Ten tunes from the blog!
Not all are my personal taste- I do like the first four!
Dave Brubeck Take 5
Used with my Leonard Cheshire group for our Plasticine animation
REM The Lifting
Made when learning about Wordle and around the time I was going to an REM concert
Praetorius Dances from Terpsichore Philip Pickett
A calming Christmas tune appreciated by one of my rap loving students
Kate Nash You say the nicest things
Discovered through Niks Daily English activity while learning about stop motion animation
Lady Smith Black Mambazo
As loved by another student an used for a literacy lesson -View on You Tube
Katy Perry Hot N Cold
Also used in literacy. We watched the video, 'read' the lyrics and joined in the chorus which is repeated lots of times ! We also talked about the story.
Susan Boyle A work sheet from Skills workshop watch on You Tube
The biggest aquarium on You Tube
Something calming for the whiteboard
I'm Every Woman (cover of Chaka Khan classic) Too late now to download for free but visit Action Aid anyway
Friday 31 December 2010
Happy New Year
I spotted my first top ten list of the year on Facebook today . It was a music list and I seem to be showing my age- the only one I had heard of was LCD Soundsystem !
I'm going to start thinking about my own top ten music, enjoyed in the classroom,discovered while researching ideas for lessons or as a chill out after college.
So while I work on that here are my top ten blog hits for the year. I'm glad to say I have one music entry with my Wordle/REM video at number 2. Most of the most popular hits are for subjects we have to cover as part of the curriculum.
I'm going to start thinking about my own top ten music, enjoyed in the classroom,discovered while researching ideas for lessons or as a chill out after college.
So while I work on that here are my top ten blog hits for the year. I'm glad to say I have one music entry with my Wordle/REM video at number 2. Most of the most popular hits are for subjects we have to cover as part of the curriculum.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Sunday 12 December 2010
Switch games
QR codes A tool for accessibility?
There is a lot of information about QR codes and their use in education at the momentIts something I’ve always been interested in. I would like QR codes to work as a tool for aiding access to information for young people and adults with a learning disability.
I saw a good idea for Entry 3 students studying work preparation skills at South Cheshire college
However I’ve never yet been able to put it any of these great ideas into practice.
We don't have I pads,I phones or smart phones at college
Not many students have their own phones with the necessary software and the right contract that allows them to access the internet.
Iphone cameras are still not very good with QR codes
We don't have I pads,I phones or smart phones at college
Not many students have their own phones with the necessary software and the right contract that allows them to access the internet.
Iphone cameras are still not very good with QR codes
Incidentally if there is someone who can give me an idiots guide to the cost of accessing the web on your mobile device I’d be grateful!
So where do I start?
I thought if I can’t use phones I would try using a lap top and web cam.
I printed off some QR codes using a QR code creator:
snap.vuSo where do I start?
I thought if I can’t use phones I would try using a lap top and web cam.
I printed off some QR codes using a QR code creator:
delivr
and then looked for a QR code reader for the PC.
I found
Flash Webcam
Still at testing stage but works!You need a web cam and the ability to allow adobe flash You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam. You then have to use the mouse to clik “Take a his is a Photo” - t which then takes a picture. The QR code is read and the web address /text/ phone number picture is displayed
BAR capture
When you find a QR code on the web that you want to explore you use the Barcapture crop tool. You manually drag the crop tool around the QR code and it takes a picture This then lists the text/link/phone/ geo tag but does not provide a click through . It must be copied No web cam needed.
QuickMark
You need a web cam. You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam window(this will appear on your desk top .)
It takes a picture The picture appears as a link. You can then use the mouse to click on the link. 
The downside for all three methods is that it still needs a learner to use a mouse to click through to a website . I would like to see an automatic connection through to the web.
In terms of ease of accessibility to web sites using picture link sites such as Sqworl , Tizmo or Symbaloo are still better at the moment.
The other problem is that the lap top is not that mobile, and its mine!-
To get the college laptop sorted needs a “computer person” to set it all up.
And all this takes time...
I found
Flash Webcam
Still at testing stage but works!You need a web cam and the ability to allow adobe flash You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam. You then have to use the mouse to clik “Take a his is a Photo” - t which then takes a picture. The QR code is read and the web address /text/ phone number picture is displayed
BAR capture
When you find a QR code on the web that you want to explore you use the Barcapture crop tool. You manually drag the crop tool around the QR code and it takes a picture This then lists the text/link/phone/ geo tag but does not provide a click through . It must be copied No web cam needed.
QuickMark
You need a web cam. You have to hold the qr code in front of the web cam window(this will appear on your desk top .)
It takes a picture The picture appears as a link. You can then use the mouse to click on the link. 
The downside for all three methods is that it still needs a learner to use a mouse to click through to a website . I would like to see an automatic connection through to the web.
In terms of ease of accessibility to web sites using picture link sites such as Sqworl , Tizmo or Symbaloo are still better at the moment.
The other problem is that the lap top is not that mobile, and its mine!-
To get the college laptop sorted needs a “computer person” to set it all up.
And all this takes time...
Saturday 11 December 2010
Turning a PDF into a powerpoint
Turning a PDF into a PowerPoint
Open ZAMZAR (This is a free file conversion website)
upload your PDF using ‘browse’
convert the file to .jpg
enter your email address
click convert
in a few seconds the upload will be complete
After 5 to 10 minutes look in your email inbox and click on the link which has been sent to you
You are redirected to the Zamzar website where you download the files . A five page PDF will be presented as five separate files, one for each page
Save to My Documents
Your PDF is now a series of pictures which can be inserted into a PowerPoint presentation
Open ZAMZAR (This is a free file conversion website)
upload your PDF using ‘browse’
convert the file to .jpg
enter your email address
click convert
in a few seconds the upload will be complete
After 5 to 10 minutes look in your email inbox and click on the link which has been sent to you
You are redirected to the Zamzar website where you download the files . A five page PDF will be presented as five separate files, one for each page
Save to My Documents
Your PDF is now a series of pictures which can be inserted into a PowerPoint presentation
Wednesday 8 December 2010
Using Switches
I've been learning about switches. Here is a presentation I recently shared with colleagues in a skill sharing session
Thursday 2 December 2010
Recycling
At college we run a paper recycling round and so I'm always pleased to find new recycling resources which are suitable for students with a learning disability
Thanks to Cheese potato and onion
I've discovered some new videos on recycling from Recycle now
These are a series of short animated films which explain how waste such as paper, cans, glass and food waste is prepared and processed for recycling .Although some of the language and numbers are difficult the message is simple.
Recycle Now also have some Green Christmas ideas which are explained in short videos. I think my students could manage the gift bags
See my other blog entries on recycling
Thanks to Cheese potato and onion
I've discovered some new videos on recycling from Recycle now
These are a series of short animated films which explain how waste such as paper, cans, glass and food waste is prepared and processed for recycling .Although some of the language and numbers are difficult the message is simple.
Recycle Now also have some Green Christmas ideas which are explained in short videos. I think my students could manage the gift bagsSee my other blog entries on recycling
Wednesday 1 December 2010
Advent calendar
Nature detectives has an interactive advent calendar. Behind each date is an idea for a Christmas activity
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