All posts by John Johnston

I am a teacher, currently working in Banton Primary for North Lanarkshire Council. I also act as Product Owner/provide support for Glow Blogs.
Flip Camera

Flip Camera – Kilsyth Academy

Leave a comment

Pupils were set the task of investigating how certain products are manufactured, thinking about the raw materials used and the processes involved. Instead of making a presentation and poster, the cameras were used to allow pupils to make a short film about their investigation.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

The cameras supported active learning through role playing in various ways Ð as scientists working in industry, as farmers explaining their methods, as news reporters and as members of a production team.
By filming instead of presenting pupils had less inhibitions about performing and the overall quality of their presentations was improved.
Pupils had to plan carefully their film and consider whether they had covered the intended learning outcomes that were to be explained to their audience. The cameras helped that as pupils could review and assess what they had completed.
Pupils also increased their ICT skills.

Impact / conclusion

A good level of pupil participation was noted, and most pupils really enjoyed producing this type of work. The main advantages of the cameras are in good self and peer assessment, and helping pupils improve their presentation skills.
The activity was carried out at the end of term for S2 when more time was available. To use the cameras pupils needed to learn how to use new software, and in downloading and editing films had a few teething problems. Overall the activity took longer than first anticipated.
I would certainly use the cameras again but encourage pupils to shoot film requiring minimal editing.
Talktime

Talk-Time Chapelhall Primary School

Leave a comment

Background

The pupils of Chapelhall Primary School held a Scottish Art Exhibition. Every class studied a Scottish artist and using inspiration from that artist’s work, each child then created their own pictures.  Along with the artwork each class also produced a poster with background information about their artist.  All work was displayed and parents and friends were invited to come along and buy the children’s work.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

Each class received 2 -3 talk boards. They were displayed along with the children’s artwork.  The talk boards were used in different ways. Some children recorded information about the Scottish artist they were studying. Others recorded how they felt when creating the artwork.  Some children recorded how they felt about the artists work. Some children recorded how they created their artwork. Parents and children were able to listen to them while they were going around the Art Exhibition.

Impact / conclusion

The children enjoyed creating the recorded message. Adults and children listened to them. A few people commented that they were good, but some were difficult to hear. Children liked them if they couldn’t read the other information on the posters.

Background

Whole school holding a Spring Fayre as an enterprise event. Each class displayed spring art work in hall where fayre was being set up. The white recordable boards allowed each class to record a small explanation of their work, which visitors could listen to.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

Pupils had to consider the focus of their learning and record this in a concise format. They had to speak clearly and with enough volume to allow others to hear and understand when playing it back.

Impact / conclusion

These boards were a good way to allow others to find out more about the learning that had taken place in order to achieve the final result. Having to record the aspects of learning helped to consolidate this. All visitors to the school found them useful and other pupils often listen to the boards to hear about other classes work.

Easi-speak

Easi-speak microphones – Dalziel High

Leave a comment

Background

Spanish – Pupils were working on the unit ÔLeisure and Healthy LivingÕ and had been learning how to discuss activities to promote healthy mind/healthy body.

Whole school – We were asked to create an interdisciplinary quiz for the entire S2 cohort. This quiz was to be made on Powerpoint and to last around 3 hrs.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

Spanish – We employed the co-operative learning technique of ‘round table’ and each pupil was given a role. This was expanded and became the technique ‘pass and add’. The groups were reliant on each other to complete the task and all groups were mixed ability. The microphones allowed for recap and amending information prior to a final submission for each team. There was a winning group who in their evaluation did not actually realize just how much Spanish they had actually been using and were really impressed ans was the class teacher and the PT.

Whole school – ICT was critical to the S2 quiz and instantly made the information visible and thus more reader friendly. The microphones, although not used by the pupils themselves, were used as an invaluable teacher tool for a quick way to record round by round instructions which could then be inserted into the Powerpoint as freestanding mp3 files.

Impact / conclusion

Many pupils commented that having both verbal and written instructions had helped them to clarify tasks within their groups. Furthermore, our HID specialists praised the use of audio as well as visual and learning support mentioned that the kinaesthetic learners amongst the cohort would have benefited enormously.

Airliner

Airliner Tablet – St. Adian’s Primary School

Leave a comment
Intention – I intended to use the airliner to aid the use of the SMARTBoard without having to be beside it. I hoped it would help when I was working with children at a table but still needed to use the board.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

Evaluation – I found the airliner to be very helpful. The children are able to use it from their own chairs and it has stopped the children climbing over one another to reach the board. It has also sped up the time it takes to play games on the board as the children do not need to make their way to the board.

Impact / conclusion

The airliner was slightly difficult to set up and it took a few attempts but when it was up and running it was fine.

BeeBots

BeeBots – P2 Netherton Primary

Leave a comment

Pupils had already used Roamer but these have been a great progression to independent work for small groups and pairs.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

Activities with Beebots allowed groups to work independently after initial instructions and demonstrations. Some pupils discovered for themselves how the gadgets used instructions entered. The thinking process that pupils had to engage into programming the Beebot was very valuable.

Impact / conclusion

I would love to have them as part of school resource or on a termly basis from the centre.