Sharing our Experience Engaging Teachers using iPads for Teaching & Learning
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Apple, Apps, E Learning, iOS Devices, iPad, Mobile learning
Last Friday (20th of January) I was at the Adult Education Forum organised by JISC RSC London. The event took place in a cosy little room at The Senate House, University of London.
This forum consisted in sharing ideas and good practice around the uses of technology to improve teaching and learning.
There were some good group discussions, activities, networking and colleagues delivering their presentations where they showed how they successfully managed to use technology to enhance the teaching and learning experience in their colleges.
It was quite interesting and inspiring! Except some more traditional PowerPoints!!!!! Sorry guys!
It was, actually, my very first time to be one of the speakers! Besides the nerves, I had the pleasure to share with all the delegates the wonderful job we’re doing in our college (Westminster Adult Education Service) using the iPads to engage teachers and learners with new technologies.
Our presentation consisted of showing everyone how we advertised the successful use of the iPad in education, how we trained our teachers and students to use the devices in the classroom and also giving them specific ideas of how the iPads can be used in different classes covering various subjects.
So far the feedback was pretty positive and we had lots of colleagues interested in visiting us at our college to see how we used the iPads in the classroom.
Check out our keynote above. It’s fun and self-explanatory!
Tags: Apple, Apps, E Learning, ILT, iOS devices, iPad, Mobile learning, presentation, Tablets, Teaching & Learning, Technology
Free online screencasting tool – How to integrate it in your teaching
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Web tools
Some time ago I posted a tip on the use of Camtasia screen recorder to provide feedback to your students. I thought it was great, but now there is a free online tool that is much easier, quick and simple to use – Screenr.
Screenr is a free web-based tool that lets you create screencasts without installing any software.
You should give it a go! Here’s why:
• It’s a freebie
• Screenr is extremely easy to use and you don’t need to download anything. You just have to click on the record button on the website and start narrating. There’s no need for training!
• You keep it simple. You don’t have to edit for polishing.
• You can share your screencasts on Twitter, YouTube, Moodle, Blogs, Wikis, iPhone or even download the videos as MP4 files
Let me share some ideas on putting video to work in your teaching.
• Give your presentation once and then share it as many times as you want
• Record a live lecture to give students a rewind button for the class. This will help them learning at their own pace or catch up if they miss the class
• Record video lessons that demonstrate visual or technical subjects
• Don’t take over all of this goodness. Have your students do screencasts to demonstrate their skills. It’s a brilliant way to reinforce their learning and assess their level of understanding
• Many mobile devices can play MP4s or videos from a website, so you can make your courses mobile
• If you have a tablet PC or something that lets you do pen input you can simulate a whiteboard. You only need a blank area to write and capture the video.
After pressing the stop button, Screenr gives you an embed code. That means you can insert your video to your Moodle courses, blog, wiki, or website.
Here’s a screencast on how to embed a Screenr video in Moodle:
Go to screenr.com to start screencasting
If you have any other idea of how to use Screenr with your learners, please share them with us on the comment box.
Let me know if you need a hand!
Tags: Free Software, Links, Resources, Web Tool
WAES Teacher E-Learning Handbook
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Interactive Whiteboard, Mobile learning, Moodle, Smart Board, Web tools
Check out this e-handbook for WAES teachers – The most expected support from the E-Learning department to help all tutors to cope with our digital resources.
The Teacher E-Learning Handbook is a practical guide on how to use the e-learning resources available in WAES to deliver and support learning. It is intended to help teachers of any subject who are seeking to use our various IT resources in their teaching – that is computers, interactive whiteboards, online resources, video cameras, and mp3 recorders.
This handbook will provide you with advice and instructions and will also help you to use the e-resources in a variety of ways to aid learning.
Click on the pageflip book and view it on full screen mode.
Tags: Moodle, Resources, Smart Board, Training, Web Tool
“Having an e-portfolio is like having Facebook!”
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Uncategorized
I have been to the JISC “e-Portfolios: Effective Uses in Teaching and Learning” event last week in London where I learned a lot about e-portfolios. I now have a clear idea of what e-portfolios are and why we need them so badly. One of the thoughts that came out of the session was that having an e-portfolio was like having Facebook – Facebook for social life and e-portfolio for academic and professional development.
So… What, exactly, is an e-portfolio?
An e-portfolio is the product, created by the learner, a collection of digital artefacts articulating experiences, achievements and learning. JISC
I would say that an e-portfolio is like a big folder where you keep information about a particular learner that can be added by the learner, teacher or organisation. This information consists of formal documents (certificates…), all different kind of media (audio, video, graphics, text) created by the learner, and an individual learning plan including past results and future aims negotiated between teacher and learner.
This video, created by the University of Cumbria, is really nice and easy to follow. It gives you a pretty clear definition of an e-portfolio. Have a look!
How do they work?
My brainstorm during the event:
What are the benefits?
• Learner-centred • Accessibility • Portability • Long shelf life • Increase learners’ technology skills • Better learner achievement and retention rates • Flexibility • Cost-effective • No more bulky folders or lost evidence • Increased motivation • Transparency • Greater appreciation of collaboration and collaborative learning • Time saving
Why?
Employers are looking for more than a degree grade. Here’s another brilliant video that show you the importance of an e-portfolio and it can be used by learners.
What does an e-portfolio look like?
Tags: E Learning, e-portfolio
WAES at The Language Show
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Events
This was WAES‘s second year at The Language Show in Olympia.
And, once again, it was a big success. Our snazzy stand caught everyone’s attention because of all the lovely people working there during these three days, the cost-effective prices and, of course, the famous fortune cookies – Delicious idea!
Loads of people approached WAES’s stand asking for information about all our different courses, certificates, venue, prices, and also offering to work with our team. Many flyers, prospectus and leaflets were handed out and will, definitely, start paying back.
Sharing of good practise…
I attended a few interesting seminars where the successful embedding of technology in teaching was on focus. There are lots of colleges doing different things with technology such as using web tools to create blogs, animations, comic books, web pages, voice threads, podcasts, wikis and so on. The main thought in all these projects was not to use technology unless it is really “Teachnology”.
Teaching creatively through contexts that are interesting for the teachers and learners is something that is kept in mind when using technology.
“Teachnology” is learner centred, progressive, guided, directed, shared, independent, experiential, deductive, flexible, personalised, assessment driven and ICT rich.
These seminars were very inspirational and I really wish we could do something E-special at WAES so that we can be at The Language Show in 2010 talking about our successful TEACHNOLOGY projects.
Here’s another nice video of our presence in the exhibition so you can have taste of what it was like.
It is a very informative and fun video. Have a look!
Tags: ESOL, Events, Languages, Seminars, Video
New SoundBites – Spoken Word Generator
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Podcasts, Resources, Video
You can find new videocasts on e-blahblah’s “Videos” section.
There are four different videos of the same phonics exercise – each of them are different levels of difficulty.
Have a go…
Tags: efl, esl, ESOL, letters, phonetics, phonics, pronunciation, SoundBites, sounds, spelling, Videocasts
Twitter for Teachers and Learners – Ways of using Twitter in the Classroom
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Twitter, Web tools
Are you using Twitter? Are you using it in your classroom? Are your students Twittering?
If you haven’t Twittered yet, you don’t know what you are missing!
An impressive growing number of teachers are using Twitter.
Just in case you can’t remember what Twitter is, here’s a short and simple video from the fantastic Commoncraft.
Teachers have been using Twitter as a micro-blogging platform on which they share text messages of no more than 140 characters to connect with colleagues from around the world and generate ideas for teaching and professional development.
Why should teachers use Twitter? What’s the point?
What do teachers normally complain about? Lack of time! Right?
Twitter can help teachers with their time management as it can be like a virtual staffroom, where they can step into whenever they want: On their mobile phones travelling back home or in the queue at the post office… They can access a stream of tips, links, ideas and resources from different professionals within seconds.
Share reflections, support and challenge each other. Reading other teachers’ experiences makes you reflect on your own practice and helps improving.
Gather a range of opinions and constructive criticism within minutes.
How do teachers use Twitter?
. Use it as a resource for sharing things quickly
. Follow teachers who teach similar subjects and levels or teachers who have the same interests (I follow e-learning people!)
. Turn to it when researching, as the sources are trustworthy (I’ve heard that it’s better than Google!)
. Create a professional network of colleagues all over the world when developing new lesson or curriculum ideas
. Carry out classroom tasks, such as voting activities, question and answer, creating stories…
How do learners use Twitter?
Learners decide when, where and what. They learn when they can.
Twitter is a friendly place to take part. Learners can jump into the middle of conversations, turning it into a valuable moment.
Learning with Twitter means that learners are always being assessed. If students’ tweets are meaningful and useful, the number of followers will increase. If the quality of the tweets is not very good, the number of followers will stay the same or fall.
Learners can keep updates and developments of projects they carry out.
Check out this slideshow for guidance and practical ideas of how to use Twitter in your classroom
If you want to keep up and start your Twitter, here’s a great guidebook.
Click here to view the guidebook on the web site.
Tags: collaborative, ILT, socialnetworking, Twitter, Web Tool
Del.icio.us For Teachers and Learners
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Bookmark, Net Tips, Web tools
I have been using del.icio.us for more than two years now, and I can’t stop being delighted!
I use del.icio.us almost everyday and I have nearly 500 bookmarks.
There are so many web sites on the net that we find and want/need to use wherever at anytime – it would be extremely difficult to remember the addresses of all of them.
And even if we add our preferred websites to the favourites or bookmarks on our web browser (Internet Explorer/Safari/Firefox, etc) at college, we wouldn’t be able to access them from home and they wouldn’t be well organised.
That’s why this is so delicious!
What is del.icio.us?
It’s called online social bookmarking.
It’s your personal web site where you can save and categorise your favourites/bookmarks.
But it is more than this… You can also find out what web sites others find interesting. So… Del.icio.us saves a link to anything you viewed on the web and allows you to share these links with other teachers or with your students.
And like all the excellent web 2.0 tools, del.icio.us is FREE.
It’s really easy to create an account and add a “bookmarklet” button to your web browser. Don’t worry if you have Firefox, the del.icio.us button is already embedded into its toolbar.
Watch this superb video if you still didn’t quite get it and to get started. The instructions are pretty clear and easy to follow.
Why should you use del.icio.us?
. Save and access your bookmarks anywhere you have web access on any computer
. Teachers and students can find resources at home and access them in college
. Share web sites with your colleagues and learners
. Find your bookmarks easily by keywords/tags
. Use related tags to narrow or extend your searches
. Add a description to a saved link
. Find out about new sites from other del.icio.us users
. Subscribe to other del.icio.us users
. Check out the most popular links
How can you use del.icio.us with your students?
. Create unique class tags
. Create a class network
. Tag by subject content topic
. Share web sites for students’ research or projects
. Recommend e-books
. Subscribe to favourite tags – helps with research
. Use the search box to make it easier to find useful web sites
Del.icio.us delights
- Your del.icio.us Network
The Network on del.icio.us connects you to other del.icio.us users. These can be your colleagues, other teachers you met in a conference or you bumped on to one of those net forums or even new people you come across when exploring del.icio.us.
Having a network allows you to collect your del.icio.us “buddies’” latest bookmarks.
- Your del.icio.us inbox
Here you’ll find bookmarks that have been sent to you by other users. Whenever you’ve got a bookmark in your inbox, the mail icon on the right top corner will let you know.
Sending a bookmark to someone else’s Inbox is easy: Just tag the bookmark with “for:” followed by their username, like “for:spires”.
If you add people to your “Network”, it’s even easier to send them bookmarks, because when saving a bookmark, the “People” tab will have their names and you can click those names to automatically add “for:” tags with their usernames.
- Your del.icio.us Subscriptions
Allow you to keep an eye on your favourite tags. You only have to add a tag to your subscriptions and del.icio.us watches for bookmarks saved with that tag and delivers them to your subscriptions page.
For example, I subscribe to bookmarks tagged with “SmartBoard” to check what everyone is bookmarking on Smartboard.
To subscribe tags that interest you, just go to “subscriptions”, click on “Add a subscription”, type in the tag and press on “add”.
- Your del.icio.us Search
The search box lets you explore the bookmarks of your or others’ page. You can search for del.icio.us user’s bookmarks, your network’s bookmarks or tags.
Here’s my del.icio.us link. Feel free to use it!
http://delicious.com/spires
Two New TeacherBites Episodes
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Interactive Whiteboard, Podcasts, Smart Board
Click on the “Videos” section to watch two new TeacherBites on how to create interactive exercises, such as the anagram and the category sort.
These are activities created on Smart Notebook Software in just a few minutes.
You can also see the interactive tasks in action being used in the class, as well as learners and teacher’s opinions.
Grab a cup a tea, sit back, relax and watch the 6 minutes videocasts. TeacherBites makes you save time and brings something new and exciting to your class.
Tags: TeacherBites, Videocasts
Gizmoz Studio
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Net Tips, Resources, Web tools
Gizmoz is a free web tool that enables you or your students to create your/their own super fancy animations, slide shows, newscasts, documentaries or comedy sketches just by mashing up 3D characters, images, voice, videos, music and more.
You don’t need to be a “geek” to create amazing animations and use this easy piece of technology effectively.
I’m sure that once you watch a few samples and find out how Gizmoz work, you will think of different wise ways of integrating it into your teaching.
It, definitely, makes learning fun, engaging, creative, collaborative and communicative.
There is so much that can be done with Gizmoz…
Newscasts, advertisements, book reviews, introductions to lessons, traveling reports, motivational messages, delivering homework instructions, reflective assessment…
The presentations created by your students can ,easily , be kept as evidence of their leanring progress.
Watch these samples I created while playing with Gizmoz.
Trust me! it didn’t take me a huge amount of time to create these sample animations – Under 10 minutes.
Once you finish, save and publish your animation, you can send it via email, post it to YouTube, MySpace or Facebook, or embed it in your Moodle course or website.
Flip these pages to learn more…
Tags: presentation, Resources, Web Tool
PREZI killed PowerPoint! How to Integrate PREZI in the Classroom
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Net Tips, Resources, Web tools
This Web tool is the cherry on top of the cake!
I am fan of web tools, but this one wowed me!
In a nutshell, PREZI is a simpler and fancier version of PowerPoint – Instead of a slide based linear structure, it gives you a single big canvas to work on.
PREZI allows you to create unbelievably dynamic presentations, where you can zoom in and out across a large poster, create motion paths, add text, embed images and video files or YouTube videos…
There’s no need to install anything on to your computer – PREZI is delivered entirely online.
PREZI’s zooming feature grabs and holds the viewers’ attention. It lets you create a sort of walking path through your presentation that makes it engaging and striking.
PREZI is extremely easy to use and to figure out – just watch the 2 minutes tutorial and you or your students will be up and creating Prezis in no time!
Watch the tutorial …
Get some inspiration from the amazing things that others have used PREZI to create – Link to inspirational Prezis
And now you can even reuse the prezis already created. Use them as templates and just add your own content. Click on the prezi you like most and click the “Reuse this prezi” button to save a personal copy – Link to reusable Prezis
PREZI has now extended free licenses to student/teachers in the form of and Edu licence
Click here to get a license
HOW TO INTEGRATE PREZI INTO THE CLASSROOM
IDEA 1 – Excellent tool for vocabulary – Type in the word to be defined and then zoom in on the definition
IDEA 2 – Build vocabulary prezis for review and study
IDEA 3 – Search and display History information – show a date, place or person in History and then zoom into the facts and details
IDEA 4 – Display a biography timeline– create paths from the dates to the event description
IDEA 5 – Create a sort of interactive character map of any literature character
IDEA 6 – Geography – zoom into details around a map
IDEA 7 – Jewellery or ceramics – create path to lead through the creative method/process
IDEA 8 – Create an engaging online CV
IDEA 9 – Tell a story – use pictures and videos
IDEA 10 – Present the learning programme and material
IDEA 11 – Create a mind map
IDEA 12 – Create a storyboard including drawings, videos and written ideas
IDEA 13 – ESOL and MFL – Create a path to teach directions
IDEA 14 – Create live descriptions
IDEA 15 – Create a lesson introduction/starter
PREZI is a time saver and gives you so much pleasure creating your presentations.
Try PREZI here!
Tags: presentations, slideshows, Web Tool
Four New SoundBites Episodes
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Podcasts, Resources, Video
Especially for ESOL, EFL and Literacy teachers and students.
New videocasts on e-blahblah’s “Videos” section.
There are four different videos of the same type of phonics exercise – The Spoken Word Generator – four different levels to choose from.
Have a go… You can use them with your students as study aid or in the classroom.
Tags: efl, ESOL, Literacy, phonetics, phonics, pronunciation, SoundBites, sounds, spelling, Videocasts
Give Voicethread to your students!
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Collaborative tool, E Learning, Web tools
Imagine being able to collect group conversations and share everything in one place, that can be accessed anytime from anywhere in the world.
All this can be done for free and without having to install any software.
Voicethread is an incredible web tool that has a great potential for the classroom.
What is Voicethread?
A VoiceThread is an online media album that supports any type of media, such as images, documents and videos, and enables people to navigate and make comments in different ways:
• Voice – recording with a microphone or telephone
• Text
• Audio file
• Video – using a webcam
The voicethread can be shared with your students or colleagues – They can record comments, doodle on the slideshow while commenting, or even use multiple identities, which is great for the shyer students. You can moderate all the comments.
You can embed your Voicethreads on to your Moodle course or website, or you can even export the thread to MP3 players or DVDs.
How can you use Voicethread in the classroom?
It is great for …
1. Collaborative digital storytelling
2. Discussions
3. Make suggestions
4. Problem solving
5. Peer review work
6. Identify keywords
7. Annotate and label images
8. View and discuss videos
9. Revision work
10. Book, Film, … review
11. Label people’s thoughts
12. Give opinions
13. Create digital portfolios
Check out some sample voicethreads here.
Here is a Voicethread for education.
It was created with the purpose of gathering examples of how teachers are using Voicethread in their classroom or for CPD.
Have a look and find out what other teachers have been up to.
Watch phone commenting in action
Watch presentations in action
Watch doodling in action
If you want to learn more about Voicethread and create one with your class, watch the short video tutorials on Voicethread site.
Click here to watch the tutorials.
Now, it’s your turn!
Have a go and add your comment to this Voicethread. Just click on the “comment” button at the bottom, choose the microphone, phone or webcam, or write if you prefer. Try it out. Let us know your thoughts.
Tags: Web 2.0
What is an e-ilp?
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning
The e-ilp is an absolute MUST for any forward-thinking education provider.
The e-ilp delivers greater efficiencies to colleges – it saves time and paper work and has a whole new different meaning for learners.
But, that’s not all…
Have a look at this short and clarifying slideshow to find out:
- What is an e-ilp?
- Why we need to have it?
- What are the benefits?
- What can you find there?
Tags: Management
TeacherBites – Creating a Forum in Moodle
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Collaborative tool, E Learning, Moodle, Web tools
Another great episode of TeacherBites is out.
This time check out how you can create a Forum in Moodle in minutes.
Learn a few tips and ideas of how to use forums in the classroom.
I would like to thank Jane Conway and her ESOL group, teacher and students featuring in the videocast, for being so nice, for allowing me to film them and for sharing their great teaching and learning experience.
To watch the videocast, go to the VIDEO section.
Tags: CPC, e-cpd, Moodle, TeacherBites, Training, Videocasts
Dynamic Ways of Using Moodle
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Moodle
Do you still think Moodle is boring?
Do you run out of ideas of how to use Moodle with your learners?
Do you want to improve retention and achievement?
This slideshow will give you fresh and new ideas to boost up your Moodle course.
Find out why you should use Moodle to promote learning, collaboration and communication, discover how to support and engage your learners and how to offer an interactive and rich learning experience.
After watching the slideshow, you will have an idea of what Moodle is capable of. Your next step is to learn how to create the activities suggested, such as Forums, Chats, Quizzes, internet embedded content, etc…
In the videos’ section you can find already a podcast that shows you the potential of a forum, how to use it with your learners and how to create it on Moodle.
There are more podcasts being created that will cover other activities.
Moodle is here because it saves us time and makes things much better for your learners.
Now… click and enjoy the show!
Tags: collaborative, Communication, Content Creation, E Learning, Free Software, Moodle
Ways of using technology to enhance learning
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Collaborative tool, E Learning, Interactive Whiteboard, Mobile learning, Moodle, Net Tips, Podcasts, Resources, Smart Board, Twitter, Web tools
Do your students use technology? How do they use it? Do you think they use it for learning?
Many different types of technology can be used to support and enhance learning.
Various devices, software and web tools deliver different kinds of content and serve different purposes in the learning process.
Technology exists in the classroom and in our students’ pockets.
Technology can be used in the benefit of learning – it does not only complement teachers’ instructions/delivery but also provides means for self-study.
Technology improves learners’ achievement and meets the demand for the 21st century skills.
This slideshow displays various and innovative ways of using technology as a self-learning tool, as an extension of the teacher and as an experience beyond the classroom.
Learn about the ways the use of technology support and strengthen learning.
Show this presentation to your students – it will, certainly, give them loads of ideas of learning in/outside the classroom.
Tags: E Learning, ILT, Mobile learning, Moodle, Resources, Smart Board, Web Tool
Thank you, Thank you…
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Events
I could hardly conjugate verbs when I got the news!
I feel deeply honoured and grateful for LSIS recognising my work.
This award means a lot to me.
You know that normally men are more into technology and gadgets. My husband is one of those. And he used to spend hours talking about all these great things you can do with technology and all these indispensable machines. Normally, we women say: yeah, yeah… whatever… But my husband would never stop, so I decided to start paying attention and actually started to enjoy, I became a techie enthusiast and realised that I could bring these wonderful pieces of technology into my teaching.
So, the first person to thank is my husband.
I would also like to thank Scott Hallman, who was the first person who believed in my work and invited me to take part of the e-learning world.
A big thank you to my manager, David Goldenberg, for nominating me and being the best manager in the world for letting me do whatever I want and for supporting all my crazy ideas.
And last but not the least, thanks to all the teachers in WAES who are keen on everything I suggest in terms of embedding technology in their teaching. They are my NIKE teachers – they “Just do it!”
I wish all the teachers accepted change like this group of special people did… Because this is not about technology, it is about changing the way you do things, change the way you teach.
It will be a pleasure to carry on doing my best and contribute for a better teaching and learning experience.
Thank you! Thank you!
Tags: E-Guide award, Tony Burgess
Have a Great Summer Break!
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Uncategorized
It’s that time of the year when everyone needs a nice break!
Right now, I’m charging my bateries and getting ready for another fantastic academic year packed with loads of e-challenges!
See you in September!
12 Essential Teaching Techy Tools
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Collaborative tool, E Learning, Moodle, Net Tips, Podcasts, Resources, Twitter, Web tools
Glad to be back to work after a long summer break!
The new academic year has recently started for many of us.
I am sure you have set the goal of trying something new and techy in your classroom this year.
So, with that in mind, my first post is a list of 12 TECHNOLOGY TIPS you should have a go this academic year.
Click on the slideshow to find out what techy tools you can’t teach without and how you can use them with your students.
TeacherBites – Using a Flip Camera for Teaching & Learning
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Podcasts, Video
It has been a while, but finally a new TeacherBites episode is out!
This time, I asked several teachers and some students in the college how they use the Flip camera for teaching and learning and how it works.
This episode will teach you how easy it is to operate the camera and will give you loads of inspirational ideas of how to incorporate video in your classroom.
Please click on the play button and find out how you can enhance your teaching with a Flip.
Tags: Flip
Why is Technology so important?
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Message, Net Tips
Teaching is no longer standing and delivering.
The 21st century teacher is now required different skills – and that’s when technology takes part in the picture!
Have a look at this slideshow, if you disagree with making use of technology to teach, if you think you will have more work when you use technology, if you say you have no time for training or if you are technophobic.
Find out the story of two different teachers and their students – One teacher is tech free and the other teacher is completely “E”!
I hope they change your mind!
Tags: Teachnology
If you find my tweets handy & sometimes life-savers!, vote for me for a Shorty Award
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Events, Twitter, Web tools
10 top iPad Apps for Teaching and Learning
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Collaborative tool, E Learning, Mobile learning
The Learning Without Frontiers 2011 Conference – Sunday Service was amazingly useful, inspiring, engaging and fun.
I particularly enjoyed Pecha Kucha “There’s an app for that” and the TeachMeet sessions. If you need really good and exciting ideas, don’t miss it next time!
It is a parade of examples of good practice and exciting projects done by teachers and students from different parts of the world – Projects using iPhones, iPods, iPads, PSPs, QR codes, Augmented Reality, free web tools such as blogs, Flickr and Twitter.
I’ll definitely be there in 2012 for some more!
I have never seen so many iPads in one place! The popular device has, definitely, conquered the hearts of teachers and educators! It was one of the most mentioned mobile devices in different presentations I attended during the whole day.
So… (because I’m also a fan of the iPad!), I decided to write this post to share the most popular iOS apps for education pointed out during the day in various sessions.
These are definitely the best Apps for teachers and students:
1.Evernote
What does it do?
As described by the app’s developers – Evernote is “an extension of your brain”. This app comes very handy in a teachers’ busy life as it allows us to create notes, take photos and record audio wherever we are. Notes, snapshots and recordings in your Evernote instantly synchronize from your iPad or iPhone to your computer.
How can you use it?
2.Kindle
What does it do?
Let’s you read all Kindle books on a very clean and user-friendly interface. It automatically sync your last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights.
How can you use it?
3.Expedition
What does it do?
VGA, Composite, Component out Web Browser – shows browser/web on a TV, projector or interactive whiteboard.
How can you use it?
4.Tuneinradio
What does it do?
Plays and Records radio with no wi fi
How can you use it?
5.Shhmooze
What does it do?
App that helps you find and connect with useful and interesting people at conferences and events.
How can you use it?
6.ReelDirector
What does it do?
It’s a video editor. You can splice, split, trim, add titles, ken burns and transitions to your video. And you can multi-task while it renders.
How can you use it?
7. iAnnotate PDF
What does it do?
This app is a PDF reader and an annotation tool. You can open documents from your email, enter notes, draw diagrams, copy text, stamp, bookmark and highlight or underline just by dragging your finger. It’s easy to synk with your desktop.
How can you use it?
8. Word Genius
What does it do?
Word Genius is a very clever vocabulary game. The player has to find as many words as possible from randomly generated boards. The “Word Genius” is whoever finds all the words recognized in the dictionary.
How can you use it?
9. CutieBounce
What does it do?
This is another fun physics-based game. The learner holds the iPad in different ways to make the bouncy cute smilies collide or fall on the ground.
How can you use it?
10.QuickVoice Recorder
What does it do?
Easy! This is a voice recorder. You can sync the recordings to your computer.
How can you use it?
Now… just a few TIPS
In case you need to import photos and videos into your iPad get an Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit.
The iPad Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera: Using your camera’s USB cable or directly from an SD card. iPad and the Camera Connection Kit – It supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW.
Camera Connection Kit
Accessibility tips – If you have special needs learners, go to General Settings > Accessibility > and then you can zoom, enlarge text, change to black on white and add voice over for people with sight difficulties.
There is so much more to show you, but I’ll stick to these for this week!
Tags: collaborative, E Learning, Free Software, Games, Mobile learning, Web Tool
10 Top iPhone Apps for Teaching & Learning
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Mobile learning
And just because my iPhone is my favourite mobile device, I couldn’t resist organising a list of great Educational apps for iPhone, mentioned at the Learning Without Frontiers Conference 2011.
This handheld device has great potential and I think we, teachers, cannot just ignore it and be afraid of it – trust me, it’s so easy to use and extremely intuitive – anyone can learn how to interact with an iPhone – you don’t need to be a geek!
We, in the adult education world, normally think that our learners are not able to deal with technology as effortlessly as young children are. I just tried out a few iPhone/iPod apps last week with a small group of adult learners and they rapidly found out what they were supposed to do with the apps by a touch of a finger. I didn’t have to give them lots of instructions at all.
Here are the Apps that you should try with your students.
1.SentenceSpin
What does it do?
Challenges students to build sentences, helping them with their reading and writing skills. The App offers practice sentence construction, communication, comprehension, grammar and punctuation.
How can you use it?
- Point out basic parts of sentences
- After building a sentence, draw a picture that illustrates their understanding of the sentence
- Share sentences and drawings with teachers and colleagues
- Create an animation using the drawings
- Use it as a formative assessment tool
2.TimesBy
What does it do?
It’s an interactive touchable multiplication board that helps learners practice multiplying all numbers up to 9, and also learn about the multiplying patterns.
How can you use it?
- Practice multiplying in and out the classroom
- Set up tasks using “TimesBy” instead of a calculator
3.Motionmath
What does it do?
It’s a game that helps students with their ability to distinguish and estimate fractions in multiple forms.
The player has to follow a star that has fallen from space and must bounce back up and moving fractions to their correct place on the number line is the only way of helping the star.
How can you use it?
- Practice in and out the classroom
- Set out competitions
4.AudioBoo
What does it do?
It’s a free App that records and shares your audio recordings with the rest of the world.
You can create audio up to 5 minutes and post it to your AudioBoo account, your Facebook, Twitter and more. You can add titles, tags, geolocation and photos.
You can also listen to featured, popular, recent, nearby and favourite Boos in the App.
You don’t have to create an account, you can log in with your Twitter.
How can you use it?
- Practice speaking and listening skills
- Create mini podcasts
- Send messages to your students and vice-versa
- Provide spoken feedback
- Describe field trips
- Create study guides
- Create quick tips and post to your Twitter or Facebook group
- Ask students to create an audioboo to give opinions or add comments
5. eClicker and eClicker Host
What does it do?
It’s a low cost response system that allows teachers to create polls during the lesson. All you need is a Wi-Fi network and students with any internet-enabled devices to participate in the polls.
The system works for up to 64 clients.
Teachers use the App’s host to create, edit and add pictures to their questions, and begin the polling.
First of all, teachers need to create an account within eClicker Host app at http://editor.eclicker.com
Students with iPhones participate in polls using the iOS App or students with other internet-enabled device participate by entering the host’s address in a web browser.
How can you use it?
- Create polls and surveys
- Use the polls to test students
- Share questions with other teachers via Bluetooth
- Review older polling data
- Email reports
- Analyse polling results
- Display polls on the SmartBoard
6.Flickr Lunes Web App
What does it do?
This web app provides an interface for searching Flickr creative commons photos. It allows you to create images combining the Flickr images and text. You can’t find this App in the iTunes Store as it is not a Native App.
It allows you to create a Lune. A Lune is an American form of poetry. A way of writing a Lune is to count the words: Three words in the first line, five words in the second line and three words in the third line.
How can you use it?
. Ask your students to select a photo from the Flickr search. This photo will open with a 3 line form over it and students type in the poem. The image and text is sent to the server where it is stamped with the text. The students can then save the image to their photos and add voice using an editing video App.
Here’s a great example of a Lune created using Flickr Lunes.
http://pod.nleducation.org.uk/users/glencairnipod/weblog/461f1/Animal_Lunes.html
7.Instagram
What does it do?
Instagram is an amazingly fun & simple photo-sharing App.
The App allows you/your students to snap photos wherever you go to show everyone in the class what’s going on in your class, project or field trip.
After taking pictures you can select from filters that transform normal photos into works of art.
You can also add geolocation to your pictures, share on Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, Posterous, Foursquare and Facebook, or send them by email.
How can you use it?
- Students staying home or at the college can follow their colleagues’ photo updates as they move through a field trip.
- Students can comment on the photos
- Create a photo documentary of a field trip or class project
- View, describe, comment and analyse the most popular photos from around the world taken by Instagram users
8.Posterous
What does it do?
Posterous let’s you post text, photos and video instantly on the web from your iPhone or iPod touch for free. Posts can be done via email or web editor.
It is extremely easy to post to Posterous. You can also set up your posts to be automatically sent to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and more.
Your Posterous blog is automatically optimized for mobile viewing.
You can also create group sites on the go so all your students can contribute.
How can you use it?
- Share important content with your class
- Ask your students to give opinions and comment on the posts
- Ask your students to collaborate and create posts just by sending an email
9.Museum of London
What does it do?
This App gives you a unique perspective of old and new London whether you’re discovering the capital for the first time or revisiting.
Loads of images from the Museum of London’s extensive collections showcase both everyday and momentous occasions in London’s history, from the Great Fire of 1666 to the swinging sixties.
All you have to do is select a destination from London map or use your GPS to locate an image near you. Hold your camera up to the present day street scene and see the same London location appears on your screen, offering you a window through time.
Some streets or buildings may not exist today, so you have to look for clues in the images to find the current site.
You can tap the information button for more historical facts.
How can you use it?
- Ask your learners to create their own trails around London. They can do it on their way home.
- Show the Apps descriptions and ask your learners to guess the location/site.
- Create a touristic guide with your class
- Carry out a History project
- Create a timeline
10. Comic Touch
What does it do?
This App allows you to create comics with your photos. You can add balloons with thoughts, words and captions to photos in your iPhone.
For more fun, you can also add effects, turn people into caricatures or change their expressions.
The comics you create can be shared by email, or save them to your photo library to post on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc
How can you use it?
- Ask your students to create comics using their own pictures
- Practice writing/literacy skills
- Carry out story telling activities
- Once the comics are shared, ask the learners to comment, ask questions or write reviews
- Ask learners to illustrate historical moments and turn them into dialogues
And that’s it! Have fun!
Teach Learners “How to E-learn”
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Mobile learning, Moodle, Net Tips
As we all know already, teaching and learning has changed – it’s no longer pen and paper or chalk and blackboard! Technology is here to help us to teach and learn anywhere and anytime.
Today more then ever, adult learners need to bring their IT knowledge up to date in order to improve their skills, progress in their professional lives and grow as citizens.
Our ACL learners are aware that they are expected to be able to use technology to work, they just don’t know how they can learn and study whenever and wherever they want or can.
We tend to think that adult learners are “technophobes”, but most of them have a computer at home or carry technology in their pockets and bags (who hasn’t got a mobile these days?!).
Coping with their lives in a more and more busy world where they must balance demands from home, work and school is not easy. So you just have to show them how easy it is with technology and how they can benefit and learn using it.
I have been going to different classes to show students how they can learn with various technology tools, such as Internet, Moodle, Smartphones, iPods, iPads, Nintendo DS, PSP, Podcasts, audiobooks, Flip cameras, etc.
So far the feedback has been tremendously positive. During this workshop students also have a hands on time where they play with iPods, Flips, etc. At this point, they realize how easy it is to operate with these tools and how often they could be in touch with learning. It is also extremely inspirational for teachers!
We just have to give them all a chance to play and experiment technology!
Here are some teachers’ and students’ opinions after the workshop:
Students’ feedback
“Hi Sandra,
I’m Carlotta from William’s class. I’ve attended your lesson and I found it really interesting because everything was clear, easy to understand and you were really nice.
Personally I knew already about this technology and new ways of learning and I don’t really like it, I prefer the old way but you made me reflect about that and encouraged me to use it more.
Thanks!”
Teachers’ Feedback
“Sandra’s visit was a real kick in the pants, which we all needed! After the presentation we’ve gone back to the world of Moddle, where new learners find it a lot easier to catch up, absent learners make up for what they’ve missed out on and self- study stuff, forums, chats, glossary etc are real fun. Many learners who wouldn’t show the slightest interest in technology are now buying ipods and those who wouldn’t do much self- study are now regular users of English learning websites…This has happened overnight!”
Ewa Rzepko (ESOL teacher)
“The e-learning session was great and many of the group are now accessing Moodle from home for class materials. They have also asked if there is a college budget to help buy i-phones for them – I said I would ask.”
William Mcadoo (IELTS teacher)
Tags: ILT
Apps for everyone in minutes!
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Mobile learning, Web tools
Majoobi is a web tool that creates Web Apps for iPhone, iPad, Android handsets or other operating systems in 5 minutes. You don’t need any technical or programming knowledge; you just need to copy an RSS feed.
A Web App created by Majoobi has the look and feel of a proper App using HTML5 technology. It also lets you skip approval from the Apple iTunes store.
Creating the App is easy peasy! You just go to http://www.majoobi.com/builder/, use a web based interface to select feeds, images, social media content (Facebook, twitter & YouTube), and customise the look & feel by selecting different icons and colours.
Once you’re happy with your App, which you can preview on your right, you are given a web link to your Web App. From your handset save it to home screen and there you go… you have your App.
To share your App with your students, you just have to send them the link.
It is perfect if you want to convert your blog into a quick and easy RSS App.
There are though a number of limits for the free packs. With a free pack you can only add the RSS feed, your Flickr and your YouTube channel. Premiuim options will let you add more to you App – things like Facebook, Twitter, custom page, Google maps and analytics page, Splash image, contact info page, custom form, events page and custom domain.
Install e-blahblah App on your phone!
You’ll have e-blahblah in your pocket all the time and you can read it anywhere.
To install e-blahblah App go to this link e-blahblah.mjbapp.com from your mobile phone, then save the Web App on your home screen.
E-blahblah has a Facebook Page
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Facebook, Resources, RSS, Social Network
Are you on Facebook?
How often do you check it?
Do you enjoy the posts you get on your wall?
Or would you like to add a few more useful & exciting posts?
I’ve got an idea!
Why don’t you go to e-blahblah’s new Facebook page and click on the Like button …
Once you do it, you will start getting extremely handy tips on how to use technology effectively for teaching and learning.
This way you get all the info you need in one place!!! It’s one of the best ways of keeping up with e-tips and e-news!
Click here to visit the new E-blahblah’s Facebook Page – E-BLAHBLAH’S FACEBOOK
Tags: Facebook, RSS, Social Network
Xerte – Moodle Saviour
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under E Learning, Moodle, Web tools
I wrote about Xerte some time ago… but after attending a 2 days JISC workshop well delivered by Ron Mitchell and having had the chance to play with Xerte during almost 2 whole days, I feel in a better position to write a few more lines once again and share what it does and how we can all benefit from it.
Have a look at the slideshow and check out why Xerte can wake up your “sleepy” Moodle, types of activities you can create and results you can get out of it.
Enjoy!
Tags: Content Creation, E Learning, Free Software, ILT, Moodle, Special needs, Web Tool
Apple Teacher Institute – Why should every teacher go?!
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Apple, E Learning, Events, Mobile learning, Podcasts, Software, Video
This was my first ATI (Apple Teacher Institute).
My main objective was to learn how to use a large number of Mac/Apple Apps to enhance teaching and learning.
I must say, at this point, that it went beyond my goals, it did more, it inspired me and I brought lots of great ideas back to the college.
What is ATI?
It is a four-day event planned to get educators thinking about using Apple’s creative technologies in the classroom. These intensive days are packed with numerous workshops on different areas, such as animation, mobile learning, podcasting, video editing, iPhone/iPad app development etc.
Where?
When?
Who?
Teachers, teaching assistants, technicians and technophobes! – Everyone should go and enjoy the well-delivered workshops, be inspired by examples of good practice and have several hands on opportunities to create digital teaching and learning resources using the skills learned.
Everyone participated with huge enthusiasm and some excellent resources were produced including iPad Apps, animated movies, eBooks, movies and podcasts.
What was on the programme?
• Animation
• Using iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch in the classroom
• Using iWeb
• Introduction to GarageBand
• Making Music with GarageBand without music skills
• Creating multi media resources for mobile learning
• Podcasting/wikis and blogs
• Creating content using digital video cameras and editing software
• Green screen techniques
• Creating simple applications for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
• Creating an eBook
• Exploring the use of still images, music and animation in multimedia projects
• Methods for sharing digital projects on DVD and the Web
• Sharing of experiences, action planning and portfolio development
• Development of skills in subject/age group relevant project
What did I do?
There was a lot to choose from. It was like being in a candy shop – I didn’t know where to start and which workshop to go. After putting some thought on it, I picked the iPad Developmemt, producing an enhanced podcast and creating an eBook.
In the iPad development workshop – we learned how to make a web app using Dashcode, Freeway and XCode. I must say that using XCode was quite challenging for me, as I have no coding background.
The podcasting with GarageBand was great fun. It was a slow-paced, step-by-step workshop and we ended up creating our own 2 minutes enhanced podcast.
I’m so glad I signed up for the Creating an ePub – It was so easy to create my very first eBook using Pages. I have now lots of ideas to carry out.
What have I gained?
The opportunity of being inspired and creative, to work with like-minded colleagues in a friendly environment, receive a thorough background in digital media delivered by Apple Distinguished Educators with so much talent, knowledge and enthusiasm.
Increasing the awareness that media can also be student generated. Making students stepping into the role of the teacher and making them create their own content will engage learning and help them to master concepts.
Should you stay or should you go?
It was a unique CPD experience where I learnt new skills and met people from all over the country with a diversity of interesting skills and experiences to share. I, definitely, recommend the ATI to anyone in education.
The ATI refined some of my existing skills and helped me to take a thorough look at how to apply them in a pedagogical scenario. It was refreshing to see how the ADE’s used technology creatively and how they inspired us to adopt these innovative measures.
I really want to go next year again. There’s always so much to learn and share.
And there’s time for party as well!
Click here to listen to the 1 minute Podcast we produced in the Garageband workshop
The podcast is an excellent example for language teachers.
Video we created for the final project. It’s so funny!!!
Tags: Apple
Your E-Book Guide to use SmartBoard
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Apple, E Learning, e-book, Mobile learning, Smart Board
Free E-book!
Have you got a SmartBoard in your classroom? Do you know what to do with it? Are your classes missing some sparkle?!
This e-Smart-Book will help you make the most out of your Smartboard.
It will show you how to create different activities step by step, you can view relevant screenshots or pictures and watch bite size videos of how the activities work in the classroom.
You can view this e-book on the go, anytime, anywhere on your mobile device – iPhone, iPod, iPad, tablet or on Firefox. Use iBooks for the mobile devices and for the browser you just add EPUB Reader plugin to your Firefox – http://www.epubread.com/en/
You don’t need to install additional software to your Firefox!
To download the free e-book click here.
Hope you enjoy it!
Tags: Apple, E Learning, e-book, e-tips, ILT, Mobile learning, Resources, SmartBoard
20 Ways of using the iPad to teach ESOL/EFL
Posted by Sandra Pinto Pires | Filed under Apple, Apps, E Learning, iOS Devices, iPad, Mobile learning
20 Ways of Using the iPad for ESOL
The iPads were one of the best things our college purchased.
They have been pretty successful and proven to be when used by our teachers in the classroom.
This slideshow is just focusing on using the iOS device for teaching English as a second or foreign language but you can teach any subject with it. Your class will be much more dynamic, enjoyable, involving and effective.
And the devices are so easy to move around from class to class.
Have a look at these extremely easy to read slides and learn 20 different ways of using the iPad to teach ESOL/ESL/EFL.
Teachers who used some of these activities in their classroom with their students shared a positive and enthusiastic feedback.
If you have iPads in your school/college, use them effectively.
Get some inspiration here!
Tags: Apple, Apps, collaborative, Content Creation, Digital stories, ESOL, ILT, iPad, Learning, Mobile learning, phonetics, Teaching
