Monday, 8 February 2010
Problem-Solving with Spreadsheets
Children can use spreadsheets to probleme-solve. They should be encouraged to devise calculations to deduce the answers for problems set. The questions/problems can be differentiated for the children in the class depending on their ICT/spreadsheet competency. Juniorviewpoint may be more child-friendly but Excel Spreadsheets are what usually becomes used in secondary schools/as adults so it would be beneficial to make the transition to using Excel Spreadsheets as children get older, i.e. in late key stage 2 (years 5-6).
A reflection on Multiple Intelligences
As a group we used a Flipvideo, which is a very simple device for making videos that has a connection that can be flicked out and inserted straight into a computer USB port to be set up, ready to upload a video within moments. The Flipvideo was used to record our reflections of Multiple Intelligences, rather than writing about it etc. This is a fun and alternative way of recording findings made instead of writing.
Sock Puppet Re-enactment of "Under the Sea" from the Little Mermaid
Creating videos can be a great way of getting children to write stories/scripts and think creatively, e.g. about lighting, camera focus, settings etc. without making the task a simple writing exercise. Children can link this video making exercise with a storyboard/simple plan, which again will strengthen their literacy skills in a more creative, visual, auditory and kinaesthetic way.
Monday, 1 February 2010
The Ease of Creating a Podcast
Following a quick demonstration, our group, (Alan, Sam, Angela and myself) put together and "performed" an amended ending to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves"....which was more suitably named "Snow White and the Special Dwarf". Using the Podium software we were able to write up a quick script, assigning a part to each person, insert a mini-microphone into the computer and record the podcast. The program also allowed us to edit some music into the recordning of the script within moments. The resulting podcast can be accessed below.
http://www.podiumpodcasting.com/~183336/AlanAngelaPa250110164432/rss.xml
http://www.podiumpodcasting.com/~183336/AlanAngelaPa250110164432/rss.xml
Databases
Classifying pets
Using the Textease software and utilising the Branch application within it, I created a classification tree to help classify four distinct animals. An activity/tool like this would be very useful for providing opportunities for children to use a number of thinking skills, including sorting, counting and grouping items. This could be useful across a number of subjects, e.g. sorting shapes (in maths), sorting animals/plants (science).
Exploring Child-Friendly Search Engines
The internet is a vast resource, though it holds a number of benefits, such as the quantity of data you have at your fingertips, it can be particularly hard for novices to sift through and filter the most appropriate information. It is our responsibility as adults to ensure that children are taught safe and responsible behaviours as soon as they are old enough to start using digital technology. Teachers are required, as part of their wider duty of care, to raise the awareness of the risks associated with inappropriate contact via new technologies and inappropriate online content and commerce; additionally, teachers using technology in the classroom have to ensure that children are aware of appropriatwe online behaviour on a regular basis.
To help children surf the internet in a safer environment child-friendly search engines are available and specially designed for children, e.g. http://www.yahooligans.com/ and www.askkids.com . It is common in schools for children to asked to investigate a chosen topic area. Using the example of a project on pets, I have compared the use of yahooligans with google to reasearch the topic area.
Using Google as a search engine (www.google.com) , and with the same key word ("pets") I was faced with approximately 167 000 000 results, many of which were retailers and advertisements aimed at adults.
I feel, with the vast amount of results recovered, from this search engine in particular, that children will definately need skills on refining their search and on staying safe and aware of risks that they may be faced when searching independently. Schools, organisations and homes can put filters in place to restrict and reduce these threats.
To help children surf the internet in a safer environment child-friendly search engines are available and specially designed for children, e.g. http://www.yahooligans.com/ and www.askkids.com . It is common in schools for children to asked to investigate a chosen topic area. Using the example of a project on pets, I have compared the use of yahooligans with google to reasearch the topic area.
A child is likely to type in "pets" into the search bar. With both search engines I used this as my key search term, but both produced slightly different results.
Below can be seen the searches elicited by the yahooligans search engine. It retrieved 8530 results that it filtered down for the children and displayed them in a simplified format, with further child-friendly/child-directed filter options e.g. in movies, in jokes.
Using Google as a search engine (www.google.com) , and with the same key word ("pets") I was faced with approximately 167 000 000 results, many of which were retailers and advertisements aimed at adults.
I feel, with the vast amount of results recovered, from this search engine in particular, that children will definately need skills on refining their search and on staying safe and aware of risks that they may be faced when searching independently. Schools, organisations and homes can put filters in place to restrict and reduce these threats.
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