Adventures in Teaching and Learning

There is a very interesting article in the Guardian Weekend about the changes made in technology over the past decade. It got me thinking about the websites and applications that had most changed the way I do things using ICT. First of all, here is the Guardian list:

1. Google – I would 100% agree. I don’t think I really used search engines before Google came along.

2. Wikipedia – This is now so useful that it is often my first port of call, nevermind my pupils’.

3. Twitter – I believe this is the best source of CPD that I’ve had over this past year. Although it’s probably stopped me blogging so much!

4. Comment is Free – A particularly Guardian inclusion which I’m not sure I’ve ever used.

5. BBC iPlayer – I don’t use it that often, but when I do, it’s great – and its existence would encourage me to get rid of the TV at some point in the future.

6. iPhone – I don’t have one, but I know many people who do, and it did start that whole era of touchscreen phones. I’ve just got a BlackBerry, and I can see that being a big change. In fact, I’m typing this post on it now.

7. Craigslist – Never used it.

8. Facebook – Of course I’m on it! But I don’t use it so much these days. However, I still use it to keep in touch with old friends.

9. iTunes U – Need to look into this one.

10. Spotify – I think I’ve signed up to this but I’m not so much into listening to music. Don’t get me wrong – I like music, I’ve grown up playing the violin and I love to dance. But my husband is the DJ round here so I pretty much let him get on with it! A pretty eclectic mix anyway!

So, that was the Guardian’s top ten. What about mine? Of course, there’s bound to be an overlap!

1. Twitter – I’ve ‘met’ so many members of the education technology world through this, and they have shared so much in terms of resources and ideas. I can’t imagine trying to find out so much on my own. Definitely best CPD this year.

2. YouTube – Couldn’t believe it when I read that YouTube was founded AFTER the Indonesian tsunami. That is an event that I remember clearly because my husband and I were on an amazing Italian winter holiday. Surely YouTube must have existed before that holiday?! But it didn’t.

3. Google – The homepage on many computers I’ve worked on! Also the standard search button at school. I use Google at school and at home to find quick images and basic facts.

4. Wikipedia – First source of information. Normally the first item that pops up on Google as well!

5. Flickr – I love Flickr. Almost all my photos are up there. One of the few Web 2.0 apps that I pay for – I’ve had a Pro account for a couple of years. Still remember the first time I heard of Flickr – from a stranger who was taking pictures of the same smouldering warehouse as me – and now I’m shocked when other people haven’t heard of it. My favourite site to search for Creative Commons Flickr photos is www.compfight.com.

6. Facebook – I think I was one of the first of my friends and colleagues to be on Facebook (after much prompting from @victoriaellis!). The novelty has worn off – I don’t send people flowers any more! – but it’s still great for keeping in touch.

7. Blogs – To think I’d never heard of them three years ago. I enjoy writing them (when I have the time) and have learnt loads from reading them.

8. Online banking – I was probably one of the first to use phone banking, as I worked for Direct Banking when I was at uni, but it took until about 4 years ago to finally sign up for Online banking. And it’s so useful. I love being able to see my transactions, and being able to transfer my money when I want to without having to discuss it with anyone.

9. WiFi – I’m so glad the days of plugging in to dial up are long gone! And I can talk to someone on the phone and be online at the same time! Bliss.

10. BlackBerry – I’ve only had it a week, so I suppose it’s too early to say what sort of impact it will have on my life. But it’s already got me blogging again – this post has been typed on my BlackBerry – and I can send emails and texts on the tube and it sends them when it has a signal! Fantastic.

So, that’s my top ten. Now, what’s yours?

Note: You can also read @janeinjava’s post here.

It’s been too long … But today my lesson with my Year 7s on “Sustainable China” seems a very relevant topic for Blog Action Day! We looked at pictures of workers in Chengdu, looked at some of the problems faced such as breathing problems and having to boil the water to make it safe to drink, and then thought about the causes of these problems. Many of the causes of the problems were in fact problems themselves … but problems in the UK which are then shipped over to China! We considered the amount of waste there is in the UK, and learnt that many of our unwanted old technology is shipped over to China to be stripped apart so bits can get reused. Obviously this all has an impact on our planet and our climate … Hopefully my pupils have begun to consider the impact their actions have on others at the other side of the world.

IMG_3711, originally uploaded by skambalu.

Thought these little blue flowers were pretty. Saw them on a walk last week up to the new Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

IMG_2193, originally uploaded by skambalu.

I’ve been updating my Flickr account with some photos that might help me illustrate my presentations for school. Might use this one for my next War and Peace presentation with my A2 group. These are the Lewis Chessmen, I think made from walrus ivory.

Trees in the Snow, originally uploaded by skambalu.

One of the two or three hundred photos I’ve taken since late last night. I haven’t been out this afternoon, which is a shame because I think the snow will now be of an excellent snowman making consistency. Wonder if it will still be like that in the morning?

It’s certainly been a busy three weeks! I’m still too exhausted to be coherent. But I wanted to write a short post to let you know that I hope to be back to my usual busy posting self soon. In the meantime, I was at our local SACRE last night, and the key initiative both there and at school is Community Cohesion. I’m sure there will be more to say about that as the term goes on. In the meantime, what are you doing to support Community Cohesion at your school?

An anthropological introduction to YouTube

Fantastic. I’m really tired and I’ve just sat and watched / listened to this for an hour. Informative, funny, very interesting. Thanks to Ewan McIntosh, who, despite having changed jobs, is still blogging and sharing interesting stuff!

More Clouds

I have been busy since my last thoughtful post … taking pictures of clouds. Well, I was busy doing that yesterday at any rate. Hope you like it!

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Dalek, originally uploaded by uitlander.

And here is one of Davros’ creations! I was up in the circle, so could only see the dalek from afar, but still very exciting!

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Davros, originally uploaded by MykReeve.

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the Doctor Who Proms concert yesterday morning. I was up in the circle, so was looking down as the Judoon, Sonatarans, Cybermen, Ood and Daleks appeared in the Royal Albert Hall. Here is a photo one of the promenaders took of Davros, the creator of the Daleks. We all booed and hissed. Fantastic event! And you can listen to it on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cq3vg (this is Part 1 – Part 2 is around there somewhere too!).