Thursday, 29 May 2014
Moved house yay!
Finally moved house last Friday and I love the new house, lots more space for everyone. Lots of unpacking done, loads more to do, but I've had a good sort out so I'm very happy!
Thursday, 15 May 2014
ICT Assignment - Reflection
Supporting Children’s Learning with ICT
Reflection
According to Steve Higgins from Newcastle University there is evidence from research that ICT can help pupils to learn and teachers to teach more effectively. (Higgins, Unknown). In my own experience whilst covering classes and teaching students over the last ten years, the introduction of ICT into a subject area other than ICT, proves to be an exciting and different challenge for the learner. The students in this lesson became very excitable at the prospect of recording information that they have learnt. I agree with a statement made by the author Somekh, ‘computers arouse strong passions because they challenge ritual practices of our daily lives’ (Somekh, 2007, p. 66) and believe this to be the reason for the student’s excitement; it is something different to the normal routine. By making media sources that will be available for others to use in the school, an introduction into the Feudal System proved to be a good example to the learners as they felt that they would set a standard for others to follow. I chose to work with the whole class as this was an occasion I thought the students should gain this particular experience all at the same time. Peer support can be easier to manage and a whole class can help to stimulate conceptual change, (Kennewell, 2004).
The recordings that the students in year 7 made of the Feudal system refer to their knowledge and understanding of the topic that they have studied. The students made reference to the key words that were discussed in the lesson plan and showed their learning through the use of their subject specific vocabulary. Each student took on a different role during the task and focused on their knowledge and understanding of the history topic. The exercise at the beginning of the lesson where students completed a history writing frame on the Feudal system dipped into their prior knowledge and understanding of the topic. The question and answer session where pupils were encouraged to come and write on the white board to write different questions about roles and responsibilities of the Feudal system, reinforced the students understanding of the type of question that needed to be asked during the recording of each other’s specific role. It became obvious during the editing of the recordings, that referring back and using the question mountain resources may have made a difference to the questions and may have made the students choose a higher order range of questions. I would recommend, after discussion with the class teacher, additional time on questioning, as this lesson focused on knowledge rather than questioning and answer. This part of the lesson covered Oracy skills, Reading and Writing strands, as set out in the Literacy and Numeracy framework 2013. Some of the recordings that were made had some background noise; again if there was additional time we may have been able to focus more on the editing of the recordings and therefore would have been able to edit the background noise.
All of the students had not used the Audacity software previously, so therefore the explanation of how to use the basic editing features took longer than expected. The majority of students grasped the idea very quickly of how to make changes and edit their recordings. Working in groups proved to be invaluable as those who were more able with ICT took the challenge and discussed with those less able the correct way to edit a sound recording. As set out in the National Curriculum of Wales ICT, ‘for more able and talented learners to be provided with greater challenge and use materials to extend breadth and depth of study, and to increase development of application of thinking, communication, ICT and number skills across the curriculum’ (Welsh Government, 2008, p. 5).
During this task students used their number and measuring skills whilst editing the recordings, they had to carefully listen and look at precisely what time the recording needed editing being very carefully cut out the unwanted sound. It is essential for the curriculum to include the strands of literacy and numeracy as the Minister for Education and skills has made raising standards of literacy and numeracy a priority in schools (Welsh Government, 2013, p. 2). While being responsible for teaching ICT skills it remains very important that students can work safely and securely whilst using the internet, software and hardware as discussed in ICT in the National Curriculum for Wales, health, safety and child protection remain a priority (Welsh Government, 2008). Neath Port Talbot Local Education Authority have been responsible for setting up an application on the Learning Gateway site, this is available to all schools in the borough, a media box site. This allows staff and students to safely upload their pictures, videos and audio files to a secure site that have restrictions, such as, who may view your files, categories that direct you to the correct place and tags that make finding your files less challenging. Students in school frequently use the site to store all data and this encourages them to be responsible and safe with their pictures and other media they may wish to upload. The website ‘Get safe online’ highlights some of the problems faced when children or adults upload media on file sharing sites that are not safe or secure and are available the world to view. ‘File-sharing sites and programs can cause problems in three ways. The free-to-use ones are probably breaching copyright laws, which mean that either downloading or uploading is illegal. Some sites are used to distribute pornography, racist or other inappropriate or unlawful material, often masked as respectable content. And these services also enable strangers to gain access to areas of your or your child’s computer, leaving it open to viruses, spyware and ‘botnet’ software.’ (Get safe online, 2012)
Reference List Get safe online, 2012. Get safe online. [Online] Available at: https://www.getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children/music-movies-file-sharing/ [Accessed 14th May 2014]. Higgins, S., Unknown. Does ICT Improve Learning and Teaching in Schools?. [Online] Available at: http://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ict-pur-mb-r-f-p-1aug03.pdf [Accessed 14th May 2014]. Kennewell, S., 2004. Meeting the standards in using ICT for secondary teaching, London: Routledge Falmer. Somekh, B., 2007. Pedagogy and Learning with ICT, London: Routledge Ltd. Welsh Government, 2008. Information and Communication Technology in the National Curriculum for Wales Key stage 2-3, Cardiff: Welsh Government. Welsh Government, 2013. National Literacy and Numeracy Framework, Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Reflection
According to Steve Higgins from Newcastle University there is evidence from research that ICT can help pupils to learn and teachers to teach more effectively. (Higgins, Unknown). In my own experience whilst covering classes and teaching students over the last ten years, the introduction of ICT into a subject area other than ICT, proves to be an exciting and different challenge for the learner. The students in this lesson became very excitable at the prospect of recording information that they have learnt. I agree with a statement made by the author Somekh, ‘computers arouse strong passions because they challenge ritual practices of our daily lives’ (Somekh, 2007, p. 66) and believe this to be the reason for the student’s excitement; it is something different to the normal routine. By making media sources that will be available for others to use in the school, an introduction into the Feudal System proved to be a good example to the learners as they felt that they would set a standard for others to follow. I chose to work with the whole class as this was an occasion I thought the students should gain this particular experience all at the same time. Peer support can be easier to manage and a whole class can help to stimulate conceptual change, (Kennewell, 2004).
The recordings that the students in year 7 made of the Feudal system refer to their knowledge and understanding of the topic that they have studied. The students made reference to the key words that were discussed in the lesson plan and showed their learning through the use of their subject specific vocabulary. Each student took on a different role during the task and focused on their knowledge and understanding of the history topic. The exercise at the beginning of the lesson where students completed a history writing frame on the Feudal system dipped into their prior knowledge and understanding of the topic. The question and answer session where pupils were encouraged to come and write on the white board to write different questions about roles and responsibilities of the Feudal system, reinforced the students understanding of the type of question that needed to be asked during the recording of each other’s specific role. It became obvious during the editing of the recordings, that referring back and using the question mountain resources may have made a difference to the questions and may have made the students choose a higher order range of questions. I would recommend, after discussion with the class teacher, additional time on questioning, as this lesson focused on knowledge rather than questioning and answer. This part of the lesson covered Oracy skills, Reading and Writing strands, as set out in the Literacy and Numeracy framework 2013. Some of the recordings that were made had some background noise; again if there was additional time we may have been able to focus more on the editing of the recordings and therefore would have been able to edit the background noise.
All of the students had not used the Audacity software previously, so therefore the explanation of how to use the basic editing features took longer than expected. The majority of students grasped the idea very quickly of how to make changes and edit their recordings. Working in groups proved to be invaluable as those who were more able with ICT took the challenge and discussed with those less able the correct way to edit a sound recording. As set out in the National Curriculum of Wales ICT, ‘for more able and talented learners to be provided with greater challenge and use materials to extend breadth and depth of study, and to increase development of application of thinking, communication, ICT and number skills across the curriculum’ (Welsh Government, 2008, p. 5).
During this task students used their number and measuring skills whilst editing the recordings, they had to carefully listen and look at precisely what time the recording needed editing being very carefully cut out the unwanted sound. It is essential for the curriculum to include the strands of literacy and numeracy as the Minister for Education and skills has made raising standards of literacy and numeracy a priority in schools (Welsh Government, 2013, p. 2). While being responsible for teaching ICT skills it remains very important that students can work safely and securely whilst using the internet, software and hardware as discussed in ICT in the National Curriculum for Wales, health, safety and child protection remain a priority (Welsh Government, 2008). Neath Port Talbot Local Education Authority have been responsible for setting up an application on the Learning Gateway site, this is available to all schools in the borough, a media box site. This allows staff and students to safely upload their pictures, videos and audio files to a secure site that have restrictions, such as, who may view your files, categories that direct you to the correct place and tags that make finding your files less challenging. Students in school frequently use the site to store all data and this encourages them to be responsible and safe with their pictures and other media they may wish to upload. The website ‘Get safe online’ highlights some of the problems faced when children or adults upload media on file sharing sites that are not safe or secure and are available the world to view. ‘File-sharing sites and programs can cause problems in three ways. The free-to-use ones are probably breaching copyright laws, which mean that either downloading or uploading is illegal. Some sites are used to distribute pornography, racist or other inappropriate or unlawful material, often masked as respectable content. And these services also enable strangers to gain access to areas of your or your child’s computer, leaving it open to viruses, spyware and ‘botnet’ software.’ (Get safe online, 2012)
Reference List Get safe online, 2012. Get safe online. [Online] Available at: https://www.getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children/music-movies-file-sharing/ [Accessed 14th May 2014]. Higgins, S., Unknown. Does ICT Improve Learning and Teaching in Schools?. [Online] Available at: http://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ict-pur-mb-r-f-p-1aug03.pdf [Accessed 14th May 2014]. Kennewell, S., 2004. Meeting the standards in using ICT for secondary teaching, London: Routledge Falmer. Somekh, B., 2007. Pedagogy and Learning with ICT, London: Routledge Ltd. Welsh Government, 2008. Information and Communication Technology in the National Curriculum for Wales Key stage 2-3, Cardiff: Welsh Government. Welsh Government, 2013. National Literacy and Numeracy Framework, Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Supporting Children's Learning with ICT
https://mediabox.npted.org/mymediabox/MyMedia/Audio
Click on the link above to listen to 'The Feudal System' podcasts by pupils in year 7
Click on the link above to listen to 'The Feudal System' podcasts by pupils in year 7
Friday, 9 May 2014
Busy!
Well bloggers, life has been extremely busy these past few weeks both in school and out of school. It is that time of year when coursework deadlines are due and last entries for essential and key skills have to be submitted. WBQ coursework is in the process of being internally moderated and anxiously awaiting the sample to be called to send for WJEC moderator. Fingers crossed! National literacy and numeracy tests have been taking place so lots of exam invigilation going on and next week GCSE exams will also start!
I have yet to move house, lots of different queries and snags getting in the way, we are all packed and ready to go but still have no date! My son is about to sit his final exams in university and my daughter is to sit her A levels!
Needless to say things are a little mad and stressed at the moment!
I have yet to move house, lots of different queries and snags getting in the way, we are all packed and ready to go but still have no date! My son is about to sit his final exams in university and my daughter is to sit her A levels!
Needless to say things are a little mad and stressed at the moment!
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Easter holidays
Evening bloggers, we are home from skiing in Austria and not a broken bone between us! Austria is a wonderful country so clean and welcoming but the internet and phone service proved to be poor around the mountains. Mobile phones were very handy to take pictures and videos of each other skiing or attempting to ski in my case! We did have a few breakages when some pupils fell over with their smart phones in their pockets and one phone drown in a water bottle leak! All photos have been shared on Facebook or what's app, as these were the free ways to view eat others pictures. Hope you are all well bloggers, speak soon.
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Follies first podcast
Listen to the recording about my ICT experience at Swansea Met on a Wednesday evening!
Listen to this episode
Hopefully I will be able to make more interesting and funny podcasts with the pupils at school, maybe some horrible histories.
Hopefully I will be able to make more interesting and funny podcasts with the pupils at school, maybe some horrible histories.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Rosacea Suffers
Making Money
What do you do with all of your unwanted items? A good friend of mine advised me to sell it all through Music Magpie. It was so easy, set up an account, scan the bar codes of any unwanted items, Music Magpie send you an address label, fix the label to your parcel and take to the nearest shop and send store. There is also a free app for your iphone or smart phone. Music Magpie send you a cheque or credit your account, brilliant! You can also use it for unwanted items in school!
Friday, 4 April 2014
School Whiteboards and Software
Morning bloggers,I have found a range of software that is available at my school some of which I would like to share with you. On each staff members desktop via the windows button is a folder that directs you to whitboards.
Desktop
I was very surprised to see the different software for many of the boards that are used in school.
Smartboard
Visualiser
Desktop
Smartboard
This has similar features to the Promethean software and allows you to create flipcharts and import work. It alos has a browser feature and allows you to share resources.
A visualiser is a tool used by mant staff as an easy way of highlighting pupils work on the whiteboard.
Thursday, 3 April 2014
Just look
Found lots of information about the whiteboards used in school today. Lots of information on my desktop, things that I have ignored through lack of time or lack of knowledge! Screenshots to follow. Have a good weekend bloggers.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Homework
Make some screenshots of promethean boards activinspire software and notebook for smartboards.
Whiteboards
Smartboards
Smartboards are used mainly with the Enhanced Resource Provision department as they are a touch screen board that is easily accessible to teachers and students. These boards are interactive and the special needs department feel they are the best board for learning in that specific area. The smartboards are the most expensive boards that we have in this school and this can be seen as a disadvantage when the budget is considered. The Smartboard can cost around £2500.
Ebeam
Ebeam boards are used in our mainstream classrooms and these were solely used for the price. They are half the cost of the Smartboard and are not as interactive. They do not have a touchscreen, instead staff use a pen as a clicker. These pens can often become misplaced and are expensive to replace. The Ebeam board can cost around £700.
Promethean Boards
Promethean boards were the first electronic whiteboards to have in the school that I work at. They were the only boards that were available at the time they were installed. They cost around £1500 to buy and so they are not the cheapest available. They are not interactive but can be used with a pen or clicker.
Smartboards are used mainly with the Enhanced Resource Provision department as they are a touch screen board that is easily accessible to teachers and students. These boards are interactive and the special needs department feel they are the best board for learning in that specific area. The smartboards are the most expensive boards that we have in this school and this can be seen as a disadvantage when the budget is considered. The Smartboard can cost around £2500.
 |
| Smartboard |
Ebeam boards are used in our mainstream classrooms and these were solely used for the price. They are half the cost of the Smartboard and are not as interactive. They do not have a touchscreen, instead staff use a pen as a clicker. These pens can often become misplaced and are expensive to replace. The Ebeam board can cost around £700.
 |
| Ebeam |
Promethean Boards
Promethean boards were the first electronic whiteboards to have in the school that I work at. They were the only boards that were available at the time they were installed. They cost around £1500 to buy and so they are not the cheapest available. They are not interactive but can be used with a pen or clicker.
 |
| Promethean |
ICT and Education
According to Ask.com we need an education in order to be well rounded individuals. We may not always like the classes we take in school but they will help mold us. Education is key to becoming successful. Most of us will learn through the education system that is put into place by the Welsh Government. The National curriculum is regulated by Welsh Government and Estyn, Welsh Government provide guidelines and frameworks for education providers and Estyn ensure that standards are met strict inspections of schools.
We require knowledge to learn and to process the information we have been given, we need to absorb what we have learnt so that we can process and use it to our benefit. Huw Lewis Education Minister for Wales stated in his first address on the state of education in Wales "I bring a deep concern about the attainment gap between those at the bottom of the social-economic ladder...and those that are better off". This has lead me to believe that people from socially deprived areas and from poorer households do not reach their potential in education compared to people who are economically better off. Young people in particular face challenges in life to become successful individuals and are required to keep up to date with technology that is required today in society and the workplace.
- Technology in Education
Technology allows learners to access information from around the world easily with the Internet. Social media allows learners to share and and learn at the touch of a finger. I believe that technology allows us the freedom learn independently without others knowing, but you cannot always trust the site or equipment that you visit or use. Learning about ICT has shown me that I have lots to learn and that I use ICT everyday in me job and at home, without being able to access our school management system SPaMs for short I would find my job extremely difficult finding out current information about my students or tracking of the efforts and achievements.
There is no doubt that technology is taking us forward globally in education and the world of work. It seems vitally important that learners are encouraged to use technology at school, at home, in business, for leisure and pleasure. I find technology amazing, exciting and sometimes frustrating but I firmly believe that it is taking learning to another level!
Monday, 31 March 2014
Manic Street Preachers
Went ot Cardiff CIA to watch the Manic Street Preachers on Saturday night. Had an amazing time with my son, for a treat we dined at Bellinis italian restaurant. They offer a gluten free menu which is great if you don't eat gluten, I have not had a pizza for a while so I really enjoyed!
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Kindle
I have just downloaded the kindle for iPad app onto my iPad and wow, all of my books are there in colour for me to browse! The iPad is is great for taking on holidays, to work or at home as it has so many features that I am only now getting to explore.
Off to Bedfordshire now with my iPad for a bit of reading, how many pages before I fall to sleep I wonder!
Monday, 24 March 2014
Apple TV
Apple TV
Apple TV in the library for all to use! Brillaint you say, but how can I use it? I have no iPad in school that is connected to the school wifi. My iPhone is not connected to school wifi, so apple TV is quite inaccessable to me and my students.
If I had iPads then the students may make movies and watch them on the TV, they can see all of their pictures and you tube videos, they may also watch catch up TV if available.
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Moving house
After eighteen years living in my house I am moving!
We have sold our home and are moving to pastures new, to say we are all excited is an understatement. Sounds good? We have started to empty the attic, why oh why do we keep so much unwanted items? Why do we collect things like stamps and classic car magazines? Most of all, where do we keep it all?
Technology can help, I have taken pictures with my iPad all of the stamp albums, coin collections, matchbox collections, postcards and magazines in readiness to send to prospective buyers and auction houses. All I need to do then is send the pictures via email and wait for a reply!
Faith in technology has returned, looking forward to spending the money raised by decorating my new home!
Technology Arghhhhhh!!!!!
I love Monday afternoons lately, going to Townhill Campus where the views are spectacular, I like to sit and eat my lunch looking over Swansea Bay. It is good to escape the madness of my school where the pupils go about their daily routine rather noisily, to meet the other students on the course and discuss and network about our jobs and families. The ICT module is interesting, I am learning to blog, use different commands and how to reference on word documents. Our Lecturer Mandy is brilliant with lots of patients she helps novices like myself, who manage to navigate their way around a computer and some software. This Monday afternoon left me frustrated, we were using a word document and this kept crashing, freezing my work until I closed the program. Twice I was able to retrieve my work but by the forth and fifth time my work was lost in cyberspace!
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Frustration!!
1. Why won't my computer let me write and publish a blog?
2. Why did my computer freeze several times on Monday?
3. Why are my pictures not showing on my blog?
4. Why am I feeling so frustrated with technology?
If you can answer these questions, please do!!
End of rant!
2. Why did my computer freeze several times on Monday?
3. Why are my pictures not showing on my blog?
4. Why am I feeling so frustrated with technology?
If you can answer these questions, please do!!
End of rant!
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Foggy Thursday
It is a very foggy Thursday morning in school, very cold and difficult to see outside. I am glad the fog was not around yesterday evening as i had totravel in the Swansea valley area. All I can say is thank goodness for satnav and google connect. Google connect Nissan enabled me to put a postcode into my google connect account and send the address direct to my car without having to put the information into my satnav. This can be done via a laptop, PC or smartphone/iphone. Amazing how technology can help so much to help find our way in the fog, wind, rain snow or sun! Click on the video link blow to discover more.
How to use nissan connect.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Ipad love
I recently purchased a second hand iPad and I love it! My iPhone is great but I find it a little small when using the apps. My iPad is quick and easy to use especially the touch screen. My dad had an iPad for his birthday and he is amazed at how fast he can search the internet and chat to friends on Facebook. He can also FaceTime friends and family all over the world! Just goes to show you are never to old to learn!
Monday, 3 March 2014
All about me
I am a women between the ages of 21 and 61.
Married with grown up children
Working with young adults
I enjoy walking my dog
Cooking
Relaxing
and I enjoy holidays with my family and spending time with the people I love!
In 2014 I hope to move house, go my son's graduation and get my daughter settled in university.
Married with grown up children
Working with young adults
I enjoy walking my dog
Cooking
Relaxing
and I enjoy holidays with my family and spending time with the people I love!
In 2014 I hope to move house, go my son's graduation and get my daughter settled in university.
Today at Uni
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. I changed the colour of the font and made it bigger and easier for me to read. I also changed the background colour to a shade of pale blue that made the font easier for me to read. I wanted to make a screen shot of the words and page so I used control and screenshot button. Our teacher displayed a more interesting and easier way to create a screenshot using snipit. This enabled me to crop the screenshot using the information that I wanted and not the whole page.
I saved the screenshot which you see below:
I saved the screenshot which you see below:
The Beginning
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