THe Maine Department of Education has released a series of very useful Studywiz tutorials which can be viewed, downloaded and subscribed to, from iTunes. Here’s the link.
The videos cover the Studywiz learning environment interface.
It is also worth taking the time to check out some of the other podcasts that are published by the DOE - you’ll find some fantastic gems in there.
If you don’t already know, there are a couple of TeachMeet events attached to BETT 2010.
On Friday night the main TeachMeet session will take place in the APEX Room at London Olympia. You can sign up for attendance or, if you’re willing, offer to present. All the details are available here on the TeachMeet wiki.
The other event taking place this year is TeachMeet Takeover. This involves BETT vendors giving up some time on their stand for educators to present and share ideas.
Takeover sessions will be happening throughout all four days of BETT and the timetable of sessions is available here. There are a couple of slots left if you wish to give a presentation.
Ian Addison from Hampshire, and regular contributor to this blog, will be presenting at the Roar Educate stand (K56). His presentation is sure to be interesting and informative so if you’re attending BETT then please come along to K56 at 12pm on Thursday 14th.
For those of you who have been following us, we decided to experiment with iPod Touch in a Spanish class for 11-14 year olds. We allowed the students to have these devices 24/7. We taught the students how to access their mobile application for Studywiz and how to use their mobile eLocker. I sheepishly admit that the teachers didn’t make best use of the mobile eLocker as we are novices at the mobile approach but we are getting there. The kids however, loved having Studywiz access on their iPods and quickly found themselves accessing everything from their other classes too.
We are having to wrap up this particular project and give the iPods to another group of students so they too, can have a go. Parents are determined to get one of these devices in the hands of every Spanish student next year. Why? Well, even we were shocked at the transformational educational process when you give the student control over their own learning, with a well-directed teaching facilitation. Can’t wait to do more and better utilize the mobile eLocker next time.
Check out our new film: http://gallery.me.com/regina.cockerill#100321
For any teacher, the week before schools starts is a precious week. Whether it is the last chance to spend some time relaxing with family or friends, or preparing for the new school year, it always seems to go by very quickly. I spent last week with a group of staff from Dulwich College Shanghai doing a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ course and once I got to know the people, I was not surprised to find out that they elected to do this training the week before school started.
Regardless of their role in the school, everyone worked incredibly hard to find even more ways to use the Studywiz Learning Environment to support the school community. They created units of work, communication strategies, folder structures for sharing and supporting colleagues and discussed how they could best use the features of Version 9.4 to enhance teaching and learning.
When a blue frog appearing on our Master Class home page on the last day, I was perplexed until I was told it was the local pub and people were meeting there after training on the last day. I am very happy to report that not only do staff at Dulwich College Shanghai work hard, they know how to celebrate as well! Thanks, I had a wonderful time.
We have had studywiz for nearly four years and now becoming self sustaining. We still have to push now and again but we now have lots of assignments being put on it, all our school reports are written on it, trip and visits use the calendar for pupils out of school, more departments use it for testing and assessing students.
BUT.. there is so much more we can do in terms of learning for children who have excluded, AFL, online books and podcasting. I still feel we are at the beginning but the online world is so exciting and transformational but is so under used. How do others feel, do you have any good ideas to push even more?
