Learning with Tech @ BLGPS
July 2012 Issue
Graphic Organiser
Popplet
Sharing with you a graphic organiser tool called Popplet. It is basically an on-line pinboard where you can add text, pictures, videos and links. It can be used for brainstorming, collaborative work, revision, project work.
Below is an article written by Jose Picardo, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Nottingham High School, a secondary school in England and the creator of the website http://www.boxoftricks.net/ .
Popplet is a fun and intuitive web application that allows you and your students to create galleries, mind maps and diagrams quickly an incredibly easily. I mean it. Ridiculously easily.
Pictures can easily be searched and added directly from Flickr and Facebook. The same applies to YouTube videos.
Popplets can then be shared on social networks or via email, exported as .jpg or .pdf files and embedded into websites. You can even invite others to collaborate on your popplets, enabling teacher-pupil collaboration or pair- and group-work.
I am also planning using Popplet as a presentation tool and I look forward to my pupils using Popplet to produce homework tasks, which can then be printed and turned into classroom displays. By Jose PicardoThe following Popplet was created by two pupils of P5-8, done collaboratively from home. The name of the creator of each popplet (box) can be seen so we know how much each pupil has contributed. Teachers may choose to collaborate with the pupils to edit their work and correct misconceptions.
Do sign up at http://popplet.com/. Your students will have enjoy this fun tool.
Popplet is now also available as an app for iPhone and iPad. There are paid and free versions. The free version is called popplet lite.
Watch the tutorial below and you'd be convinced at how easy it is to create popplets.
Practising for oral
Podcast (for Reading & Pic Discussion)
Hi,Just a short sharing on using ICT to better enhance and engage learners. I did this with my class for our oral preparation. Screencastomatic:My class 6/8 2012, is rather familiar with using this so I got them to record their reading(using the oral resource kit) and pic discussion(on the spot without any script)via screencastomatic. They then upload their works into AsknLearn. I then went through the star rating and comments processes with them so they can give a deserving rating and constructive comment for the learner to improve upon. Please see the pic attached on the samples.
iChat(for Topic Conversation)
I created an iChat via AsknLearn to practise for Topic Conversation. I gave them conditions that no SMS language or emoticons are allowed, only proper complete sentences are permitted. They are encouraged listen to their peers online as we chat and to ask for clarifications and elaborations when necessary. It is like having a candidate and 39 examiners at the same time! And we learn new and different perspectives of a topic while we chat.
mo'mei'nts of reflection:
My pupils value the comments and ratings from their friends (for they think I am always out to pick on them thus I seem more critical than encouraging). It is one way I can find so-called extra time to listen to them all at a go instead of doing a 1-1 simulation(which is so time-consuming).And I can rely on others to teach their peers to be better in their oral skills, less stress on myself! I hope this works well for some of you too. Have fun!
Tips and Tricks for MS Office
Use of Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)
To begin, click the Customize button as shown in the screenshot below. By default, there are only three quick access icons enabled, save, undo and redo.
(see first screenshot)
Happy trying!! :)