City Learning Centre computers used well ...
The Modern Foreign Languages and Humanities curriculum areas have been equipped with City Learning Centre laptops and whiteboard. This valuable resource has been used in many interesting and innovative ways. The schools network has allowed the sharing of resources and wireless access to the Internet has allowed the real advantage of portability between classrooms.
In Humanities Geography, History and Leisure & Tourism have all used the laptop to complement the overall use of ICT in the department. Common themes are research using the Internet and presenting information in effective ways for coursework tasks. This has included research on topics ranging from the World Cup, India, Exploring England, Renewable Energy, Tourism in Kenya, Customer Care, Conisbrough Castle, Cromford, Jack the Ripper and Adolf Hitler.
An innovative use has been to use video stored on the Intranet as 'Virtual Fieldwork' for pupils who are, for any reason, unable to go and as a memory jogger for others. To compliment the use of the laptops staff in the Humanities department have developed their own resources for whiteboards and have used many freely available ones that can easily be found on the Internet. This has engaged pupils by using quizzes, educational games, word searches and PowerPoints turning the Whiteboard into a multimedia experience.
Staff have also found ICT useful for Assessment For Learning, Marks and Planning / Preparation of lessons. Access to ICT anywhere at anytime has been the deciding factor and the portability of a laptop resource has been central to this.
An innovative use has been to use video stored on the Intranet as 'Virtual Fieldwork' for pupils who are, for any reason, unable to go and as a memory jogger for others. To compliment the use of the laptops staff in the Humanities department have developed their own resources for whiteboards and have used many freely available ones that can easily be found on the Internet. This has engaged pupils by using quizzes, educational games, word searches and PowerPoints turning the Whiteboard into a multimedia experience.
Staff have also found ICT useful for Assessment For Learning, Marks and Planning / Preparation of lessons. Access to ICT anywhere at anytime has been the deciding factor and the portability of a laptop resource has been central to this.
In Modern Foreign Languages they subscribed to two websites (Linguascope for KS3 and Linguastars for KS4). The pupils can now access the websites we have paid for from the language rooms. They can use it as a plenary or as reinforcement at the end of a unit. With lower ability children, they are a good motivation tool e.g. when a lengthy and challenging piece of written work is completed it is an incentive/reward for them to type it up and make a poster on the laptops. The laptops are used in lessons, as follows; to assist pupils in presenting written work; to allow pupils to demonstrate their knowledge through presenting work in a variety of formats (PowerPoint etc.); to access work created by teacher on the school network in order to deliver the lesson and encourage independent work.MFL have put together a database of worksheets using websites on the Internet. The children are directed to a website and have to retrieve some information in order to complete a worksheet. It is bringing authentic material to the lessons. Use of the Internet in general has been made to assist the delivery of MFL.
The languages faculty make full use on a daily basis of our interactive whiteboards:- they are used to deliver language lessons and to support the learning process; to present lessons via PowerPoint; and to use the interactive game sites subscribed to and packages bought by the department. These have a huge impact on pupil motivation Pupils come up to the boards and complete tasks- especially on the smart boards. The use of ICT in lessons assists the delivery of our subject and increases pupil motivation. Some staff have worked in primary schools and have used resources for KS2.
The use of clipart (including animated clipart) for quality representations of common items has been well used along with sound files. Many songs in the native language have been used with classes. All MFL staff make full use of our ICT facilities and this area has clearly developed over the past 2 years.
Obviously the interactive nature of the resources has helped with motivation and will therefore raise standards. The important point is that pupils can access these resources anywhere within the school or even at home. Equipment, especially Whiteboards and Laptops (or Tablet PCs), is needed. This resource will need replacing and updating, especially with the proliferation of multimedia resources either 'home grown' or professionally produced with ever increasing demands on the specification of PCs. We have been very fortunate to be able to carry out some new educational practice and pupils have enjoyed the new challenges.
The use of clipart (including animated clipart) for quality representations of common items has been well used along with sound files. Many songs in the native language have been used with classes. All MFL staff make full use of our ICT facilities and this area has clearly developed over the past 2 years.
Obviously the interactive nature of the resources has helped with motivation and will therefore raise standards. The important point is that pupils can access these resources anywhere within the school or even at home. Equipment, especially Whiteboards and Laptops (or Tablet PCs), is needed. This resource will need replacing and updating, especially with the proliferation of multimedia resources either 'home grown' or professionally produced with ever increasing demands on the specification of PCs. We have been very fortunate to be able to carry out some new educational practice and pupils have enjoyed the new challenges.
Other uses of the laptops have been made that allowed Gifted and Talented Pupils to contribute to the discussions regarding 'Building Schools For The Future' (obviously very pertinent at the moment in Barnsley). The laptops have also been used with feeder primary school children by helping them with transition on a 'Curriculum Day'.
Writing of comprehensive reports with comment banks has been achieved with the use of teacher laptops. Staff create and research resources and they have stored, on the school network, PowerPoints, worksheets, Schemes of Work and Mark books with exam results that can be accessed by the department. This enables sharing of good practice and information. Use of shared Starters, Objectives, Main Tasks and Plenaries have all helped implement the school?s Teaching and Learning Strategy.