So I haven't exactly had time to update this blog since the start of the block placement. However there have been many opportunities to use ICT in the classrooms at this highschool.
This highschool is actually so into the whole ICT in the classroom that the ICT teachers even set up workshops to give other teachers new and exciting ideas on how to incorporate things into their classroom.
They range from using blogs, portals, prezzi, websites, emails, facebook and so on!
However since I have been teaching a Renaissance class to year 8s I had an idea for an assignment that would be heaps of fun for everyone. Although I didn't give it to my year 8s here at this school, simply because time doesnt allow me to do it. Anyways... my idea was since we have been watching a documentary on the Medici Family, I had the idea that perhaps the students could create a classroom documentary on the Renaissance. The idea is that instead of doing an oral presentation, booklet, posters etc, this could be something completely out of the ordinary and has the whole class working to one goal.
The students would choose a number of famous figues from the Renaissance and in a video [using windows movie maker or whichever the school has] create a documentary detailing the life of these famous individuals. Students would have creative freedom if they wanted to make it like an interview, they would dress up... someone would do the voice over like a narrative of the documentary. Hence by the end of it, the students would have covered all the neccesities of any other assignment... but they would have picked up the skills to use windows movie maker and it would be a great team/class effort.
So thats just one idea that i'll be saving for when I start teaching! -- What does everyone think? Any other grand ideas?
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Monday, 8 August 2011
So many activities!
Wow, never really realised how many activities were available to do with using a computer!
It is pretty awesome how we can make little movies and so forth. Much more fun than the constant use of powerpoint!
Some of the activities I wouldn't mind doing, especially with a Spanish class, is being able to link up with a school on the otherside of the world that speaks Spanish. I think it would be fantastic if the students could get that authentic experience of Skyping with an individual who speaks Spanish and it would create an authentic experience. This is, I believe, a great use of technology as it is really something that would be a lot harder to implement without a computer! It is also taking it that step further than the original idea of pen pals. As this would truly test an individuals speaking and listening skills which is essentially what you wish to achieve in a language class.
However the only downfall of this of course is the timezone difference. I'd perhaps need to do a little bit of research into working out appropriate times for the students to link up with other Spanish speaking countries. But hey, the idea is there -- and maybe when I head over to Spain next year I'll be able to do some networking with some of the schools there!
The prospect of ICT is actually a little exciting when thinking of it as more than a typewriter or text book!
It is pretty awesome how we can make little movies and so forth. Much more fun than the constant use of powerpoint!
Some of the activities I wouldn't mind doing, especially with a Spanish class, is being able to link up with a school on the otherside of the world that speaks Spanish. I think it would be fantastic if the students could get that authentic experience of Skyping with an individual who speaks Spanish and it would create an authentic experience. This is, I believe, a great use of technology as it is really something that would be a lot harder to implement without a computer! It is also taking it that step further than the original idea of pen pals. As this would truly test an individuals speaking and listening skills which is essentially what you wish to achieve in a language class.
However the only downfall of this of course is the timezone difference. I'd perhaps need to do a little bit of research into working out appropriate times for the students to link up with other Spanish speaking countries. But hey, the idea is there -- and maybe when I head over to Spain next year I'll be able to do some networking with some of the schools there!
The prospect of ICT is actually a little exciting when thinking of it as more than a typewriter or text book!
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