Archive for February, 2009
Cornwall, Day 3: Redruth School
Our last day in this session in Cornwall, and what a true delight!
The students from Year 7, at Redruth school, really did pull out all the stops. We spent a whole day creating a glorious mix of the analogue and digital magic.
As the day was so full, we are grateful to Jay Coleman, for offering to write his thoughts on the events that unfolded.
And, what an expressive commentary it is. Thank you.
“First period Friday morning and, on behalf of the school, I am filming Tim Rylands’ visit to Redruth.
This is Tim’s third day “in residence” here in Cornwall, but the first time that I have been able to see him.
It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience…
Day 2: Camborne Science & Community College
Loving a bit of creativity in Cornwall!
Sarah and I travel with a huge amount of kit too, ready for any eventuality. Laptops, cameras, microphones, projectors, enough wires and gubbins to equip a T.V or sound recording studio… and more.
How much fun it is when we get to work with so many children who are up for challenges, and juggle technology like a professional, after a bit of creative guidance, and stretch the potential of both hardware and software.
Today, we relished putting it all in to action again, and even had the chance to work with the one, large group all day, writing, recording, creating, composing, filming… all culminating in a stylish performance, or “happening” for an audience of visitors…
Errurz
Aren’t some of the error messages computers churn out, a little confusing?
(This one came up today).
Some times they contain delightful spelling mistakes too:
“An error has arroased” being one of my favourites.
In trying to get used to the countless error messages that came up in Vista when we briefly took the foolish step of trying it, I frequently wanted to make one that simply said:
“I HAVE NO SIGNIFICANCE WHATSOEVER. IGNORE ME
Try out Atom Smasher’s Error Message Generator to make some funnies of your own.
Adding one in to a presentation could really get a few people worried, eh?
Have fun! 
3 Days Of Creativity in Cornwall: Redruth
A dash across the county to Redruth School for a delightful afternoon with Year 6 pupils from a further 5 primary schools: Treleigh CP School, Pennoweth CP School, Lanner CP School, Treirgie Junior School and Stithians CP School.
Thank you to Tracey Cutts, from the English and Media faculty, here at Redruth School, for recording some of her thoughts about the session:
“A crowd of nervous faces entered the room- this was not their school; they didn’t quite know why they were here, what they were doing or who this strange man was. ‘Mr Rylands’ kicked into gear and the performance began… from Tim AND the children.
3 Days Of Creativity in Cornwall: Camborne
The start of our three day visit to Cornwall as part of our extended creativity project with Cornwall Education Authority, and this morning we were at Camborne Science and Community College
Our ‘guest blogger’ Ben Davies from Roskear Primary, who had been involved in training last year, and has a great understanding that it is NOT just about the games, very kindly put these observations down for us.
Myst IV – Camborne Science & Community College 25th February 2009
No lesson starts – there is no learning intention or success criteria mentioned initially!
‘Mr Walker’ (Tim’s walking stick) immediately gets the children thinking.
We slip into the lesson and the landscape.
Camps Hill Community Primary School, Stevenage
After a brilliant and energetic half term, of canoeing, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, caving and more, we made our way to Camps Hill Community Primary School in Stevenage.
Camps Hill follow the International Primary Curriculum.
“The principle of the IPC is to focus on a combination of academic, personal and international learning for children worldwide, combined with innovative and exciting ways to learn.
Redwell Junior School, Northampton – Day 1 & Day 2
We started our two day visit to Redwell Junior School with a day of demo lessons with 2 classes of Year 3′s, 2 classes of Year 5′s, 2 classes of Year 6′s, their teachers and visiting teachers from neighbouring schools.
We are, more often than not, helping schools develop their writing, speaking and listening, creativity… and more. Raising levels of achievement doesn’t have to be about reaching standards. It can be about stretching them.
Nigel Riches, headteacher, specifically invited us in order to raise the school’s achievement in Level 5 writing.
The King John Middle School, Thrapston
The King John School is a 9-13 middle school situated in a Thrapston, East Northamptonshire. Karen Harrison, the acting deputy head of the school, invited us here a couple of months ago, saying, “We are really keen to improve writing skills in the school and would love it if you could help kick this off for us.” The exact invitation we love. Continue Reading
ICT to Inspire Writing, Sefton – Day 2
Following yesterday’s training day, we were today at South Sefton City Learning Centre with the PEPS team, and the CLC’s team – both very impressive TEAMS!
Special thanks to Barry “Island” Ravenscroft, the centre’s director, for running with every idea and making technical magic happen – split screen projections, filming, video conferencing cameras and a delicious, abundent lunch! Continue Reading
ICT to Inspire Writing, Sefton – Day One
The next leg of what seems to be a grand, national tour and Sarah and I have raced through the snow to Aintree Racecourse, for the first of two days with the Primary Excellence Partnership team in Sefton. (The Grand National. Gerrit?!) A big thank you to Rupa Frain, PEPS Director, Michelle Pearson, PEPS Literacy Consultant and Paul Cousin, PEPS Administrator, for inviting us to their conference and looking after us so beautifully. Continue Reading
“E-Learning, Real Learning” Conference, Brighton
The blog has been quiet recently due to some delightful weather, (There’s snow business like snow business!) and a few techie-troubles. But…
We made our way through some very deep snow and treachorous conditions to sunny Brighton, which is Bright’n sunny, and completely free of snow, now. Continue Reading
As well as our events, we like to share interesting, and more often than not, FREE tools, resources and ideas, some old, some new, and we hope you might find something useful. We'd love your thoughts. Tim & Sarah
