Kirkshaws DSi Experience

March 30, 2012 Mrs Steel

This is the second time in 3 years that Kirkshaws have had the use of the DSi’s from the loan service. The last time they were used solely by the P5 class. During this load period their use was spread from P3 to P7. The DSi’s were timetabled for use across these classes for the whole term.

The brain training game proved very popular with children creating their own personal challenge targets over the time we have had them in school. Mixed ability paired participation was also used to improve ‘brain age’ in P3.

The DSi’s were also used as a motivation tool with identified children and played a part in the ICT group during the ‘Go For Green’ reward afternoons. The overall experience was very positive, from both teachers and pupils. They will be missed!

Pupil Comments

Zoe, ” We used them during maths times a lot, but I think the game really helped me with my spelling.”

Monique, ” I loved using them. They have helped me to do division and my tables. They make you think a bit quicker too. I wish we had them all the time.”

Casey, ” My favourite thing was taking photographs and making special effects with borders and squiggles and stuff. I got a brain age of 70 once. It would be good to use them again.”

featured, iPod Touch

I-Pod Touches (Eastfield Primary School)

March 21, 2012 Mr Sharp

Background

We borrowed the I-pod touched with a view of supporting the learning and teaching of I.C.T. both in the classroom and also during an after school club. The school were made aware of the loan and several teachers took the opportunity to use the equipment to enhance the learning of their pupils.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

At the school’s I.C.T. club we decided to create a Virtual Tour of the school which would then be uploaded to the school’s website. Although this is still in the process of being edited we used the I-pods to quickly capture the various parts of the school and then uploaded the images onto I-Movie 09.

After downloading a ‘time lapse’ for all the i-pods many teacher took the opportunity to capture a lesson and them upload it to their Blog on the school website. This allowed parents of the school to watch a little snap-shot of their child’s class and then leave a comment on the lesson (if they desired).

Some classes also chose to use the video function to record class talks and then edit them in I-Movie 09 before uploading them onto their Blogs for parents to see.

The I-pods were used extensively for surfing the internet gathering information about non-ficiton texts and also to take notes on class topics at the time.

Finally the pupils also loved to use the various language and maths apps on the I-pods when they had finished their class work.

Impact / conclusion

As you can see the school used the I-pods to a great effect and now we have made real developments on our school website due the quick capturing and editing process of the I-pods. It cut out the need to borrow/share cameras and video cameras in the school and teachers could use the I-pods when opportunities came up instead of planning weeks in advance. The pupils also had the opportunity to experience much more I.C.T. learning instead of only a weekly timetabled slot of the school’s I.C.T. room.

Evidence

Scottish Dancing: Primary-3-4 Primary-4

P7 Science Fayre: Capillary Attraction Full-Fat-v-Low-Fat Liquid Reactions

Iron Brew Volcano Marvellous Marshmallows

Natural-Disasters Oil and Water

Time Lapse: Castles-1 Castles-2 p1-time-lapse p1-time-lapse-2

P2 time lapse P4-Maths time lapse

BeeBots

BeeBots at Glenmanor Primary

January 13, 2012 Mrs Grant

Background

We already have a couple of BeeBots in school but they are not greatly used by classes. We decided to borrow extra to allow them to be used as a whole class resource and so increase staff and pupil awareness of how they could be used.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

The BeeBots provided a huge motivation for the children and encouraged them to engage with the tasks given. They meant that the children were active in their learning, which in most classes linked to maths. They gave the children great opportunity to develop talking and listening skills, group work and problem solving skills.

Impact/Conclusion

An enthusiastic response from staff and pupils throughout the school. They added a new dimension to the maths programme and encouraged the use of mathematical language in the children. We are already seeing greater use of the BeeBots that we have in school and are hoping to order more to enhance our ICT provision.

featured, I Can Animate

I Can Animate – Eastfield Primary School

December 21, 2011 Mr Sharp

Football Funny Haunted House Tom and Jerry X Factor

Background

Our I.C.T. school club ran from September to December in weekly 1 hour blocks. 15 children attended to learn how to use animation software and how to edit the movies in I-Movie. At first we split the pupils into smaller groups and asked them to create a basic storyline, characters and background to their movie. Next we used various art materials to make our background and plastercine to make the characters. The filming process lasted a few weeks with each pupil choosing to be either a director, filmcrew or actor. Then we exported the finished movie and added titles, credits and voice effects using I-Movie.

How ICT supported learning and teaching

We used the school laptops for the webcams and downloaded the ‘Frame by Frame’ software. The webcams and microphone allowed the pupils to add in their own effects and movements. The pupils worked in small groups so that everyone would get a chance to use the various hardware and software. The teacher used the large mounted smartboard to show the pupils each step of the process and to highlight any problems and solutions they were having.

Impact / conclusion

The pupils loved using the new software and different functions on the laptops that previously they would not have used. next the club aims to build on the knowledge gained to produce move movies, using I-Movie.

iPod Touch

ipods in Overtown

December 20, 2011 Mrs Horner

Primary 6 had a ball with the ipods. We produced wall charts for speedy tables and what a difference in such a short time! What competitive children we had!

We used the Martian app to write our kenning poems, what strange creations and vocabulary we produced.

We also had the opportunity to record our ICG raps, this was a favourite for all the children.

On the whole the children loved having the ipods handy for tables practise, spelling or a little research. It was an innovative way for the children to enhance their learning and this was seen through their enthusiasm when using them.

iPod Touch

I-pod touches

December 11, 2011 Mrs Pickering

Great way to learn. Children were encouraged to better personal bests and the element of competition further enhanced their eagerness to improve. A great resource which promotes learning and had the children working together and encouraging each other along the way.

Feedback on ICT Hardware in the classroom