Introducing the new age PowerPoint - Prezi!

Welcome to this weeks ICT learning tools- hasn't it been a journey so far, I went from not knowing what a blog was five weeks ago, to making Prezi's. If you don't know what a prezzi is... keep reading and you will never look at presentation the same way again. 

A Prezi is simply a zooming presentation tool that can be used on the internet then downloaded to present offline and be done on i products. You start with a huge blank canvas instead of the old slides. From there you put all your content in boxes on the canvas  and can choose the order they are viewed- and also the options just to click on the section to be viewed and it zooms right in. First seeing the big picture, then zooming in to get details of each part. Prezi's also have the option of working from a template- this is probably a good idea when first learning to use Prezi. 
 I have made an example of a Prezi that could be used in a lower level classroom learning about 'The Planets'





This is just a glimpse of what can be done with the help of the Prezi tool. 

There are so many ways that Prezi's could be used in the classroom- from pedagogy to the students development of presentation. 
This tool is definitely one to enhance the visual learner and maybe even encourage more visual learning because the Prezi is fun to watch and intuitive so may encourage students to remember what they saw. This would be a great teacher tool as well as used by the students, imagine having the whole lesson on a virtual canvas... being able to pick and choose as you go what you will do next - this would give so much more freedom in a lesson. You couldn't do that with the old fashioned slideshows where everything is linear and each slide must come after the other... 

More than one person can edit the same Prezi, making it collaborative and easily incorporated into group presentations. I would use this in my classroom for a group presenting tool, the whole picture can be portrayed then each student elaborate and analyse encouraging higher order thinking throughout the process.  
Organising thoughts on any topic.  You can make two or more areas in your infinitely large presentation space, then show connections among elements both by how you connect the elements, how you place them, and how you use the arrows/connectors. AMAZING possibilities for making thoughts visible.
This tool is an alternative to the overused Powerpoint. Prezi's are engaging! Something that most kids wouldn't have worked with before but will pick up very easily.


I have a million more idea's but your probably not reading this, by now your off playing with Prezi.





So go on, next time you have to do a presentation- close that powerpoint and give Prezzi a go!
It could end up looking like something like this ...

In case the embedded 'planets' prezi does't work
http://prezi.com/tkts-t6gejcc/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
(it would work, then not work, then worked again) 

Keirsey Temperament Report - What is my Personality?

One of this weeks activities was to take a temperament report... Pretty much saying that I am common... 40 - 45% of the population are made up of 'Guardians' 

I don't know how accurate it is. 

PODCASTING in the CLASSROOM

Welcome my weekly blog. How the time is flying!

This week I have decided to look at pod casting for my tool of the week.
As I have established in my first ever blog post (here if you don't remember), No Learner learns the same way. With using ICT, we incorporate so many different types of text; written, spoken, diagrams, pictures, audio, visual. You couldn't do that with a black board and chalk! I have finally realised that this is the reason that we are encouraged to look into all different ICT tools. Enhance our teaching to all the students that can't read 10 chapters and remember the whole thing.

So anyway...What is a podcast?

A podcast is like a radio show. However, instead of being broadcast live, a podcast is recorded and then distributed over the internet, so that you can listen to it whenever you please. There are thousands of podcasts available, ranging from general interest entertainment shows to those which focus on specific topics (e.g. computers / music / education). 

(http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/ict/podcasting.htm)

 A podcast could easily be put together with pictures and make a virtual slide show of images to make a movie or slide show. Recordings can be done from an iphone, ipod, ipad, computer and many more devices, so it is a readily available tool that could be used in the classroom - or out of the classroom. The program I have opted for is called AUDIOBOO, it is downloadable free from the iTunes store or online Here. The great thing about AudioBoo is that it can be embedded into a blog or wiki (blogs don't usually allow audio).

And I bet you thought, how can this be used to benefit learning in the classroom... I was thinking the same thing until I had a deeper look into it.
Have a look at what I have done with this example of intergrading podcasts into a school blog 

This could be a great approach to teaching for the Auditory learners- those who prefer to listen and speak.
Another way that I would use a podcast for in the classroom is storytelling. Having a group of students put together an audiobook of something they have written together . A classroom radio station is a great way to incorporate this-  even potentially developing  literacy skills by writing scripts, setting up interviews and developing teamwork skills by working together to put together the recordings to make a great show. This would open all types of doors in the ICT world- particularly as this could be used as early as grade one. Another academic incorporation could be using a recorded podcast for dictation that could be done at home for practise tests, or even through the class so I could roam the classroom and check for students having trouble (I used to hate this one at school - having the teacher stand up the front of the classroom and have to write down what she said).
I think it is clear that podcasts can hold a range of uses- all you have to google is 'Uses for a podcast in the classroom' and there are hundred of ideas.


Although using ICT in the classroom can highly benefit learning outcomes and experiences it is detrimental that referencing and copyright laws are taken into consideration while teaching and
when students are using ICT. It's very important that all permission is granted when using other students work as well.
Always check Reference and copyright laws!!

Here is another way couple of ways that podcasts can be used in everyday teaching:

Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope I am not only teaching myself ways to incorporate ICT into my classroom to be the best teacher I can possibly be- but also my other fellow future teachers.

WELCOME TO TERM TWO AT SEASHORE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Welcome back,
 I hope you all enjoyed your short, well earned holidays and didn't eat too much chocolate over Easter.
We have a very busy term!!

This term we will be looking at The Environment and each class will come up with actions plans to make out wonderful school more energy efficient. We will be posting blogs throughout the term with ideas that the students come up with (parents please remember to bring back your permission forms for your students work to be able to be previewed).

We also have the annual fundraising month of May coming up - below are the podcasts of our year Four students discussing ideas to raise money for the walk-a-thon.


In June we have our sports day!!
Everyone is very excited and I hope you are all practicing your cheer anthems! I have included another podcast of our school song so everyone can practise at home.



Well GOODLUCK this term everyone - stayed tuned in with our blogs!


SEASHORE PRIMARY
:)

listen to ‘Year 4 - discussion ’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Sports Day Songs ’ on Audioboo

Week 4our.

Need a holiday after this week! 

BEFUNKY

Bit of fun this cold Monday morning.

Week One, Week Two, Week Three here we are.

Where has the time gone?

This week looked at integrating blogs, wiki’s and Weebly’s into the teaching environment. I chose to look closely at wiki’s. I wanted to look more closely at wiki’s to enhance myself and readers of my blog how wiki’s can be a highly effective teaching tool for all ages, and competency levels in the classroom.

To understand the concept of a wiki, I think of it as a peice of butchers paper- a blank canvas that can be written on, drawn on and have general feelings expressed. Although a wiki can be so much more.  I think to explain it further, lets go there. WIKI

To access my Wiki

User: wikiuser00    (thats zero, zero) 

Password: hetrae