Week 2: Interactive Whiteboard (IWB)

Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) in the classroom are a useful tool which can enhance teaching and children's learning. IWB technology typically combines a projector with software and computer technology to produce enlarged and interactive images, animations and text for the purposes of teaching and learning. IWB technology has been described as a computer connected to a data projector which projects images onto a touch or pen-sensitive screen (BECTA, 2004; Bell, 2002; Kennewell & Higgins, 2007; Roberts, 2007). Using IWB's in the classroom can range from teacher use in a presentational style, or pupil use in a interactive and collaborative way. IWB's can be used to teach pupils all subjects across the National Curriculum. There are many benefits to using IWB's in the classroom including;

• discussion skills
• developing literacy skills
• developing computing skills
• combined education with entertainment
• developing thinking skills by displaying key questions and providing thought-provoking stimulus
• helps SEN and EAL pupil's to engage through visual and interactive learning.

You can learn all about the advantages of using an IWB in the classroom by visiting this useful website: https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/.

We learnt that the teacher's role in successful learning through the use of IWB's in the classroom is extremely significant. It is what the teacher does with the resources available to them which will enable children to gain the full benefits of the IWB.

There are some factors that need to be considered when using IWB's with children such as;

• height and positioning - ensuring that all pupils can access and interact with it
• visibility of text - ensuring pupils can easily read any information
• light - ensuring children can clearly see the IWB.

This website highlights some of the pro's and limitations that teachers may come across when using IWB's in the classroom:

http://ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet26/northcote.html

SMART notebook

We looked at various resources available on the programme SMART notebook. There are different ways in which the children can be taught through this programme. These tools include; erase to reveal, adding animation to shapes, de-constructing images using the camera, layering, comparing pictures using the magic pen and spotlight and still shots from a video clip. Each group was asked to present to the rest of the class how to apply one of the above tools to help children's learning. 

We created a SMART notebook resource based on still shots from a video clip. We found an educational clip about E-Safety on YouTube. We used the photo tool to take snap shots of significant parts of the video and put this onto a slide on notebook. We used these images to prompt questions about E-Safety that pupils can interact with and will provide starting points for discussion around the issue. I found the erase to reveal tool particularly engaging. One of the groups used this tool to hide and reveal words to a nursery rhyme. Children would find this task engaging and interesting as the children would sing the song, then revealing the correct missing words to see if they were right. The SMART notebook has proved extremely useful in children's learning, as long as teachers use this resource in an engaging and interactive way.

Further Reading

BECTA (2004). Getting the most from your interactive whiteboard: A guide for secondary schools. Coventry, UK: British Educational Communications and Technology Agency. [verified 12 Jun 2010]

Week 1: e-Safety

Welcome to Week 1 of my blog!

Web 2.0 - what is it all about?




Web 2.0 is the second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social networking. It provides children with the opportunity to reach audiences, use collaborate tools and develop and enrich on line content.

We looked at blogging as a particular form of reaching an audience. There are many advantages to introducing blogging to children in schools which include:

• promotion of communication skills 
• development of writing skills, promoting writing with greater accuracy 
• gives children a voice 
• easily and instantly accessible 
• can be used across all subjects in the primary National Curriculum. 

e-Safety

The School’s e-Safety Policy reflects the importance it places on the safe use of information systems and electronic communications.

e-Safety encompasses not only Internet technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It highlights the need to educate children and young people about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.




The video we watched in the lesson highlighted some potential risks of blogging in schools. Their had safety measures in place to ensure that the children where protected from potential dangers blogging could cause, such as:

• children were made aware of what they can and can not post on their blogs; for example, no clues to where they live 
• protection screen in place to ensure no inappropriate information is published 
• no personal messages to other pupils. 

This school, in particular, highlighted that due to the pupils not being able to comment on others blogs was a limitation as it does not allow the children to interact with each other. This would be a good way of children evaluating and responding to others work. The school is looking at ways in which this can be done securely and safely to allow children to do this.

e-Safety measurements are enforced through a variety of websites which provide information, accessible to all ages, about the potential dangers of instant messengers, mobiles, email and computer games.

There are also helplines for children who feel that they may have been affected by any issues e-Safety has raised, such as Childline.

http://www.chatdanger.com/messenger/

I found this website particularly useful in educating about the dangers of the internet as it tells real-life stories of those that have been affected by miss-use of the internet.

It is important for schools to identify vulnerable groups to inappropriate internet contact. Those that feel socially isolated may be most at risk. Click here for more information about vulnerable groups. There may also be a danger of accidental contact with inappropriate websites or images through search engines. Good planning and preparation is critical in ensuring a safe starting point for the development of web searching skills. Tasks can be planned by teachers that do not require and internet-wide search engine that may bring up some inappropriate content.

You can find an example of considerations, guidance and risk assessment with regards to using social media in schools at this website: http://mdx.mrooms.net/pluginfile.php/90857/mod_resource/content/1/87DA16B8d01.pdf.
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