Another gloriously sunny and fun filled day, this time at Somersham Primary in Cambridgeshire.

We were joined by staff from other schools during the day. Here, Kathy Kaluza, from Erith, is kind enough to record some of her thoughts and observations on a lesson:

The children were completely drawn into the world created for them by Tim & the image on the computer screen. From the moment he began to speak ,to the end of the 2 hour session, they became totally immersed in a new world. If I didn’t know otherwise it would have seemed as if a spell had been cast. Tim blew on his walking stick & some of the children were agreed on the colour of smoke that it emitted!!! I began to think I was not looking carefully enough!
After a good deal of discussion, the chidren wrote spontaneously,producing work of a high quality full of vivid imagery. They were also encouraged to refine their spoken language & clarify their ideas. Despite the length of the session they remained on task & enthusiasic throughout.

When creating the slideshow, above, I was greeted by this error message. A classic spolling. Spelling mistookes are also frustrating (as all of those gloriously observant folk who email me when they spot errors in these posts can tell you! Yes, Humphrey, I still mess things up!)

However, I often encourage children to challenge themselves to record their wonderful ideas “without worrying about your spellings”. I clarify this by explaining that does not mean “Ah! Don’t worry about yer spellings!”

e.g. cat, with a spelling of G.T.Y 32 D’s, 2F’s and a Q. It means “Don’t let the spelling worry, or concern, limit or restrict you, or stop you from using that word… get those beautiful, juicy, sparkling ideas down on paper for the world to share”.

It sometimes means we get some classic spellings, like this one of the word “Spiral” from today. But I know what this Year 1 child meant when they went on to describe what they thought was up the top of the “spiral escalator plant”… and it was beautifully descriptive too!

With ICT co-ordinator David Hawkins, we talked about the power of doors within the Myst games. They act as a stimulus for discussion, (What lies beyond this mysterious, creaking barrier?)… a great spot to start or finish a lesson with suspense, and so much more.

Try this great site for some superb colour grouped images of the “Unspectacular doors of St Louis“.

Doorways around the world contains a HUGE variety of excellent images.

As we are in Cambridgeshire this week, have a look at this image.

You might also want to try this virtual tour of Cambridge.

Thank you to all of the staff and children of Somersham, and visiting schools, for a glorious day.

Eye reel E enjoyed my spell of thyme with yew awl!

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO UPDATING THIS POST WITH A LINK TO SOME OF THE REMARKABLE WORK WHICH FOLLOWED ON FROM MY PREVIOUS VISIT LAST YEAR. THIS INCLUDES A SUPERB VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE SCHOOL WHICH IS NEARLY COMPLETE FOR VIEWING AND EXPLORING.

“WATCH THIS SPACE”

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Happily, for me, my BETT blogs will be short posts as this is one of the busiest BETT shows I have had. A good opportunity to meet folk from all over, including Hong Kong and Brunei. I promise to update and spill the beans on some of the new stuff I have been shown.

In the meantime, I have to say that the highlight of BETT for me has, most definitely been the launch, by 2Simple, of their remarkable 2Publish+ package. It is a SUPERB and intuitive way for children to create a huge range of material, such as brochures, postcards, posters, banners, spinner wheels and much more. Some imaginative programming by their innovative chief designer, Max, has enabled text to shrink in size automatically so that it fits in to available spaces as you type.

Congratulations too to 2Simple for a well deserved win last night at the BETT awards dinner. 2Paint a Picture’s win induced a HUGE roar of approval.

So many other highlights, so little time. In fact, that is all I am goinng to write about BETT for now. I’ll tell of other finds over subsequent posts.

Well done and thank you to all who made the BETT week such a superb experience.

I admit that it is now Tuesday, the week after BETT finished, …and so am I ! !
BETT is an enervating experience but so energising at the same time.

Saturday’s presentation went very well indeed. It was fully booked, with people standing all around the room so, apologies to those of you who didn’t manage to get a seat! It was really encouraging to get so much feedback after the event and to see the website “hits” go through the roof.

There is a definite positive feel about technology in education at the moment. That move from black and white to colour that we talked of, continues apace.

I experimented with a Gyro Mouse, very kindly sourced by Marc Keable, of Classroom ICT. A Giro Mouse enables you to navigate through a presentation or website and move the mouse pointer without having to place your hand on a surface. Takes a bit of getting used to I have to say, but I think there is a vast amount of opportunity to use one creatively with children. For example, in a virtual landscape experience, a giro mouse would enable you to navigate and “walk” whilst standing in front of the screen. I look forward to trying new ideas soon.

Today’s link is a bit of peaceful culture. Keeping Score is an interactive invitation to explore some of the greatest classical music by reading the musical notation and investigating background information. So we’ll start with some post Bett-hoven! : http://www.keepingscore.org/flash/beethoven/index.html

BETT thursday was busy but, as I sit writing this, Friday looks like it is going to be packed.As anybody who has worked BETT will confess though, the working day is great, but the after-doors-have-closed events are an event in their own rights. Steljes, 2Simple and GigaJam may be some of the most innovative companies in the world of education technology but they also know how to entertain in style.

On more serious matters, I promised I would mention some of the things that have caught my eye so far. Shakespeare Works may be a small company but their stand alone was a gem, all decked out in theatrical spangle. I was impressed by their polished films, but also by the way they link their CD-Roms with, what looks like, inspiring training days.

Shoo-fly continue to surprise, this time with whiteboard pop-up books! A unique visual effect that deserves a lot more attention.

I did a particularly dramatic fall somewhere between both stands but was wearing my T-shirt with “I do all my own stunts!” so got away with a laugh from the stands around. My best finds of the fall were Spiny Software and Crazy talk4. (Both soft landings!) Crazy Talk 4 is the most effective and simple way of creating animated avatars and faces. Has so much potential with children of all abilities. I hope that they make contact with Pete Wells, the Johnny Vegas of education, who already uses this program with his usual wit and flair.

No links for these few days as I am writing online.

Onwards!

Man marries computer

There is a great buzz abound this year in Olympia. BETT may be the world’s biggest technology in Education show, but I didn’t realise just how much of the world knew that too! It has been so motivating to meet people from all across the globe this week. Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, in particular,seem to have emptied and headed for the show!

When you see so many innovative uses of technology it confirms to me that it really is a glorious time to be alive. The Futurelab speech from Annika Small reiterated that point. The move from a black and white (text based) world to one of colour (the proliferation of uploaded films and online communities) Exciting times that BETT is showcasing.

I think that, nowadays, everyone has the potential to be a Pepys. The difference is that, when Pepys wrote his now famous diary entries, he was not expecting anyone else to read it! I have been surprised at the amount of emails I have received in response to the new blog and the “new-look” website. Thankyou.

Wednesday’s presentation gave me the opportunity to chat to Professor Don Passey, from Lancaster University. An encouraging and perceptive man who seemed genuinely excited by the new direction that the gaming project is taking. I am still not at liberty to divulge too much information but continue to urge you to “Watch this space” over the next few days and weeks.

More tomorrow on what has caught my eye so far.

Mr Hutt, that fine fellow from RM is taking the brave step to go independent. (visit his site at http://eduhutt.wordpress.com/ )

His farewell “Do” was held at a very interesting restaurant complete with entertainment. For more info send money in a brown envelope marked “Blackmail”

 I always look forward to BETT and this year is no exception. BETT is the world’s biggest “IT in Education” event. It takes over the whole of Olympia, and not many other trade events do that! Each year brings a batch of new ideas and launches of innovative products and projects. For me, this year has an extra nugget of excitement because Joe and I (SoIntoIT) are also going to reveal a new direction in our adventures with Myst.

You heard it here first! (Well you will do when we are at liberty to tell.)

I am going to be presenting three “Invitation Only” sessions at the Dfes (Department for Education and Skills) Meeting space (Stand H49) If any body would like to attend these, though, please let me know and I will see if I can sneek you in. (”We’re with the band!”) These sessions are at 13.15 on Wednesday, and 13.30 on Thursday and Friday.

I am also going to be doing a 3/4 of an hour seminar on Saturday 13th, at 11.45 in Seminar Theatre B. I will be revisiting some of the old territory of simple ideas for visual literacy, the use of the Myst games, and other ideas. But, the element I am really looking forward to is the opportunity to present these NEW ideas, on-line with Joe (”Mr Moretti to you!”) Joe will have been on the Apple stand all week so look out for him there and see if you can get him to to tell you what we’re up to!

I can’t wait…

I think that today’s link should be a way of finding out new exciting, innovative, world-first info… so, try typing… Myst, online, Tim Rylands, Joe Moretti or diligent aardvaarks for that matter into: http://www.sidekiq.com/ a clever way of searching through all the channels you can think of, in one place!