The Power of Self Directed Learning - a Passion for Writing by Young Authors

How many 13 year olds write this to a teacher?

"I have written a book and Georgie is starting one (Sian is our helpful editor) so we all came up with an idea to make a website about writing and reading since we realised that not many people have set up sites where young writers can join and read other peoples work and put up their own. We added a Review page because we want people to be inspired by famous authors. We want everyone to be inspired by the heap of work people have put up. Hence the name Exploded..

The website was created out of pure self interest. We also want students to gain knowledge about writing paragraphs correctly, hence the reason we will be adding a Paragraphs page where people can see how to write a paragraph using the structure TEE."
(The emphasis is mine)
Every so often you get to see something that makes this teaching lark just all the more worthwhile. These instances are always student centred. This is the story of one of those.

I received an email from a Year 9 student, sent during her Art class. It read
"Hello,

Mrs xxxx saw our website that we put together and wanted you to have a look at it.
The site is targeted at young writers and readers and it includes forums on different topics to do with books and movies, tips for young writers and ways to gather ideas. It also has a book of the day page, reviews and advice from famous authors. And lots more!
Its up and running, with 34 members on last count. Many of them are Dio girls, but there are 3 from Sydney and many others from around Auckland.
Here is the link: www.explodedbookshelf.webs.com
We created our site using Webs.com- which was quite simple and easy to use- though perhaps limited in options for the site.

We hope you enjoy browsing."
So - I went and had a look - WOW! I continue to be blown away with what students can do!!!
And immediately I had a number of questions: So I emailed back the student with a few questions - have a read and enjoy the students' responses!
1. Why did you create the site in the first place? Was it part of an English project? Or an ICT project?
"Thank you for emailing us back! We have discussed and read your questions and have some answers!

1. I have written a book and Georgie is starting one (Sian is our helpful editor) so we all came up with an idea to make a website about writing and reading since we realised that not many people have set up sites where young writers can join and read other peoples work and put up their own. We added a Review page because we want people to be inspired by famous authors. We want everyone to be inspired by the heap of work people have put up. Hence the name Exploded..
The website was created out of pure self interest. We also want students to gain knowledge about writing paragraphs correctly, hence the reason we will be adding a Paragraphs page where people can see how to write a paragraph using the structure TEE.

2. How long did it take you to do it?
Georgie and I came up with the idea during art whilst talking about our novels. Sian agreed and gave us some tips. It was just an idea until that night I figured might as well give it a go. I found Webs.com over the internet and then created the website in less than 90 minutes. But considering I made a couple of mistakes and had to restart probably about 2 hours. However ExplodedBookshelf.com is continuously growing.
3. Why did you choose webs.com as your hosting site? What other ones are you aware of?
I am not sure of many hosting sites but I did search up ‘make a website’ over Google and Web’s looked like the best one. From the easiness to the creativeness. I thought it would help us make something amazing.
4. Did you enjoy it?
Yes! ExplodedBookshelf has become one of our biggest hobbies, you could call it an obsession! It’s lots of fun and we get the opportunity to meet other young writers. Sian is our editor and her job apart from the site is to help go over Georgie and my writing to spot mistakes that we have missed
5. What are your plans for ongoing development of the site?
We check it every-day! Updates and new discussions get submitted at least once a day and we plan to keep developing it in the future – to take it from a amateur website to a full-thrown international site!
Thank you so much! This is extremely appreciated by us all.

If only they knew how much it is me that appreciates what they have done.
Now - there are some key points this little episode has highlighted - wonder if you picked them up?
1. most of the discussion around this little venture happened in art class. Not english, not ICT. Art. Highlights yet again to me the folly of a secondary timetable - you simply can't dictate what people will think by ringing the period bell.
2. Created out of pure self interest. So, not a teacher in sight? How much powerful learning has been going on during this little exercise? Plenty.
3. One of their biggest hobbies. An obsession! I wonder how many students say their regular learning is an obsession!  They yearn to see the site used and built on.
4. No experience building web sites of any kind before. Shows how great some of the free tools are these days.
5. If the web wasn't around - just where would these girls go to try and realise their passion?

I suspect that if they persist, they may find some issues around managing their site, moderating comments and dealing with unwanted members - but I hope they get some traction on what they are aiming for.

The joy of writing. By young people who have a passion, and want to share it. Visit their site and give them some encouragement. They deserve it.
http://www.explodedbookshelf.webs.com/

Yet another cool tool - Livebrush

Thanks to a heads up by Andrew, I had my Year 8 students download the free version of Livebrush today.


Now, I'm no graphics person, at least from a design perspective, but what captured my attention from the Livebrush site was a couple of their sample files. I know I've always wanted to have an idea of how to so some of this stuff - just lack the motivation to actually do it! Once I showed them to the students, well, in less than 30 minutes there were plenty of "ooohs" and "aaahhhs".

But there were also the "how do I do this?", "Where are the colours?" and the usual response from me "no idea" (which is true), "but you find out and create a short Jing cast to let others know." Within minutes huge learning of several new tools (Jing is still new to this class, as is the notion of an e-portfolio which they are creating using Google Sites).

The power of digital technologies to ignite learning experiences with students, and the occasional old teacher too!, never ceases to amaze me. We are so lucky to live and work in education in these times - we owe it to students to keep pushing the boundaries.

So thanks, Livebrush. Keep up the great work.

Golf, Sunshine and no kids!

With special thanks to nana and the sister-in-law who looked after the four kids while Ronnie and I had our first real break in 12 years! We disappeared for 5 days to the new Intercontinental at Natadola Bay in Fiji. Only open a couple of months, and in the downturn and poltical unrest in Fiji, well, despite the staff telling us they were "fully booked", there were very few people at this fantastic place - making our stay even more memorable. We had a great time and I had my first round of golf for 21 months on the brand new Natadola International Golf Club. While it has been publicised as the equivalent of Kauri Cliffs, it isn't. It is far better than Denerau, but not a patch on Kauri Cliffs - still these photos will give you a better view. Well worth playing and the resort is fantastic.

Check out my Flickr set for Natadola.

Prezi version of 2009 Horizon Report

I've used Prezi a couple of time for presentations and people have been pretty enthusiastic about the tool as a way to keep the masses attentive to a presentation. I also use the Horizon Projects reports in some of my class work and presentations. Totally by accident stumbled upon this Prezi on Horizon 2009 - not only is it a cool way of putting the Horizon Project across, it is a great example of how to deliver a prezi. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Rachel Smith!

Data Visualisation, Authentic Learning, and Why the Web is so Cool.

Two years ago I had no idea who Hans Rosling was. Then I happened upon his first TED talk where he floored me with the way that his software gave a powerful visual meaning to the wealth of data that was, at that stage, locked away in the archives of the United Nations. 


Hans' first TED talk was inspiring - as is his second.

Now that all of the UN data is available, you have an incredibly powerful tool to work with students of all ages when considering many of todays major issues. All available at Hans' web site http://www.gapminder.org/

What is really cool about the software is that it tracks data over time and plays as an animation. There are much more powerful and important data sets than the one I have used here - I chose education (Yr 8 Maths grades) and compare against a technology indicator of internet users per 100 people. Now of course, there was no web before 1995, so that's where this data starts. The two images show starting and end points.

So, if you are looking for statistics with impact and real meaning, or are looking for a discussion starter for a Religious Studies or Social Studies or Geography or Business or anything lesson, then use Gapminder - and use the talks from Rosling - truly inspirational, all due to the power of the web and the awesome story telling tools it provides.

Interactive Whiteboard Conference Day 2

Day 2 of the conference saw David Seedhouse deal to the values concept in the new curriculum. Severely. And he makes a good case - there is no supoporting evidence for the current approach that every school and curriculum decision must be based upon an analysis of values - and the list of values that the MoE has identified. Seedhouse maintains that values are nothing more than a mix of evidence and opinions - everyones will be a little different. The role of the teacher is to expose students to the thought processes through discussion of appropriate "values" questioning. To this end his web site is a cool tool for developing this notion. A great start to the day!

Chris Betcher has been one of the stars of this conference. Every show has its star presenters, but this one has had one. I've seen four of his sessions - all delivered with enthusiams and clear passion for what he does. His session today looking at putting the interactive into the IWB has reinforced my view that in the hands of a good teacher, these boards are a "table stake" for the classroom. The interactivity doesn't really come from the board, it comes from what the board lets you do in the class. So, my task now is to re-energise our push with these technologies and light those fires again!

It's been a few years since I played with Turning Points v-pad software for student polling in Powerpoint, so I was pleased to catchup with KeePad out of Oz and look at how this has developed. Still expensive for what it is, so I think I'll head to the likes of PollAnywhere to get a look at how this might deliver some formative data. It did however give me the chance to have a play with the eBeam system - one of those devices claiming to give IWB functionality on a standard whiteboard. After having a play, I think that if you are strapped for cash, then maybe these are an option - but my preference is definitely for a "board". And while on this - I remain quite impressed with the Promethean ActivBoard. Kind of think that maybe they are just a little better than SmartBoards?? Just.

Having had my main reason for attending the conference satisfied, I spent the rest of the day in sessions looking at software options to make classroom life that much more fun. That's always a great part of these types of conferences - you always find some new stuff. There are a few that I thought looked just fantastic - I'll save them for another blog or two.

Now - how to bring some of this conference, plus a whole lot of other stuff I've accumulated over recent months, to our staff? I'm looking forward to it!!

Interactive Whiteboard Conference Day 1

Today was Day 1 of the IWBNet conference in Auckland - the first time this has been held in NZ. Thanks to them for bringing their conference to NZ and to Westlake Girls High School for hosting it. It was nice to hear Alison Gernhoeffer make few opeing remarks which indicate a major problem we have in secondary schools - that of a teaching profession that really has no incentive to change while there is still such an emphasis on external examination results at the last 3 years of education.

But - to the conference - opened by Steven Jury, a senior executive (OK the vice chairman) of Promethean. His presentation was generic and didn't say much that was new - did quote some research from Robert Marzano and published on the BECTA site that shows some significant gains in student learning with IWB use. You can check out the research here on the Whiteboard Blog.

What else did I get from the keynote? One thing was that my Pulse SmartPen caught the entire presentation perfectly in the school hall - without using the special headphones. That pen is just awesome! So, not only do I have the notes I took, but the whole audio to review. What I need now is the promised version of the Pulse software that will convert my scribble to text - that will be a challenge for the OCR/AI software they need to decipher my scawl!!

Chris Betcher (from PLC in Sydney) gave a useful session on possible futures. Nothing to do with whiteboards per se, but everything to do with just how fast stuff develops. Cool 3D book stuff and augmented reality - must check out the site he used.

Robyn Garden from the Invercargill area (where the local trust put IWBs in every class in every school) gave a very practical session which, to be brutally honest, restored my faith in this type of technology. Thanks Robyn for the great reminder that you can provide ICT skills and IWB skills to teachers that don't have them - but to give great teaching skills to someone who doesn't have them is much harder.

There was much more to take in - not all was great, but much was good. Of course you meet new people and old friends too.

But I went along to this conference with a big question. Are these IWBs little more than an excuse to leave the teacher in control of the classroom? I came away from the keynote and the session with Robyn with the belief restored that in reality, a large interactive touch board of some type is the way of the future. So yes, can't wait for tomorrow and more learning.