How does technology change Shared Reading? (Early Years)

Posted on September 30th, 2011 | 2 Comments

Shared reading is an essential part of learning to read.  Sitting together with a big book and sharing the experience of reading with a class is incredibly important in developing early reading and comprehension skills in younger learners. However, books are changing;  we are no longer limited to paper and ink.  We have the advantage of document cameras (visualisers) as well as digital books of various kinds existing in multi-modal  forms.  Apps on our iPhone. iPads and other internet enabled mobile devices, Apps from the LION OS store, online interactive books… so many options! I decided to consider how these new books might change the way we take part in shared reading.

Keeping with traditional idea of “sharing” reading; that we would all sit together and read the book on a big screen (In this case an IWB) I played with some of the digital texts.   The texts were busy moving onto the next page, playing music or showing jolly animations.  All of these things work well to capture our little audience’s imagination and pull them further into the story.  What they might stop however are those incredibly important moments where we pause to explore, investigate and ask questions.  In the video below I explore how IWB software (Notebook 10.7 , Promethean Activ Inspire 1.5 and Easiteach Next Generation) can be used to help solve this problem.  Using a range of tools such as “snap shot”, Zoom and annotate in I propose that it is possible to have the best of both worlds.  Animations, sounds, images and shared learning about reading.

So many strands of the Australian  National Curriculum for English could be covered using this technique.  Of course, as a Teacher looking at the National Professional Standards you would also be able to tick off: 2.6 and 3.4 quite nicely too!

As these thoughts were developed as part of my work with the Teaching Teachers for the Future Project I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Teacher Tech Forums Now Open!

Posted on September 27th, 2011 | Comments Off

Here at Teachertechnologies.com we’ve been experimenting with ways in which you can get in touch and ask your questions. We’ve got our contact form (which you’re still very welcome to use) and, for a short time, we also had our live chat applet running.  The problem with both of these methods was that the information we were sharing was only reaching one audience and only during one time zone.  As a result, we’ve decided to add forums to the site where you can ask questions, get your answers!

Being Teacher Technologies we’re here to answer you  questions on a range of topic areas.   We know we’re great with IWBs – but we also know a thing or two about other edtech technologies.  So, going with the Web 2.0 principals coined by Johnson Jenkins of MIT,

"Nobody knows everything, everybody knows something
and what is known by any given member is known to
the group as a whole"
Teacher Technologies Forums, A large list of topics ready to go!

A large list of topics ready to go!

let’s answer our questions together and find new ways of solving old problems :)

You’ll see that there are plenty of forum topics to choose from.  Why not share an App in the iPad forum? Add to our growing collection of links for Augmented Reality or start sharing your thoughts on the more sober subjects of the National Professional Standards for the teachers or the Australian Curriculum’s treatment of ICT.  We can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

When you get to the forums, for the first time, you’ll need to register with us.  Don’t worry, your info will remain safe and secure (as outlined in our privacy policy).  We’re simply asking you to create an online identity so that we know who we’re talking to :)

Why not give it a go now? Who will be the first to voyage into the brand new forums?

 

 

Showcase Seminars – Innovations in EDTECH

Posted on September 27th, 2011 | Comments Off

Over the coming months I will be running short, one hour, showcase seminars introducing a range of innovative technologies to anyone who wants to come and along and listen. Staring in October, I will be running these sessions on behalf of  CEGSA.  I will present all of the technologies below in a friendly, fun and engaging space.  I’d like to invite you to come along, observe, explore, play and take home ideas and resources that will help you to develop further your awareness of the latest EDTECH innovations.

The program is displayed below.  Simply choose “Register Now” to book your place (Please note you’ll be taken to the CEGSA website to do so )

 

Augmented Reality

14th October, Finders University, Rm 3.25 @4pm -5pm

        • See a demo.
        • Take home some resources you can use in your own classroom!
 Register your place!

 

Mixed Reality System from SMART

4th November, Finders University, Rm 3.25 @4pm – 5pm

        • See a demo of this new technology.
        • Have a go!
 Register your place

 

iPads- Apps for education 

23rd March 2012  Finders University,  3.25 @4pm – 5pm

        • What apps are best?
        • Which schools are using this tech?
        • Advice and support
                                         Register your place now!

Twitter for Education

13th April 2012 Flinders University, Rm 3.25 @4pm – 5pm

        • What is a PLN?
        • How can you use Twitter to Network?
        • How to use the internet to get free PD opportunities
        • Find blogs and resources for your classroom

Register your place now!

 

QR Codes

18th May 2012, Flinders University, Rm 3.25 @4pm – 5pm

        • What are they? How are they being used in education?
        • Take home some great ideas for your classroom
    Register your place now!

Smart Update 10.8

Posted on September 1st, 2011 | 2 Comments

SMART Mixed Reality

SMART Mixed Reality

A good few weeks ago SMART released an update for Notebook.  We’re now up to 10.8 and plenty of new features have been added to this version to make it worth while updating.

Firstly, if you have a SMART Document Camera ( and you’re running Notebook on a PC) then you can get excited about the free trial for using their Mixed Reality system. I wrote about the development of this tool about year ago here. When you upgrade you’ll notice that you have a whole heap of 3D objects that you can use on your screen.  By coupling this with a Mixed Reality cube and SMART Document Camera you can control the way you are seeing the object.  Placing the Mixed Reality Cube under the camera allows it to act like a controller.  When you move the cube so will the image on the screen.  It’s not quite Augmented reality as we’re using the code to control the image rather than to add it (Augment it) onto the screen but it does give the sense that you are physically in contact with the object being displayed.

Interestingly, the video below does seem to demonstrate something a little closer to Augmented Reality than the recent “how-to” sheet suggests.  I’m waiting for a call back from my pals at Electroboard to see whether there’s something I’m missing.  I’ll comment if I find anything new out but at the moment, my understanding from the documentation (linked to below) is that you need to put the 3D object from the gallery onto the board first and then download the cube to control it.. I hope I’m wrong.  It would be soo much cooler to just put the cube under the camera and have the object appear!

If you have the document camera and you want to play then you’ll need some more information and objects.

    1. Instructions on how to use the Mixed Reality System can be found here

    2. “To increase the contrast between the mixed reality cube and the background, you can use the mixed reality target matt” – Download this here

How to Update Smart Notebook:

Open Notebook and head to your “Help” menu.  Choose “Check for Updates” and follow the prompts.

If this does not work you can download the file from Smart Tech directly, run the application and follow the prompts.

Here are the key new features you’ll find in Notebook 10.8

    • 21 New language packs for handwriting recognition:
Albanian Basque Catalan Croatian Estonian Gaelic (Ireland) Gaelic (Scotland)
Galician Icelandic Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Maori
Romanian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Swahili Ukrainian Welsh
    • Internet Explorer will now connect with Notebook when you’re downloading a .notebook file.  You will be prompted to either ‘open’ or ‘save’ the file. This was removed in 10.7
    • A whole host of 3D objects have been added to the gallery.  They’re great!  You can rotate them 360 and swivel them back and forth. The update for the gallery is very big as result – so definitely don’t choose to update this between lessons.  You’ll need recess at least to download the new resources!
    • A new item has been added to the main tool bar - a direct link to SMART Exchange.  It’s there to remind you to visit and to share the resources you are creating
    • They’ve also added a “Share on Smart Exchange” option in the File menu.
    • There are some new image optimization options now so that when you bring in a picture or use the camera snapshot tool you can choose to optimize the image and reduce pixilation – handy when you want to zoom in. This also means that any images of a larger file size will have their size reduced – making your .notebook files smaller and easier to store on your network or memory stick.
    • MAC users now have the transparent mode that appeared in the Windows version in 10.7 as well as the auto-hide option on the tabs.

More detailed notes are available here from the SmartInclusion WIKI

Teaching Teachers for the Future

Tagged In: | Posted on July 13th, 2011 | Comments Off

A new role for me.

Firstly, this post is an apology that the blog has been a little quiet over the last couple of weeks.  In truth, I’ve had lots of ideas about what to share with you but I have had little time to get them down here! I’ve been busy adding to the content of the new Computers in Education Group of South Australia (CEGSA) website; I think I wrote 3 posts there last week!  I’ve also been busy getting settled into my job at Flinders University.  I am now employed to work as an ICTPO – an ICT Pedagogical Officer (rathe than the telebtubby name it sounds like).  What a fantastic role it is too!

As part of the Teaching Teachers for the Future project I’m working with certain staff to examine the experience Pre-service teachers (PSTs – yes it sounds like you’re trying to get someone’s attention at a whisper ;) have in relation to ICTE (ICT in Education) the ACARA (The Aussie Curriculum) and the National Standards for graduate teachers.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the TTF project and what this might mean for you then you might like to read the post I put up on the CEGSA site.

As for this site?  I think it might start to evolve even more.  I’m going to be exposed to the ACARA a lot and so I can start sharing news on how ICTE fits into that as well as continuing my research into new and innovative ICTs.  Like Google+  Have you managed to get an invite yet?  I know I have and it’s very cool!  Feel free to comment if you want an invite :)

Needless to say, I can promise that I will still be blogging, adding resources for you to use for free and sharing what ever knowledge I can share, i will share with you.  Come and share the journey! :)

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