Tag Archives: tech

87. QR teaching

Revision is a tricky business! Everyone needs something different – it is the ultimate manifestation of personalised learning.
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As you will have seen from previous posts I’m not averse to chopping up exam papers or using technology to make things interesting. I also recommend YouTube videos for different revision topics.

This week I started printing QR codes, linking to online resources, onto stickers and attaching them to worksheets/books.

All pupils need is a smartphone/ipad with a barcode scanner installed. They can access the extra material whenever it is appropriate and the alternative explanations can be useful. It also helps keep pupils on task while you are helping others.

I used QRstuff.com as you can print directly to stickers (you can download them as .png files too), however there are many other sites available. If you scan the QR code above, you can access the QRstuff site too.

86. Snapdragon & Resources

I’ve just started sharing resources on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website.

The first resource is a typed up version of the Trigonometry Snapdragon.
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I’ve omitted the diagrams so you can have a discussion about what the different situations look like.
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Update: I am hosting my own resources now so you can download the snapdragon here: Trigonometry snapdragon v2

 

85. App of the day: Smart Tools

Smart tools was described by one reviewer as the ‘swiss army knife’ of apps. I think I agree!

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You can measure distance, angles, direction, height, sound, vibration, bearings and even turn your phone into a torch, spirit level or a magnifying glass! It’s very handy for practical activities outside. The set up for different measuring elements gives you the maths behind the result too.

I’ve used it to do bearings activities and treasure hunts. I’ve also used the height measuring mode as an introduction to pythagoras.

Official demo video

Individual elements can be purchased separately for free or 65p (correct at time of publishing) each. Or you can download everything in one go. Search for ‘smart tools’ on the Play store or go to: Smart tools website

81. Xmind

My HoD introduced me to Xmind earlier in the year. It is mind-mapping software that is available for free and compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux systems. You can download it from Xmind.net. The initial mind-map can be linked to subsequent maps with the click of a button. Each new mind-map appears on a separate page, just like worksheets in Excel. Here are three examples of it’s use:

1. Schemes of work

This year I’ve taken a more abstract look at schemes of work. We’ve changed over from modular to linear with our foundation GCSE pupils (Higher are already linear) and the scheme needed a shake up.

Year 9 Set 4 Scheme

 

Instead of word documents or spreadsheets of topics, you can mind-map every aspect of your scheme from outline programme of study through to resourced, objective-led lessons. You can insert links from the scheme to resources and create hyperlinks to web pages. If a unit is moved within the scheme, you simply drag it to the new place – no fuss or cutting/pasting. Even the techno nervous can confidently use this software in under ten minutes.

Personally,  I like the fact that I can stick the whole plan for a unit of work on the wall on one sheet of paper next to the A4 overview of the year.

Angles (6hrs)

 

2. Mindmaps

Of course, Xmind is mind-mapping software and students can also use it. Recently I’ve used it to consolidate group work by getting each group to contribute an idea to a central mind-map, they then kept going until all the ideas in the room were included. Then I took on the role of editor and dragged common themes together. I also added anything they’d missed. The class could have a readable mind-map each, confident that it had been checked by the teacher and knowing that they had contributed to it. I could also then use the map as a starter in the following lesson, without having to stick bits of flip chart paper on the board.

 

3. Survey Feedback

You can also use each page of the mind-map to represent a survey question, which had a written answer. You can summarise and categorise a lot of information in a single page.

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There are similar compatible smartphone apps which means you can sketch out an idea on your phone and finish it on a computer.

75. Factorisation Forest

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MrNussbaum.com

I found this brilliant website via Pinterest. It is a great way to practise prime factor decomposition and it allows pupils to either be creative or use a timed challenge.

I particularly like the fact that you can generate as many base and power boxes as you want, as opposed to similar games where you are given a rigid structure to complete – pupils are allowed to try their answer and be wrong, rather than see their answer doesn’t fit and just give up.

70. Low Tech Hi Tech

In earlier posts I’ve mentioned team challenges and relays.

There are two ways to record the results.

Low Tech

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Everytime a pupil team gets an answer correct give them a post-it note. I put team numbers on the notes to avoid cheating. They are responsible for sticking their note in the correct place.

Note: some brands of sticky note don’t stick to whiteboards that well, so you may want to use a table.

Hi Tech
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When a team get a question correct they put a 1 in a box on a spreadsheet. Conditional formatting allows you to highlight correct answers. In the picture, the first column is the total for each team so they can see who is in the lead. You can also set it up to highlight the current leaders. This method also allows you to quickly identify problem areas.

66. Manga High

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Just a quick post today. If you don’t already use Manga High, it’s worth a look. There is no charge for schools to create accounts and can be quite addictive/competitive – I’ve found some of my most disengaged pupils arguing over who was going to get a bronze medal first.