3D Image of the Statue of Liberty in Google Earth

At a very well attended in-service yesterday here in EDS we achieved the Learning Outcomes for the Google Earth Introduction, in spite of some technical difficulties at the start.

Google Earth is an immense program involving many different components and tools.  At its simplest it can provide a very exciting way of exploring our planet, Mars and the Sky at Night.  But with all the various tools it can be customised to provide a rich experience in many different ways, by adding information and pictures of one’s own but also by making use of the vast array of add-on resources on the Internet.

It obviously has a place in the Social Subjects but also has uses in Numeracy and the wider understanding of our environment.  Real time information about weather can be superimposed and recent events such as the Chilean earthquake are quickly added to the available resources.  There are myriads of pictures of places all across the globe as well as the ever growing number of Street Views.

For staff in Dundee the presentation and list of resources links are now on the Primary and Secondary M drives and in the Web 2.0 Glow Group.

We looked firstly at the many resources and software at our disposal on Dundee Schools’ network, such as ActivInspire and Comic Life.  Next, we looked at the many Glow Groups, both national and local that can help, and the many great resources that are available from the national Glow site. We looked at the many national Science based Glow Meets coming up this term.
Helen took us through the process of using the online Curriculum for Excellence planning tool, which can save SO much time and effort when we are, for example, tying together Sciences outcomes with the associated literacy, numeracy and health & wellbeing outcomes that will all be delivered together in a lesson.
Tracey showed us round SSERC’s Science 3-18 site and how it has been structured around the experiences and outcomes, with more resources being added all the time.
Teachers then had time to explore the many ICT resources highlighted by Ollie Bray at SSERC’s conference in November, as well as dipping into all the other possibilities. This had been made easier by links to everything in the twilight being listed in the ICT Glow Group on a new Science page. Check out this page if you were not able to attend the CPD session. Let us know what you find useful.

Science Page in ICT Glow Group

Blogs are like diaries.  Whereas diaries tend to be private, blogs are usually public and are intended to be read.  Pupils using blogs are often surprised to find that their writing has been read by total strangers.   A selection of Scottish educational blogs can be found at

http://www.scotedublogs.org.uk

Wikis on the other hand are more permanent structured pieces of writing.  They might well be used for reports or the development of a project.  In appearance they are similar to a conventional web site.  Pages can be added and indexed but unlike an ordinary web site they can be edited by users.  Wiki systems usually keep all the versions of the pages so that pages can be rolled back if the latest revisions are unacceptable for any reason.

http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis

is a list of wikis.  Bear in mind that the links in this directory have not been vetted.

http://midsummerdreaming.wikispaces.com/

is a class wiki created by a Perth school.

Social Networking is the current Internet fashion exemplified by Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and My Space.  Pupils use them and so teachers should at least be aware of their existence and what that implies.  Not surprisingly, a warning has been recently issued to the teaching profession to avoid contact with pupils on such web sites.

For all sorts of reasons, it is important for teachers and pupils to set their security options correctly on these sites. February 9^th is Safer Internet Day. The theme this year  is ‘Think Before You Post’ – an appropriate motto for all Web 2.0 users. Click here to find out more about this.

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/(X(1)S(ipcq1445b3r05qb055a2gw45))/saferinternetdayuk/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

The etwinning portal both demonstrates this and helps teachers to make links with European schools. There are examples of appropriate projects, and kits of resources for many subjects, and levels, that allow you to derive most benefit from the partnerships you establish. There is online space available (safe and secure) where you and your pupils can share and collaborate with pupils abroad. It really is worth exploring the site and what it can offer you and your pupils. Make it your New Year resolution to widen your pupils’ horizons within your secondary subject, or for your primary class, by registering and using the etwinning portal.

If you want to go wider than just Europe, visit the Global Gateway

With the aspirations of Curriculum for Excellence ( I have the Building the Scottish Curriculum diagram in front of me as I write), who can ignore these readymade opportunities for “broadening of experience of the world” (Values), “opportunities for personal development”, collaboration, “understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it”? If that doesn’t convince you, etwinning and other international projects, give a new slant to your subject, whatever it may be, and can give a boost to both your own and your pupils’ interest and motivation. ICT makes this as simple as logging on. Give it a try in 2010.

Ollie Bray from LTS gave a powerful overview of many ICT possibilities for use in teaching and learning generally, and for Science in particular…. from free web-based resources to the use of mobile phones in the classroom and lots more. He is going to post his presentation on his blog www.oliebray.com  Citing the progression from chalk on slate, to paper and pencil, and then pen, by pupils over time, there was plenty of advice for ICT reticent teachers to let their pupils take the ICT skills lead if need be, while the teacher concentrates on leading the learning. Uploading to Glow is just the next stage in how pupils might record their learning! Check out Ollie’s blog yourself for the presentation argument and all the ideas for use in science lessons.

The next ICT/Science highlight was Ian Birrell’s launch of SSERC’s 3-18 website to support Curriculum for Excellence for Science at all levels. This site can be accessed using teachers’ Glow login details. It has two main foci: Curriculum Resources and CPD. It will be welcomed warmly by teachers since It is fully searchable across all curriculum areas in Curriculum for Excellence, all SCQF Levels from Level 4 to Level 7, and hosts an increasingly wide number of resources and exemplars. Check out its clean new look at http://www.science3-18.org

Science will always involve hands on practical activities but ICT can enhance the understanding and fun of learning in science, as in all subjects.
We hope to be able to share more fully some of the ideas covered at this conference in a CPD session next term, so, Dundee teachers interested in delivering science lessons enhanced by ICT, keep an eye on CPDOnline!

Ollie’s photo of Ian launching the new www.science3-18.org website, from http://twitpic.com/r5hjz

I was impressed by an email received from a P1 teacher only a few days after the session. She had already been using Paint with her P1 class and they had created images to support the story. She imported these into Photostory 3 then the children recorded a song using an Easi-speak microphone. The results  you can see for yourself. The class are over the moon at being movie makers!Clepington3bearsp1b

Ardler Primary and Nursery held their very own animation assembly to showcase fantastic Pivot animations which had been made by pupils throughout the school from Nursery all the way to P7. The staff and pupils were amazed at the fabulous work achieved by everyone. It really was great to see how CPD for staff was translated into classroom practice. See the links above to view a selection of the Pivot Animations.

James Robertson has translated Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox and A. A. Milne’s classic Winnie The Pooh into Scots. This Thursday, 5th November, S2 pupils at Menzieshill High School will have the chance to learn from James about the challenges that writing in the Scots language raises.  Pupils across Scotland will also have this opportunity, thanks to the Glow video-conferencing tool, Glow Meet. The Glow Meet is being held in the National Glow Group, Writers’ Workshop.
This Glow Group sits at national level but is a project hosted by Dundee City. Other authors in future events will include Gill Arbuthnott, Catherine MacPhail and Dundee’s own Nick Hesketh.  For more information, see the Writers’ Workshop Glow Group.