iTunesU - A reason for iPads in schools? #1

We've been using iPads in school in an ad hoc manner for around a year now with some small successes, but with no killer app being used across the school. Looking at this years BETT line up for talks brought me to the SEN stage, and a talk on using iTunesU to create specific courses for SEN students. A quick google later brought me to the iTunesU Apple page and suddenly I'm very interested to discover more.

It looks, from the outset, like a massive resource, full of lesson ideas, videos, tests, handouts, all available to UK schools for free. Hook up the iPad to a projector via Apple TV and suddenly the iPad could become extremely useful in lessons. Further more, if the lessons can then be accessed by the students later on, you've got massive potential for independent learning.

I'll certainly be attending the talk at BETT if I can, or catch the video later. This could not only benefit our SEN students, but it could give that iPad that's been sat in the corner the workout it needs.

Dropbox sharing

Want resources for your subject areas, or want to shate your own with like minded teachers?  http://www.classroomtm.co.uk/teaching-dropboxes/ is worth looking into. Free resources, regularly updated that are being used by other teachers across the country, an excellent use of digital sharing!

Sploder - Game design

Continuing on the theme of games and education, our new Head of English is starting to use Sploder in his English lessons to promote creativity. Here's the Gadget show explaining Sploder far better than I can (Starts at 5:30 in)

As far as I can see, this should be a fantastic use of technology, games, creativity and English in one website!

Red Bull Stratosphere jump

Just thought I'd share this video showing the Red Bull stratosphere jump from last year, this time from Felix Baumgartner's POV. How he recovers from the spin is incredible. Here's the video:


And the website I found it:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/pov-red-bull-stratos-jump/?cid=co13170144

7 Google tips

7 useful tips you might remember plus an attractive infographic for the classroom!

http://www.teachthought.com/technology/7-simple-google-tips-search-like-boss/

A use for Prezi - Canvas my campus

Every year, we ask our Year 7's to design a leaflet as a guide to the school, usually using Word, or perhaps Publisher. Prezi has a similar idea, and has asked students to make a Prezi of their university, using the below as an example. Perhaps we could expand our own project to include all manner of technology, so it could be a leaflet, a guided movie, website or Prezi.

WINK

Like many people, I have to do tutorials and guides for people using computers. It's an arduous and thankless task, that takes far longer than it should. I've used things like CamStudio before, but that was very much a 'one take' and if you made a mistake, it was a complete pain to fix.

Thanks to Edugeek, I've found another way of doing things called WINK which is free and uses Flash. I've yet to try it, but early signs are promising so I thought I'd put it out there as another useful resource.