Friday, 31 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Our iPads for Parents Workshop
Today we had another of our CONNECT workshops for parents - Creativity with iPads. This is the focus for our use of iPads in classrooms - students becoming creators, rather than consumers.
After a short question time about iPads, we moved on to looking at some of the first apps we use in classrooms, and giving parents the opportunity to 'play' and experience the learning for themselves. We looked at why and how we use Fotobabble, Sock Puppets, and iMovie. We were particularly thinking about visual language and oral language in student learning.
We were delighted to be joined by Lisa, a teacher from Diamond Harbour School, and Hamish, a parent.
Below is a copy of the presentation that was used to show some student examples from our school. More will get added as time goes on. You will be able to watch the growth in the depth of thinking and creative applications to learning as we continue on our journey. Keep a watch on our classroom blogs as teachers and students learn together.
After a short question time about iPads, we moved on to looking at some of the first apps we use in classrooms, and giving parents the opportunity to 'play' and experience the learning for themselves. We looked at why and how we use Fotobabble, Sock Puppets, and iMovie. We were particularly thinking about visual language and oral language in student learning.
We were delighted to be joined by Lisa, a teacher from Diamond Harbour School, and Hamish, a parent.
Below is a copy of the presentation that was used to show some student examples from our school. More will get added as time goes on. You will be able to watch the growth in the depth of thinking and creative applications to learning as we continue on our journey. Keep a watch on our classroom blogs as teachers and students learn together.
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Congratulations to our RoboCup Junior Rescue Teams!
A very rainy Sunday 12 August turned out to be a very good day to be competing inside at the RoboCup Competition held at Selwyn House School. We had four teams competing in the Junior Rescue section, and this was the first experience of robotics and competing at RoboCup for most of the 12 students involved.
During a long, and often stressful day (robots don't always do what you expect them to) these students exhibited excellent behaviour, great team work, and good sportsmanship and they should be proud of their results.
Each Team participated in three two-minute rounds, and three of our teams performed well enough to be invited into the Final round. If teams completed the round with the same points, then the result was decided by who had the fastest time. This meant our NanoBots were pipped at the post by just two seconds. Nail-biting stuff, but they should be proud of their second placing!
Everyone learnt a lot, including the parents who had their children up at a very early hour for the 8:30 am start in Christchurch. It was a real team effort!
We are very grateful to our Mentor, Charles Manning. Charles has travelled long distances on two occasions to guide the teams and help them work out how to solve the programming problems without giving them the answers - he was brilliant!
View the videos of the best round from each team, plus the NanoBots' second placing round - this is a lot harder than it looks!
During a long, and often stressful day (robots don't always do what you expect them to) these students exhibited excellent behaviour, great team work, and good sportsmanship and they should be proud of their results.
Each Team participated in three two-minute rounds, and three of our teams performed well enough to be invited into the Final round. If teams completed the round with the same points, then the result was decided by who had the fastest time. This meant our NanoBots were pipped at the post by just two seconds. Nail-biting stuff, but they should be proud of their second placing!
Everyone learnt a lot, including the parents who had their children up at a very early hour for the 8:30 am start in Christchurch. It was a real team effort!
We are very grateful to our Mentor, Charles Manning. Charles has travelled long distances on two occasions to guide the teams and help them work out how to solve the programming problems without giving them the answers - he was brilliant!
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| MindBots |
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| AlphaBots |
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| RoboSquad |
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| NanoBots |
View the videos of the best round from each team, plus the NanoBots' second placing round - this is a lot harder than it looks!
Friday, 10 August 2012
We're having a Movie-making Contest!
Following on from the success of last term's Photography Competition, this term we are having a Movie-making Contest for our Springston students, teachers and families. We're hoping that every student will be involved in movie-making this term, even in a small way. Some students are already making plans - are you?!
Friday, 3 August 2012
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