Etherpad is a unique custom in-browser text editor. It allows up to eight people to collaborate in real time. Each user is colour coded and the changes made will appear on all screens almost in an instant. For more details and a short 90 sec screencast just click on the title of this blog entry.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Etherpad
Etherpad is a unique custom in-browser text editor. It allows up to eight people to collaborate in real time. Each user is colour coded and the changes made will appear on all screens almost in an instant. For more details and a short 90 sec screencast just click on the title of this blog entry.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Prezi
I had a conversation with a teacher recently who said that a certain syllabus for GCSE stated that the students were required to use Powerpoint to produce a presentation. 
It was only after a few probing questions that she accepted that Powerpoint wasn't actually named. We have reached the stage where the word presentation is synonymous with Powerpoint. Teachers feel that they are expert in its use and so we get Powerpoint used everywhere, by the teachers and by the students. Using Powerpoint is not the only, and very often, not the best software for presenting ideas. Instead, we should encouraging our students to use alternatives remembering that we, the teachers, do not need to be 'trained' in its operation. The students are more than capable of working out all its nuances. Prezi is one such alternative.
Prezi.com is a website that allow you to create dynamic presentations. You create a map of your ideas which can include text, images, videos, etc. You can then show the overview of your presentation and zoom to see all the details! It is very simple to use. Words can't do it justice! Go to the site and check out the showcases. The site also includes a manual.
For the free version, you get 100Mb of storage and the off-line editor. The small prezi logo will appear in the initial screen but it certainly doesn't interfer with the display.
It was only after a few probing questions that she accepted that Powerpoint wasn't actually named. We have reached the stage where the word presentation is synonymous with Powerpoint. Teachers feel that they are expert in its use and so we get Powerpoint used everywhere, by the teachers and by the students. Using Powerpoint is not the only, and very often, not the best software for presenting ideas. Instead, we should encouraging our students to use alternatives remembering that we, the teachers, do not need to be 'trained' in its operation. The students are more than capable of working out all its nuances. Prezi is one such alternative.Prezi.com is a website that allow you to create dynamic presentations. You create a map of your ideas which can include text, images, videos, etc. You can then show the overview of your presentation and zoom to see all the details! It is very simple to use. Words can't do it justice! Go to the site and check out the showcases. The site also includes a manual.
For the free version, you get 100Mb of storage and the off-line editor. The small prezi logo will appear in the initial screen but it certainly doesn't interfer with the display.
To Twitter or not to Tweet
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? I have joined Twitter and I find it really fantastic.I joined Twitter a few months ago using the name "ballyvally". It seemed strange at first. You have no friends (or followers) and you aren't following anyone. Who do you send your tweets to?
The first thing to do is to follow people who have the same interests as yourself (you can always follow me!). If you go to to this site, you can type in the area you are interested in. From the list of Tweeters, select one and read some of their entries. If they seem interesting, you can follow them. Repeat the process.
The idea is to state what you are doing using 140 characters (letters, spaces, etc). Initially you might be thinking, who wants to know what I'm doing. Who wants to know that I have just cut the grass or am just about to take a walk along the river? But if I was attending an ICT conference somewhere in Europe, there will be numerous people who would be interested in the details of the conference, step-by-step as it is reported live. I could be reading a really interesting article from a particular website and be able to share it with my followers - did you know, for example, that pupils in the UK are to study Twitter and blogs in primary schools. This article is one of the links that was passed on to me through Twitter!
When you log into your Twitter account, you will see a list of the most recent tweets from the people you are following. I am following some great people - olliebray, mwclarkson, russeltarr, John_Howarth, to mention but a few. Every so often, I will also check who they are following, read some of the posts and again, if I like what they are saying or if they point to useful websites, I will follow them too.
The amount of really useful information I have obtained from the people I am following has been unbelievable. Here are Nine great reasons why teachers should use Twitter!
Some Tips for Twitter: a great beginner's guide for new users
Click here for 100 Tips, Apps, and Resources for Teachers on Twitter.
Join Twitter now!
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Breathing Earth
At breathingearth.net you will find a lovely simulation of the aspects of the life-cycle on Earth, including global birth and death rates, as well as CO2 emissions.I love the organic sound effect that accompanies the visuals. And having the birth and death rates pointed out in such an obvious way really was quite shocking to me.
It indicates an exploding population, with the continuous counter on the site showing births going up at twice the rate of deaths. Given global concerns about CO2 emissions, the figure underneath those is somewhat worrying too.
You can find out the details for individual countries by hovering the mouse over them.
The aim of this site is to raise awareness of environmental issues. You can find out at the bottom of the site about the data's origin and how you can make a difference to the planet.
Article by Kate Russell (www.bbc.co.uk/click)
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Mobile Moodle
I have successfully run Moodle from a USB Memory stick. So why would I want to do this?
Sometimes in a school, the Internet can become very slow and anyone trying to work on their VLE can experience anything from frustration to complete failure. Wouldn't it be great if the VLE could run on a local server during the day and then, in the evening, the VLE could be synchronised with the on-line version. This would make video and audio streaming much quicker. You could still run your VLE if the Internet 'goes down'. The VLE would be available to classrooms that don't have access to the Internet at all!
The answer to all this is MoWeS - Modular Webserver System.
When you download the package, you will be able to run Moodle from the 'Localhost' server directly. You can change the options so that the MoWeS Portable will automatically start Moodle up (http://localhost/moodle/).
Sometimes in a school, the Internet can become very slow and anyone trying to work on their VLE can experience anything from frustration to complete failure. Wouldn't it be great if the VLE could run on a local server during the day and then, in the evening, the VLE could be synchronised with the on-line version. This would make video and audio streaming much quicker. You could still run your VLE if the Internet 'goes down'. The VLE would be available to classrooms that don't have access to the Internet at all!
The answer to all this is MoWeS - Modular Webserver System.
- Go to the"No thanks, take me to the download>>" link provided.
- Select the "I do not have a MoWeS Portable II Package and want to obtain a new package" option
- Select the appropriate packages.
When you download the package, you will be able to run Moodle from the 'Localhost' server directly. You can change the options so that the MoWeS Portable will automatically start Moodle up (http://localhost/moodle/).
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Internet Safety Training
Read on for information relating to Safer Internet Day 2009, New Thinkuknow Training Dates, Feedback Numbers of Children Trained In November!1.) Safer Internet Day 2009 CEOP's Thinkuknow programme will be producing a pack of resources available for download.
Please register if you're interested in receiving information, guidance and the pack.
Mission: To get your school involved! This is the perfect opportunity to introduce internet safety to students or to consolidate the teaching you have already implemented.
Method: To mark European Safer Internet Day, your school can download a pack of resources including new KS2 and 3 assemblies. CEOP will be creating and signposting you to all the resources you need for SID 2009. We would also like to hear your plans for the week.
Get it in your school diary NOW! February 2009 How do I get access to the Safer Internet Day Assemblies? Go to http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers/sid09.aspx, register and we will keep you up-to-date with developments. You will be able to download the resource pack early February 2009.
If you are a registered user of the Thinkuknow website, please login before registering your interest for the Safer Internet Day Assemblies. This will preclude you from having to fill out more registration forms!
The downloads will be available from our "Resource Area" early February 2009 but only to those who have registered and been verified.
2.) New Thinkuknow Training Dates Dates - We have just announced our next training dates for the first half of 2009. Demand has been very high recently so register early to avoid disappointment!
You can apply for 2 types of training: Ambassador Training - (Full Day - £125)The CEOP Ambassador Training will give you an in depth look at not only young people use of the internet and mobile technology, but also examine how offenders use the online environment to groom young people. The training will give both a law enforcement and education perspective broadening your understanding of this emerging arena. The training will run through CEOP’s secondary school education programme Thinkuknow and other stand alone resources. Once you have completed the training you will be able to train your colleagues in the 11 -16 year old Thinkuknow education resource. You will also receive a certificate. The training will dedicate time for general discussion and allow you to ask any questions that may effect your individual profession.
These courses will take place at:
London 16/12/2008
London 22/01/2008
Preston 29/01/2008
Belfast 19/02/2009
Bristol 05/03/2009
Glasgow 19/03/2009
South Wales 09/04/2009
Newcastle 30/04/2009
London 14/05/2009
Derry 11/06/2009
Cambridge 25/06/2009
CEOP Thinkuknow Training (2.5 Hours - Free)This training allows you to directly deliver CEOP’s 11-16 year olds Thinkuknow programme to young people however you can not cascade train other colleagues unless you complete the CEOP ambassador full day training. The training will not only teach you how to deliver the product to young people but will also take you through many of the most popular applications young peoples are using in the online and mobile environment.
The courses will be taking place at:
London 21/01/2009
Preston 28/01/2009
Belfast 18/02/2009
Bristol 04/03/2009
Glasgow 18/03/2009
South Wales 08/04/2009
Newcastle 29/04/2009
London 13/05/2009
Derry 10/06/2009
Cambridge 24/06/2009
Please visit file://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers/training to register for a course. 3.) Feedback the Number of Children You Trained in November 2008
Please feedback how many children have received Thinkuknow training during November 2008 and ensure you have updated any outstanding training figures for the 2007/2008 Academic Year!
It is imperative that we obtain this information from you as we need to report to strict Home Office targets so this service can continue in the future.
Step 1: Login to your Thinkuknow account, enter your details in the black area at the top of file://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers.
Step 2: On the left had side of the screen, at the bottom of the tab bar on the left below the Thinkuknow logo click on 'Numbers Trained'
Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select the month in which you trained children with Thinkuknow resources Step 4: Enter the number of children that you have trained with Thinkuknow Step 5: Repeat this for all months necessary. If you have trained young people prior to the months listed in the drop-down menu, please enter the figures in the July 2007 field.
Many Thanks Have a great Christmas Holiday! TUK Team
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Adding the 'Read more' link to your Blogger posts
I have included the steps necessary to create the 'Read more ...' or 'expandable post summaries' as they are also known. Using this method, the 'read more...' section will automatically be the text occurring immediately after the first paragraph; i.e. if you press the 'Enter' key at the end of the first sentence(s), the rest will be viewed when the read more link is selected.
After you log into your blogger account, go to the 'Layout' link and select the 'Edit HTML' link on the top bar. Click on the 'Expand Widget Templates' check box.
To finish, click on the 'Save Template' button.
That should be that!
Click here to get the text version so that you can copy and paste the required code.
After you log into your blogger account, go to the 'Layout' link and select the 'Edit HTML' link on the top bar. Click on the 'Expand Widget Templates' check box.
To finish, click on the 'Save Template' button.
That should be that!
Click here to get the text version so that you can copy and paste the required code.
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