12 key ideas


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Here are 12 key ideas to help you develop interesting lessons and content.


I have chosen ideas that can be adapted for many different subject areas.


Tweet your ideas.... 


1. Blogging: 


You are advised to use a proper education site for blogging or create your own using Wordpress (Content Management System)


You could create 

  • one for yourself or 
  • one for a class or 
  • one for your subject area.

 

SETTING UP

 

Wordpress Blog: (download or use their server space:) e.g. SMART Table pilot (FREE). Edublogs (FREE) (Australian). 


Pay to have a blog hosted for you

e.g J2E, 2Simple or Primary Blogger Grange Park Primary , Holmer Lake School . This can be set up for Secondaries and Academies too. See update here

 

You must MODERATE the comments so that they can be checked first. You must check internet permission forms before posting pictures. I usually ask the students too (they can be sensitive!)

 

Some consultants such as Don Steward (Maths in Shropshire) have good blogs to help you)


If you get in to blogging you can link up with other schools internationally.


I am impressed by the advice given by Matt Banner on his Onblastblog.com website. It includes 151 ideas for blogposts too. Gary Dek helps teachers and bloggers via his site http://www.startablog123.com

 

Here is another useful site for  blogging advice from Matthew Kaboomis Loomis


Here is a list of some blogs in the UK (by subject) (Thanks @theechochamber )


2.  Podcasting


Publishing sound files online so that people can listen to your work. eg Makewaves (some free space provided)


Officially to be classed as a podcast people must be able to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast channel so they get the next episode automatically.


Here are 2 websites to give you some ideas 

1. Educational Technology

1. WikiSpaces site


3. Make your own Wiki


Instead of using other people's information create your own wiki for a topic. The most popular is Wikispaces 


This will allow you to publish material and share ideas internationally. 


As with blogging you need to change permissions so you have to approve comments/forum comments.


Here is a good website to get you started


4. Use twitter for professional development

 

Create an account. Stop following One Direction and follow some educational leaders and alternative thinkers.


Don't forget to mention @amazingict and the hashtag for education conferences #telfconf 


 

 

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5. Use of Video

 

Edit your own video footage using the free Moviemaker software (for Windows). School staff are also entitled to the powerful MoviePlus software from Serif. More and more teachers are creating and editing videos using the iPad app iMovie


Use other people's video clips.  Class Clips


Create your own videos to publish via your own channel.


Vimeo has less pop up adverts than YouTube


Schools sometimes buy in to secure services. Telford Schools have FREE access to Planet Estream.


You can exclude popups from YouTube by using http://safeshare.tv .This is also a great way of sharing you favourite videos without the worry. (69p from the app store)


Don't forget GreenScreen Film making using apps such as Doink Greenscreen and I Can Present . Ideas at the bottom of this page



 

6. Free mind mapping tools

 

I have used Bubbl.US to create mindmaps that can then be shared. Students can create their own logons and share mindmaps completed at home. 


 

7. Sharing your ideas and resources 

 

If you have school iPads it is hard to share information with students and to get them to develop it. Here is an app I use in schools. It is called Showbie. For primary schools SeeSaw is easy to use and to set up. Here is an example from an innovation day I ran

 

showbie.pdf
For you to try out with students


8. Using Quick Response codes (QR)


I often use the FREE QR code creator to create the codes and then install a FREE QR reader on your phone or school tablets. A great alternative so you can choose the color, add a frame and even add the logo of your school and/or social networks is from Website Planet


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9. Sharing Presentations for the world to see


If you are going to put time in to a slide presentation. Why not share it online to see if other people find it useful. Here is one of mine.



10. Screencasting


A way of recording movement using a tablet computer while recording audio. These can be stored privately on the device or shared via the web. My favourites are Showme and Explain Everything.


Lessons can be embedded on websites, blogs of learning platforms. 

11. Augmented Reality:


Download content to mobile devices and then trigger them with codes that can be displayed on worksheets. Examples include Aurasma (above) Second Sight (eg famous speeches and Awesome Animals)

Here is a short video to help you. 


Here is useful case study from SCAT in Shrewsbury.




12. Animation:


Animations are easy to make using dedicated software for PC/Mac or iPad. I use 'I can animate' from Kudlian, LegoMovie and 'Zu3D'. Here is a simple example. You can enter your animations for competitions like this one. One animator that I admire is Geoff Clarkson, known as 'tangledbliss'.





12B! Plickers.....the paper voting system!


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