Literacy: Speaking and Literacy

Today was a continuation of the practical workshop we took part in last week - see Digital Media and Computer Control.  In today's session we have looked at the use of speaking and listening resources and digital imaging.

We started by looking at how digital equipment can be used to aid in literacy classes.  More importantly, we looked at this use of sound recording and what benefits it has.  There are many different ways in which technology can be used to help aid the education of Speaking and Listening in Literacy, including the use of talking tins and other such talking devices, and pod casting.

Talking Tins

Talking Postcards

These talking products can be used to record voices and play back at random.  A teacher can record themselves saying a phrase such as "Good Work" or "Well Done", or possibly even something else.  Talking Tins are an excellent resource for phonics lessons, allowing the phoneme of the day to be recorded and, if more than one talking tin is available, words that are related to that phoneme can also be recorded on individual talking tins for children to listen to.  They can be used as part of interactive displays on tables and walls throughout the school, to really get children into their learning.

Podcasting


Podcasting is the radio show of the modern age - well, in most ways any way.  It is essentially a pre-recorded radio show that is broadcast over the Internet for all to hear.  This is an excellent for children to work on their Speaking and Listening for Literacy as in some instances they may be required to draft what they intend to say before actually recording it.


Some Primary schools have used podcasting to create their own radio stations that get publish on the school's Learning Environment for everyone to hear.  They can also be uploaded to iTunes via the program iPodder.
These podcasts can range from relaying school information on a school wide scale [what's for dinner in the canteen?, what school events are taking place], to creating replica radio stations in the style of World War 2 broadcasts for history lessons.  They could be used to record times tables that can be accessed by children on their electronic learning area and used as learning aids.


There are some examples of Primary School Podcasts which can be found at:
Downs FM
Radio Anywhere

Podcasting programs like Podium are very good for use with younger children, allowing them to get to grips with the idea of creating podcasts.  It has an easier interface that embraces this.  For older children, Audacity is a more suitable solution and gives them more creative control.They are able to import sounds, cut and move sections of their recording to suit what they are creating and are pretty much given free reign to create engaging material.





Digital Imaging & Recording

Digital imaging involves still and moving pictures and can be used in a variety of classroom settings.  Still imaging is an excellent way of recording children's achievement in class and this can then be uploaded onto the school area for parent's and everyone to see.

Moving imaging aka digital filming, is up and coming within education.  There are digital cameras that are specially made to create films, more to the point, stop-motion animation.  The camera can be attached to a stand, directly connected to the PC and the children can create their own stories frame by frame.  This is a great tool to use alongside an English topic, as the children would be required to come up with a story and then proceed to make a storyboard so they knew what they were doing before they started - a good way to utilize the time with the equipment.

I found this to be most enjoyable.  Below is my group's attempt at creating a stop-motion animation.  As you can see we have been able to add in effects, sounds and borders to our finished product, another engaging extension that can get children thing about the presentation of their work.

This kinds of activities take up a lot of time, but they can sometimes produce some of the best work.  When using equipment like this, it is important to take into account how much time you will need to execute it properly.  If you are only giving them a small amount of time to explore and work with the equipment, there is no way to ensure there have understood learning objectives and have had a quality learning experience.

Ideally, digital imaging in all it's forms will become more commonplace.  Stop-motion animation allows for creativity from the children and hopefully an understanding of an art form that is underused.

Next week, I'll be writing about more interactive media like programming products and more physically uses for ICT in the Curriculum.

Later Days,