| Digital - teacher | Education in a technological world

Good luck everyone

Well, today is the start of the Year 6 SATs. Good luck to all involved, and especially to "my Y6's" who, until recently, I was working with.

It's a strange thing changing jobs at Easter, I still feel like I should be working with my former class of Yr5/6, and not my "new" Yr3/4 children.

Technology revolution

I've just been watching a fascinating report on the BBC news channel about how technology is changing things in South Africa.

I was amazed when I learnt about how Intel, ubuntu (open source Linux software), and Open Office are working together to provide a free way to join the techological revolution, whereas the almighty and overseeing Microshaft are only prepared to offer (albeit heavily) subsidised) versions of their products. I know which I would opt for if I had to spend the pennies carefully.

Oh, and the "cantenna" (a wireless antenna in a tin can) is just a brilliantly simple solution to stop a wifi link spreading everywhere.

BubbleShare

Looking to add that extra bit of "umphh" to the photos that you add to the school website from time to time? BubbleShare might be just what you are looking for.
Simply upload the images that you are wanting to use, and put them into a slideshow. You can then add clipart to the images, add captions, even add audio and print them out if you wish. It couldn't be simpler to do. Once done, copy the link and embed the slideshow into your webpage or blog post. Here's one I created earlier;

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

One note of caution though - this is a tool for the teacher to use, not the pupil as some of the "latest images" shown on the front page could be inappropriate for children.

Grab a Joost

Those lovely people over at Joost have given me unlimited invites to play with! If you fancy trying out the next generation of TV over the internet, click below and let me know!

Create interactive resources

Magic Studio  allows you to create interactive learning resources to use within the classroom. Once registered you can upload images to share with others / use already prepared interactive activities or create your own. It's straightforward to use - no technical knowledge is needed, and the results look impressive.

Shrek the third

With the premiere having taken place, it won't be long now until the third Shrek film hits the cinemas, and Dreamworks have gone all out on the internet. The official Shrek the third website contains so much for children - games, activities, downloads (colouring sheets for those rainy days!), Shrek sudoku and more. There  is also 'Virtual Shrekland' - a zoomable map of the entire Shrek landscape with animations and videos (will look great when more content is added).
Oh, and they've really thought about their audience, as they have tailored portals for kids / boys / girls / teens and adults - all with suitable content in each portal.

Customised toolbars

On the Bectan Sands website, I've added a new tool - the Bectan Sands toolbar.

It's a small download that, once installed, will allow you to be able to keep up to date with the latest additions to the website through an RSS feed, as well as always being just one click away from the village. There is also the option to use the Bectan Sands search to locate any article through keywords.

If this works well, there may be a digital teacher toolbar coming too in the near future.

Madness goes a step further

I thought I had heard wrong when there was a news report on the radio about a new superschool in Peterborough, but no I checked and I did hear right - when it opens there will be no playground for the children that attend. Alan McMurdo, head of Peterborough's £46.4m Thomas Deacon Academy, said "I think what the public want is maximum learning."
I suggest, Mr McMurdo, that you ask the children what they'd like too. After all, it's them who'll provide the exam results that could put you out of a job if the results are low.

Doctor Who make-a-comic

Have you seen the BBC Doctor Who website?
They've launched a new feature where you can create your own comic strip featuring the Doctor, Martha and a host of villians and props.
I've given it a quick go and it's simple to use. (One thing to mention, you will need to register to get the full features of it, and for children that will mean getting an adult to allow you to join).

It's good to see

I've been adding fresh articles from children who have submitted work to the Bectan Sands literacy project over the past few days, and some of it is really great stuff. Obviously I don't add the submissions that don't make sense, or have nothing to do with "the village", but one article has made me think that the site might be being used as a teaching resource. There has been a submission called "save our shop" - it's a piece of persuasive writing all about the demise of the local village shop to the ever expanding supermarkets. It's a remarkable piece of writing, and obviously follows on from some work on persuasive work in the classroom. Take a look at it, and leave a comment for the author to read. It might even take the form of an online petition!

Happy Birthday

Happy 1st birthday to First News - the newspaper for children. I've been using this in my class, and each time the latest edition is brought in the kids clamour to be the first to read through it. They love the way that it's written.

My only gripe is the price. £1 for a paper with half the pages of a regular newpaper is a bit steep.

Got any change, guv?

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million (455,000 pounds) that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin.

At the size of a large pizza, at least it should be easy to spot if it falls down the back of the settee!!