Today's staff meeting was a special get-together to celebrate the amazing efforts of our teachers to explore the use of ICT tools to engage their students creatively and to enhance student learning, particularly in the area of Literacy. Students have had some wonderful opportunities to be creative and to express themselves in new ways.
Teachers have been learning, too, and they have been incredibly creative in what they have achieved and how they have overcome any technical blocks that have occurred along the way. They have used iPads, Macbooks, microphones, and cameras along with all the more traditional tools for learning. They have taught their students how to use many of these ICT tools with the hope that all students get these opportunities. They have worked out how to move files between devices, and how to get them onto blogs in a form that they can share with you all.
In the past term you will have seen lots of regular posts on class blogs, with examples of student photography presented in many different ways. You will have heard students recording stories, poems, explanations, news reports... practising their expression and sharing their learning orally using iPad apps such as Fotobabble, Puppet Pals HD, iMovie, I Can Animate, and Explain Everything; as well as computer and web 2.0 apps. Students' stories and poems, drawings, and photos have been combined into eBooks and published on blogs, or downloaded onto iPads or computers for shared reading.
Please show our students and their teachers that you are following their learning journey and celebrating their success, by posting regular comments on our blogs. We all love to hear from you! We are excited by what your children are achieving, and hope you are too.
The teachers had a wonderful surprise when a fabulous iPad cake (gluten-free, too!) was made and brought along by Letesha, for us to enjoy. Thank you Letesha - the cake was delicious - a real treat! And thank you to Liz, our Principal, for thinking of us with such a great idea; there is plenty left for morning tea!
What an awesome, novel celebration! I wonder if the iPad cake is a first? Congratulations on all of your successes. Everyday in every way you are making such an amazing difference in the life of all your learners. And it even sounds like you are having fun along the way! Well done to you all!
ReplyDeleteAnne K
I have been a bit of a lurker watching your learning since 2010 when my kids skyped in with Carol and a few of yours. I am totally guilty of not leaving comments and should probably apologise for that! I had the privilege of finally meeting Carol and Allana on Saturday and am not feeling quite so shy now!!!
ReplyDeleteI am really keen to hear about the microphones you are using and would love to support your programmes by offering specific feedback from teacher and/or students from (slightly) afar as we are beginning our "vlogging" journey next term.
Thank you for sharing your learning as teachers and the learning of your students!
Congratulations to you and your class for the.efforts and process invovled in opening this ict world! I teach first grade (5-7 year olds) in the US I am amazed at how intutive they are with tech. First graders can create and post on a blog or voicethread, add images from the web or desk top, use photobooth,iphoto,pixie,google earth,skitch, flip videos, just to name a few! I am amazed by todays kids imagine.where they will be when they reach.our age....
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ReplyDeleteMsBee, we have one Easispeak microphone in the school that may get used more now, with us focusing more on oral language. But the microphone we're excited about is the iRig Mic ( http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmic/ ) because it can cut out the background classroom noise when recording, so students don't need to find a quiet place to do their recordings. We will enjoy following your vlogging journey next term. Our emphasis will be on having students becoming movie-makers, too!
ReplyDeleteDeb, thank you for your comment all the way from the USA. Do you have a class blog that we can follow. Your learning journey sounds exciting, too!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Hi Carol, Have you used the iRig Mic in class much? I would like to make some ICT suggestions at school.
ReplyDeleteNicki
Yes, it's great. Can recommend it - it cuts out all the background noise of a busy classroom.
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