Archive for May 17th, 2012
Myst at Cwm Garw in BBC News report
A lesson at Cwm Garw School, in the worlds of Myst III:Exile, featured on BBC Wales News, today.
The report, about a new five-year plan aimed at raising poor literacy standards in Welsh schools, which has just been published, included some familiar faces for us.
We were lucky to work alongside the folk of Cwm Garw School, developing ways of bringing words alive, in Welsh and English. It was a joyous visit and one that broke new ground for us – recording some wondrous writing in both languages.
You can hear some of the children’s superb reading of their descriptive narrative, with harp accompaniment, HERE.
Assembly Education Minister, Mr Leighton Andrews, visited the school today, to launch the National Literacy Framework.
The Minister was treated to a year 5/6 lesson using the Myst computer game and follow up descriptive writing work on iPads. The BBC, ITV, S4C and Real Radio covered the event which went very well and helped to emphasise the Ministers message regarding the importance of reading and writing.
The National Literacy Programme sets out what the Welsh government will do to improve results and change the way literacy is thought about in schools.
Mr Andrews told BBC Wales: “The National Literacy Programme will introduce greater consistency and clarity into the way we track pupils’ progress while also providing the support, challenge and accountability needed in our schools.”
“What we must do is ensure that all learners benefit from excellent teaching of literacy and develop the skills that are so vital to their future success”
Well done Cym Garw, & great to see you still exploring possibilities so inventively, 5 years after our first steps together.
Voki
After we looked at the wonderful Crazy Talk today, we are grateful to Mandy Peace, who was with us today from Swansea Metropolitan University, for nudging folk to Voki-bringing characters alive another way.
Voki enables children to make animated, speaking, avatars to embed on any blog or website, easily. This can motivate many ages and abilities.
From your gifted and talented bringing an historical icon alive, to those who might not normally speak out loud, but can now see an interesting “other” bring their own words into action – Voki can get pupils talking in imaginative ways.
Created by Oddcast (who came up with the avatar that used to animate our original blog, and now form the avatar on Twitter & the icon Tim above you now) Voki, gets characters speaking with your words, your voice, your way. Powerful.
Sharon Smith from Abercynon Community Primary School, shared with us how she has been using Voki in her class.
We have recently set up a moodle. I wanted my class page to be as interactive as possible for the pupils to use. I follow @ictmagicon Twitter and a recent tweet linked to Voki.com. I chose a character, background and recorded my voice. Using Voki enables me to explain the weekly learning log task and to ask for suggestions on what should be on the class page. It has been pleasing to see that the children have been going to Voki and creating their own avatar.
ICT to Inspire Conference, Ty Dysgu, Cefn Coed, Wales
Great to return again, to the ESIS Conference Centre, Ty Dysgu, Cefn Coed, near Cardiff, for another romp through digital and analogue worlds in Wales. We were joined by fifty colleagues from across the South Wales region, quite a few of whom we had worked with before., and who were back for more. 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
