Data logging

Data logging is an ICT medium that can be used to enhance the delivery of the curriculum. 

For example in one of our science sessions at university, we used data loggers to measure and record the temperature of water with ice cubes and salt to see the effect of salt on temperature. 

Data logging can be useful in science practical work as it: 

• Measures physical properties such as light, heat, sound and acidity. 

• Is a speedy and easy method of data capture 

• Provides an immediate link between the investigation and the result. Pairs real time events with their symbolic representation

• Provides time for pupils to observe and think about the experiment, rather than spending all their time recording data 

• Enables children to discuss the different aspects of a graph (e.g. gradient) 

EPP - Editing photos and writing instructions

In the computing lesson, the year 3 class used their iPads to take a photo and edit them using an editing app. The teacher started by discussing how to hold an iPad safely.

Even if children nowadays are digital natives, they need to be reminded of how to use hardware safely. Children might be able to hold an iPad or laptop with just one hand but it is always safer to hold things with both hands to prevent them from dropping expensive school equipment. There may also be children with certain backgrounds who do not have iPads, laptops and other mobile devices at home. It is thus important as teachers to ensure that children are aware of the basics of handling ICT equipment.

After the pupils took a photo and edited them, they then moved on to the main task. Their main task was to write an instruction on how to take a photo with an iPad. At this school, most tasks are differentiated in 3 levels: good, great and super. The computing tasks were differentiated with more challenging computing skills required.

Good
- Type instructions for taking photos
- Insert photos

Great
- Explain why photos are edited
- Change the next size or colour

Super
- Type handy hints to follow
- Change the page background

Sometimes we forget to differentiate tasks in subjects other than English and Maths but today's lesson made it clear that their is a big difference between children who frequently use computers and tablets at home and children who do not have much access to these equipment. Thus, its important to differentiate computing tasks and allow children to do tasks that are appropriately challenging.

The main task in this lesson could also be computing unplugged task where students need to create concise instructions which outline ALL the necessary steps. The importance of outlining all the steps can be emphasised through scenarios such as :"If it doesn't say I need to hold the iPad firmly, I might drop it!", "if you don't tell me to save it, I might lose all my work."

EPP - Consolidation using ICT

During a maths lesson on identifying right angles, a group of children were taken out during the class worked on their tasks independently. The pupils solved some angles problems on MyMaths, an online teaching and homework subscription website. It was used as a supplementary resource to aid consolidation of children's learning. 

The tasks were presented in progressively more difficult stages and all questions need to be completed to be able to move on to the next stage. It allows children to build their confidence and fluency on solving maths problems.

I think that using a website like this is particularly effective when used alongside a maths lesson as a revision, consolidation or assessment resource. It allows pupils to do extra work at home with their parents in areas that they don't feel very confident and should enhance student's self-regulation and sense of responsibility for their own learning. Additionally, the parents can also access the website to monitor their children's progress. 

GREAT RESOURCES

My enquiry placement school has an IT specialist who was extremely kind and shared us his website which has some great resources including lesson plans for teaching computing.

His website is full of resources for e-safety, mechanisms of different software / hardware, using programming applications such as Move the Turtle & Rapid Router, algorithms etc. This website is immediately going to my bookmarks bar since it has the resources used for his computing lessons.

There are easy-to-understand objectives that teachers can use to plan their lessons. It clearly specifies the skills that the pupils need to achieve and both parents and children can easily understand what the objectives are. 

Podcasting

Podcasting is a great way to encourage creative learning and new ways of communication. School podcast allows children to plan, research and create podcasts on any aspect of the curriculum. Participating schools are given a website with channels for each group and additional channels for after-school clubs.



 It offers children an alternative way to present their learning, and can be used as a tool for differentiation based on interests and learning style. It also allows peer to peer learning where students from one school can watch podcasts created by pupils in different schools.

Here's an article on why schools should be podcasting.

EPP - Computing Suite & Cross-curricular links

The computing suite in my enquiry school had lots of posters on computing terms such as algorithms, debugging, sequences and also on e-safety. A visually stimulating computing suite!

There were also a display of artwork created using Keynote. Great cross-curricular links! 

EPP - Who wants to be a millionaire?

Assessments are a big part of teaching and teachers sometimes need to be creative with how they assess children's understanding. Sometimes we want a quick idea of whether children know basic facts of a topic. I often used questioning and worksheets to do this during my GPP, but I think I might add this activity which I observed at my enquiry placement.

At the end of the lesson, the teacher used the 'Who wants to be a millionaire' format to assess children's knowledge of forces/magnets. Students were really excited, especially because the questions got increasingly challenging.

It's incredible how something so simple like this can make an assessment activity more exciting. Using sound effects would be great too!

EPP - Reading comprehension tasks on iPads

On my Enquiry Placement, I observed that a group of children were using their iPads during Guided Reading. They had different groups doing a set of tasks. The five groups were:-
- Guided reading with the teacher
- Answering comprehension tasks using comprehension cards
- Reading own book
- Handwriting practice
- Reading a book and completing comprehension tasks using iPads

The school is subscribed to Bug Club (Active Learn) where children can have their personalised reading journey. When they login, they are taken to their personalised homepage and can choose a book to read. As they are reading, they see a bug mark which indicates that there are some comprehension questions. Answering this questions allows them to earn points which they can convert into rewards that they can use on Active Learn.

I must say I'm not a big fan of using iPads for reading (simply because I love the feel of real books and I think children spend too much time on computers / phones at home anyway). However, I think this is a great way for encouraging children to read. Even though they are still reading a story, simply allowing them to use technology makes reading an exciting and rewarding activity. The questions that pop up as a little challenge also removes the daunting and boring aspect of having to answer a list of questions at the end. Definitely an example of ICT being used to enhance reading and comprehension skills!

I also like that children are given the chance to read using both the iPad and actual books during the week. I'm sure the children will appreciate the touch of real books too.

EPP - iPads instead of document cameras

During GPP, I used the document cameras a lot to show good work or examples on the screen for students to use. But not all classrooms have document cameras! However, I observed a lesson where and iPad was used instead!  The teacher' iPad was synced to the computer / smartboard and the smartboard showed what was on the iPad screen. The teacher took a photo of a student's exemplary work and this was shown on the smartboard screen for everyone to see. It was just so quick and it was a great example of using available resources!

Mathletics

My little brother is in year 5 back in Japan and since I was teaching year 5 for my GPP, I often asked him what he did in school. He told me he did a lot of Mathletics and he really enjoyed it because he could compete with people from around the world.

I think Mathletics is a great way to get children to practice their skills and improve their arithmetic fluency. However, my brother also told me that he did a lot of Mathletics, Maths is Fun and similar activities where he would just answer questions to get points/coins. It was fun but when there was something he didn't know, he'd just read the hints and clues to find out the correct answer without really quite understanding the mathematics behind it.

I feel that although online math activities such as Mathletics can be a great resource, it is easy to fall into the trap of not doing enough teaching and exploring. I think that in schools, teachers should allow students to use practical resources and explore patterns, then do some whole class teaching, and then use websites such as Mathletics for homework where the students can practise the skills they have learnt at school.

GPP - Simulated science investigation

In science lesson, students learned about thermal conductors and insulators. Because of limited time, children used a simulation experiment on BBC bitesize to investigate whether different materials were good / poor insulators. Children were working scientifically without actual science equipments but by using ICT. The findings provided their theoretical basis for when they create a container to keep an ice cube cold as long as possible. 

Teacher models how to record data

Children drag and drop different materials to use as an insulator and investigate the rate of temperature drop

Phonics - Play some music

At my phonics placement, the class teacher played some relaxing Disney music after the children came in after their lunch break. They started gently massaging (more like patting and poking!) each other on their back along the music! I thought it was a great way of getting the children to calm down and get them in focus mode after they have been bouncing around in the playground. 

Since I enjoy practicing yoga, I might play some relaxing meditational music, or perhaps even play a youtube video of easy cool down yoga in my classroom. I can then video this and send it to parents or put in on a class blog to demonstrate that the children are taking care of themselves physically and mentally! 

Skype in lessons

After watching a year 3 science lesson via Skype, we considered other ways Skype can be used in the classroom. Skype would be a great tool in communicating with children from other schools around the world. In humanities lessons, students can learn about different lifestyles and family structures, and also what school is like in different countries, giving a real life view on our differences. However, we did experience technical difficulties during the Skype call and it would be crucial to ensure stable internet connection beforehand. 

Skype can also be used to connect with professionals in different fields, in which students can learn about different professions by hearing their story and asking questions. It saves the speaker from travelling all the way to the school and will open up opportunities to speak to professionals from all over the world. 

Teachers can also join a free global community at https://education.skype.com/ which offers various ways in which Skype can be used in the classroom. For example, in "Play Mastery Skype', students guess the location of the other classroom by asking questions, and can be used to complement geography lessons. 

I feel that it is important for teachers to use technology in a way that students can communicate and interact with people from different countries, enabling them to become more knowledgeable and respectful of different cultures. 

HBSP - Technology everywhere

I completed by 5 day placement in a year 5 class and I noted some observations regarding the use of technology in the class. 

• Students used iPads when researching about game consoles for their non chronological reports (ICT used in literacy).
• Students had some difficulty in entering effective keywords that will help them find the answers to their questions. Perhaps it will be useful to give a session on searching skills. 
• Official game websites were blocked by the school so it will be important to check whether websites that the student may want to use can be opened
• Students went to the front of the classroom and used the interactive whiteboard to play multiple choice games which supplemented their lesson on non chronological reports. 
• Student selector from Triptico was used when selecting students to answer questions, hand out equipment and etc. 
• This method promoted fairness and prevents students from insisting that they are chosen