One for the Interactive Whiteboard: Jigsaw Planet October 10, 2009
Posted by loislindemann in : interactive whiteboard, teacher tools , add a commentJigsaw Planet is a site that allows you to upload images and create jigsaws from them. You can then challenge someone to complete the puzzle. It makes a really nice activity for the interactive whiteboard. Click on one of the images below to try an example:
Eiffel Tower
How to draw a pie chart The site is free (there are options to purchase software, but I haven’t tried this), but there are a couple of limitations: the images cannot be larger than 2048 x 2048 pixels and they must be in jpeg format.
The person completing the online jigsaw has the option to view the image, or use a ‘ghost’ – a faint copy of the image to help them.
Images don’t have to be restricted to pictures, I’ve created some examples that include text as well. The possibilities are endless, you can create jigsaws from photos, diagrams, maps, revision notes, mind maps, family trees, sequences of numbers or sequences of diagrams…
Since this activity involves asking students to look at an image in great detail, it could be used in a variety of ways, with or without the image and/or ghost options:
- as a lesson starter, with a follow up discussion about the image
- as an introduction to a topic
- as a revision tool
- to encourage students to look closely at the detail in a map
- to ask students to use what they know about a family (eg from history, or from a book, or from clues in a logic problem) to reconstruct a family tree
- as a way of asking students to think about patterns in sequences of numbers or diagrams
- if a symmetrical design is used, students can use the properties of the design to help them complete the puzzle
The jigsaws don’t have to be used on an interactive whiteboard, teachers can also provide links to allow students to complete these on a computer (perhaps as part of a web quest) or even embed them in a class web page. Alternatively, why not ask the students to create an image and make a puzzle of their own?
Any more ideas or suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment.
…and finally – a big thank you to Tom Barrett for sharing this idea.
Focus on: Games Based Learning October 6, 2009
Posted by loislindemann in : e-learning , add a commentGames based learning can be highly motivating, it’s boy friendly and it’s fun. There’s also a growing amount of research that suggests that games based learning can help children with poor working memory to improve, provided that the learning is targeted.
Obviously, the key to success is to balance the learning and the fun. All of the sites featured here focus on the maths, but in the context of a game.
Games based learning doesn’t have to be restricted to the computer room. Games can be used successfully with individuals, pairs or groups playing on the interactive whiteboard. Netbooks (mini laptops) can easily be brought into the classroom, but remember to check that the games you want to use will actually run on the netbooks before you try it with a class—they don’t have quite as much software as desktop computers do!
Here’s three great sites for maths games:
1. Super Maths World
Birley CC has subscribed to Super Maths World. To access the site just use our school log in—it’s on posters in the maths classrooms.
The site looks like a ‘real’ video game, with students battling against an opponent. There are games for every topic, although you may need to look at the kids section to get the correct level for weaker students. The only disadvantage of this site is that there is no way to link directly to individual games and activities—students have to go to the homepage and click through a series of menus.
http://www.supermathsworld.com
2. Tutpup
Students solve puzzles and compete against opponents from around the world. Each game is a race, first to the finish line is the winner.
Register as a teacher to receive a class code, then students don’t need to give any personal details at all. To register, they select a colour, an animal and a number—for example, I set up a demo account as orangecat1810. Since students aren’t giving any personal details to the site and there are no chat opportunities, it is totally safe.
Best of all, it’s free!
3. Manga High
Students answer questions as part of an arcade style game. The games start off at a fairly easy level, but stick with it—they get harder! The site is aimed at GCSE students, but could be used with younger students as well.
This is a free site, although students are encouraged to register. It is carefully monitored, with no chat or user generated content, so it’s totally safe.
“For me doing mathematics has always been like playing a game. At Manga High we’ve been working hard to bring out the playful side of maths while ensuring that students get the essential skills to master this important subject. ”
Marcus du Sautoy
Want to find out more?
Watch this Teachers’ TV video featuring Dawn Hallybone from Oakdale Junior School, where games based learning is being used very successfully.
http://www.teachers.tv/video/37337
Teachmeet North West October 6, 2009
Posted by loislindemann in : professional development , add a comment
On Friday 2nd October I tried something new. Instead of heading home and collapsing on the sofa, I drove to the BBC’s 21st Cenury Classroom in Salford to attend my first Teachmeet.
What is a Teachmeet? Basically it’s a group of teachers who meet up to exchange ideas. Some of these people are actually there in the room, others join in via an online Flashmeeting— which is like a combination of a video conference and a chat room. People volunteered to offer presentations lasting for either 7 minutes or 2 minutes. These presentations have to be about something that they have used in a classroom situation.
Anyone can join in, either as a presenter or just to listen and/or discuss. It’s not a formal session, in fact it’s so informal that it’s known as an unconference.
I came away with loads of great ideas and resources—some of which are featured here. I’ll be passing more of these ideas on as soon as I’ve tried them out.
Want to find out more?
Tim and Moby from brainpop.co.uk explain what a Teachmeet is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlSQYSnPUQY
(This was made for a Scottish Teachmeet, we didn’t have bagpipes in Salford…)
Most Teachmeets are organised through this site:
http://teachmeet.pbworks.com
But Teachmeet Northwest has its own site:
http://www.teachmeetnw.pbworks.com
My summary of all the presentations, with links to some really good sites is here (or at least it will be very shortly!):
http://morethanmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/teachmeetnw
One for the Interactive Whiteboard: Classtools Fruit Machine October 6, 2009
Posted by loislindemann in : interactive whiteboard , add a comment
The fruit machine is a fun way of picking students randomly.
It’s easy to set up: just go to the Classtools website and enter a list of names. You can copy the names from a list made on a word processor or spreadsheet—then you don’t have to keep typing them each time. As soon as you have entered the list, just click the button that says ‘Fruit Machine’ and kerching—up comes a name.
Once a student’s name has been selected, you have the option to remove them from the list, or you can leave them in for another chance to be chosen. This will definitely keep students on their toes!
This is great for selecting students to answer questions or present results in class. It could also be used to randomly select pairs or groups of students.
Alternatively, why not enter a list of keywords instead of names? Then use the fruitmachine to select one at random and ask students to explain what it means.
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