ICTeD Services

Billy Carts and eLearning - 2011 Edition!

Two years ago I wrote some activities for a Design Creativity & Technology unit about model Billy Carts. This activity was pitched at years  5 & 6. These activities are still around in my other blog, http://ictedservices.typepad.com/elearning/billy-carts/

However, this time around these activities have been refined and compacted a bit! They are also better supported for student learning, with more tutorials and screencasts.

I've created a  model website for students with examples, some instructions and assessment rubrics. It is available at  http://www.ictedservices.info/billy_cart_2011/Home.html

Any queries about this unit, just ask!

[As with any software recommendations in my blog and websites, what I write about, is my opinion only and I take no responsibility for anything going wrong with your computer, server, network etc.. Please read the conditions and product disclosures and EULA for each application. Always exercise care and caution!]

ACCE Study Tour 2011 Day 2: Apple, National Computing Museum & Google

A 6:15 a.m. start for the bus trip to Silicon Valley. First stop Apple for a presentation in their Executive Briefing Centre. A really interesting session on mobile learning, particularly using the iPad 2.  The talk looked at where Apple are going from MacBook > iPod Touch > iPad.
The key functions of any or all of these computers in Teaching and Learning is a cycle of Create > Distribute > Access > Collaborate. 
This was overlaid with firstly the technical requirements of Mobile Learning  • Portability • Multiple Touch Display • Digital Media • Anytime Access • Applications • Location Aware.
Some curriculum examples where used to illustrate each of these points. There was certainly learning experiences that could not be completed on a MacBook, but could be completed spectacularly on an iPad2. Not that the MacBook is not great for teaching and learning [particularly creating], it is just that the iPad does a range of other things, combined with better mobility.
What also was interesting was just how important a Learning Management System is in mobile learning both for content delivery by the teacher and teacher / student, student / student collaboration. While Apple did this on Wiki Server [part of Snow Leopard Server], but could be done with any LMS such as Moodle. Certainly this session will influence my recommendations for future planning and purchasing. Also found out about ePubs and how you can make them using Keynote.

  Next stop, Computer History Museum. Amazing place covering 2000 years of computing. Most impressive was Charles Babbage's Difference Engine #2. Works to, but not when we were there!

Last stop Google. A  company that is set up by a university campus. Great walk around and presentation on Google Apps in the classroom. 

Great day : Tomorrow Intel, Oracle and the Urban School.