ICTeD Services

Infographics in the Classroom

 
I presented a webinar yesterday afternoon - Infographics in the Classroom on Anne Mirtschin's Tech Talk Tuesday. See
http://techtalktuesdays.global2.vic.edu.au/2012/05/27/infographics-for-learning/

I usually present on topics that are related to my practice, that is, what I have used in my classroom. However, my past two sessions with Anne, [What's the Interest in Pinterest & Infographics in the Classroom] have been on topics that I haven't touched on with students [ or yet anyway]

Infographics and their application  in the classroom really interests me and has for a few years, both as in the receptive mode, [ i.e students reading and analysing the information from them] and in the expressive mode, [i.e. students creating them].

I first started tagging collections of them in Delicious, here are my collections
http://www.delicious.com/ictedservices/infographic
and here
http://www.delicious.com/ictedservices/infographics
However, since the advent of Pinterest, I now collect them there, as you see all the thumbnails of them immediately. See 
http://pinterest.com/ictedservices/infographics/

My presentation for the Blackboard Elluminate session is here Download Infographics and the Classroom
The link to the recording session of the webinar is here
https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2012-05-28.2333.M.6541246D3E9338D3527F7F28C11BE7.vcr&sid=2007026

This was a very interesting webinar to run, and I certainly found out a lot, so here are some of my learnings.

Infographics - The Receptive Mode

Why are Infographics Important?
http://www.slideshare.net/ripetungi/why-are-infographics-important
This is a great presentation by Robin Richards, and while not focussed on the use of infographics in education per se, it provides an excellent overview of infographics, and is downloadable.

As for collection of infographics, there are many. This is one that was sent to me, [thanks Kara], - Visual Loop on Pinterest has over 3800 infographics arranged into 70 boards, see http://pinterest.com/visualoop/. While some aren't necessarily suitable for schools, others certainly are e.g. http://pinterest.com/visualoop/climate-change-infographics/
Visual Loop adds a new infographic every day!
Also, thanks Jenny for http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/

Other collections I found were
Cool Infographics http://www.coolinfographics.com/
and
Visual.ly Showcase http://visual.ly/#gc_filter [I'll mention about visual.ly in the section below, too]
Also on Twitter follow @DBInfographic for some great tweets to infographics

I mentioned in the session that we really need to teach students how to read, analyse and evaluate the data and graphics in an infographic. I believe infographics are really a text type of their own. Infographics are crammed with information, but often discrete parts of an infographic [depending on its structure] and makes sense on their own. So with younger learners, you could just give them a part of an infographic to deal with. Or give a group a whole infographic to work on collaboratively. Or in small groups give each student a part of a infographic. Let them work on their part individually, then join other group members to share. Let them do a lot of talking and explaining!

Also we really need to encourage the use of all the thinking skills of Bloom's Digital Taxonomy when students use infographics. Students need to use the infographic to increase understanding, but also so they can use the content and analysis in their own created work.
 

Infographics - The Expressive Mode

When I started looking for Web 2.0 tools to create infographics, I came across this blogpost.
http://librarianlifestyle.com/2012/04/13/how-to-create-your-own-infographics/
It alerted me to two Web 2.0 tools that create infographics.

Visual.ly http://visual.ly/
and
Piktochart http://piktochart.com/

Both are reviewed in the Librarian Lifestyle Blogpost. It's worth reading.
I only had little time play with these, but if you listen to a Simon Pankhurst in a recent Australia Series webinar, you will find out more about Infographics and Visula.ly in detail.  See https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2012-05-24.0318.M.E58F6EDFFA5FA3EDE727DCFB80FBD8.vcr&sid=2008350

During my webinar and after I also found out about two other infographic creators

easelly [beta] http://www.easel.ly/
and
infogr.am http://infogr.am/

I haven't had a chance to play with either, but they both look interesting.

You could also just use software such as Illustrator, Pages, Inkscape or Publisher etc. to create infographics. In Simon Pankhurst's webinar [see above], he mentions how you can use PowerPoint to make infographics.

As a result my webinar. we decided to set up a collaborative space on infographics. It's called Infographic Classroom. It is designed so that we can all share what we know about infographics, where we can find them, how we can make them and how we can use them in schools.

At the moment the site needs to be populated, but will have content shortly.
This is the link. https://sites.google.com/site/infographicclassroom/home

If you have something you would like to add to Infographic Classroom , please email me, ictedservices@gmail.com and I will give you access to the site so that you can contribute.
If we get enough content of how infographics are used in the classroom, we will hopefully be able to share this on a future episode of Tech Talk Tuesdays.

 

Student Leadership and Digital Citizenship

I've just finished a Blackboard Collaborate session on Anne Mirtschin's Tech Talk Tuesday. http://techtalktuesdays.global2.vic.edu.au/ It was great to be invited back on the webinar. 

Abstract 
about the session:- 

We often think of student leaders as leading sports terms, or being representatives on Student Representative Councils, or organising fundraising etc.
In the 21st Century, students can be much more sophisticated leaders. They can be citizenship leaders and provide real authenticity to curriculum delivery. They often have a better understanding of the world they operate in than teachers do,. They can also create content that other students will be highly responsive too.
Mark Richardson will demonstrate how student leadership modules for CyberSafety and Digital Citizenship can be planned, delivered, assessed and evaluated. Such modules can be vital to the success of these programs in schools. He will draw on two successful programs conducted with Grade 5 students in the Hobson’s Bay Network of DEECD, Western Metropolitan Region. This module structure he will outline can easily be adapted for other year levels.

If you are interested the recording is at https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2012-02-20.2131.M.692EC494D82D3F72C6A34690FBFF16.vcr&sid=2007026     Start at the 23:30 mark

Alternatively, here is the .pdf of the presentation. Download Student Leadership and Digital Citizenship

 

 

 

Western Region Study Tour: Integrating ICT into your Primary School Program.

Hope you can join me as part of
ICTEV - Western Region Study Tour: Integrating ICT into your Primary School Program.

Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 09:00 - 15:30

From the ICTEV website.

Following previous successful study tours within the metropolitan area, we are pleased to offer this study tour program in the Williamstown locality of Western Region to assist with ideas for you to integrate ICT into your primary school program. The format of the study tour is to provide a mini bus to transport you between three schools in one day. These study tours are a great opportunity to join with fellow teachers, share ideas and see what other schools do. They are days for observation and to discuss the various approaches being used with ICT in the classroom to achieve exciting outcomes in student performance.
Each school has a differing approach to the integration of ICT and yet in each school their students are obtaining excellent results through the use of ICT in the primary years.  In this tour there is an emphasis on the 1:1 program, with detailed descriptions of the planning that went into its successful implementation. Each school took a varying pathway, which provides delegates with choices and alternatives to consider for their own situations. On the tour you will be taken by bus between Williamstown Primary School, Seabrook Primary School and Altona Primary School.

My part of the itinerary:
 Meet at Williamstown Primary School, Cecil Street, Williamstown for a 9 am start.

9.00
 Williamstown Primary School - Host: Mark Richardson, ICTeD Services
Mark Richardson, ICT Coordinator at Williamstown PS, will introduce you to the ways that the school organises its curriculum around its notebook/netbook trolleys and interactive whiteboards. Find out how these devices are used in English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies and learn how you can plan activities like these for yourself. Examples of planning and activities will be shown and you will be able to talk to teachers about their work.
Topics covered will be:
    •    The importance of whole school ICT / eLearning planning;
    •    How to plan great ICT / eLearning lessons;
    •    The organisational and technical support that is needed;
    •    Using Bloom's Digital Taxonomy as a planning tool;
    •    Making the most of all the software on PCs and Macs;
    •    Using Interactive Whiteboards to enhance classroom management, teaching and learning.
Mark will also demonstrate some of the great Web 2.0 tools to use in the primary classroom, discuss the assessment of student work in ICT / eLearning lessons, explain how a Learning Management System can enhance your lessons and conclude with describing how PD can be integrated into these activities.

Followed by
11.00
 Altona Primary School - Host: Danielle Webster and Robyne Luketic
Making the most of the Ultranet: Strategies at Altona Primary School to promote and encourage teachers' learning.

1.30 
Seabrook Primary School - Host: Delores Giordimaina
In 2011 Seabrook Primary School implemented a one to one MacBook program.

To register go to
http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2011/10/27/western-region-study-tour-integrating-ict-your-primary-school-program

Hope to see you there!!

MacSchoolsNet #53 - iCloud, IOS5 & Education

If you are in Melbourne and want to attend email me! [Address on the poster.]

Go to http://www.macschools.net for more information.

Australian Educational Computing Vol 26.1 (2011)

Congratulations to Donna Gronn & Geoff Romeo of the Australian Catholic University, [Melbourne, Australia], for editing another great issue of Australian Educational Computing, the journal of the Australian Council for Computers in Education, [ACCE].
See http://acce.edu.au/journal/26/1

This is the group at Google!

They also wrote a great article on the ACCE Study Tour of the USA which I was fortunate to be a member. See their spin of the ACCE Study Tour and ISTE 2011,  http://acce.edu.au/journal/26/1/acce-study-tour-2011

Thanks for linking to one of my blogposts of the trip!

My PD Offerings for October, 2011

For VITTA

Reinvent your Teaching with Challenge Based Learning!

Find out how Challenge Based Learning can invigorate teaching and learning of Primary and Middle Years classes! It is an approach that is highly engaging, embraces authentic learning and is great for students and teachers to use 21st century learning skills. Find out about the theory and seeclassroom examples.
A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

DATE: Thursday, October 20, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/reinvent-your-teaching-with-challenge-based-learning

*********

For VITTA

What's New in iLife '11?

Just got a new MacBook, maybe through the DEECD Notebooks for Teachers and Principals program? You will notice that it comes with the new version of
iLife.

This will be a hands-on session as much as possible. A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to
support this learning.

. So what's new in iLife '11?
. What are the changes?
. What are the implications of this upgrade for the classroom>
. Exploring what's new in iPhoto?
. Exploring what's new in iTunes?
. Exploring what's new in GarageBand?
. What about iWeb & IDVD?
. Exploring what's new in iMovie?
. What are some great things you can do in the classroom with iLife '11
. Where to after this session?

DATE: Thursday, October 27, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

 To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/whats-new-in-ilife-11

*********

For ICTEV

Western Region Study Tour

Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 09:00 - 15:30

Visit three schools during the day [Williamstown PS, Altona PS & Seabrook PS]

Synopsis of Williamstown component

9.00 am
Williamstown Primary School - Host: Mark Richardson,
Whole School ICT/eLearning planning at Williamstown Primary School.

Mark Richardson, ICT Coordinator at Williamstown PS, will introduce you to the ways that the school organises its curriculum around its notebook/netbook trolleys and interactive whiteboards. Find out how these devices are used in English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies and learn how you can plan activities like these for yourself. Examples of planning and activities will be shown and you will be able to talk to teachers about their work.
Topics covered will be:
• The importance of whole school ICT / eLearning planning;
• How to plan great ICT / eLearning lessons;
• The organisational and technical support that is needed;
• Using Bloom's Digital Taxonomy as a planning tool;
• Making the most of all the software on PCs and Macs;
• Using Interactive Whiteboards to enhance classroom management, teaching and learning.
Mark will also demonstrate some of the great Web 2.0 tools to use in the primary classroom, discuss the assessment of student work in ICT / eLearning lessons, explain how a Learning Management System can enhance your lessons and conclude with describing how PD can be integrated into these activities.

Member Cost: $160.00 Non-member Cost: $190.00

Register here http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2011/10/27/western-region-study-tour-integrating-ict-your-primary-school-program

Hope to see you at one or all of these events

Teaching and Learning in the 1 to 1 Classroom Using MacBooks

My next PD gig!!

Are you involved on 1 to 1 learning with MacBooks? Are you using a class set of MacBooks for some of your curriculum activities? Then this activity is pitched at you!

This session will cover the following:
• The pedagogy of the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Classroom organisation.
• Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy & the 1 to 1 classroom.
• What are some curriculum activities that are supported by 1 to 1 learning.
• Why collaboration is vital?
• Assessment in the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Buying, leasing, parent co-contribution or ownership.
• Technical support and security.
• School policies for the 1 to 1 classroom.

A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

DATE: Thursday September 22, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The Gallery, Williamstown Primary School, Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown, 3016.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included.

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

Register with VITTA

Bloom's Digital Taxonomy & the Ultranet - VITTA Conference 2011

Just off to present my paper at the VITTA Conference 2011 at Caulfield Racecourse Melbourne. Presentation is below. Download VITTA 2313

Comment on session to follow.

MacSchoolsNet #52 - Mac OSX Lion & AirPlay

Looking forward to the next meeting on MacSchoolsNet! 

Format for the event is as follows:

Mac OSX Lion
Some key questions for education

• What are the benefits of Lion for teachers and students?
• Are there any drawbacks?
• Are there apps that don't work with Lion?
• What about Volume Licencing of Lion in schools?
• Is a download from the App Store the only way to get it?
• How can you use Disk Utility to repair a Mac if there is no disk?
• What if you bought a Mac just before Lion was released? Are you entitled to an upgrade?
• What are the features of Lion Server for schools?
• What are the benefits of Lion Server in a school?
• How will Lion integrate with the iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch?

AirPlay
Some key questions for education

• What are some of the ways AirPlay could be used in the classroom?
• Could an iPad/AirPlay and a screen challenge an Interactive White Board?
• What are the implications of using AirPlay for students to be able showing their digital creations to others so easily.
• Will AirPlay have great advantages for subjects such as music and multimedia?

See http://www.macschools.net/ for links to provide background for these questions.

Bloom's Digital Taxonomy & the Ultranet - VITTA Conference 2011

 

I've just had my paper accepted on Bloom's Digital Taxonomy & the Ultranet for the Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association, [VITTA], Conference 2011, Leading and Learning from the Edge at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne 29-30 August

This will follow on from work I have been doing with WMR, Hobson's Bay eLearning Leaders' Network

Abstract:

All students and teachers in DEECD schools are using the Ultranet as a Learning Management System. After teachers have an understanding of how the technology of Release 1 & Release 2 works, then what do they do? What are some tasks that can be developed for students?
Mark will demonstrate at how
Bloom's Digital Taxonomy can be used as a great overlay to create authentic tasks for students using the Ultranet. This is an important session for those wanting to put 21st century learning skills into the pedagogy of the Ultranet.

Session is on Tuesday 30th August, 11:30 -12:20. Click on link above to register for the conference!