Lesson Activity Toolkit Tip of the week – 1. Using the Random Group, Random Name & Spinner! (all subjects!)

Some great little tools from the SMART Lesson Activity Toolkit (2.0) to use in your lessons – suitable for all curriculum areas! To find them simply click on the gallery tab in SMART notebook, select Lesson Activity Toolkit and then in the search box type what you are looking for i.e. “Random Word Chooser”; “Random Group Chooser” or “Spinner”. Let me know if you have any problems. Please also let me knows of any particular ways these have been useful in the classroom so we can share the ideas with others.

RANDOM WORD CHOOSER

A great little tool – simply type in a set of words and click select, the tool will flick through the words and randomly select one:

Ideas for use:
I’m sure you can all think of lots of uses for this little tool, but a few ideas to get you started……. let me know of any other ways you think of and we can share them on here.

• AFL tool for identifying students during questioning – input class set names and randomly select a student for answering a question
• Key word terminology – Revision activity – input a set of key terms related to a particular area – randomly select one and ask students to define the key term.
• Maths starter – you can type in numbers (thus equations or sums) and not just words – could get computer to select 5 at random as a little starter?
• MFL – key words in the target language for a particular topic area – randomly selected and students have to give the translation.

2. RANDOM GROUP GENERATOR

A great little tool for any activity in any subject involving group work and for which you want to randomly mix students.

(i) Simply insert the names of the students in your class and select the number of groups you want to split them into

(ii) Click generate…. and hey presto…!

3. SPINNER

A simple spinning tool – you can add text or simply have colour coded segments. To edit click on the arrows on the right of the spinner and you will get the selection box below. To type a word into each segment, make sure you keep clicking on the relevant segment or it will simply save over the one you have just named.

Ideas for use:
Again I’m sure you can come up with lots of ideas for use – just drop me an email so I can add to the list!

1. Name selector (again add names and then set the spinner) – would work ok for smaller groups like VI form
2. Revision - topic areas on spinner – ‘hot-seating’ – students have to select a topic area and then answer a question from it
3. Revision – simillar to above but student selects a key term / case study using topic and then has to tell the rest of the class as much as they know about it, or describe the key term etc.
4. Again numbers can be inputed as well as text – enabling maths equation style questions.

 Examples:

Topic areas / Revision use:

Name selector:

SMART Notebook Tip – Setting a default font.

Got a favourite font and size that you like to use in your presentations? Fed up with having to keep change the font and size to your favourite every time? I know that a number of people would like to be able to set a default text style and font in notebook so that you don’t have to keep reformatting every time you type and if that is you, here is the answer!

Instructions for setting a default font and size in SMART notebook.

1. Open up notebook and select the text button (shown in diagram below)

2. Click on the first ‘Aa’ button that appears

3. Now click on the format tab (last tab down on left hand side – shown in diagram below) and click on Text style from the list of options that appear

4. Make your selection from the options given for the text and size that you want to appear as default and then click save properties in the bottom left hand corner.

It is possible to repeat this to set the style and text for the other buttons on the Text selection bar (below) so that you can quickly select the text / sizes you use (e.g. for different size headings etc.)

Games for the IWB

A quick reminder as we start the new year of the value of interactive games in the classroom, particularly now all teaching rooms have access to IWB facilities. There are lots of free games aimed at particular subjects available on the web, however remember we also have access to software in school, including the Content Generator software (Penalty Shootouts etc.) to make our own games. For more details please see last years post on Using Games in the Classrom.

HOT POTATOES QUIZ SOFTWARE - Now free

You can find out more about what Hot Potatoes quiz software can be used for including examples in the using games in the classroom post. But you should be aware that the software is now freeware and therefore can easily be downloaded and used at home.

You can download instructions from the website – but if you come and see me I have 3 spare printed help guides.

Hot Potatoes have also now made their Quandary software free. This software enables you to create web based action mazes which can be used for problem-solving, diagnosis and surveys/questionnaires etc. Students are faced with a series of options – the option they then choose will lead them on a particular path for which they are then given further options. To get the idea – try out this Henry II and Thomas Becket history action maze from Andrew Field.

Here is a list of just some of the many websites offering online sources of educational games:

• Business Studies
• Interactive Games http://www.teachingbusiness.co.uk/index-12.html
• Geography
  Games4Geog http://www.games4geog.com/
• GeoBytes Games  (St  Ivo School) http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GeoGames/geogames.htm
• GeogOnlineGames (includes both Geography and History Games) http://www.geogonline.org.uk/GeogGames.htm
• English
• English Language Games http://www.lapasserelle.com/lm/exercices/games.html#contentgeneratormatching
• ICT
• Revise Computing  http://www.revisecomputing.co.uk/
• Revise ICT http://www.reviseict.co.uk/
• ICT History (History of ICT) http://www.icthistory.co.uk/?cat=12
• Maths
• Online Maths Games http://www.crctlessons.com/math-online-games.html
• Maths Games http://freemaths.net/games
• Maths Games (Congleton High School) http://clc2.uniservity.com/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupID=56757
• MFL
• Large number of Modern Languages Games (Thorpe St Andrews School) http://www.thorpelangsdept.info/interest.htm
• Includes Quizzes and Games (Notre Dame High School, Norwich) http://www.yjc.org.uk/
• SCIENCE
• Science Review Games http://sciencereviewgames.com/srg/
• RE
• Online Games (RS Revision) http://www.rsrevision.com/contents/games.htm

Remember there are also lots of templates for creating games using the Lesson Activity Toolkit in SMART notebook - I will be posting a reminder of some of these over the next few weeks.

SMART Exchange (Beta) – Finding & Sharing Resources

The new SMART Exchange has been set up to enable teachers to quickly search and find SMART related resources many of which have been produced and shared by other teachers. The new SMART Exchange streamlines the way in which you can search for resources, enabling you to browse via subject and also via subject-correlated standards – i.e. KS2, KS3, KS4. The search engine directly links resources to areas of the National Curriculum (see Science example below) enabling a focused search and providing a valuable and time-saving source of resources.

It is also possible to search across different areas, the link above will take you straight to the ‘England’ area site but this can be easily changed to search other areas and associated curriculum resources e.g. USA, Germany etc.

The whole idea of SMART Exchange is that it is a community for teachers using SMART resources and as well as contributing to the community by sharing your own resources (an easy uploading system is available on the homepage) you can also join the discussion forum in the ‘Connect with Teachers’ section to connect with other teachers from around the country.

The following video from the SMART exchange team provides a guided tour of the new SMART Exchange facility.

Training Session: Effective use of IWB (SMARTBoard)

A new term and straight back into a training session. Wednesday morning’s training session for staff from Hartford Student Support Centre is on “Making effective use of the Interactive Whiteboard” – the rationale behind the session is to introduce what Interactive Whiteboards actually are, the basics of how they work and a presentation of SMART notebook and its interactivity with the aim of showing the potential the IWB has for enhancing the teaching and learning experience. This will be followed by a chance for staff to actually try out the SMART boards and start creating simple interactive resources.

The session is in 3 parts: (a full programme is here)

1. An Introduction to the SMART Board – “Unlocking the Potential”

2. Getting to know the Interactive Whiteboard – practical session based on staff actually using the SMART Boards

3. Adding Multimedia and finding out more about using the SMART Board.
The handout resources used in the session can be downloaded here:

Beginners Guide to Using Smart Notebook

Getting to know the IWB – Practical Tasks

Inserting Multimedia in your Notebook

Finding out more / Support

A copy of the notebook presentation used is available for staff of the Hartford Secondary Support Unit on Request.

IWB – Science Training – July 2009

The following resources will provide support to back up what was presented in the training session, including the presentation notebook from which you can copy, paste and edit examples as you want.

Getting Started with SMART Notebook – The Basics

Download – Unlocking the Potential of your IWB – SCIENCE (presentation notebook – .nbk file).

10 Tips, Tricks and Activities for use on the IWB (Blog Post)

IWB related Posts on ICT Across the Curriculum – IWB Support

This is a great little video clip giving 5 tips and tricks for using the IWB – some of which you were shown in the training – but might have forgotten!

Other Resources to support the use of the IWB in Science:

Interactive Whiteboard Resources for Science (Kent ICT)

ThinkBank Science – Science IWB

Year 7 Science Quizzes

KS3 Science – Interactive Whiteboard Resources

KScience – Flash Animations

6 Interactive Whiteboard Strategies in Science

Secondary Science – Whiteboard Resources (Birmingham City Council)

Ideas to Inspire

Today I came across this superb site relevant to most curriculum areas and it certainly does what it says on the tin – it has many  “Ideas to Inspire“! The site has been put together by Mark Warner and is a collaborative project including a series of presentations giving short overviews of creative ideas for use in the classroom. The presentations have been put together using ideas contributed by classroom practitioners and provide real inspiration for engaging students.

The site is divided into 3 areas:

(i) Curriculum Ideas – specific ideas and resources for areas across the curriculum (e.g. Maths, Science, Geography etc.)

(ii) Interesting ways to use ICT in the classroom - one of my favourite sections – this takes particular ICT tools such as the IWB, Visualisers etc. and looks at creative ways of making the most of these to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

(iii) Other Collaborative presentations – such as this superb one on “Techy” tips for not so “Techy” teachers!

The site is rapidly increasing and Mark has reported 500 ideas already and 50 new ideas on the site just this week!! A brilliant site – well worth frequently returning to (I have added it to the Professional Development links) – a huge thanks to Mark and all the other collaborators for sharing such a wealth of ideas.

Using Audio-visual resources in classroom (1) – Creating resources using Moviemaker

Last weeks Teaching and Learning group meeting was focused on looking at the use of audio-visual resources in the classroom.

Audio-visual resources can greatly enrich the everyday classroom bringing to life teaching and learning opportunities and giving the potential to bring the outside world into the classroom broadening and enhancing our students experience. There are many ways in which audio-visual resources can be utilised and this is an area we will keep returning to.

The aim of our last session however was to look specifically at the use of combining audio, video and images to create short educational presentations in video format which can be played using programmes such as Windows Media Player or Real Player, or converted to a .flv file (using zamzar) and inserted into a Smart notebook file and then annotated etc.

Using video presentations in the classroom:

Examples of how Audio-Visual Resources might be used in the context of short video presentations:

• Creating an atmosphere and setting the scene for a task
• Providing a stimulus for students to help them empathise with others as well as develop their understanding of the subject
• Introduce a new topic
• For the creation of quizzes and revision opportunities
• Explain and demonstrate a concept
• Celebrating achievement, recording experiences such as fieldtrips etc. (although child protection issues must be considered carefully with relation to storage and use of images)
• To widen the experience for students and present things in other ways

At the meeting I showed example presentations for each of the above – if you were not able to be there and would like to see them to get an idea of how moviemaker can be put to use give me a shout!

There are many programmes which can be used to create video presentations and they vary in their degree of sophistication and thus what is achievable. A great starting point, is Windows Moviemaker, which is a free application which is available on all computers which run Windows.

Using Windows Moviemaker

1. Instructions for creating a simple movie - I have created a simple set of instructions which can be downloaded here on how to create a simple movie using Windows Moviemaker – including the addition of images, video, text, audio etc.

The important thing to remember is that there are TWO stages that you must go through when you actually save your movie. (i) Save Project as (this saves the actual file so that you can come back and edit it) (ii) Save Movie File (you must do this so that you can play back your movie in the classroom! – remember it is the .wmv file you will need to save and take in!). Please read the full explanation of this in the instructions leaflet.

2. Getting used to the interface – the Windows movie maker interface is very user friendly – this downloadable outline may help you identify the main parts of the interface that you will be using frequently.

There are lots of resources and ideas for using Windows Moviemaker – including some great templates for giving a really professional look to your videos. Try out the following two links for some further ideas (thanks to Adam Lawson for suggesting these):

• Windows Movie Makers forum – lots of great ideas as well as a forum where you can seek help!
• Hit the Bongo – some great extra titles and transitions here which you can download and make use of (including the James Bond example shown in the meeting!)

Copyright Issues

Please make sure that you bear in mind copyright issues when making audio-visual resources  – particularly if you are sharing resources with students on line. There are many photographs, music etc. which are shared under creative commons licenses which enables them to be used in creation of resources as long as the owner of the copyright is credited (e.g. in a credit list at the end).

Here are some examples of sources of audio-visual materials:

Photographs:

• Google Images http://www.google.com/imghp
• Free Photo Reference Archive http://www.morguefile.com/archive/
• Free photographs and graphics for education http://edupic.net/
• Pics4Learning http://www.pics4learning.com/
• Flickr Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
• FreeFoto.com http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp
• Free Digital Photographs http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
• Stock.xchng http://www.sxc.hu/ (free high quality images)
• Free Images http://www.freeimages.co.uk/
• Free Stock Photography http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/gallery/index.php
• Photogen http://www.photogen.com/
• Free Range Stock http://www.freerangestock.com/

(most just require credit to owner of photograph (could include credits list at end!) – see the terms and conditions on individual sites from more details)

Video:

• Creative Archive license Group http://www.bfi.org.uk/creativearchive/
• YouTube www.youtube.com

Some video clips – such as those in YouTube can be downloaded using zamzar (www.zamzar.com) into a format which can then be used in video editing software.

Music / Soundtracks / Spoken Word

• Wav Central http://www.wavcentral.com/ (Movie and TV themes)
• Find Sounds http://www.findsounds.com/ (search engine for sounds on the internet)
• Partners in Rhyme – Free Sound Effects http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/PIRsfx.shtml
• Free Royalty Free Music Loops http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml
• Free Music Archive http://freemusicarchive.org/
• Jamendo – Free and legal music downloads http://www.jamendo.com/en/
• Free Sound (sounds not songs) – all available under creative commons licence to share http://www.freesound.org/
• Podsafe Audio http://www.podsafeaudio.com/
• Sound Board – includes variety of sound clips / theme tunes – including audio of famous speeches etc. http://www.soundboard.com/
• History Speeches Archive http://www.history.com/video.do?name=speeches
• Poetry mp3’s http://poetry.about.com/library/weekly/aa032001a.htm
• Free Poetry / Audio books http://www.audiobooktreasury.com/free-audio-books/poetry1.htm

Just for Fun!

A couple of little gadgets just for fun!

1. Spell with Flickr - draws upon letters in flickr images to spell whatever you want it to! You can then of course either use the SMART capture tool to capture your image and insert into notebook etc. or even embed straight into your blog.

(Thanks to Danny Nicholson for the heads up on this one!)

2. Befuddlr

A fun little tool which takes a picture from flickr and gives it the ‘befuddlr’ treatment to create a little picture puzzle – ideal for use on the IWB using drag and drop! For example…….

This….

Becomes this….

YouTube Videos for Teachers

SmartTeaching.org have published a list of 100 of the best YouTube videos for teachers. A number of subject areas have been covered and the YouTube video links are organised on this basis. As well as videos for use with students there are some useful videos to support professional development, including the use of technology in the classroom and classroom management. Although really aimed at higher education, YouTube have also released YouTube Edu – where college and university video channels have been collected together in one place.

Although it should be possible to use YouTube in the classroom, if you are having problems accessing it or would like to insert YouTube videos into SMARTnotebook so that you can annotate them, don’t forget zamzar is an excellent tool for downloading the videos (instructions can be found in this post).