3 days in and what ICT?

Apart from a literacy DVD that is used daily during milk time, I have seen little use of ICT so far in my 3 days of placement. I have only seen the interactive whiteboard used once so far even though I could identify many interesting possibilities. I understand that they have been having technical issues due to the restructuring of the school over the summer and the building works that were only completed over half term. I am hoping with the correction of the wireless internet links that I will be able to observe more use of ICT in the classroom in the future.

Cross curricular use of blogs

Well, myself and two other uni colleagues have created a really cool blog to help us with our science directed activity. We have created a BEAN BLOG that we all have access to, to document our beans progress.

Take a look :- http://pgcebroadbeans.blogspot.com/

We have found it very useful as we can work at our own homes and all contribute to the project without having to arrange meetings (which at the moment can be very tricky!). It will also be very helpful when producing the final report as all the information will already be collated in one place.

Web authoring tools

Another thing that I did not know. WOW all these ICT terms that I had no idea what they meant!

Web authoring tool
In computing, software for creating web pages. The basic Web authoring tool is HTML the source code that determines how a Web page is constructed and how it looks. Other programs, such as java and VRML can also be incorporated to enhance Web pages with animations and interactive features. Commercial authoring tools include HoTMetaL PRO, NetObjects' Fusion, and Microsoft's Front Page.

I was doing some reading for ICT and came across the phrase 'CONCEPT KEYBOARDS' and I thought, Mmmmmmm, I haven't the foggiest what one of those is so I have looked into this further and this is what I have found out.

A concept keyboard is: a keyboard for a computer that is different from the normal qwerty keyboard. I have found one English company that makes what they call 'overlay keyboards, which means that it is a concept keyboard, but an overlay can be changed is placed on to this keyboard that does different things in different programmes. The company can also taylor make these keyboards to suit the user.

They are designed for people with disabilities, SEN and blind people. They also make special keyboards for very young children, with big bright buttons etc.

Some info taken from www.advisory-unit.org.uk/ck/Concept%20Keyboards%20FAQ.html

Concept Keyboards

What is a Concept Keyboard?
A Concept Keyboard is a flat, touch sensitive board, usually A3 or A4 in size, that you can plug into your computer and use as an addition to the QWERTY keyboard. A paper overlay is placed onto the board and the user presses the overlay to activate the board.

Is a Concept Keyboard the same as an overlay keyboard?
Concept Keyboard is the brand name of a particular make of overlay keyboard. A bit like Hoovers are the brand name of a particular make of vacuum cleaner. Overlay keyboard is a generic term that can be used to describe Concept Keyboards, Intellikeys boards etc.

What can I do with a Concept Keyboard?
Basically anything you can do with the QWERTY keyboard, or for that matter with a mouse, can be done using a Concept Keyboard. They are used most commonly as a writing tool providing users with whole words and phrases on the paper overlays. They can also be used to provide access to the Internet, to play back sound and video, even to run programs and provide an alternative to the mouse.

How does the Concept Keyboard work?
Like any keyboard it needs a software ‘driver’. You plug the Concept Keyboard into your computer and you also run the ‘driver’ which is called Concept Plus Driver. You use Concept Plus Driver to tell the computer which overlay you want. The overlay contains all the information the computer needs to carry out the purpose it was created for.

When the overlay has been opened you run that program you want to use the Concept Keyboard with, e.g. Writing with Symbols 2000. Then when you press an area on the Concept Keyboard the computer will do whatever the overlay has been created to tell it to do, e.g. write the word ‘cat’.

Where do I get the paper overlays?
You should have been supplied with some sample paper overlays along with Concept Plus when you bought your Concept Keyboard. You can visit the Concept Keyboard Overlay Exchange where you can download overlays that others have made. You could also make your own, this is not very difficult and is the best way to get overlays that meet your needs.

How do I make my own overlays?
The Concept Plus software comes in 2 parts. There is the driver that you need when you want to use an overlay. There is also the Concept Plus Editor that you can use to create your own overlays.

Who uses Concept Keyboards?
They are used by children and adults who have difficulties with the QWERTY keyboard; usually because they find whole words that are illustrated with pictures or symbols more accessible. Sometimes they are used as an alternative to the QWERTY keyboard by a person who can’t press keys but can manage to press a letters on a larger area.

Blogging: clarification

Following an interesting comment on the previous Blog from Bessie (thanx:-) ), I thought that I should clarify a few points and a few things that I have found out since writing the previous post. The teacher made the pupils write their blogs/articles in word because the blog space was being used as a school magazine and a big part of their objectives was editing and reviewing their work before 'publishing' it on the internet. I have, this week (during my huge battle to find my way around it) discovered that the new Word 2007 has a fantastic template especially for creating Blogs. I haven't really used it yet as I am really struggling to do the basics (the tool bar is dramatically different in the new version and I'm a bit set in my ways!!) but will give it a go in the next week or so and report back.

Blogs

Writing about blogs on a blog, mmm, interesting.

This week I watched a really interesting thing on Teachers TV about using blogs in the classroom. (by accident should I say before you think that I am a swot!, I was flicking through sky on my only day off as the rain poured down and prevented my shopping trip!)

But it did turn out to very interesting. The teacher was using it with a year six class to create a web based magazine. She said that it was very easy and described the steps to go about it safely. Making it password protected, so that nobody without a password can access the blog. She also briefly said that it is possible to put it on the internal network, so that there could be free access to it internally (however, she did not say too much about how this was achieved, but its good to know that it is possible.) The teacher then showed how the class would use a word processing package to initially create their documents and then cut and paste them into the blog when they have been agreed.

This allowed the children to be really involved in their learning. Different children were given different roles, editor, sports reporter, entertainment reporter, deputy editor etc. It was cross curricular as it could involve most subjects and was a long term project that was allocated class time and homework time every week.

I feel that it is a fantastic tool to get KS2 children involved in their learning. It may be a bit tricky at first to get all the security and technology bits together and organized. But once this has been achieved then it should be a fantastic long term project for children of all abilities.

Clare

Mobile Phones in the class room???

The question is, ICT is a good thing in education, but how far do we take it.

Obviously, mobile phones these days are powerful ICT tools that an awful lot of children and teachers have and probably use more than a computer. Schools must keep upto date with technology and promote all uses of ICT within their teaching, But taking this piece of technology into the classroom may not be the wisest move.

Consider the responsiblilty that the teacher will have on their shoulders when they are in the position of being responible for thirty mobile phones that can cost up to a few hundred pounds each! Children are not the best at looking after things, just look at the amount of stuff in the lost property box but the end of the first week of term!!! Lost, broken and stollen mobile phones, they are abit more pricey to replace than the odd polo shirt or v neck sweater.

It would be a fantastic idea to be able to harness all types of technology in the classroom. However, personally, I would not want to be the teacher responsible for the almost enevitable problems that will arise. And from the other side of the fence, I would not want to send my daughter into school with a mobile phone that I know I will never see again (at least in full working order!!!)

Clare xx

Thanx for the link

Thank you to Rachael who put the link for the free 30 day trial link for Inspire data on the PGCE primary facebook notice board. It has been very helpful. Heres the link: http://www.inspiration.com/ incase you are interested. This is so handy for incorporating ICT with science (the D/A for week 3 science). It is much better than excel for creating interesting graphs.

My PGCE ICT Blog

This is just my first posting, just to say hi.
I think I have completed my D/A for this week on the Mexican menu. Must up load it all tomorrow.
Clarexx