Basic Overview - Gmail and Calendars

In tonight's 'Engage, Innovate and Inspire CPD Session' I shared a basic introduction to Gmail and Google Calendars with colleagues at Osprey Quay Campus. Please see below for a video of this session -

Sixth Form Video

As we prepare for our Sixth Form Open Evening next week (Wednesday 20th November, 2013) the below video has been created to promote the unique offer we have for students:

If you would like any more information on the IPACA Sixth Form, please see: http://www.ipaca.org.uk/SixthForm

Guest Post - #GAFE Example

I have been really impressed with the way people have been embracing #GAFE across the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy. One great example of this in action, making real difference to teaching and learning is included below.

The below post was written by Head of Science Faculty at the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy, Marcus Stevens -

I have been working quite hard over the past couple of days to come up with a nice document using Google forms, for helping me talk to the parents of the pupils in my family group.

How this works -

Essentially, during tutor time tomorrow, I will get the pupils to use their Chromebooks and I will send the form out to them to complete via the sharing facility. The form goes through a check list with some similarities to the paper copies that we have been given for them to write on. However, the difference with Google forms, is in the fact that their responses are sent back to you in a spreadsheet that has quite clever analysis capabilities built in.

Benefits -

Working in this way will allow the students to become much more involved in the process as they will be able to modify the form as they gain further reports in time. They can quite literally see their progress.

The document/form will allow students and the tutor to gather a greater amount of information for controlling their destiny and indeed can be modified by the owner to reflect changes in the pupils age and indeed the experiences that they gain over the time they spend at IPACA (work experience etc).

Year 9 #IPACALearn Literacy Session

Every week I am working with two Year 9 Literacy groups to explore writing for a purpose. This week we started creating our website which can be viewed at: https://sites.google.com/a/ipaca.org.uk/chromebooks/. I encourage you to check back regularly to see how this site grows and add a comment to support the pupils work.

In addition to starting the site, both groups also created the below video which I hope you will all enjoy. The video was created using iMovie on OSX.

Guest Post - #NaNoWriMo

The below guest post comes from Rachel Stempien-

You may not know it but NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is sweeping across the country, hey, even the world! NaNoWriMo’s Young Writer’s Program asks its participants to push themselves beyond what they’ve thought possible and write a phenomenal 30,000 words in one month.

As the days turned dark and November crept in upon us, students of Royal Manor Campus turned to their Chromebooks and set their imaginations free.

One week in and we’ve had several massive success stories already! Isabelle Ballard, Year 7, has produced an amazing 7,000 words in 7 days, while Katie Ingram-King in Year 8 has flown past us all, teachers and students alike, having written over 11,000 words already this month!

As more and more pupils flock to participate in NaNoWriMo, the impossible is becoming increasingly possible. It is seeming that yes - together we can do it. We can write a novel in a month...each!

Brilliant Digital Leader Session - #IPACALearn

I really enjoyed my session tonight with our fantastic IPACA Digital Leaders at Royal Manor Campus. Tonight was a re-launch for the group which lost a little momentum last half-term.

Tonight was previewed through Edmodo, as the below shows:

This clearly engaged the Digital Leaders with one pupil producing the below ahead of our meeting. This video was created using http://www.powtoon.com which I really encourage you to check out if you haven't tried it yet.

Tonight there was great engagement from all three groups.

The first group, led by former pupil Will, explored thoughts for 'IPACA Radio' and created the below mini-podcast on a Chromebook using http://www.spreaker.com -



 The second group, supported by Mr. Day, explored the technology that will support @IPACA_Praise. @IPACA_Praise will be the online home of IPACA's Praise Pod (more information on this to follow shortly).

Finally, group three were making preparations for KidsMeet Dorset, see poster below, whic next week will see them travel with younger IPACA Digital Leaders to Downlands Primary School in Blandford.

 

More information on KidsMeet will follow shortly.

Molten Metal - Desktop 3D Printer

Aiming to make desktop 3D metal printing a reality, Vader Systems is developing a device which uses molten aluminum in place of plastic.

3D printing has so far been limited to plastics, but regular visitors to Springwise will have recently read about the DIWire, a machine that bends metal wire according to digital designs. Now aiming to make desktop 3D metal printing a reality, Vader Systems is developing a device which uses molten aluminum in place of plastic.

Demonstrating its prototype at the Maker Faire New York 2013, the machine features and small, onboard furnace that heats the metal until it is liquid. The printer then uses magnetism — either natural or electrically induced — to draw the material out onto the printer bed. When a digital file is sent to the Vader, its prints out tiny blobs of metal in the desired location in much the same way as an inkjet printer does with ink on paper. It also works as quickly as consumer inkjets, although as with plastic 3D printers it is able to layer the material additively to create 3D structures out of metal with a maximum build volume of 250mm cubed.

According to reports, the father-and-son team of Vader Systems hopes to continue developing the machine to be able to bring the final product to the market for around USD 10,000 sometime in 2014. Are there other materials that could get the 3D printing treatment?

Website: www.vadersystems.com
Contact: scott@vadersystems.com

Spotted by Murray Orange, written by Springwise

Simply fabulous!

Another great story from www.springwise.com as the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York has installed a new CT scanner that is disguised to look like a pirate ship.

While some hospitals such as the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Canada may be investing in technology like the USD 15,000 MEDi to keep kids calm in hospital, others are going down a more analog route. The Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York has now installed a new CT scanner that is disguised to look like a pirate ship.

In order to get an accurate scan, it’s necessary for patients undergoing the process to remain still until it’s complete – something that’s difficult for kids, especially if they’re anxious about the procedure. In order to put younger visitors at ease, the entire room is decorated with bright, pirate-themed illustrations.

The CT scanner itself looks like a ship, while the walls include friendly characters such as a monkey pirate and tiger captain. The playful installation is already a hit with kids, according to registered nurse Naoki Hawkins, who says that one child even said: “Hurry up and get out so I can play.”

The CT scanner puts children’s minds at rest while undergoing an unfamiliar procedure, while also helping doctors to more easily get the job done, avoiding repeat scans and exposure to radiation for the child. Are there other ways to provide a distraction for kids in hospitals?

Website: www.childrensnyp.org/mschony
Contact: www.childrensnyp.org/mschony/contact

Spotted by Murtaza Patel, written by Springwise

GTA Application - #GTAUK

Tonight I have applied to be part of GTA (Google Teacher Academy) and have been reflecting on IPACA's use of Google Apps for Education. As part of this process, I had to make a one-minute video about 'Classroom Innovation'. To meet the brief, I created the below video which reflects the all-through vision for learning at IPACA. I would love to know what you think of this?

#UKLearning Event at RIBA - Final Session

Well it's been a fabulous day here at the RIBA, it's now the final session and I am excited to be hearing about 'New Spaces in Old Places' with Michael Magri from GSS Architecture.

Michael shared the example of Abington Vale Primary - Stirling Campus (read more about this project by clicking here). There is a good video about this project which you can see by clicking here. See below for some great before and after shots -