TEACHMEET 09
The Foyer of the SECC
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Web 2.0 makes a difference, and some new Noel
Since I started all this blogging and social networking thing, various people have questioned its value, and although I knew that it made a difference it was hard to 'quantify' that difference...
A BECTa report into the value of these tools has now been published...
Becta has published major new research into the use of Web 2.0 technologies, such as wikis, blogs and social networking, by children between the ages of 11-16, both in and out of the school environment.
The reports found that young learners are prolific users of Web 2.0 technologies in their leisure time but that the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom was limited. However, schools and teachers who are innovating in this area have found benefits, such as:
* Web 2.0 helps to encourage student engagement and increase participation – particularly among quieter pupils, who can use it to work collaboratively online, without the anxiety of having to raise questions in front of peers in class – or by enabling expression through less traditional media such as video.
* Teachers have reported that the use of social networking technology can encourage online discussion amongst students outside school.
* Web 2.0 can be available anytime, anywhere, which encourages some individuals to extend their learning through further investigation into topics that interest them.
* Pupils feel a sense of ownership and engagement when they publish their work online and this can encourage attention to detail and an overall improved quality of work. Some teachers reported using publication of work to encourage peer assessment.
The research also found that over half of teachers surveyed believe that Web 2.0 resources should be used more often in the classroom. However, the majority of teachers questioned had never used Web 2.0 applications in lessons, despite being frequent users of technology in their personal and professional lives. Their main concerns involved a lack of time to familiarise themselves with the technology and worries about managing the use of the internet in class.
The reports recommended that teachers should be encouraged to help learners to develop more sophisticated use of Web 2.0 technology and to give them the skills to navigate this space.
Tony Richardson, Executive Director Strategy and Communications, said:
"Some schools and individual teachers have been very innovative in developing their use of Web 2.0 to support learning. However, clearly teachers need the support, time and space to develop skills and practices that will allow them to integrate Web 2.0 into lessons. The report shows that the impact that Web 2.0 can have on the motivation and engagement of pupils. We need to ensure that these benefits are extended to all learners."
All very encouraging, and in many Scottish schools, as was apparent at last week's Scottish Learning Festival, this was flourishing...
Down here in England, perhaps less so. There are some innovators out there...
I'd like to work with those innovative geographers and gather some examples of how people are making use of the social web tools to engage learners.
Please get in touch if you would like to showcase something that YOU do....
Check out NOEL's DIGITAL GEOGRAPHY blog where he has 2 new posts on how to use Google Earth to teach SPHERE OF INFLUENCE...
A BECTa report into the value of these tools has now been published...
Becta has published major new research into the use of Web 2.0 technologies, such as wikis, blogs and social networking, by children between the ages of 11-16, both in and out of the school environment.
The reports found that young learners are prolific users of Web 2.0 technologies in their leisure time but that the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom was limited. However, schools and teachers who are innovating in this area have found benefits, such as:
* Web 2.0 helps to encourage student engagement and increase participation – particularly among quieter pupils, who can use it to work collaboratively online, without the anxiety of having to raise questions in front of peers in class – or by enabling expression through less traditional media such as video.
* Teachers have reported that the use of social networking technology can encourage online discussion amongst students outside school.
* Web 2.0 can be available anytime, anywhere, which encourages some individuals to extend their learning through further investigation into topics that interest them.
* Pupils feel a sense of ownership and engagement when they publish their work online and this can encourage attention to detail and an overall improved quality of work. Some teachers reported using publication of work to encourage peer assessment.
The research also found that over half of teachers surveyed believe that Web 2.0 resources should be used more often in the classroom. However, the majority of teachers questioned had never used Web 2.0 applications in lessons, despite being frequent users of technology in their personal and professional lives. Their main concerns involved a lack of time to familiarise themselves with the technology and worries about managing the use of the internet in class.
The reports recommended that teachers should be encouraged to help learners to develop more sophisticated use of Web 2.0 technology and to give them the skills to navigate this space.
Tony Richardson, Executive Director Strategy and Communications, said:
"Some schools and individual teachers have been very innovative in developing their use of Web 2.0 to support learning. However, clearly teachers need the support, time and space to develop skills and practices that will allow them to integrate Web 2.0 into lessons. The report shows that the impact that Web 2.0 can have on the motivation and engagement of pupils. We need to ensure that these benefits are extended to all learners."
All very encouraging, and in many Scottish schools, as was apparent at last week's Scottish Learning Festival, this was flourishing...
Down here in England, perhaps less so. There are some innovators out there...
I'd like to work with those innovative geographers and gather some examples of how people are making use of the social web tools to engage learners.
Please get in touch if you would like to showcase something that YOU do....
Check out NOEL's DIGITAL GEOGRAPHY blog where he has 2 new posts on how to use Google Earth to teach SPHERE OF INFLUENCE...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Google Earth Gallery - have you seen all of these ?
Some nice features and mash-ups on the GOOGLE EARTH page.
I like the quote on one of the sections that suggests that 80% of the world's data has a geographical element. Is that all ?
Check out some of these:
I like the quote on one of the sections that suggests that 80% of the world's data has a geographical element. Is that all ?
Check out some of these:
- World Oil Consumption (very useful graphical representation on the world map)
- An international flights animation
- Rising sea level animation
- City of London timeline
- Night lights of the world
- Dengue Fever movement (one for those who have disease as an area of study) in Singapore, and the Singapore Grand Prix
- Real time earthquakes
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Ollie's UPDATES
Check in at OLLIE BRAY's BLOG for the latest additions on how to make more use of GOOGLE EARTH.
Great ideas for all educators.
Great ideas for all educators.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Google up your Coursework
Noel Jenkins has added a juicy little post on how to GOOGLE UP your GCSE COURSEWORK
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Ollie and Noel at Google in London
An interesting post on Ollie's BLOG about a trip to Google in London and their plans to further support UK Geographers.
Some exciting times ahead hopefully !
Don't be evil...
UPDATE: and Richard too.....
Check out the work that Richard refers to by reading the comment that he added to this post...
Some exciting times ahead hopefully !
Don't be evil...
UPDATE: and Richard too.....
Check out the work that Richard refers to by reading the comment that he added to this post...
Monday, September 08, 2008
Sea Level Rise tool...
Thanks to the folks at RIDO for passing this on to me today..
I'm not certain that it's 100% accurate...
If anyone wants a copy, drop me an e-mail...
If anyone wants a copy, drop me an e-mail...
Thursday, September 04, 2008
INVISIBLE PATHS
A little tip via the latest issue of SIGHTSEER.
You can create a tour that follows an invisible path. This is helpful if you want create a movie that follows a very specific route, but do not want to show a path or any placemarks. Just create a path with the color opacity set to 0% and play a tour that follows that path.
You can create a tour that follows an invisible path. This is helpful if you want create a movie that follows a very specific route, but do not want to show a path or any placemarks. Just create a path with the color opacity set to 0% and play a tour that follows that path.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
New Google Earth Training
Being offered by the RGS (as included in the latest CGeog newsletter)
Google Earth training
FREE Google Earth training for LEA Maintained schools
Google™ has kindly sponsored 10 courses to be run throughout the
Free of charge - but please note that if you accept a place on one of these courses and subsequently do not attend you will be charged the full price of a standard course. Booking form available at http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/Training+and+CPD/Fieldwork+and+expeditions/Google+Earth+training+for+teachers+and+educators.htm
FREE Advanced Google Earth training for
The RGS-IBG Chartered Geographer (Teacher) scheme, funded by DCSF, has sponsored courses to be run throughout the
Free of charge - but please note that if you accept a place on one of these courses and subsequently do not attend you will be charged the full price of a standard course. Booking form available at http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/Training+and+CPD/Fieldwork+and+expeditions/Google+Earth+training+for+teachers+and+educators.htm or email c.wheeler@rgs.org for details
Google Earth Training for Teachers and Educators, Tuesday 21 October 08,
Coordinated by
A hands-on workshop that demonstrates how GPS and digital cameras can be used to capture geo-referenced data on a field trip and used to create classroom resources using Google Earth.
Cost: £141 incl VAT includes notes, lunch and refreshments. Details: T 020 7591 3030 E go@rgs.org W www.rgs.org/GOseminars
Advanced Google Earth Training for Teachers and Educators, Wednesday 22 October 08,
Coordinated by
A hands-on workshop that demonstrates how to integrate field data into Google Earth, creating geo-referenced graphs as well as choropleth maps that can be used in the classroom.
Cost: £141 incl VAT, free to Chartered Geographer (Teachers). Includes notes, lunch and refreshments.
Details: T 020 7591 3030 E go@rgs.org W www.rgs.org/GOseminars
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Placespotting
PlacespottingJust had an e-mail from Martin Fussen to tell me about PLACESPOTTING: a site that allows you to create your own map based quizzes...
Go to the website and click CREATE.
Move and zoom the map until it shows an interesting place. Provide some hints for the person / friend who will try to solve the puzzle (a number of hints can be provided) and a message that they will see if the riddle is solved. After saving the quiz you can send it by mail to a friend or embed it in your homepage as a picture. The task is to find the place shown in your picture on a second google map.
The website has 6638 different quizzes stored. 108274 quizzes were solved and
927275 opened.
Looks worth checking out and creating a few quizzes.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Tour de France Street View
The route of the Tour de France 2008 can now be seen in STREET VIEW.
Go HERE for the images and maps.
Go HERE for the images and maps.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Norfok Geography Conference
Did a session at the Norfolk Geography Conference yesterday, and presented an update of some ideas on using Google Earth from a session I ran 2 years ago...
Below is my presentation, minus the videos...
Below is my presentation, minus the videos...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Norfolk Geography Conference
Norfolk Geography Conference
Monday 30th June
Stonehenge! 'Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise with a dragon's face
Stonehenge! Where the virgins lie
And the prayers of devils fill the midnight sky
This is a trail for the Norfolk Conference, at the PDC in Norwich, which has a keynote session by Sarah Watts.
I am offering a 55 minute session (ish) - you know I always over-run....
I have decided to mention a few new ideas for using Google Earth and also showcase a lesson designed by Noel Jenkins from Digital Geography.
This will go through the process of curriculum development that I hope will inspire the folks who come to my session to see how they can take an idea for a lesson and "run with it" and use a few of the new website tools to make it a little more creative and engaging...
Will also mention the guide made available at Digital Explorer by Jamie Buchanan Dunlop.
Will also be mentioning my new favourite website: WORDLE.
Also coming up is the new THEMATIC MAPPER tool, which was also picked up by Mark Batchelor on SLN...
Here's one that was made earlier with the TOOL (or ENGINE)
It shows mobile phone subscriptions...
Also the GOOGLE CODE API, which I had a play with a while ago, and was mentioned by Tom Biebrach. Here's the details on that as an embedded video:
Monday 30th June
Stonehenge! 'Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise with a dragon's face
Stonehenge! Where the virgins lie
And the prayers of devils fill the midnight sky
This is a trail for the Norfolk Conference, at the PDC in Norwich, which has a keynote session by Sarah Watts.
I am offering a 55 minute session (ish) - you know I always over-run....
I have decided to mention a few new ideas for using Google Earth and also showcase a lesson designed by Noel Jenkins from Digital Geography.
This will go through the process of curriculum development that I hope will inspire the folks who come to my session to see how they can take an idea for a lesson and "run with it" and use a few of the new website tools to make it a little more creative and engaging...
Will also mention the guide made available at Digital Explorer by Jamie Buchanan Dunlop.
Will also be mentioning my new favourite website: WORDLE.
Also coming up is the new THEMATIC MAPPER tool, which was also picked up by Mark Batchelor on SLN...
Here's one that was made earlier with the TOOL (or ENGINE)
It shows mobile phone subscriptions...
Also the GOOGLE CODE API, which I had a play with a while ago, and was mentioned by Tom Biebrach. Here's the details on that as an embedded video:
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