. A level 1 comment was a simple phrase such as, “Cool picture John.” A level 2 comment included some reflection on the post etc. The whole science of blog writing became familiar, enjoyable and above all easy.
Monday, February 1, 2010
What did you do at school today? Blogging in the New Enrant Classroom.
This is Michele and Julia's powerpoint from the Mini-Conference 2009. It is an overview of their journey during the year.
See their class blogs at
Julia (Kindle 1)http://gsns1.blogspot.com/
Michele (Kindle 2) http://gsnskindle2.blogspot.com/
See their class blogs at
Julia (Kindle 1)http://gsns1.blogspot.com/
Michele (Kindle 2) http://gsnskindle2.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)