2007 IWB Conference at Emmanuel College

Here are some of the tips and tricks that I jotted down during the conference. You would be amazed at the tools available in Microsoft products such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel too!

Ideas
Have the Principal post a message each week focusing on a school value or issue to the school server for all to share. Include photos and videos so the children want to watch it.

Maths
Have three or four groups and that many activities planned (book or sheet, game, concrete materials to reinforce concept). Start on the floor as a whole class with the iwb or a projector. As you observe the top group understanding the concept being taught send them to work independently whilst you consolidate the lesson for the others. This provides opportunity to extend teaching time with the less able children and also observe what may arise in the follow up activity. Elements that the first group to leave the floor find tricky can be highlighted to the others as they join them.

Music
Garageband - this photo is taken whilst I fiddle with a program on an Apple laptop. Easily distinguished the effects of different instruments in a group and create music that can be used in blogs! (http://www.virtualstaffroom.net/wordpress/).

Interested in Flash animation?
You need Macromedia Flash MX or Scratch (which is freeware)

PE
Use a digital camera to record the children learning a new skill e.g. overarm throw. Practice without a ball, play a game of t-ball, take shots using the video function of a digital camera and use to give instant feedback from each other as well as the teacher. Celebrate what they learn and give pointers where necessary.

Use photos of sports day from previous years to prepare the younger children for the day.

Art
Useful sites:
www.iamanartist.ie
www.hitentertainment.com/artattack/
www.starfall.com - pictures of artists work
www.topmarks co.uk
http://sketchup.google.com/
www.teachersintouch.net/animation.asp
http://www.familyeducation.com/topic/front/0,1156,21-12410,00.html



Programs mentioned
Kahootz
Jing
Audacity
Powerpoint
Word
Paint
Photostory Version 3
Moviemaker
Media Player version 10
Excel
Zamzar
Splashcast
Voicethread


In Excel using the fx (function wizard) you can create formulae that give instant feedback to the children when used in quizzes.

Group shapes together to create a whole (e.g. ladders using lines to draw).

In Word play around with the forms toolbar. View toolbars, forms, double click to add text. On toolbar, click on protect to activate.

Most of us use a daily timetable, add a link to each icon for files, internet sites, music, photos of the children - anything appropriate that you need access to during the day. Watch the pace of your lessons pick up! I made the icons using Word then doing a screen dump into Paint and cutting what I wanted out to paste onto the Notebook page.