Roger

I have been getting into the computer lab for one period most weeks with my 9C Science class. Students have been asked to research a range of topics and have created several posters for the classroom representing the learning done by the students. Currently they are preparing in digital format the results of research on States of Matter. They have choices about the layout and presentation - some are doing it it publisher; others are preparing images and written information to be used in an electronic booklet or cut and pasted onto a paper booklet. At times students are helping teach others how to do various things, since I have limited familiarity with some of the programmes. We, students and teacher, are making progress! All other classes cannot get regular, or even infrequent, computer time but I have discussed the QR code reader app with my year 13 classes, and we have accessed some information from a Otago Uni poster in the room. I now have it on my phone so want to explore further uses and applications during the year. I am using video clips and accessing internet in the course of my teaching more than previously. I read an article in the paper about a NZ person who received a 'sutureless heart valve' transplant and saw that it used pig tissue in the valve flaps. In discussing this with my Year 13 students, some of whom are doing an essay on xenotransplantation, I realised that seeing the device was helpful so used Google to find the images that made it clear what the valve was like. This was an effective use of technology!
 * What am I doing?**

Worrying! I know so little about much of what went on, although it was good to be made aware of some of the tools and technologies of the future. Much was unlikely to be of use at FFC because of the costs involved although I did see the potential of the portable smartboard. I need computer access more than I need one of those though. I enjoyed the Robotics workshop - fun and 'hands-on' and has real potential for learning, but we only have the noncomputer linked Lego technics and that will have to do! I learned about SOLO taxonomy and thought that it was an interesting assessment tool but it needed whole school implementation to be effective, and a school that was set up for more individualised learning than we are. The Conference was well run; the Venue for Keynotes was very good, and Southwell School have very good facilities.........
 * How did I find the conference?**