Vashti

=Welcome!=

This is my second year of leading E-Learning at Westmere. Last year, I learned how to integrate a broad range of tools into my classroom. My goal was to improve basic facts and spelling recall using games. I used Tutpup and Spelling City to good effect with the majority of my students, integrating those competitive games into the classroom with some offline activities and specific teaching.

This year, I hope to help other teachers solve problems, integrate tools and use tried and tested techniques to manage e-Learning in their planning and in their teaching.

My classroom blog: []

Weeks 1 to 3:
So far my classroom has used digital cameras to record events and photographs of themselves. They have also learned that they have a blog. We used [|Wallwisher] on the blog to brainstorm about rules for our classroom, and to talk about ourselves. We are now using the blog at the end of the day to access [|Songdrops.com] for songs, and to reflect on what we have learned for the day. We also use the blog to access [|SumDog] to play maths games. as well as using [|Spelling City] for our spelling games.

Week 4:

 * David Kinane** is coming into class tomorrow to teach us about QR codes. QR codes are a kind of bar code. We use a program to generate a code, which is a black and white pattern that we print off. When the code is read by a camera, either on a smart phone or on a laptop, the code gives the computer information. That information is translated by another program that then instructs the computer to either open a website, or an application, depending on what you made your QR code for. EXCITING! And no, I don't really know what I'm talking about. I have to download computer programs, install them and then hope it all works for 9am on a Tuesday morning...

//UPDATE:// My class has used QR codes in one reading lesson to learn about the Christchurch earthquake. Here is a link to our blog post about our experiences: Learning Stuff QR Blog Post. We videoed two Year 3 children on the fly about their learning, and took some photos of the experience.

//TROUBLE SHOOTING WITH QR CODES:// First up, we couldn't get the scanner to work. It turned out our print quality was too low, so I had to use the other printer, because I couldn't improve the print quality of the other printer.

Secondly, we couldn't get the scanner to work because of how we held the codes. We are hoping that laminating the cards will help.

Thirdly, we needed more light in the room near the laptops to see the codes. This might cause a problem for using the projector and the Mimio but I think I will just temporarily move the laptops in that event.

//STUFF THAT YOU NEED:// You need to go to the Student Drive and look for QR software. Install ADOBE AIR first so that the rest of the software will work. BARSHOW is the one that creates the codes- you type in a link and it creates the code in front of you on screen. Then you save it as an image. QR READER reads the codes.If you don't have WEBCAM then you need BARCAPTURE to read QR codes online. For mobile phones, you can go to [|http://jaxo-systems.com] and download their mobile software on [].

//WHAT I'M DOING NOW:// I've created some QR codes about the Christchurch earthquake. I've also looked up Webcams at PB Tech and am going to go and get some to set up my teacher laptop and a couple of other computers that don't have internal webcams. I also want to get long cords so I can move my laptops if they need more light. I will next create QR codes to back up a newspaper unit I am doing next week to help the kids learn about the CHCH earthquake and learn how to interpret the information delivered by the media.

//BENEFITS:// If I want the kids to visit something I don't need to watch them struggle with URLS- their typing will get better over time but meanwhile they get quality access to sites and information without struggling with typing. It's also engaging- they don't know what the site is so it's very exciting!