ICT provides a vast amount of opportunities to facilitate children's needs and requirements. This week we discussed how ICT can be used in a talking and listening context to support learning. It provides sustained forms of speaking such as asking and answering questions which enhances public speaking. Its major advantage is that it provides an environment that promotes inclusion for all students. Its difficult to assess or remember information through speaking and listening alone. Don't worry help is at hand. Devices have now been invented to record our thoughts, objectives and opinions, which in turn when used effectively, will promote learning of a high standard.
Here are some examples that assist us:
- Webcams - A web camera, is the loosely used term for any camera that generates images that can be accessed by and displayed on the world wide web through a server. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-webcam.htm). They are capable of taking still pictures or video recordings. They are widely used today in videoconferencing. A fun way to use it in primary school would be to share experiences or projects with other schools around the world. Another idea is to monitor projects and experiments, for example, a bird table. (Students can observe the different types of birds and what they prefer to eat). As you can imagine the possibilities are endless.
- Digital cameras - once a picture has been taken it can be downloaded on to the computer and printed immediately. This saves precious time and capital that schools may not have. Children can investigate their surroundings and learn in a practical manner. They can use images to support and reinforce any subject within the National Curriculum.
- Interactive whiteboards - we have already discussed in great depth the advantages of these. See blog entitled IWB,
- Talking photo albums - there is an amazing fun element in these. You can record a different message for each photo and they are extremely easy to function. (Press the button on the photo and just record). There perfect for telling stories or show and tell sessions. This video will give you all the information necessary for usage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMLV409Sbdw
- Talking tins/pods (which can be seen in the above pictures) - These are the cheapest of my bundle of devices. There simple to use with only three buttons: on-off, play and record. They can be attached to any surface such as tables and noticeboards. Teachers can record instructions for a task and give them to pupils. This way children know exactly what to do. It also engcourages indendent working and learning. Students can work collabrativly as they can begin a story and continue in sequence along the class until everyone has contribuated to it. They are particulary helpful for SEN and EAL students who lack the confidence and ability to read or write. EAL students can build up their confidence firstly by practicing on the talking pod.
- Talking postcards - again very simple to function. There is one that consists of 10 buttons on the front where we can programme it with the five times tables or perhaps 10 healthy eating rules. They provide a different medium of teaching for both the learner and the teacher.
- Pod-casting- is an on-line broadcast, not unlike a radio show. There is thousands of these on line. We can listen directly or prescribe. An example of a major one is itunes. It can give children a voice and an audience. ( Quite like the blog in this sense). Again this interaction is very inclusive to all children in the class as SEN students can be given appropriate help and rehearsal before publishing it. Some ideas include; poetry,songs, documentaries e.g. My News, stories etc, the list is never endding. It is an exciting process for children as it was for me today completing my first podcast. Aspects have to be considered before podcasting, in order to make it relevent in the classroom. We must first choose a topic and identify our audience. The language used must be constructive. This is very much a cross-curricular resource as it builds on many of the childrens skills and knowledge. Like every aspect within the internet world it must be monitored and controled for childrens safety. (See blog on e-safety).The link below will show how to set up podcast, publish and distrbute better than I could put into words. Also below is a link that will show just how much can be achieved if the podcasting is channelled in the correct direction within primary school.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrBbczS9I0http://www.downs.kent.sch.uk/podcast/?pid=10&type=podcast&title=The+Downs+FM+%28Podcast%29
- Digital blue- was the last piece of apparatus I used in the lesson. We used a programme called 'Photo Story 3'. Remember 'Wallace and Gromet', well this uses the same principals to create stories and movement. There was alot of enthusism in our class of adults so imagine what it would be like in primary schools. We used play-dough to create characters, then we clicked how many frames we wanted before moving the characters. This process continues until the end result is achieved. It allows children to be creative and partake in group work. Storyboarding gives children a realisation and understanding of digital media that they are observing today. See the link below to appriciate the function of the digital blue.
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