A blog free day yesterday...goodness me! Entirely due to a horrible cold inhabiting my head and giving me a nose that's redder than Rudolphs...One child suggested they did a tally of how many times I needed to blow my nose...
I used Furbles yesterday in our ICT suite with great success! It's a very clever piece of software that really tests if a child understands data handling or not...
It allows you to set tally charts, bar charts, Carroll diagrams, pie charts, Venn diagrams to two levels. I haven't quite sorted it all out yet but it looks as though you can input childrens names and so have a record of what they do - we did the 'Free play - explore' yesterday. Children can also be set up in an account.
For each type of data handling there are 3 options that test in different ways.
I find it very easy to use both in a lesson on the IWB and for one to one in the ICT suite..great!
On to Wii things...We've now had a few lunchtime and playtime sessions in groups and good discussions about how to achieve good teamwork so that the group can meet as many of the Wii objectives as possible. We've also discussed why we're using the Wii and 'real life' videos of the Serengeti ( from utube) and which they prefer. This was very interesting! Everyone loves the Wii but not all had thought about the fact that real life is simulated in it. The discussion carried on and one point raised was that the Wii game allowed them to search and explore the landscape in a way that isn't possible on a utube video. They like having the time to look around, look at the Wii landscape and search for things and in things (ants in the termite mound for example..). They also really like to see real life, the real animals in the real surroundings.
This want to see the real as well as the simulated make me really think about me and the Wii. I can really see how the Wii inspires the children - all fully engaged when we have a session. I think my problem is that I do prefer real life - I am not really a gamer - so when I teach with the Wii, as I will continue to do, I will teach the real alongside the simulated if I can.... Eg Endless Ocean - I have the game, I love the sea and all that encompasses but I will also use the real...Blue Planet being one example that springs to mind...and not at all because in my previous life I did the 'live Blue Planet' show which is AWESOME!
So, tomorrow is the last prep day before our big day! We have the ICT suite all morning so the Wii will be in the Y3 classroom along with me or Dughall + TA, the class will take it in turns and have about 25 mins each using the Wii to achieve as many of its objectives as they can. There will be rewards for excellent teamwork! In the ICT suite they will be typing up their animal reports using Word or PPT, finding photos from switch zoo and finally creating their final 'ript' report.
I plan on having a 'show and tell' of experiences in the afternoon as well as the rewards for good teamwork!...Roll on Friday :-)
I used Furbles yesterday in our ICT suite with great success! It's a very clever piece of software that really tests if a child understands data handling or not...
It allows you to set tally charts, bar charts, Carroll diagrams, pie charts, Venn diagrams to two levels. I haven't quite sorted it all out yet but it looks as though you can input childrens names and so have a record of what they do - we did the 'Free play - explore' yesterday. Children can also be set up in an account.
- In 'Which' mode the Furbles test if a child can select the correct chart for the Furbles they have.
- In 'Match' mode, the Furbles test is a child can match the Furbles to the chart - they do have to work it out and change a Furble if necessary.
- In 'Change' mode the Furbles ask the child to change the tally so it's the same as the Furbles they have.
Each way is a bit different and challenges the child to really think about data handling. I think it's very clever and my class loved it! They especially love the way the eyes watch you as you watch them and the way they chatter as they fly to the chart when a child has made a correct selection!
I find it very easy to use both in a lesson on the IWB and for one to one in the ICT suite..great!
On to Wii things...We've now had a few lunchtime and playtime sessions in groups and good discussions about how to achieve good teamwork so that the group can meet as many of the Wii objectives as possible. We've also discussed why we're using the Wii and 'real life' videos of the Serengeti ( from utube) and which they prefer. This was very interesting! Everyone loves the Wii but not all had thought about the fact that real life is simulated in it. The discussion carried on and one point raised was that the Wii game allowed them to search and explore the landscape in a way that isn't possible on a utube video. They like having the time to look around, look at the Wii landscape and search for things and in things (ants in the termite mound for example..). They also really like to see real life, the real animals in the real surroundings.
This want to see the real as well as the simulated make me really think about me and the Wii. I can really see how the Wii inspires the children - all fully engaged when we have a session. I think my problem is that I do prefer real life - I am not really a gamer - so when I teach with the Wii, as I will continue to do, I will teach the real alongside the simulated if I can.... Eg Endless Ocean - I have the game, I love the sea and all that encompasses but I will also use the real...Blue Planet being one example that springs to mind...and not at all because in my previous life I did the 'live Blue Planet' show which is AWESOME!
So, tomorrow is the last prep day before our big day! We have the ICT suite all morning so the Wii will be in the Y3 classroom along with me or Dughall + TA, the class will take it in turns and have about 25 mins each using the Wii to achieve as many of its objectives as they can. There will be rewards for excellent teamwork! In the ICT suite they will be typing up their animal reports using Word or PPT, finding photos from switch zoo and finally creating their final 'ript' report.
I plan on having a 'show and tell' of experiences in the afternoon as well as the rewards for good teamwork!...Roll on Friday :-)
I just came across this. Thanks for your positive comments about Furbles, it's really gratifying to know that people still use it. I made it a long time ago and though I'm off doing other things now, it is still my favourite piece of software.
Regards, Alec