The end

Well here we are. Finally at the end of the ICT module. Assignment in tomorrow... Hooray! I have gained a lot of new information and look forward to expanding this further in the future. It has made me open my eyes to the wonderful world of ICT and how well it is used or not used in schools. I do believe ICT adds benefit to a childs education, it has a positive impact when used properly and is a good tool for motivating the less willing children in the class. As BECTA state in Elston's book "Schools judged by OFTSED to have very good ICT resources achieved better results than schools with poor ICT." After doing this assignment i do believe that that would be the case. And on that note i will sign off my blog for the last time. For now anyway!!

Reflection

Well here we are, nearly at the end of the ICT module. Although i've enjoyed it i have to say it's been a long four and a bit months. It just seems to have gone on forever. There's been so many ups' and downs in that time, more downs than up's but thats life eh! Most of the lessons have been enjoyable and eye opening, although i hate been put on the spot and having to create something there and then in uni. I like to have a fiddle and create on my own as i seem to have an imagination blackout as soon as someone asks to me do something on the spur of the moment. I think the least enjoyable lesson was one very near the beginning of the module were we looked at validity and reliability etc of the internet. I understand why it had to be taught but i'm still wary of using the internet sites for anything other than official documents. I also don't particular like reading off the internet, give me a good old fashioned book to turn the pages of anyday!
The module has increased my awareness of the benefits of using ICT in Nursery and i now try where possible to integrate it into our Nursery sessions. However, as Moyle states  it only becomes a good use of ICT when the pupils become actively involved in the lesson, so i try to ensure it is used effectively and that the children are as involved and engaged as possible. I'm already thinking ahead of how i can use it for future topics. I still wish i had more time to play around with all the fab software i've now got downloaded onto my own laptop,2 ANIMATE, Textease and Photostory, but with work, family, GSCE science and my NVQ 3 in Better Reading something has to take a back seat and unfortunatly for the time being it has to be the fun things. Talking of my NVQ i better sign off now as i've got an assignment to have in on Wed about the 3 main reading strategies that i haven't even started yet. No rest for the wicked eh!

ICT Skills

I've found some really good information on the subject of ICT in the Foundation Phase in Carol Elston's book using ICT in the Primary School. It has made me reflect on how i view ICT in the Foundation Phase and how i can best support the children. Her book focus's on each year from Foundation through to year 6 and has a handy guide in each one that suggests what we should be encouraging the children to do. For the foundation phase she states that developing chidlren's ICT skills will come from us encouraging the children to:

• Use ICT resources independantly  - Easier said than done in Nursery but i do try
• Use a mouse to move around  - Yes, but need to consider getting a left handed mouse for our left handed children
• Use a mouse to select, drag and drop an object - Encourage them to do this but some of the hands are so tiny they have difficulty clicking the mouse button.
• Click on an icon to view a picture - have given them the opportunity to do this
• Insert a CD ROM into a drive - unable to do this as broken due to little hands and little toys!
• Use the basic functions on a cd recorder - yes, the children love taking charge of the music at tidy up time
• use a digital camera with assistance - yes, they have done this on several occasions recently

Unfortunatly i don't feel we spend enough time on ICT in Nursery. That isn't through any fault of the teacher but with everything else that is required to be done ICT often takes a back seat. Especially as many of the ICT resources need adult support and often this isn't possible.

Too tired to think of one!

I'm exhausted after a 3 hour GSCE science lesson that still means the same amount to me as it did back in September... Nothing!!!  If anyone can explain how to change a word equation into something else and how and why to balance equations please step forward because i'm at a loss.Think i must feel like my poor class teacher did today. Yes, the computer and IWB let her down again!! At least this frustration is recognised by many authors. Hayes imparticular sums it up brilliantly  " ICT is a very good learning tool and a good source of motivation but often very stressful for the teacher to administer" I couldn't agree more, and on that note i'm off to bed to have nightmares about equations!! Goodnight

This weeks ICT activities

This week's planning has 3 ICT activities on it, which are all related to St Davids day.

• St David's Day online jigsaw
• Sequencing the pictures of the St Davids day story
• Making Dragon Pictures on Tizzy

When the teacher planned the activities the first 2 were to be done on the IWB. However, you guessed it!!, it's not working again so the activities had to be carried out on the PC. As usual some of the children took to it like a duck to water and impressed me with how quick they were completing the activity and the great fine motor skills they were using controlling the mouse. Others found it difficult and needed lots of support. This was no problem when the 3 adults were there and the PC had 121 support, but not so easy when one had to go and we were still trying to make Welsh Flags, paint daffodils, make daffodils out of play dough and generally supervise the in class bickering and fighting that is constant. No sooner would we get them started and walk away they would be calling you again. It's so hard to balance your time and to know where you are best placed to be. As i think i remember saying right back at the beginning of my blog i think the use of computers in class is essential for children these days but there has to be a high level of support to ensure it is been used correctly and especially to help those chidlren who have little or no chance to use a computer out of school time. The web site we used for the activities was http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/eng/index-new.htm. The children loved the activities and as usual it was a great crowd puller with lots of children watching and waiting for their turn, although again, this had to be highly supervised and we kept having to remind them who was next. They're going to start their Dragon pics tomorrow but i'm in uni so hopefully will get chance to sit with them on Friday to do some with them then.

ICT at home.

After seen how easy it was to use SKYPE and hearing about all my friends who use it, i have finally succumbed to technology and downloaded it onto my computer. Both my parents and sister, who live in York and West Sussex, have it so i'm looking forward to been able to keep in touch with them by it and seeing my niece and nephew weekly instead of twice yearly. When my son was born i did buy a webcam to keep in regular contact with parents but i only ever got it working once so hopefully i'll have more success through SKYPE. Well, once i've bought a microphone that is. Why can't anything ever be simple??
I was bought a Digital Photoframe for my birthday so spent a couple of hours yesterday setting it up and transferring photo's onto it etc.How easy... i think my nursery children could even manage it.  I'm desperate to add music to it but haven't been that clever yet. Hopefully will get chance to try again at the weekend.

Museum Technology

On our visit to Bath we went to the Roman Baths Museum. A fascinating insight into how clever the Romans were 2000 years ago and a sad reminder of how little we've actually moved on from the Romans. Apart from ICT!!!  The building tools we use today, coins, combs, jewellery, utensils etc are all very similar to the those used in Roman Times but i didn't see any eveidence of ICT so at least in 2000 years we have managed to progress in that area. The Museum was amazing, my son even said it was the best he'd been to and i put that down largely to the super duper audiology equipment they had for us to use when we went round. A great use of ICT to involve and keep the children ( and adults) interested and engaged. At different points around the museum there were boards with numbers on that you needed to type into the equipment. It then told you the story about the part of the museum you were in. It was like having your own tour guide but only better as you could go at your own pace and you could turn the volume up or down to suit your liking. It was so easy to use. My little boy loved it and could use it independantly. He was in his element and was so engrossed in the information given. Without this technology we'ed have probably been round the museum in an hour tops with very little increase in what we already knew. As it was we all learnt so much and i would highly recommend a visit to anyone. Below, my son demonstrating how easy it was to use. The children had their own numbers and stories to listen to.

Back Again

Eek, it seems like forever since i last blogged. Well actually it's just under two weeks and this is the first time i've had chance to have the computer to myself, what with holidays, visitors, chores etc etc  I've been making little notes of things to blog for when i eventually got back on it so here goes. Think i may need a couple of blogs to get through everything.
Firstly our Commenius evening went really well. The parents thought it was fab and thanks to SKYPE we had live link up's to our fellow countries, Italy, Latvia, Belgium and Germany. The children loved been on the webcam and the parents / governors were amazed at how we were able to link to all the countries and the confidence the children had in using the technology. Below is a photo of the live link up in the reception class.
It's not that clear in the photo but all four countries are represented at the same time.

Secondly, my weekend to Bath went ahead and i had been successful in booking the premier inn over the Internet. On the Saturday afternoon we went to a National Trust village called Laycock, which is often used as the setting for the period dramas like Cranford and Downtown abbey. It was like going back into Victorian times! No evidence of ICT anywhere, apart from the electrical till, which of course is obligatory in any shop these days as no one can seem to add up anymore. My apologies to  those of us who can but my experiences latley show everyone relies on the electric till, even to add up very simple maths. Anyway, i'm going off track, back to Laycock. There were no telegraph cables, telephone wires, tv aerials OR wait for it .... SKY DISHES! My Husband spoilt the illusion by saying all the cables would be buried under the ground. I was fantisising about a life free of TV's, phones etc and was on my way to the estate agents!!