I was honoured to be asked to give a keynote presentation at the Aberdeenshire ICT Conference today. I have enjoyed working with the Aberdeenshire team before.
Today was the start of a week back up in the county working with a variety of schools, from primary and secondary through to a special school context.
Aberdeenshire carried out a large study into the use of gaming and Myst in the curriculum.
Following a technology CPD event held in March 2007, a number of teachers volunteered to be part of the project. As the game is not expensive, almost 20 schools were given the game and were brought into the project.
In order to take this forward, a further event was organised where I attended to demonstrate how he would teach with the game and to work with teachers to understand how the game worked and how they could begin to integrate it into their practice.
At the time Aberdeenshire was part of the Glow pilot and so a Glow group was created to help teachers communicate and share ideas and resources. Have a look at the some of the video feedback from teachers and pupils HERE.
The response to the project has been amazing, with a lot of comments about the impact that it has had on attainment in writing. I am looking forward to extending this during the coming week.
It was great to catch up with Anne Curtis and Vicki Cable, from Shoofly, last night at Thainstone House. They are exhibiting some of their imaginative and enchanting and challenging software at the conference.
One of the highlights of today’s event, for me, was meeting three delightful children from Elrick school, who presented some of their remarkable work stemming from their Myst wanderings alongside their gorgeous teacher, Aloyise Mulligan, who was one of the original Myst Project group and has really run with the ideas.
Visit their site HERE and see some of their brilliant results using Crazy Talk too.
I really enjoyed Derek Robertson’s presentation in the afternoon, titled Games in the classroom: do you still need convincing? I was convinced! Derek’s blog is always worth reading, as is his work with the Consolarium.
Derek is a Guitar Hero champion. Today, we turned him into Piano Hero when he joined me in some blues busking as folk filled in their evaluation forms. (Hopefuly it won’t nudge our ratings down TOO much!!)
Thank you to the remarkably energetic and irrepressible Anna Rossvoll, Brian Conn and their colleagues, for a superb event. One of the most enjoyable, warm, friendly, efficient and welcoming events I have had the pleasure to attend.
Thank you, and well done, to all those folk from Ellon Academy, Insch School, Alford Academy, Portlethen Community Learning Centre, Banchory Primary School, Balmedie School, Monymusk School, Port Elphinstone School, Meiklemill School, Markethill School, Crombie School, Ardallie School, Burnhaven School, Logie Durno School, Echt School, Stonehaven Community Centre, Auchterellon School, Maud School, Drumoak School, Mearns Academy, Easterfield School, Adult Literacties, Rayne North School, Torphins Primary School, Tough School, Fraserburgh Community Centre, 
Elrick School, Mintlaw Academy, Kinellar School, Auchterless School, Methlick School, Fraserburgh South Park School, Banchory Academy, Keig School, Meldrum Academy, Portlethen Academy, Mackie Academy, Aboyne Academy, Kemnay Academy, Wyness Hall, Westhill Primary School, Macduff School, Slains School, Scottish Youth Parliament, St Leonard’s, St Fergus School, Turriff Academy, Dover Lodge, ALIS, Woodhill House, Ellon Primary School, Auchnagatt School, Westhill Academy, Inverurie Market Place, Carronhill School, Luthermuir School, Newmachar School, Gordon House, Cultercullen School, Gartly School, Hatton (Cruden) School, Peterhead Academy, Inverurie Academy, Old Rayne School, Ballater School, Kintore School, EAL Service, Hill of Banchory, Banff Primary School, Newburgh Mathers School, Lumsden School, Fraserburgh Academy, Logie Coldstone School, Aberdeenshire Heritage, Crimond School, Barthol Chapel , Kellands School, Strichen School, St Andrews School Parent Council, Longside School, Alford Primary School, Cluny School, Rosehearty School, Buchanhaven School, Westhill Community Centre, Fishermoss School, Portsoy School, Midmar School and The Gordon Schools.
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