This was a fun session! Actually, every ICT session has been pretty fun, we've just learnt something new each time and it's been very exciting learning about all the possibilities. We learnt more about computer programming and learnt to create our own 'world' in a programme called Kodu. You can create your own world or play the game that has already been created. This is another game that focuses on procedural commands. KS2 children love the opportunity to create world of their own and it really introduces them to computer programming at a young age. You can edit the keys to be the different controls and get Kodu to move around and eat fruit.
Now, something that I never thought of for educational purposes but manages to encourage learning through fun activities is the dance mat! The program called Dance to Advance sets the different controls on the dance mat to the correct answers on the game. Take a look at the example below. It was done with times tables and you have to click the correct answer. It's very easy to do yourself and you can set the topic to anything you like.
These are downloadable programs.
Are there any games that I don't have to download and can play online?
Why yes, yes there is. Check out the Kent Trust website for games where children are challenged. There are many physics games, programmable games as well as modelling and simulation. These range in age suitability and include games such as a Parachute game in which you change the size of the parachute and hole in it to get to a designated spot, taking into consideration the wind speed. There is also a Roller Coaster simulator in which you control the track to make a roller coaster suitable for people to ride on without to much G-Force (because that will knock them out and you don't want that!). All these games are educational while enjoyable encouraging computer skills as well as science in the two just spoken about and any given subject in Dance to Advance. Check out Learn4Good too for other exciting simulation games.
But Miss Lynch, what if I really want to make an animated face that looks like me to talk and introduce things online?
Well student, look no further. A Voki can help to inspire children, give them instructions when coming into the room, introduce new ideas and also excite children, they are always fascinated by the unknown and you can program your voki to be personal to the children in your class which will in turn inspire them further. If you are doing mythical creatures in Literacy, why not create a voki that can talk to them and answer their questions. Pretend to be an animal and tell the children you've left clues around the room for them to find out more about their habitat for further cross-curricular learning.
Speaking of Literacy...
Check out this video!
These are downloadable programs.
Are there any games that I don't have to download and can play online?
Why yes, yes there is. Check out the Kent Trust website for games where children are challenged. There are many physics games, programmable games as well as modelling and simulation. These range in age suitability and include games such as a Parachute game in which you change the size of the parachute and hole in it to get to a designated spot, taking into consideration the wind speed. There is also a Roller Coaster simulator in which you control the track to make a roller coaster suitable for people to ride on without to much G-Force (because that will knock them out and you don't want that!). All these games are educational while enjoyable encouraging computer skills as well as science in the two just spoken about and any given subject in Dance to Advance. Check out Learn4Good too for other exciting simulation games. But Miss Lynch, what if I really want to make an animated face that looks like me to talk and introduce things online?
Well student, look no further. A Voki can help to inspire children, give them instructions when coming into the room, introduce new ideas and also excite children, they are always fascinated by the unknown and you can program your voki to be personal to the children in your class which will in turn inspire them further. If you are doing mythical creatures in Literacy, why not create a voki that can talk to them and answer their questions. Pretend to be an animal and tell the children you've left clues around the room for them to find out more about their habitat for further cross-curricular learning.
Speaking of Literacy...
Check out this video!
Research shows that boys struggle in Literacy to find inspiration and are more likely to fall behind. This video shows that boys just need the right motivation to help their writing. Through introducing gaming into the curriculum boys have been much more able to write with 'wow' words, structure more exciting sentences and use fantastic adjectives to describe their surroundings in either storytelling or recounting events (such as their game play).
How can I jazz up my words though, Miss Lynch?
Wordle! Wordle, wordle wordle! I love wordle and have been using it for years. It is a fantastic way to create word clouds, spider diagrams of ideas, jazz up displays or topics, other ways of saying certain words (for example instead of 'said Miss Lynch' after speech in a story have 'exclaimed', 'whispered', 'shouted' etc.)
And finally..
What is this M-Learning I've heard oh so much about?
M-learning is the new e-learning. We all know that the 'e' in e-mails, e-learning, e-books means electronic and we're all so used to these now that we don't give these terms another think when using them. M-learning refers to mobile learning. The introduction of iPads, iPod touches and tablet PCs in the classroom is becoming more and more used in the classroom and excites children and allows them to get on with their work in a multisensory, interactive, personal way. Children as young as two are becoming accustomed to m-learning and it excites me too as any way to get children more excited about learning is beneficial and encouraging as a (future) teacher.
That's all from me folks, toodles!
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