LATS11

Learning At School 2011 - Rotorua

Please use this space and the discussion tab to share your thoughts, resources and links gleaned from the Rotorua conference. We can use the pooled evidence from your experiences and reflections in our Milestone 3 report.

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Facilitators report
I gave presentations for breakouts 1,3 and 5. The slideshows for breakout's 3 and 5 are below. My first presentation was aimed at secondary teachers and focussed on using tools such as Google Maps and Google Earth in conjunction with tools such as http://dipity.com http://historypin.com http://talesofthings.com to build a three dimensional picture of events in space and time through embedding these resources and mashing the tools together. The session was practical in nature and the delegates had learned how to create maps, embed objects such as videos into map pins, link to resources such as time lines in Google Maps. In Google Earth they learned how to create tours, create folders into which they could add placemarkers, routes, and areas which then could have any resources embedded into them, including images, widgets and videos. This end product was then saved as a .KMZ file for distribution on a school network for sharing internally.

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5th Wall
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The shape and tone of the conference is changing. Next year's event will be held in Hamilton, will be smaller in scale as the clusters wind down. The event this year marks the end of a long run at the Energy Events Centre. Next year the dates for the conference (to be confirmed) are 27, 28 January) This may well interfere with school call back day plans.

The key note speakers dealt with differing strands of e-learning Scott McLeod asked questions of us, school leaders and policy makers. If we are not engaging our students through the use of e-learning and higher order thinking maybe we are not the appropriate people to teach our students. He called for a paradigml shift in classroom pedagogy and that change should happen now. The question and challenge for us individually and collectively is how to facilitate that change? See the discussion above. You can also read Scott's suggested reading to help you formulate ideas and strategies for your school: @http://scottmcleod.net/resources/reading/ Scott's slide show for the keynote can be seen here: Slideshow

Sylvia Martinez spoke of similar issues of engagement,but she also looked at engaging students by utilising their skills with e-learning to engage them as troubleshooters and as teachers. She showed us many examples of this working with students of all ages. Again this is a message that we need to take back to our fellow colleagues and ensure that these easy to adopt strategies are integrated into our individual schools. Sylvia has lots of resources on her site for you to look at and again start conversations in school: http://genyes.org/freeresources/

Finally Brett Lee talked us through the issues associated with student safety online. He argued that we should be modelling good behaviours to our students from an early age, letting them know that the Internet is not a private place but one that is very public. The key theme was his description of a child's perception and relationship with the screen. It's very impersonality making it easy for students to believe that the virtual world is private and that it can be kept separate from cause and effect in the real world. He shared some very powerful videos that we should start to use to educate our students about the realities and dangers of the Internet. Brett's site and resources can be found here: @http://www.iness.com.au/


 * Hill **



Thanks for your encouragment. Heather M media type="custom" key="8469868" align="center"

** Collective, Collaborative, Capacity ** means

sharing of good practise = better practise = raising of standards Heather B says - do it together! . ** Anchoring for Success by Karen Boyes Teachers Matter ** [|www.spectrumeducation.com] **Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.** **__ Memory & the brain __** Where was I ? = time and place helps us remember “What am I doing here?” kitchen to get biscuit, can’t remember, so go back to original place. To do with brain storage / box / room How can we apply in class / learning? Learn different lessons in a different place on different coloured paper. Revise in exam room **__ Anchoring in time & space __** __Kinaesthetic__: touch; which side are windscreen wipers; riding a bike __Auditory__: songs; school bells __Visual :__ police car; a look __ Smell: Taste: __ **__Classroom Zones__** Get children to swop seat to get a different perspective · Instructional Zone · Conversational Zone · Directional Zone Different points in the classroom for information eg reading corner, maths area

Ideas to anchor: spelling rules, timetables, Use a story to anchor words eg talc, gysum Can the children say all the words teacher is teaching them? Children repeat 3x Brain functioning depends very much on what you’ve eaten for breakfast. Richard M Restak. Adrenaline masks hunger. If you don’t have breakfast, you will not be hungry until 1pm you will be running on adrenaline.

**10 top brain foods.** blueberries, nuts, fish, broccoli, banana, yoghurts, olive oil, bread, spinach, tomatoes

Grumpy chair actual act of walking Grumpy speech for individual children

**__ FEAR __** **__ F __**alse **__ E __**xpectation **__ A __**ppearing **__ R __**eal Flight or fight response Fear of failure or success Verbalising thoughts can engage brain TURN FEAR INTO FUN Not mistakes call it a “learning experience”

__Laughing benefits__: more oxygen, endorphin, gets attention, positive climate, increases retention, improves mental health Tell jokes at end of day, all things are valued

References: School should be the best party in town; Peter Kline Brain books - John Medina ............ David Sousa......... Eric Jenson // Posted by Heather B, I hope this makes sense // // Whoops Heatherm, I think I have split your bit on here. I won't move it incase I lose it all! HB //

Conclusion: Since last LAS 2010 – collaborative learning has zoomed amongst teachers ..... see my report of all sessions visited. Heather M 

__ Sam and Cheryl __

** I Can Animate **



LATS 2011 Breakout Session 1

This Breakout session was based on creating simple animations in class using the I Can Animate software. The session was a hands on experience with each person having access to a very fancy Macbook Air with the trial version of the I Can Animate software pre loaded. We were shown some examples of how the product could be used and were then set the task of creating our own. With easy to follow and simple instructions we were guided through the process from taking the images (using a webcam), adding titles and credits, adding sounds and voices through to presenting the finished product. The process began by selecting some characters from a pile of super hero figurines, Barbie dolls, farm animals and a variety of toy cars. The second step in the process was to create a story board illustrating the story – this also included and spoken words to be added later. Next we began setting up our characters on our cardboard stage. We used Blu-Tack to manipulate the characters. We took one shot of 6 frames by simply pressing the 6 button then moved the characters slightly and repeated the process. Once all of the images we captured we saved the project and exported the movie file to iMovie/Windows Movie Maker to add sounds and voice. Finally after adding the audio we were able to save our animations and I even managed to be a bit sneaky and upload mine to YouTube while we waited for few questions to be answered.

Below is my first attempt at animation and some photos of the animation being created. I apologise for the quiet voice but I didn’t fancy embarrassing myself by being too loud.

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The whole process is basic enough the only challenges I really see involve using the video editing software be it either iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. I used this exact process with the students in my class when I return from LATS11. · Download the trial version of I Can Animate (lasts for 5 days) · In groups we made a story board. · Then set about creating simple 2D characters out of cut out card coloured with felts. · Began taking our images using the I Can Animate software (we stuck ours to the white board with Blu-Tack) · Exported the file to Movie Maker · Added our voices · Saved as Movie file · Uploaded to YouTube · Embedded on wiki page In class we created 5 different and very simple animations in small groups of about 4 or 5 using the software and Movie Maker. All were completed with my assistance however with more practice this process is definitely something my year 3 students should be able to complete themselves. Below is one of our animations made in class.

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I found this breakout session very informative and great value. It was simple and something that could easily be done with any age/year group. I have future plans to use the software with my class to animate maths strategies, recounts, narratives, procedures, model behaviour issues/solutions – bullying etc and some others I am yet to think of. Areas which may bother some and/or prove to be a stumbling block for others is the fact that the software isn’t an all-in-one piece of software. While it is great for capturing the images (the BOTH option for camera and frames is great as you can see what you have shot and where you are moving to) and creating an animation it doesn’t allow for any real editing or the ability to add sound without the use of additional software. Another note for those interested in trying this out is that in the workshop we used the inbuilt webcam on the laptop which was very fiddly. In class I used a regular external USB webcam mounted on top of the laptop facing out – much easier to use and see what was going on. If you are keen on trying something different with your kids which is both easy and enjoyable and you don’t mind using iMovie/Windows Movie Maker then this is for you.

Joshua McDonald Year 3 Teacher – Pukekohe Hill School

Valley
__Maureen__ __**Breakout 1**__ A very informative and practical session. Rachel covered aspects of how she introduces cameras to her class-safety rules, camera parts- so students use the correct language, techniques of taking great photos, all with posters that can be used. Rachel then went on to give a wealth of ideas of how to use these photos and sites that help to manipulate these photos. All the ideas can be used straight away in the classroom with great learning coming from the activities. media type="custom" key="8474388"
 * Shutter bugs by Rachel Boyd**

__Tony__ __**Breakout 1**__ A fun and practical session, using I Can Animate and iMovie. Aspects covered were how to use the programme and how it can work with literacy and writing. This can be used reasonably easily in the classroom (if you get licenses for the programme).
 * Using I Can Animate**

__Suzann__ __**Breakout 3**__
 * Demystifying Inquiry Learning**

This was a great session with lots of practical ideas on getting started with inquiry learning in the classroom. Some of the main ideas included choosing a learning context that is authentic to children, and that ends in some kind of social action. The biggest idea I came away with is that inquiry learning is about teaching children to think, learn and problem solve. Lots of great information on www.teapiti.co.nz.

Keryn BREAKOUT 2 Questioning our most important skill. This was an excellent session that demystified a lot of common misconceptions around questioning and the use of closed questions,.

BREAKOUT 3 Demystifying Inquiry Learning Great session with lots of practical and and common sense tips for inquiry learning. A full on session with lots of practical tips. Suzann has given links above.

St Joseph's

 * North **