Category: Learner Digital Literacy

the skills and knowledge taught to learners

Digital Literacy Skills – taking photos on a mobile device

Our digital devices provide us with the opportunity to capture images from the world around us. Being able to express their ideas with photos can make learning more accessible, engaging and meaningful for learners. These are links to sites and resources to support you and your learners with creating photo content.

BBC Scotland – The L.A.B Scotland, How to Take Brilliant Photos on Your Phone

Barclays Digital Wings – Photography on a smartphone

 

Apple

‎Everyone Can Create Photo on Apple Books

‎Why use camera in the classroom? on Apple Books

‎Why use photography in the classroom? on Apple Books

Quick Wins for Maths: Barefoot Computing

BT and Barefoot Computing provide free resources for teaching computational thinking. You can register for free at Barefoot Computing and use these great resources to add exciting new contexts to your numeracy and maths.

Code Cracking

This resource focuses on the role Alan Turing and the Enigma machine played in deciphering coded messages during World War II. Why not use this as a context for maths during your WWII topic?

Code Cracking lesson

 

Want to see more about code cracking?

Check out our Cryptography wakelet

Quick Wins for Maths: code.org

There is so much maths in computing and that presents excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Why not plan to introduce directional language through these engaging challenges form code.org? Learners simply drag blocks of ‘code’ together like jigsaw pieces to solve mathematical puzzles. There’s help videos and hints for each challenge and even an educator section to support you teaching it.

Here are some great places to start your maths/coding adventure:

Pre-reader challenges – Ice Age

The Ice Age-themed ‘pre-reader’ challenges only ask learners to use one or two blocks of code at a time and the directions are represented by arrows, so they can start to code without needing to read.

Play it

Introducing directional words – Star Wars

This Star Wars-themed challenge introduces the use of directional words on screen. So as your learners develop confidence with directional language, they can try more challenging code too.

Play it

 

Exploring degrees – Frozen

This Frozen-themed challenge introduces the use of degrees and angles to control the characters on screen.

Play it

Quick Wins for Numeracy: CPA online

Quick Wins for Numeracy, January 2021

We delivered a workshop on the use of mathsbot virtual manipulatives and Google Jamboard to develop learners’ numeracy understanding. Using these tools allows you learners to model their thinking with a range of manipulatives that they might use in class. Jamboard, or OneNote in O365, act as a virtual whiteboard where learners can use ink, photos, and a range of other tools to show their thinking, collaborate with peers and access teacher feedback online.

 

This short tutorial video demonstrates how to use Windows Snipping Tool with Mathsbot manipulatives to create graphics for Jamboard, OneNote or Forms quizzes: