Which e-assessment/portfolio system?

Over the last few years, we have been searching for the perfect electronic assessment and recording system.   To help us collect our thoughts, I've put this post together, considering some of the pros and cons for some of the systems we have explored.   I will be adding to this post over the forthcoming weeks as we explore further.

Interesting places to visit on Google Maps

I'm in the process of putting together a collection of interesting places to visit using Google Maps.

The locations should be set to open in street view format for easy access by students.

If using an iPad, the 360 degree views can be explored by moving the iPad around, giving a 'virtual reality'-like experience.

Iris Connect - getting going

After several months now of exploring using Iris Connect, this post is to share my thoughts so far.   Iris Connect is a platform for filming, and subsequently reviewing, teaching and learning in the classroom.  The hardware element consists of either one or two iPads, and either one or two iPod Touches.  The iPad (or iPads) record video; if two iPads are used then the video is synchronised, giving the viewer multiple views of the classroom.  The iPod Touches are used to record audio, the audio being synchronised with the video.  One iPod touch can be used for recording sound from the presenter, the other can be placed on a table to record pupil voices.  The iPads come with tripods to allow flexible positioning.  Also available is a ‘live view’ 360 degree hardware device that I haven’t tried just yet.

Teaching Creative Media - a reflection after the first year

I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to teach Creative iMedia this  year for the first time.  This post describes some of the software applications and hardware that we have used in meeting the requirements of the three units taught this year.  For more details of the course, including all of the units, visit the OCR website: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/vocational-qualifications-qcf-creative-imedia-level-1-certificate-04305/

Positive impact of game making part II - trip to Sweden

On 24th April 2017, I was privileged to visit Gothenburg, Sweden as part of the game project. I have blogged about the project previously - link to my previous blog post. The Games Project is an action research, collaborative project between Sweden and the UK, funded by the Erasmus+ programme – more information is available from the website:  http://www.gamesforlearning.se

Whilst at a first look it may seem that developing computer programming skills is at the heart of the project, this is far from the sentiments portrayed by everyone involved; first and foremost is the desire for students to develop social skills, including teamwork and respect.  The game making process also gives students opportunities to take a real pride in their achievements and, perhaps most importantly, develop their own self esteem, via making games or supporting peers in developing skills.  Championing the project is teacher Tom Boardman.  Tom has a really useful and interesting blog, which can be read at: https://mrbgamesproject.wordpress.com

The Positive Impact of Game Making

Today, I was privileged to attended a workshop organised by Stony Dean School, entitled:

Understanding and developing the use of digital games as a pedagogical tool in the classroom

The workshop featured presenters taking part in 'The Games Project'.  The Games Project is an action research, collaborative project between Sweden and the UK, funded by the Erasmus+ programme - more information is available from the website:  http://www.gamesforlearning.se The ethos of the project is centred around 'Maker Culture' (Maker Education Initiative – Every child a maker - http://makered.org), following the assertion that if pupils are makers they are more actively engaged.  In this project, such making is facilitated by computer programming to create and play digital games (artefacts).

Essential iPad apps for supporting SEN

App review sites and sites describing apps are found quite widely when browsing the Internet with just a quick search.  Also, to make life easier for educators, many kind people have created 'app wheels'; app wheels are another great way in which a range of apps can be explored, linked to areas of learning.  Here is a link to an example app wheel for pupils with ASD

Scribbling on a PDF using Smart Notebook

In this short (3 minute) video clip, I  demonstrate how to import a PDF document into Smart Notebook.  Why would you want to do this?  Many teachers have PDF documents downloaded from a variety of sources; with such downloads, teachers may wish to add notes, labels or highlights.

Please note: whilst I discuss 'editing' a PDF in the video, what I really mean is 'scribbling over the top of'; to edit, tools such as Adobe Acrobat (not Adobe Reader) are required.

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Word Aware - electronic resources

Word Aware is an evidence-based approach to Teaching Vocabulary.  It is a ‘Universal’ intervention, designed for all pupils.  It is intended to be part of the life of the school, embedded rather than arbitrary.  Related text books include the  Language for Thinking series, which help teach increasingly complex questions.

The amazing Class Dojo

I've just received our 'School Report' for the year from Class Dojo.  The highlights include:

• 17 teachers in our school used ClassDojo
• 7 parents connected to our school
• 25 Story posts
• 1,628 moments celebrated
• On Task was the most awarded skill

If you've never heard of Class Dojo before, it is an online tool for celebrating the success of your pupils.  Incredibly for such a feature rich tool, it is completely free, and can be accessed from a PC or using the Class Dojo app on tablets.

Book Creator - from indifference to magnificence!

When I was first introduced to Book Creator several years back, I have to say I was a little indifferent.  I couldn't really see back then how it did anything different to other apps such as Keynote or Google Slides.  How very wrong I was!  Book Creator is now our most widely used app, and when used in conjunction with the accessibility features of the iPad (0r Android/Windows 10), it has allowed our pupils to communicate their thoughts in whole new ways.  It is intuitive, and really does make the best of facilities such as the camera and microphone which are built in to the iPad.

Update:  Book Creator is now available online too!

Writing with shapes and technology

Shape Coding is used in many schools to support language including writing.  The official source of all things Shape Coding can be found at the Moor House School and College website.  Here is a link. However, many schools have created or adapted resources to support writing, including ourselves.   We have developed an iPad app called 'Furze Down Shapes'.  To respect the wishes of Shape Coding's author, we are only using the app internally.    The app allows shapes to be used to support the writing process.  It features text to speech synthesis to read words to students and a limited selection of words in word banks. We have just started using the app with students, and staff have already provided some feedback:

• "Best thing I've seen for using with our students on an iPad"
• "It's very useful"
• "I like the way sentences can be rearranged" 

My first iPad app - Labels: Materials

After many months of squeezing in an hour or so here and there, I took the decision to dedicate five full days over the course of a month to creating my first iPad app. Working at a special school, I had a vision, long ago, of an an app that allowed pupils to label things around the room, in a sort of pseudo augmented reality fashion.

The app would speak to pupils, linking to the word on the label; my idea was that vocabulary could be learnt in a real-time learning environment. The app would be accessible for all pupils, and would help learn key vocabulary.After following numerous tutorials on learning Swift 2 and SpriteKit, and jumping through all of the hoops to publish on the App Store, I have now released version 1 of my app. I decided to call it Labels: Materials, with a view to later releasing more apps under the 'Labels' banner.