Back to basics???

I've been in Vietnam for about 2 weeks now working on a YL Extension to CELTA course, which I'm enjoying and learning lots from. Although I have had access to a projector and I've used my laptop, I do miss IWBs and the things we can do with them. I've been thinking a lot about IWBs v powerpoints and through the current experience, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Both can be used effectively in the classroom and 'Death by PowerPoint' has nothing to do with the tool itself but with not having a sound pedagogical ground to base the training on.

2. IWBs definitely offer a wider range of interaction between the content and the participant - again when pegagogy leads technology and not vice versa.

3. A sound understanding of learning processes and how the activities we prepare for the students and the outcomes of those activities are co-dependent, is a good base to get started using ANY piece of technology in a student-centred and leanring enhancing way.

Well, this is my update from HCMC!

Robert

Teachnology site.... graphic organisers

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's been a long time since I last posted, but the festivities got on the way! :-) Well, I'm back and here to stay! I've been working on CLIL lately and so I have come across a site which offers lots of links to Graphic Organisers. I believe that these are very useful not only in CLIL but in teaching in general as there is nothing easier to help students say: 'Ah, I see what you mean' than to help them SEE what we mean.

Anyhow, here's a link to the site: http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/

By the way, this site does not only offer the above info. There are plenty of other resources such as lesson plans, worksheets, etc.

Enjoy!

ActivInspire - How different from Activstudio?

I know, it's been almost a month form my last entry, but my new job's keeping me at bay! Arghhh :-). Anyway, we bought a new Promethean IWB and ActivInspire software along with it. ActivInspire is for Primary and ActivStudio for secondary and adult learners. The software is very, very similar :-), but from my point of view having been trained to ActivStudio Levels 1 and 2, I think that the latter is more versatile. Another feature I don't like much or having ben able to work out yet :-O! is that you can open up ActivStudio flipcharts with ActivInspire but not vice versa!

Anyway, it's great stuff all the same :-) Here's the link.
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en/support/software/activinspire/

Another Bloom's DIGITAL Taxonomy...

I really like this Prezi on Bloom's Digital Map as it gives, in a very brief way, examples of what HOTS (higher order thinking skills) mean in terms of digital use. Really interesting to see the different examples shown. I cannot use a few of the ones listed under each skill and wonder how many people feel the same...

Here's the link: http://prezi.com/kmpwndr6zk7j/copy-of-blooms-digital-taxonomy/

MIRO - really useful and cool

This year we're promoting use of web absed applications and open source programs amongst our students both adults and YLs. So far we're received good feedback :-) so all good stuff. I came across this site and I fell in love with it as I'm always searching different sites for short videos that I can use both with students and trainee teachers, and this one I think is really good to mnake my life easier :-)

Here's the link: http://www.getmiro.com/

Joshua Coupal's Bloom's Taxonomy in PREZI!

Bloom's on Prezi

I came across this presentation via The Twitter Times and I really like it. I think it really shows how technology can be integrated and how it is relevant to the way we learn. Whether we are a digital native or a digital immigrant, the way we learn changes with time as we adapt to new technologies. Really exciting and interesting, don't you think?

Simple Booklets? Similar to Storybird!

I came across this application via The Twitter Times. I think it's even simpler to use than Storybird, but in the end it is pretty much the same thing in terms of writing. I sort of like Storybird a little more because of all the already-there stories which can serve as inspiration for more YL writing both by the teacher and why not the students.

Simple Booklets is also a good application but gives me a little sense of being more serious in its presentation so I would probably use it more with older ss. I like both though :-) It must be said that simple booklets offers a lot more possibilities as links to various sources can be added. I haven't seen this in Storybird yet. I'll check it out.