This was a quick and easy slideshow using PulpMotion that transforms your pictures into a virtual gallery. I enjoyed showing this to my Year 7s using images of their own sculptures. You can also include video and a soundtrack.

“Overall, although most learners use the internet for learning, there is only limited use of Web 2.0, and only a few embryonic signs of criticality, self-management and meta-cognitive reflection.”

“Many learners lack technical skills, and lack an awareness of the range of technologies and of when and how they could be used, as well as the digital literacy and critical skills to navigate this space. Teachers should be careful not to overestimate learners’ familiarity and skills in this area. There is a clear role for teachers in developing such skills.”

“Findings on impact are cautiously positive. The research team identified four potential benefits to learning and teaching from using Web 2.0 to establish and sustain a participatory, collaborative, creative ethos of enquiry. These were found in the data, though in differing degrees:

• Stimulating new modes of enquiry
• Engaging in collaborative learning activities
• Engaging with new literacies
• Online publication of content

When used effectively, Web 2.0 technologies had a positive impact on motivation and engagement through involving students in more participatory learning.”

You can see a video on the use of web 2.0 in education here.

There is a tenancy amongst teachers to assume that children/young people can essentially be self-taught when it comes to technology and that all they really require is access to new technologies. Although this progressive view of learning has its merits, especially for encouraging creativity, most people require some kind of theoretical understanding, which they can then subvert. Nevertheless, the creation of ICT as a subject has led to technology becoming a separate discipline with a fixed curriculum and has further excluded its collaborative use across schools.

There is a reluctance by many teachers to learn about new technologies over existing practices, since it is possible to satisfy the curriculum requirements by using teaching methods that predate computers.The use of technology has to be exciting and open up potential learning opportunities in order to motivate staff, whilst also being integral to the assessment process. In terms of CPD, there is a case for sharing current pedagogy that involves the use of technology within schools.

Blogs and RSS feeds are a useful way of disseminating good practice and departments should be encouraged to share their achievements in this way, along with, of course, the students. Fronter have a useful tool called ‘News’ on their MLE servie, which allows for this. However, it is only an internal system and does not encourage interaction with a wider, global audience like blog platforms such as Blogger and Wordpress.

I would be interested to know what other people think about how technology should be taught in schools?

Perhaps, Oscar Wilde was right: “Always judge a book by its cover: Only the shallow judge by more than appearances.”

Click here to see case studies of GPS drawing projects in education.

What’s the educational value? Apart from burning off a few calories, it helps students develop a spatial awareness, explore the local area, translate concepts between different dimensions, think laterally, problem-solve and, hopefully, enjoy being away from the desk. It is also a great for cross-curricular collaboration between subjects such as art, geography and ICT.

Other possibilities include “geocaching”, more of which can be read about by clicking here.

A simple project might be to get students to create an animation of a famous speech using a combination of their own drawings and photographic images to illustrate some of the key concepts, eventually exporting as a video podcast. Alternatively, they could just create a simple animation based on the notion of metamorphosis; the transformation from one form into another.

Here is an example of a simple tutorial using Jing to record:

If it loads too slowly, visit the original location by clicking here.

This video, shown on TeacherTV, is a classic example of how mad the whole assessment process has become at Key Stage 3.

I’ve been trying to work out the best way to use Google Maps to develop international linking projects without using Google Earth, which has a complex interface and might put off students. Instead, I have found it much better to create maps directly in Google Maps and embed HTML in the placemark box using images and videos from other sites such as Flickr and BLIP.TV. It is possible to collaborate within a closed network of people and publish the results. As an experiment, I have set up a map for my department and will be trying out some tests next term with my Year 10 GCSE Photography students adding imagery from the local area.

Has anyone tried to use Google Maps for international linking and, if so, what kind of tasks did you set students?