RSSOur set was given the opportunity to try out Ipod touches in the classroom, to see if we found them a useful device to have. I’m sure I am speaking from the whole of 9-1 when I say we have had the best time ever using these devices. At first we found them a bit difficult to use in class, but we were just getting used to them, but after a while we all learned how useful they actually were. From simple things like using the calculator or using the dictionary, to having the Internet in almost every classroom and been able to individually do our own research.
We used them quite a lot in History and Geography, for geography we downloaded an app, which had all of the countries in the world on it and lots of different bits of information about that country, also we did a lot of work on the ‘draw it’ app, which was basically just like paint, but you used your finger to draw, this was quite a funny experience. Then we would email what we had created to our class mates and our teacher. In history we used the Ipods a lot to watch videos, instead of watching it on the board, you could plug in your headphones and use your device to watch it individually.
In English we would use them to read, Mr Jamieson created an app in which allowed us to read the book we were studying in class ‘Of Mice & Men’. It was so much better reading from an Ipod, than having to give out books to everyone.
I believe the whole of 9-1 has enjoyed having the Ipods for their own personal use as well, having your own personal device which you could add games and your own music to, believe me they are so much more fun to carry round, rather than a learning passport.
Everything in which your learning passport contains you can have on your Ipod, the diary, the traffic lights and many more.
When we have to give our Ipods back to school I’m sure we will all be upset about it, but we have enjoyed every minute of having them, and I hope maybe one day they will actually be given to everyone in school instead of just planners.
Nicole
New Technology for Year 9 – Set 1 - iPods.
Glastonbury day
Ok it's not iPods but it is something that is amazing happening at school.
Glastonbury Day
Heads Blog
Mr Morris has been blogging for over a year on his own blog. This week has been the first video blog and the iPod lesson managed to get featured.
Here is a clip;
For the full video click here
This Weeks lesson (Videos)
This weeks lesson task was to create content which could be given to subject leaders to show how the iPods could be used in their lessons. There was no guidance to what the pupils should create just access to our networks software and Creative Vado video cameras.
Here is a few examples of what they have done!
ICT Website
Geography
Chemistry
Biology
Initiative and Hard Work VERSUS iPods. Which wins?
Thank you to all of the year 9 pupils who created a mobile website for their last English IS. As always, I was amazed by the ability of you all and just how good some of the finished products were. For example, here is a link to Jack Griffiths' web site: happykittens.co.uk/wc
As you'll see from this, pupils are able to make great looking, easy to use, resources very easily. However, I'd like to pay special praise to pupils such as Jennifer Hall and Nicole Martin. Some pupils aren't as proficient at technology or simply aren't interested in making web sites. And that's fine. What was brilliant is that both Jennifer and Nicole made their web site, but then wrote a document about it (a task many pupils would be more comfortable with). In these written documents they both showed outstanding writing skills and therefore hit all of the English criteria for the task.
One or two pupils complained that the task was just too difficult. Others didn't. Others simply found a way to make the task suit them. Ultimately, all of the technology we have available to us now still doesn't mean much if we lose sight of the really important skills - initiative and hard work.
iPod revision app
Check out this new app that has been released by EDEXCEL...
http://www.edexcel.com/Subjects/English/Pages/ViewEditorial.aspx?editorial=159
Sir! Sir! Can I have an iPod touch?
The number of times I've been asked that is unreal from Year 7 to 11 everyone is after a shiny new iPod.
So here is a challenge to all the pupils at Moorside. Add a comment to this post telling me why and what you would want one for.
Worldle. What is the most important stuff in ICT....
We asked 9-1 a simple question. What ICT is important.
This is what we got back.
Bump!
Not quite this Mr Bump but after this weeks ER lesson task of researching a holiday I had quite a few "bumps".
Bump is an excellent way of sending data between iPhone OS devices (iPad (Friday if any one is interested in buying one!), iPod and iPhone) just by opening the app and bumping devices!
I nearly sent most of my personal details back to the pupils after 'bumping' into them but with a quick delete I sorted that.
The task was to plan a holiday looking at researching the destination and creating a multimedia response. The had to include the distance and the carbon footprint they would create.
There is a select of what I got back;
English IS
Jack Griffiths has kindly posted a video on youtube to help people use iwebkit. See the link below. Great work Jack!
Hello,
I created a video tutorial this morning showing people how they can create a website in iWebKit if they don't have serif. It's got some comments on it, and will go through editing the website.
Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PogCsarvQBs
Here's the link for the software suggested to edit the files with:
http://www.jedit.org/
Jack
9-1 Independent Study - World Cup 2010
For their independent study this week, 9-1 have been set the task of creating a mobile web page for the 2010 World Cup. I look forward to seeing what they come up with!
English Independent Study
Moorside students don't do homework. Fact.
317 apps and counting
As all of our iPods have the same iTunes account we can keep tabs on what apps are being downloaded on to the devices. It's amazing to see that there has been 317 individual apps downloaded! From "Newcastle Fan Chants & Songs" to "Brain Trainer". There really is an app for everything. I'm hoping over the next few days to get some reviews of the best apps on here.
All Countries, Countries VLE and Countries of the World
Humanities have started to use the iPods in lessons as a starter to find key facts about different nations.
Pupils still had the choice to use a good old fashion Atlas though!
Here is what they found out
Cameron's interpretation of the impact of climate change on kenya, drought!
laurens interpretation of the impact of cliamte change on bangladesh
First Enrichment lesson
First Enrichment lesson (Top sets doing cross curricular/innovative lessons) and feedback for the devices is great. Lots using them for games outside of school but also tracking the election during a humanities lesson. Lots of pupils had made graphs and images of the candidates showing what the outcome of the election might be. Pupils used apps to create graphs and read news sources.
iPod Touch Trial Begins
32 sets of parents with their sons or daughters arrived at The Phoenix Center at Moorside for the start of an innovative and exciting project. They have been each given an iPod Touch (if they didn't have one). To use in lessons and outside of school as they see fit.
After a brief talk by myself, Mr Morris (our head) and Jeff Wilson (Director of ICT) we where left with empty boxes and excited by the ideas that will start flowing from the pupils and teachers of Year 9.
