Puppet pals!

Puppet pals

 

What is Puppet pals?

Puppet Pals is an application to use on your iPad, iPhone or iPod. It allows you to create your own theatrical stories in a fun and easy way. It allows you to use your imagination and to take your learning experience to a new level. The free version gives you some characters and scenes. You can download the whole version for 22kr to be able to use all of the characters and scenes.

How does it work?

You or your pupils can use your favorite actors or take pictures of yourself witch you can use in the creation with your short movie. After this you choose a scene you think fits to your story. Then it’s time to record. Just press record and the app will record how you move your actors around and everything that you say.  In just some minutes you have created your first movie. To make this app work you have to ha an iPad, iPod or iPhone.

How it can be used by teachers

Before you use this app with your students it’s important that you as a teacher know how the app works and witch learning goals you should reach by using this app. It’s important that everything you do in your classroom can be motivated in the syllabus. By using this app you can also work against many different goals in the syllabus and by that give the students a chance to reach different goals in different subjects.

In the purpose of teaching English according to the syllabus you can read that the education in this subject shall have the purpose to give the students a chance to create knowledge about how to use the language in different situations and in different meanings. The purpose is also to develop skills in how to talk the English language. By using Puppet Pals and create stories where the students can record the spoken language and listen to their own voice you can work against these goals and purpose with learning of the English language.

How it can be used by students

By using this app the students’ have an easy way to create short movies. They can use their imagination and learn a new language in a fun way. By recording their own voice they can hear their own pronunciation and fix their flaws in an easy way. By using this app it is also easy to share their movies to other students. In this way they can give each other constructive feedback and so can the teacher witch is a formative way of assess the students. In this way they have a chance to redo their work and develop their learning skills.

 

Other things to have in mind…

I think that this app is a great way to capture young students’ interest.  Young students are captivated by this new way of learning and we as teachers can take this to our advantage.  The iPad, iPod and iPhone itself is a tool where the students often have more knowledge then we do.  My belief is that we have to make our students creative learners by using this tool and not a consumer of this tool as a game or as a pastime. If the students shall have a chance to become creative learners it’s very important to let the students know their learning goals and the purpose of creating a story and a movie in this app. This is a task that shall be done and the outcome will be given feedback on to expand the students’ knowledge in the subject.

Have fun!

Louise Johansson

Ipad

Ipad

What is an Ipad and how it works

Ipad is a tablet computer and it´s a rater new technology. The idea was to have a great computer in a book that you can carry around with you; learn how to us in a short time and that the communication with larger databases and other computers should be easy. The ipad has a multi-touch screen and a virtual keyboard. You can shoot video, take photos, play music and perform online functions such as emailing, games, social networking, installing apps, read ebooks etc. Something great is that the ipad is small, but with a moderately large screen, you can bring it around the classroom and even outside to other rooms. You don’t need anything but a charger and wifi-net so you can connect to internet.

How the resource can be used

As a teacher the ipad is a great tool to use, I have self use the ipad in 1: st and the 2: nd year. The younger children that need something else than ordinary teaching can the ipad be a great tool. Children that training for example reading can use different apps with for example soundings, and instead of writing with a pen they write with their fingers or just draws the right literally to the right place. It`s a fun tool for the children and it´s easy to use, the children can use the screen with simple hand draws, just put the finger to the screen and learn. Another task I have done is an picture project, the children took pictures of the trees and their leaves and we make a photo gallery, that we show in the classroom on the ipads and the Smart Board.

Tips to the teacher

As a teacher the ipad also is a great tool than you easy can use to get information. When the children are working you quickly can get to another program or app that suit the task you work with. For an example there are video lessons in English for mathematics, English, art etc. it’s a free app.  Look at this website http://www.educreations.com/ for more information.

Maria Hjörring

Using Voki when Teaching English

Using Voki when Teaching English

This is Voki:

Voki is an application which allows you to create talking animated characters. It is a software available online that has become popular for use in teaching children, and teachers using it have testified to how it has helped them to catch the children’s interest and make them more eager to participate. The amazing thing about Voki is the potential to personalize these animated characters, and turn them into whatever is needed in each particular teacher’s classroom.

     When first creating a character, one can choose its physical attributes; whether to make it a human being, an alien, a wizard, an insect, a cartoon, an animal or anything else provided as an option on the website. Attributes such as hair, clothes, age, skin color, accessories, facial dimensions etc. etc. can also be applied and changed to fit the creator’s needs and preferences. The creator may then choose a background for their Voki out of the many options provided, or they may draw and upload their own background, if wishing to personalize it even further.

     The last step is adding a voice to the Voki. It can be done by writing the text the creator wants his or her Voki to say, and then a voice is picked out from a database of voices and finally added to the Voki. The Voki will then say the words previously written for them. A more personal option is for the creator to record his or her own voice!

How it can be used by teachers:

Voki can be used in almost any subject and by any teacher, and it opens up several possibilities. For language teaching, it can be used to catch the interest of young learners. One of the most difficult aspects of working with children is keeping them interested and engaged when in class, which is why bringing in Voki’s could add a fun element to their education. They can be used to tell the children stories, for example. Since the Voki’s are so highly adjustable in their physical aspects, they can be made to look like characters in a story told (or read) by the teachers. It could also be a great way to help students expand their vocabulary. After reading a story where a character is carefully described, the teacher can ask his or her students questions regarding the characters physical aspects, and together they can create an image of that character in Voki. If telling the young learners about this upcoming challenge, they might try harder to pay attention when listening to the story or the facts presented by the teacher. Voki can also be used to help explain simple grammatical issues or rules, as a way of making learning more fun.

How it can be used by students:

One of the many things Voki can teach a student is names of physical features. The software is simple enough for young learners to use, and it could be used as a way for them to learn features such as “blue eyes”, “brown hair”, “big nose” etc. etc. One activity could be for the students to all create their own Voki. They could then be asked to record an audio clip for their Voki, where they describe his or her features. “My name is Lola, I have long brown hair, blue eyes and I live in a small house.” These could then be displayed in front of the whole class, to give the students a chance to show off their work as well as learn from their classmates.

     Once every student has a Voki they can be used continuously as well, perhaps by having an assignment each week which involves recording a new message for the Voki’s, based on what have been taught in class that week.

Potential learning outcomes:
In today's society kids learn to use technology at a young age, which clearly speaks for the importance such knowledge will come to have in the future. Using Voki will give young students an opportunity to work with a computer, and help build up their basic navigation skills and understanding for working digitally. Many children are already overly familiar with computers and other similar devices, but it is an excelent opportunity for children who might not have computer access at home to get to give it a try. As mentioned, the world is becoming more computer dependent every day, and it is important for children to be introduced to this during an early stage since sooner or later they will need to use it.
     When it comes to learning languages it is an excelent opportunity to practice both speaking and writing, since Voki offers the choice of either writing the text for the Voki's to say or to record it with one's own voice. This can be made as basic or as advanced as the student and the teacher find suitable (as well as possible). Working with Voki will teach the young students that there are several fields where they can make use of the English they learn, and it could also be a motivation for them when they begin to understand words and senteces written on the website, while creating their Voki's.
     Over all, Voki can be used to practice both grammar, reading, writing, speaking, pronounciation, listening and so on, and all this while doing what for the students will feel like playing a fun online game.

Further comments:

Voki is a free feature, but the website also offers other paid services such as Voki Classroom, where teachers are able to both add and manage classes on the website, register students, and they can also access lesson plans and tips and organize how their students interact with the Voki’s. This premium feature also includes other features such as the possibility to record longer audio clips and choose between more Voki characters. The Voki Classroom feature costs approximately 30 dollars for 1 year, and 45 dollars for 2 years of use, and there is the possibility of trying out the feature for free for 15 days. They also offer a 30-day-money-back guarantee.

     On the Voki website more information can be found, such as teacher reviews and detailed product descriptions. No download is required, and the user only needs a computer and access to the internet in order to use Voki. Access website here: 


http://voki.com/
Jannike Nilsson

The website www.helpfulgames.com

What is helpfulgames?

It is a website with educational games for kids. It’s a fun way of learning their skills in reading, writing, math, everyday knowledge and brain training. The games are free and are focusing on children between 5 and 12 years of age.

There is different levels in these the categories from easy to hard, 1-5 or what kind of skill you what to work with for example: Under the category “how do you spell” you can make the choice to practice k sound or the j sound or under math – “subtraction” you can make the choice “the first number” in the mathematical problem. Their is instructions under every category, that explains the different levels and how the game works.

Read & write

Here are different games where the pupil practicing the alphabet and learn to read and write.

The categories you can choice is:  

• Word spelling (Picture)
• Initial letter
• Write the alphabet on time 
• How do you spell
• Find the word
• Correct spelling
•  Hangman

Math

Learn and practice the four mathematical methods the categories you can choice from:

•  Count money
• Number of objects
• Abacus – Basics
• Abacus – Subtraction
• Abacus – Addition
• Number bonds
• Subtraction
• Division
• Addition
• Multiplication

Everyday knowledge

Build up your everyday skills in a fun way. You learn about the:                                                                       

• Digital clock
• Tell time
• Keyboard training
• Positional words

Brain Training

Games that trains your memory and the logical thinking.

•  Memory                                                  
• Sliding puzzle

How the resource can be used

Fore the webpage to work you have to have Internet, like a menschen before this webpage is free. It works on most computers (Mac, Google chrome and Linux) even Ipads and Galaxy Tab.

You as a teacher can use the webpage fore a briefing example in mathematic and money. You need a smart board or a projector so everybody can see it.

It’s a good way of giving instructions and how the games works and also having fun in the class, do some of the games together.

Its easy fore the pupil to use this website. They can sit by them self and do the different games and practice on the skills they need to work on. Or you can work with a friend and learn from each other, by discussion the different answers in the game.

You get emergently response if it’s right or wrong. When you manage the skill practice you get credit like WELL DONE and some fireworks.

During the games you will get knowledge point fore manage a skill level. Witch is a god for the pupil’s motivation. It has been a positive effect on pupils with special needs; they get direct feedback and its quickly played.

Other considerations

This webpage is a Swedish page from the beginning, so as a teacher or at parent you can easily use it on Swedish. When they translated the page to English there are some ads that are god for the teacher to take up with the pupils before they use it.

Swedish - http://www.elevspel.se/

English - http://www.helpfulgames.com/

Ingela Sundberg

Welcome to The English School's new blog!

We have decided to start a class blog for class 5A where the aim is to practice English by reading and writing. This blog will also be a place for all you parents to have a look at what your son or daughter are doing at school and see their progress. As technology is a rising concept of reaching information the aim is also to get the students involved with using the Internet, find information, judge the information and complete texts about it.

How pupils can use the blog?

We will have assignments every week where the pupils will be split into two groups. They will get a subject that one group will write about and the other group has to comment on their publications. Every pupil will be provided with a username and password and time will be given in school to finish the tasks. After every post the pupil must put his/her name.

How can teachers use the blog?

The teacher will post essential information on the blog for pupils and parents, like homework, tasks, general information etc. The teacher is responsible of the blog and will control the texts submitted by the pupils.

How can parents use the blog?

This is a blog for you! Read about what we are doing in class! Read what your son or daughter posts on the blog and see their development of written English. Find out the latest news from school and keep yourself posted of what is happening the upcoming weeks.

How does a blog work?

A blog is a web-based diary where you can post texts and ideas. The blog can be open for everybody to see it or be used for a closed group. Every student will have their username and can log on whenever they want to, but there will be given time for it in class, which means that a computer or an internet connection at home won’t be necessary. The pupils will only be able to accede the page where you publish a post or a comment.

Considerations about using a blog

This blog will only be used within a closed group and you will need an invitation to be able to read the content of it. Since Internet is found all over the world and you can find much information there, we have chosen to keep the blog closed so no personal information will spread over the Internet. As part of the blog-project, classes will be given on Internet behavior and why it is important to not share all information there. When the pupils post their names, only the first name will be used to avoid endangering the private life as much as possible. As mentioned before, all posts will be controlled by the teacher and we will only use the blog on parent-protected computers, i.e. computers protected of violent and sexual websites. If using a computer at home, we recommend you using a parent-control to prevent your children from finding unpleasant information.

I hope you will enjoy it!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me!

Best wishes,
Malena Norman

Raz-Kids Interactive Reading Program

What is Raz-Kids and how does it work

The ICT resource which I am talking about today is an online reading library. Raz-Kids.com offers hundreds of animated eBooks covered 27 levels of difficulty from A-Z. This structured reading program engages children at their reading level and in their area of interest .Children can follow along as the program reads the book to them, and then read it themselves. Interactive quizzes are available at the end of each book to check for understanding. The Raz-Kids program also offers reports that detail the children’s progress. Web access at school and home gives children the practice they need to improve their reading skills. The more they read the better reader they will become.

 Though Raz-Kids.com is mainly designed for school use, it does allow anyone to purchase the program for the 12-month license of $89.95, roughly 600kr/year. To use this program, you will need:

• A Windows or Mac computer
• An Internet connection (broadband is best)
• A current browser with Adobe Flash
• A headset (best). Alternatively, a microphone and speakers
• Username and password

The current browser detective widgets on Raz-kids will automated detect if your browser is compatible with the Raz-kids. Headsets are for students to listen to a book read for modeled fluency and record themselves reading the same book. The whole class share teacher’s username, but have their own passwords (which are set up by the teacher).

After log in, teacher can customize reading assignments, view reports, and track every step of student’s progress. Students will find their assignments under their personal assignment pages. Children can choose to listen, read or take quiz by clicking the symbols below each book. The reward system Raz Rocket allows students earn stars for every book read and listened to, and quizzes and assignments successfully completed, then they can spend these earned stars to buy items from the Raz Rocket Catalog to personalize their rocket on the Roster page.

How can Raz-kids used by Teacher

Videos in the video library give teacher very clear introduction about the features which Raz- kids offer. Teacher can launch students to read in different ways. You can either make self paced assignment which allow students to progress automatically, or customize the   assignment .You can see who has logged on, who has been reading and who hasn't. You can send students messages, do running records. After the students take a quiz, it tells teacher specifically what skills they missed

Teacher can create an assignment with only the listen option for all books at the next higher level for a student. This allows the student to preview more challenging texts before he or she begins working at that level in their guided-reading group.

Occasionally, teacher assigns students the listen option and quiz for a given book to determine how strong their listening comprehension is at a given level.

Giving students access to the Bookroom will help build listening comprehension increased their awareness of differing text structures, and broader vocabulary as students listen to books at higher levels.

There are various ways to maxim the use of Raz-kids online library. And don’t forget to build the Roster, so your students can start earn their stars!

How can it be used by Students

Students log in and work on their assignment based on their reading level. Reading ,listening to ,and taking a test on one of the online books are typical assignment they can do. Once the student passes the test, they move on to the next book.  There is a good mix of fiction and non-fiction books in the program. Students open up their leveled libraries and get to choose from many interesting titles. Because the books are online, there is dynamic update. New contents are added all year around, Children have more books to choose from.

Thanks to the flexibility of this program, students can go as quickly as they want to, in order to advance to the next level.  Students who are not currently reading at their level can use this program from home increase their reading ability.  For students who are reading at or above level, they can continue to make more progress. Students can practice reading to improve reading comprehension and reading fluency anywhere with Internet access.

Some other thoughs 

Raz- kids is originally designed for students who have English as their mother language, its 27 age levels ranged from grade kindergarten to grade 6.For students who have English as foreign langurage, the reading level should be adjusted by the teacher based on their English ability instead of the age level. And teacher must give more support to help students to get reading gains.

Before making a purchase of this program, teacher can try out the free sample eBooks on the site first. A free trial subscription is also available. After testing drive the site for a while, it should not be difficult to find whether Raz- kids is for your class. //By Yvonne Le