Creative students

I set a homework task for my year 9s (targets C-E) asking them to summarise our last 3 lessons entitled 'Just how clever is a plant?' I'd revisited photosynthesis, taught them a bit of transpiration and done the AQA spec stuff on plant hormones with plasticine modelling. Some of them have come back with iMovies and pretty impressive Keynotes. I love that the new technology helps to inspire them to be creative with their learning.

iPads in lesson today.......

Year 10 researched nano science and presented using iPads. Not all had Bookcreator, so many just used keynote. How was this any different from a usual research and ppt lesson? Okay, not huge, but the speed with which the presentations were mirrored to the TV screen was brilliant. Also, very little time was lost accessing the hardware at the start of the lesson. Those using schools iPads literally signed a sheet, opened the box and they were up and away. No log in issues, network problems or lesson wasted due to start up time. ipad Owners have a permanent record of their work. Students who borrowed have saved to Dropbox accounts accessible from PCs and Macs in school and at home.

Following TMClevedon.......

Drove down to #TMClevedon last night. It was a long way but so worth it. What a brilliant evening. Loved @vicgoddard. He showed this poem. I love it. I was inspired not only to try lots of new ideas but also to organise a TMTrentham in the Spring. I've not heard of any local secondary teachmeets. We'll start small and then who knows.......might reach the epic event organised @ictevangelist at Clevedon School last night! I've already spoken to our 2 ASTs and cleared it with the Head. First meeting next week..........

IPads next week

Our @itrentham students have had the opportunity to sign up to an iPad scheme. In some of my classes over half the students now have personal iPads. We also have 2 class sets we can book out. Just trying things out at the moment.
Next week, I'm going to use Bookcreator with 2 classes - one as a research task on nanoscience, and one as a revision task. Students will create a book on their given topic. Once complete, another student will read it and peer assess. Choose a couple to project via apple tv. Students who own iPads will have a permanent record of their work. But what about the others? Hmm. Not sure. For now, I'll ask all students to make some written notes from the peer assessed book but that's not ideal.
Any ideas on managing this transition stage? Parents who've funded iPads will want to see them used, but I don't want students without getting fed up.

TMClevedon to do list

Where to start? I've decide a list might be a good idea. These are my favourite ideas from last night that I want to try out in my teaching over the coming weeks.....
1. Find an expert to talk to my class about what they do. Gavin Smart had his Grandad talk about hydrology. I think this could stretch to tutor time too and careers links
2. Creating a museum in school. Wow. Two talks on this but both quite different. Would like to develop this idea for some cross- curricular work. Maybe with the history dept, linking History of Medicine and Science or Geography department on Global Warming etc. the possibilities are endless........
3. Make apps in lessons. Brilliant. Thank you Andy Hutt.
4. Imaginarium. I like this very much. Might try to create a science department version with unusual artefacts for students to research as extension tasks. Thank you Gabrielle Murtagh.
5. Sort out department ideas/support virtual area. We're really good at asking and sharing, but there's no record of it. Nothing to go back to to remember what was said etc. Hope to do something based on David Gale's ideas.
6. Use Guardian eye photos in Tutor time. If science based, will also use as engaging starter tasks.
7. Suggest changes to department observations based on the wise words of John Wells
8. Use virtual learning platforms properly. David Morgan I felt positively guilty!!
9. Find out how I can use Skype in the classroom
10. Keep my blog up to date and write about one new thing I do each week.

Maths update

I still have to write a case study on my Maths project. I did finish it by the way! Submitted action research and presented it back in the summer. I also completed a reflective masters module based around my developing pedagogy around cross-curricular skills. All this should exain why this blog hasn't been updated for a while!
I enjoyed the maths work. And I've made subtle changes to my approach to maths in science that I think make a big difference to the students. Still need to work at making it department wide though and cementing better cross- departments links. hoping to set up a buddy system between members of staff in the two departments.