I used to find it frustrating during computing lessons when students were required to research a particular topic and the information sites that they were opening were way above their heads! Not only was text too hard to read, there was often too much of it and it easily confused students. To solve this problem I search for sites that I want my students to use prior to the lesson and my teacher/librarian places them one our school’s Library Links page. This sets students up for success. However, I realise that schools are set up differently, receive different levels of ICT support and in most cases this isn’t possible.
So, I’ve found a site called Twurdy which comes from a play on words with the question: ‘Too Wordy?’. Twurdy uses text analysis software to read each page before it is displayed in the results. Twurdy uses a colour coded system to help users determine how easy the website will be to understand before they even open it! The lighter the shade, the easier the web site is to read.
This article is designed to show you how easy it is to link a video recording to your Notebook software. I personally use a Flip camera to record student activity because it is easy to use. Students find Flip Cameras easy to use and they are durable, they drop and generally don’t break! Some people like John from ‘John’s World’ on YouTube disagree and argue that the video and sound quality is poor. I’m not about to argue with someone who does video editing for a career. However, as a teacher I find the flip camera is great because it is easy to use for both students and teachers, it is compact (making it easy to carry on excursions) and the video files can easily be linked to Notebook software.
I’m lucky at my school to have not only full time librarians but librarian technicians. My friend Jennifer Thompson put together a short word document on the specifications and pricing of Flip Cameras (the link is under the video clip). Please note that this document was created over a year ago so I’m sure prices have changed. I’ve uploaded it to give you some sort of idea about what to take into consideration if you are considering purchasing a Flip camera to use in conjunction with your Notebook software.
Also keep in mind that I’ve used the SMART recoder to record this video footage for you. Therefore some colours are distorted and the video file that I linked doesn’t play correctly. Using this linking method with Notebook software and Flip carema recordings without using the SMART video recorder will not cause an issue.
The focus of this lesson was for students to write a persuasive text about whether or not animals should be kept in captivity (ie a zoo). Initially I typed a range of arguments and placed them in a sorting box. Students were then able to drag the arguments from the box and sort them according to whether they thought it was an argument for or against the issue. This was followed by reading students ‘I think’ statements on BBC following the death of a killer whale trainer at a theme park.
I then found samples of paragraphs on persuasive texts written by other people related to this issue and used the line tool to highlight features of texts that I wanted to discuss. I was then able to use the ‘invisible ink’ layer tool, also known as the transparency layer tool (a feature of Notebook 10.6) to discuss aspects of an online persuasive text about animals in captivity. This feature enables you to switch between the internet and Notebook software without having to screen capture pages. Here is a short video on how it works.
Last Friday I ran SMART board PD for Math teachers (Y6-9). The new Math Tools add on was not part of the PD session but we spent some time exploring these tools. After speaking to a range of secondary teachers, I acknowledge that it is harder for year 11 and 12 Math teachers to utilise the use of SMART board technology in the classroom due to the extent of curriculum content which needs to be covered in order to prepare students for their final exams. This often leads to a SMART board being used as a data projector and therefore questions the need to purchase a SMART board (the more expensive option) rather than opting for a cheaper data projector.
However, the Notebook software which comes standard with the SMART board provides user friendly functions to cater for year 11 and 12 teachers. Of particular interest to secondary Math teachers on Friday were the page recording function and SMART recorder, which enable a teacher to record how to solve any Math problem and then press play to automatically replay the demonstration. Teachers also liked the ease of which Internet links and video files can be inserted into the Notebook software. There were also items from the gallery which were suitable for Year 11 and 12 teachers but the features most noted were the SMART Math tools.
The SMART Math Tools is an ‘add’ on which means it doesn’t come standard with SMART Notebook software. It costs roughly $100 for a licence per board. The idea is to eliminate the need to switch between multiple software application for tools to make math engaging and understandable. The software’s customizable toolbar is built into SMART Notebook software, so it’s quick and easy for you to access the resources into you lessons. I think these tools will enable secondary teachers to bring the interactivity and visual side of Math teaching into their classroom without ‘side tracking’ from the curriculum.
I’ve recorded a short explanation of how to use the SMART Math tools (please note, I’m new to these tools). If you would like someone to come out to your school and give a demonstration and or a quote (as I don’t sell any SMART products) contact my friend Maria from Electro board who will be more than happy to help you or find someone who can. Maria’s contact is listed under the video demonstration.
Skoool.co.uk is the latest in a series of worldwide initiatives by Intel in the educational sector and is supported by SMART technologies. Skoool.co.uk provides Secondary students and teachers with interactive activities to support their understanding of Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. You may have noticed that many of the Interactive and Multimedia flash files in Notebook software (that can be found in the Gallery) were created by skoool.com.uk . Visit the site below and use the drop down menus (under each key stage) to explore the interactive activities this site has to offer.
The website below (click on the painting) allows students to create Jackson Pollock abstract style paintings on the SMART board or a PC. Jackson Pollock was an abstract expressionist painter. He is best known for the ‘drip and splash’ style of painting where he’d affix his canvas to the floor or wall and pour and drip paint. Then, rather than using tradition brushes, he manipulated the paint with other items such as sticks, trowels or pieces of broken glass.
To create a painting you simply move the mouse around the page. The faster you move the mouse the narrower the paint distribution, a left click will change the colour of the paint and the space bar will delete your painting. Use the camera tool to capture your painting.I haven’t used it on the SMART board yet but aim to early next week.
TESiboard resources are ideal for R-2 teachers and Early Childhood Educators. The free, online interactive activities were created by Steven Rawlins for TSL Education Limited. When you first log onto the page you will see a list of subject areas on the left hand side (ie Numeracy, Literacy, Science, History, Geography, RE, ICT and Cross Curricula) and the rest of the page will be white. To access the activities you simply need to select a subject area and then the interactive resources will appear.
I don’t normally create a list of resources under SMART board news as I like to provide you with a reference to one site and then explain why I like it and or how you can use you SMART board software to create similar interactive resources. However, it is the end of week 6, NapLan 2011 Writing task is soon approaching and everyone is busy. I’ve created a list of sites which I’ve found useful for teaching persuasive text. I acknowledge that none of this work is my original work, I simply spent time looking for ‘good’ sites and resources which teachers like me may find useful. If you’ve found a site and would like me to share it online, all you need to do is to post a comment. Or, alternatively, you may like to post a comment in regard to this list of resources.
I’m very privileged to be working at one of South Australia’s leading school, St Aloysius College because I have the opportunity to work wide a wide range of talented teachers. One of whom is Carol Grantham, one of our teacher librarians who is jointly responsible for the free Online Referencing Generator which is free to access online. Carol, Shaozhuo Wan and Silvana Jenkins worked together on this project.
I believe that students should be taught how to reference their material from a young age and the Online Referencing Generator which consists of three sub categories (Junior, Middle and Senior School) makes it so simple. If only this were available when I was studying teaching or psychology at University!
If you don’t use this free online referencing generator, at least get you students in the habit of referencing their images by right clicking on the image URL and then right clicking and pasting underneath the image that they have copied. This is the first step in teaching students to acknowledge work that isn’t their own.
I’ve been experiencing a bit of difficulty with saveyoutube.com (or kidckyoutube.com) so I’ve switched back to using the chameleons at ZamZar.com. It takes a little longer to download and there are a few more steps involved. Here is a short video on how to it. Please note, I’ve screen captured the pages from ZamZar so the video doesn’t go for too long.
