I’ve done this for a while now. They tell me what they like about it, what they think they can learn from it, what stage they think it is for, too easy for them , too hard etc. So I take their advice and offer it to the stages they suggest and they watch the others use it and then we take their comments. We have bought, over the years, much software with good educational purpose, which has largely lain unused and is now unable to be used, due to advancing operating systems. I’m sure other schools have done the same. It’s partly because the staff have not had opportunity to explore the potential, and don’t allow it to be used, so I now believe, give it to the children and they will explore and explain. Staff can then see its relevance for purpose and will enable its use. Sometimes that’s all they have to do…allow!
So this week Primary 3 have looked at some of the things I brought back from eLive.
Beep from Sherston, they decided was fun and way too easy for them so would be best in a P1 classroom, but they would like to show it to primary 2 to see what they thought. So I set it up on Wednesday such that they could show it to them. P2 enjoyed the fun, bright colours and activity, but said it was easy for them. Well, nice for Sherston to know they were right when they suggested age range 3-5 for this and excellent feedback to primary 3 to know they had evaluated accurately. They thought it was important that it worked interactively on the whiteboard, because the wee ones could draw with their fingers on the Smartboards. Hey!
They also had a look at Flobot, a Sherston newbie. They thought Level 1 in the teacher options was just right for them, ‘cos they’re smarties, but that level 2 might go all the way to primary 6. This is a simple to use control programme. And hey ho Sherston suggest its levels would be level A-D.
For the most part, I now advise against buying software with a limited educational focus, unless required by pupils with ASN, preferring as I do, things that can be applied in any cross curricular context, or can be found online already, but to have the children pick out learning objectives, for others, from things they enjoy doing, can’t be bad, eh?
There was much more this week but folks don’t read long postings!
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