Sunday 25 September 2011

I'VE GOT WIKI -ITIS AGAIN!!!!!

New term - so try something a little different with KLP!!!!!!


Using a wiki page Library has got to be one of the easiest of the web 2 technologies on any Learning Platform! [[title]] what could be easier than this to create a new virtual page???


My new Learning team (year 4 and 5) - who have had some exposure to wikis in their previous Learning team, have taken to creating their own pages like a duck to water!


New year - so new wiki library -


Ecologists wiki library 2011-12

[[Literacy]]

[[Write on Reading]]



[[Fire it Up!]]



[[Home Learning]]



The above just being the basic 'contents' or Home page to start with...


[[Poetry]]


was added to the Literacy page...


[[Canary]]


[[Jetsam]]


[[Our own poems]]

Then added to that...(for those of you that are new to creating wikis - the [[ ]] surrounding the title tells KLP that this is a new page!) Canary and Jetsam being poems we were studying, so this was available for IWB, the children during their learning, at home and so on...


In the Our own poems page, the whole class then went into 'edit' and created their own pages...


Our own poems


[[Bill]] [[Bob]] [[Bert]] [[Betty]] and so on....

They then have their own contents page in which to create their pages for their learning...we made a special point about them being very careful NOT to name ANY page the same or the same as anyone else...for example...if Bill was writing his own version of Canary, his page would be


Bill's own poems


[[Bill Canary]] and so on...


Simples!


Friday 2 September 2011

Our Headteacher reflects on our Learning platform!

It was only three and a half years ago that the acronym ‘KLP’ first fell on my (not so deaf) ears. I had heard of the ‘forward thinking’ schools, which were already throwing phrases such as ‘digital native’ and ‘learning platform’ around the staff room as a natural part of day to day lingo, but had never considered that could be us!
Then the journey began….one day myself and my ICT leader, along with fellow colleagues were sitting in the procurement room debating the pros and cons of each learning platform (myself with very little clue being gently guided by my techie friend!!) and the next......here we are with a fully integrated, secure learning platform, enjoyed by our pupils, staff, parents and even the Governing body that fully enhances Teaching and Learning at our school!
When asked to write this piece, I started to consider how we actually got to where we are today. After much thought, decided it was due to a recipe of inspirational leadership from the school’s ICT leader, staff who are always willing to ‘give it a go’, well planned CPD, careful ongoing support, enthused children and parents that didn’t mind being gently nagged.
Then finally me, the head….basically the ‘yes’ man, or should I say woman, who agreed to the inspirational leadership of my ICT leader to manifest itself every day in the life of Eureka.
Do I regret it? Not one bit!....I will say ‘yes’ a thousand times over, if it generates the enthusiasm and learning opportunities that has occurred so far at our school. To be quite frank, I would say a thousand times ‘yes’ for you too, if I thought it would open your eyes fully to the potential that this safe, online space has.
So how has it been used at Eureka?
In lessons KLP is the home to learning journeys, web links, web conferences, wikis, blogs, questionnaires, quizzes, games, home learning, video clips, personalised work spaces to name a few.
However, KLP in my opinion can go far beyond…..creating pupil assessment evidence portfolios linked to APP, holding pupil data, organising parent and pupil questionnaires, a forum for our school ministers and ‘Team 007’ a pupil learning and teaching team, all of which can be created by staff and in many cases the pupils themselves.Then of course there are the staff and governors spaces which hold the key to all school documentation, allowing us to use this space to communicate and collaborate daily, as well as delivering staff and Governors meetings. The parent space has a wealth of opportunities with regular blogs as to the learning which is occurring in the school, newsletters, notices and live areas during residential visits that means the parents don’t need to miss out on what their child is doing when away from home for the first time.
Do I think we have exhausted KLP? Absolutely not, I welcome with open arms any future developments, and if I may give you tips to success:
Trust your colleagues, they often know more than you!
Don’t be cautious; be considered, there is a difference!
Listen to the children….they will tell you!
And finally…….
Be a ‘yes’ man (or woman!), open your eyes….and enjoy!"

Thursday 16 June 2011

...and SPREADS!!!!!!!




Two other schools have also started using KLP with us - a school from Stoke-on -Trent has literally started their WHO ARE YOU? blogs today...




Their teacher heard me speaking in Sheffield about our collaboration and communication with Florida through KLP, and wondered if we could also communicate with him and the students!




Of course! No problem!




I created a page, set up a Blog and a set of discussions - sorted the permissions out so that they could use that part of our Learning Platform and we're away!!! The Time Travellers will be chuffed to bits when they log in tomorrow to see who has introduced themselves!




The beginning of a great friendship!




These two classes - as there is no time difference - will -I am sure be web conferencing wuite often!




I have also set up a similar page for our Explorers who are going to do some collaborative learning with a school just across the Midlands from us in Dudley! IT's all so exciting!

More web conferencing....

WEB CONFERENCING SPREADS!!!!


It is fantastic...we had our 2nd web conference with Double Branch recently after Goldie (our mascot) had arrived - he looked so different in his basketball top!!! We are so used to seeing him in his school uniform! The children were really excited to see him and find out what he'd been up to!!!! A few days later their mascot Woody arrived to sepnd some time with us!


A huge parcel arrived...full of all sorts of Disneyland and Florida goodies - it was a very special moment! All of Eureka's children also recieved a special hand written letter that was in reply to the one they had sent! Brilliant!


All this thanks to RM's amazing safe and secure Learning Platform - whatever did we do without it??????

Thursday 10 February 2011

IN THE NEWS FROM FLORIDA!

Great surprise today when I received the link to the local paper of the school that we have been sharing our Learning Platform with...not sure that I like being referred to as Johnson! But never mind! Here is the link if you are interested...

http://cnewspubs.com/?p=5312

Wednesday 9 February 2011

KLP CONFERENCING WITH FLORIDA!



WHAT A TRULY AMAZING EVENT!!!!!


The image above shows both classes side by side taking part in the web conference - through our very safe Learning Platform - KLP!!!!! This was then transposed onto the IWB so that we could all see each other.


It took some setting up - 5 hours time difference; they don't start school until 10.00am; we are just about to go home then! No matter! Florida's children arranged to come in 1 hour early so that they could speak to us live - WOW!




Our local newspaper came in to witness the event first hand and their photographer too - of course! Our school mascot Goldie and our resident badger - Boris - were both there to join in with the event!
Check out the full article at -
Further developments coming soon....we have lots of ideas...

KLP SHARING WITH FLORIDA!

Hi all, can't believe it has taken me this long to post this to be honest...one of the highlights of my teaching at Eureka...


We have set up a link with a school in Florida - through KLP!!!!!
How?

  • I created a log in for their teacher (by the way - we initially met on e-pals!!!)

  • Set up a page for us to collaborate in...



  • With a blog where we have all introduced ourselves - I can't believe it - every one of my class and our friends across the Atlantic have added a post explaining themsleves...they are commenting too and asking each other questions...
  • We also have a set of discussions where we are sharing differences between schools, dress code, meals, clubs and any other things we think of!
  • We each have a photo slide show here too!
  • Another area we are developing, is a shared narrative! We have a wiki called 'Adventures Across the Atlantic' that we are writing together.

We have loads of other ideas...all of which are about 'engaging - enjoying - enhancing' the learning of our children! So far it has been a tremendous success!