CREATE A SPECIAL GIFT!

Hello girls!

Here is my last blog entry! This time, I’m going to present one activity that I’ve designed with one of the resources we discovered at the beginning of the subject with Yolanda Scott-Tennent. In those sessions, in order to do some research on interesting ICT resources & tools and to re-think the way we use them we were asked to do a task. It consisted in choosing a content topic of the English Classroom and presenting some resources explaining how they could be used. I chose “Describing people” as my topic and I shared with my classmates some ideas of how to use different tools such a video, an online board game, a Snake and ladders board creator, a video quiz with Educaplay.com and a Hot Potatoes activity. But the one I’m going to share with you in this entry is a WORLD CLOUD CREATOR named TAGUL. Below is the explanation of the activity, which I’ve entitled as “Create a special gift!”

We are in Year 5, it is a group of 24 students who have quite a good level of English. They do two hours of English per week plus another hour of Science (CLIL).

Christmas is getting closer and we have been working on the topic “Describing people” during the previous sessions. We have worked the basic structures to describe (“He/She is” & “He/she has got”), vocabulary related to physical appearance and to personality and comparatives and superlatives. But with this activity, the goal is to expand this vocabulary in a more meaningful and motivating way for the students.

The activity basically consists in creating a world cloud with adjectives. It would be the closing activity of the unit. As a Christmas present students will have to choose someone they love, to look for different adjectives to describe this person and create a special and personalized word cloud. 

First, students will have to create each one a list of adjectives to describe the person they choose, they should use some of the words they already now and also they must add some new using the dictionary. Then, after each student has its list, all together we will share and pool the new words that they have come up with creating a Popplet with the IWB of the classroom (interacting and creating it in a collaborative way). So we are creating a vocabulary bank to which everybody can have access. 
This is a good way to expand vocabulary because it comes from the students'need. Moreover, when asking them to share the new words they have learnt they are creating something together that can be useful to everybody, which adds a meaning to the whole process. If we want it the Popplet could be printed and hung on the wall of the class. 

This could be an example of the Popplet: 

Then, using the computers room of the school, students will have to create a world cloud with their adjectives with the tool Tagul. They can choose the shape and colours which best represent the person they are describing. Finally, they will have to send it by email to that person, writing a short Christmas greeting.
With this activity we are taking into account the affective part of our students, since they are creating something for someone they love. In addition, presenting them the creation of this world cloud as a final result makes all the process of looking for the words more motivating.

These could be some examples of the world clouds:

Finally, each student will present briefly its creation with the help of some scaffold language (i.e. “My _________ is ________ because__________” / I love my ________ because he/she always ___________. He/she is very ______________). This oral part will be also used to assess the students. To assess the oral presentation we can use a rubric. 

Regarding Bloom's Digital Taxonomy, the activity can be classified primarily as a LOT, but also includes a small creative process, so you could say it is too a HOT. Firstly, when listing the vocabulary and creating the mindmap all together they are remembering and understanding, and they are also applying their ICT skills both when using Popplet and Tagul. And secondly, as the world cloud is a personal creation that they have to design, it inlcudes some creation.  

Why is it approppiate to use these ICT resources and what ICT contributes to the activity?

Well, first I must say that I strongly believe that the use of ICT make the children more involved and increase effectiveness of learning. In this case, the use of Popplet makes everyone feel involved and participant of the learning of all the group, so it can increase students' confidence and motivation. Then, the use of Tagul makes children assume greater responsability for their own learning and makes the outcome of they effort appear in a funny, visual and beautiful way. The combination of the two activities, also enables us to work both collaboratively (creating Popplet with the participation of all) as well as individually.

Useful advice

Unfortunately I haven't been able to realize this activity in a real context, but if you would like to carry out it, you should take into account some possible problems you may encounter. 
For instance, one possibility could be that when you ask them to share the new words, there are many that are repeated. In that case, you could ask questions about their family and friends, prompting new adjectives to look for the meaning.
Also you should bear in mind that you will have to give them some basic instructions before starting using Tagul. It's true that they are digital natives and some of them can get how to use it in few minutes, but it is always better to provide the informtacion needed and make clear what you expect from them.


Now you are ready to go to your classrooms and carry out this activity! I hope you like it and do not hesitate to ask if you have any doubt or want some more specific information.

It has been a pleasure to share ideas and learn form all of you.
Thank you!!!

XXX

Andrea Malagarriga

We are storytellers!

Hello girls!

This time we are Andrea and María writing together a post related to the use of iPads in the school.

The last 29^th of May we attended our last ICT session with Maribel Benito, who shared with us a list of recommended iPad apps suitable for use in the class.

First, we talked about the increasingly popular QR codes, short for Quick Response codes. These codes are used to take a piece of information from a transitory medium to the cell phone, and once there give you details about a specific business. Nowadays, you can see QR Codes in many different places like magazine adverts, billboards, and webpages. They are more practical than a standard barcode because they scan (and digitally present) much more data, including URL links, Geo coordinates, and text. Moreover, these codes can be scan with almost any smartphone or tablet device and do not demand the use of a  chunky hand-held scanner. If you wish, you can find the full Wikipedia description here.

But can we use QR Codes and its advantages to enrich the teaching-learning process? Of course! In fact, the use of QR codes in the educational field is on the rise because they are intriguing and motivating, but at the same time they are easy to create and use. But how can we use them in the classroom? Here you can find a Pinterest Board full of great ideas and by clicking here you can download a pdf file named “40 interesting ways and tips to use QR Codes in the classroom”. We hope you like it and find it useful!

Then, we went through the list of apps placing special emphasis on the most interesting ones and briefly getting to explore some of them. We had time to explore Class Dojo an app which is an alternative to the conventional classroom management tools. This app offers the possibility to communicate with the parents and track the behavior of the students. Then we experimented with Skitch, an app to write and draw on pictures. Also, we became makers with the app Tiny Tap, a multimedia game creator. And finally, we chose Toontastic for the designing of our HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) activity and spent the last two hours of class working on this.

We choose this app because it is intuitive, simple and full of possibilities. In a few simple steps, it enables children to create their own animated cartoons. First, you can either create your own characters or choose among the given ones. Then, you create the scenes and press the button to record the voice while you move the characters as you want them to move in the final movie. And finally, you add the music and the credits.

Due to its characteristics, we thought that this app could be of use in the designing of our Project for the Elective subjects of the Master’s Degree. For this project, we have designed a unit in which 5th graders go over 5 different versions of the classic Cinderella story, from different countries and time periods. Reflect upon gender, class, and racial stereotypes around the world. Acquire the needed language to write a story (connectors, descriptions, and verb tenses).  Learn about the structure of a story (beginning, middle and end).  And finally, create their own “Breaking Stereotypes Story” and share it with the rest of the school.

The use of this app for the creation of the story could make the whole activity easier and more motivating. Not only the app scaffolds and guides children through the creation of the story, but also gives a final product which is visually appealing. Therefore, we are considering the possibility of using this app to carry out this HOTS (High Order Thinking Skills) activity, which we believe inevitably and conveniently entails the use of LOTS (Low Order Thinking Skills) like applying and remembering what has been learned throughout the unit. Among other things, this unit  aims to shape critical and creative citizens. Below you can find the story that we have created with this app.

To sum up, after two lessons learning how to use iPads as an educational tool, we believe that they can certainly make learning more engaging and memorable. This interactive technology encourages participation, allows the creation of adapted and personalize materials, encourages the creation of appealing products using English and reinforces communication  through countless possibilities and proven enthusiasm. Moreover, the use of the latest technology provides students with a set of digital skills necessary in today’s world.

Playing with iPads

Hello girls! 

This time we are Andrea and Ari writing the entrance together. After our last session dealing with iPads and different apps to apply in our classroom we want to share with you our previous experience with these devices and all the things we learnt and created during the session. 

BOOK CREATOR

The first app we discovered was Book Creator, which allows us to create books by adding your text, images, video, music and narration and use all of your content to tell the whole story. We were asked to elaborate a book and the first idea coming to our minds was explaining what we were experiencing in that moment; talking about feelings. We added text, videos, voice recordings and drawings. Furthermore, we also used another app known as Stop Motion which added a funny touch to the whole product. We think it’s interesting to share it with you so that you can take advantage of it as well! Finally, once we finished with the book we exported it as a video and uploaded afterwards in our Drive. 

Here you can take a glance to our video: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzs1fcmX3Fapd3JWbFhlODNiN00/view?usp=sharing

Application in the classroom:

We thought this app could be used in our classroom to ask our students for feedback. They can record themselves; write short sentences giving their opinion or even record voice notes showing their thoughts with respect to an activity, a project, the teacher’s action or whatever you want them to assess. We found really interesting the fact of obtaining some sort of feedback while at the same time they are producing language and dealing with new and up to date apps and devices, thus developing their technology skills.

This activity allow us to develop two HOTS which are Creating and Evaluating. Our students will be asked to be freely creative to design a story while at the same time they will be evaluating a process they’ve already experienced. This is a demanding activity for them but something they will enjoy for sure!

Hope you find it interesting!

BITSBOARD

The second app we learnt to use was Bitsboard. It is an app which includes a catalog of thousands of gorgeous flashcards and carefully curated lessons covering hundreds of topics. Besides, Bitsborad allows you to easily create your own flashcards sets and share them as well as to download study sets from other users. But the icing of the cake is that the app includes dozens of mini-games to work, practice, play and learn with the words of each flashcards set.

This time, we were asked to create a new Board using our own picture taken with the iPads. So we chose “Colours around us” as our topic and we took pictures of different objects of different colours that were around us in that moment.  Then, we recorded the word and finally, we uploaded the board to the Bitsboard Catalog.

Below you can see some screenshots of the flashcards and games, and if you are reading this from an iPad/iPhone you can download the “Colours around us” board by clicking here: colors around us.

Some of the flashcards:

Explore game: 

When you click the picture you can hear the word

True or false game:

Does the word match with the image?

Reader:

You have to select the image that matches the word

Application in the classroom:

We thought this app could be used in our classroom to involve the students in the teaching/learning process of new words. Instead of showing them a set of flashcards with a dull image of a paint-blot, we can ask them to take their own pictures. In this way, the new vocabulary becomes closer and more meaningful for them, and moreover, they get engaged and feel motivated because the teacher will use what they have created.

This activity allow us to develop two LOTS which are Remembering & Understanding and Applying. Our students will be asked to name some colours, understand the meaning in order to look for objects and then taking photographs of them. This would be a great activity to work on vocabulary just after have introduced the topic.

In conclusion, we really enjoyed discovering these apps and creating the activities. Little by little, we are becoming ICT experts with eager to learn more everyday!

Discovering IWB

Increasingly, Interactive whiteboards (IWB) are gaining ground in the classrooms. They are a powerful tool in the teaching learning process adding interactivity and collaboration. When used innovatively IWB create a wide range of learning opportunities raising the level of student engagement, motivating students and promoting enthusiasm for learning. Moreover, I believe that our nowadays students, as digital natives, feel confident using this tool, which is always a positive aspect.

As far as my experience using IWB, I've just used them in one school where I did some substitutions. And I couldn't really use them as I wanted because I had to follow some instructions as a substitute. But my mother is an Infant education teacher, and she has an IWB on her classroom. And I’ve seen her using it a lot! She works with the Panasonic elite Panaboard Software and it is really useful for her. She creates lots of activities to do which are so interesting for her 5 year-old-students. 

After our last session on ICT, I’ve been investigating and discovering how to use SMART Notebook, and eventually I’ve created two activities related with the topic of fairytales. They are thought to use in Year 4 Primary. 

The first one, according to Bloom’s digital Taxonomy it’s a “Remember-Understand” activity, so it is a LOT (Low Ordered Thinking). I’ve created it with the Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0 and it focuses on the fairytales characters. As you can see, the activity consist on clicking the right picture according to the word that appears in the red rectangle. The fact of scoring, having limited time and adding sound effects will engage children. 

The second activity, according to Bloom’s digital Taxonomy it’s a “Creating” activity, so it is a HOT (High Ordered Thinking). Using the vocabulary that students would have learnt doing the first activity, this time they would have to create a scene of a story. First, they would have to roll different dice, one for choosing the setting and two more for choosing the characters. Then, they would have to complete the sentences besides the dice.

Finally, students would have to create a scene in comic style using the vocabulary they have been working. This last part can be adapted to the level of every specific group and also to the level of each child, as everyone can complicate the dialogue as much as he wants to. 

You can download and try these activities by clicking here. 

To conclude, I want to say that using SMART Notebook software I’ve discovered lots of advantages and countless ideas have come to my mind. However, I’ve also fins some things that I don’t like so much. First, when you insert some images in your Notebook document, it slows down and it crashes sometimes (so be careful not to insert large images!). Second, I’ve found several limitations on the use of animations of objects. It happened to me that I had ideas in my mind that I would be able to do with Power Point and then I couldn’t do it with SMART Notebook.  

Despite this, using SMART Notebook Software on IWB has been an enriching experience and it has caused me want to continue learning and creating things. 

This is me, Andrea

Hello everybody!

Here I go, breaking the ice and launching this blog!

My name is Andrea Malagarriga Perea and I’m 22 years old (my birthday is next week!!!). I’m an early childhood teacher and I love languages, especially English!

I finished my degree in Blanquerna last June. I'm currently doing a Master on Learning and Teaching English in Infant and Primary Education while I’m working in Escola Lurdes.

So as to introduce myself and let you to know me a little more, I can say that my philosophy of life is to live with joy and passion, loving those around you. I love teaching learning. Always active, smiling with initiative and eager to continue training as a teacher. I try to bring thrill, enthusiasm and freshness to everything I do. I am a bookworm, travelling opens my mind and dancing gives me wings.

Regarding to all the ICT world, I must admit that I love it! I think I’m a fairly intuitive person, I love to discover new things, apps or tools and I could spend hours on front on the screen just browsing around. But then, I not always find the time to use everything I find.

When it comes to using social bookmarking, I do use it. The one that I use most is Delicious, I like the way you can look for your bookmarks with the tags classification. However, what happened to me was that when I started using Delicious some years ago I used some tags and then, after a while without using it, I haven’t been coherent with all of them.

I also use Symbaloo, but in this case, I prefer to use Symbaloo for looking for different Webmixs on the topics I’m interested in.

Another tool that I really love is Pinterest, I’m not sure if it is considered a social bookmarking, but you can find a huge number of interesting links and organise them as you see fit.

And finally, as regards social networks for professional use, I’ve just started to use Twitter. I And I’ve been totally smitten!! You have everything and all the news in your phone constantly updating. Now, Linkedin is my unfinished business.

I hope to keep learning about work and class management with ICT!

Cheers!