Photostory is a fabulous program that is sooo simple to use. It allows you to put together still images (photos, scanned drawings, scanned images) music, voice and text to make a simple “movie” or story. It is on our college network and is available as a free download from the Microsoft website here.

A user guide is microsoft20photo20story20320introduction

Some ideas of how this could be used in the classroom:

• Visual representation of an historical figure
• Alternative way to present an assignment
• A verbal book review with appropriate images
• Creating an advertisement
• A group story
• A different way for kids to share what happened on the holidays/excursion/incursion
• Presentation of a concept, e.g. what Australia means to me, instructions on how to play netball

The output can be viewed on screen, emailed, burnt to DVD, and even sent to a mobile phone!

This week’s workshop is on Interactive Whiteboards. Commonly known as IWB’s. The type we have at out school are Team Boards.

These are soft touch boards that can be operated by your hand or a pointer. To be able to use the boards with you laptop you first need to install a driver. They can be downloaded from this site or alternatively you can use the CD. A driver is a piece of software that allows the IWB to talk to the computer. The software that comes with the Team Board is called easiteach.

This suite of CD’s can be installed on your laptop and it allows you to create lots of different activities to complete with your class.

You can also use the myriad of websites that have been developed for IWB use!

Some resources…..

Teacher Tube

This will link you to some great videos that will show you how to use and give some ideas for IWB’s

Whiteboard Blog

This is a great UK blog that is FULL of resources for the IWB

Spelling City

Great online spelling site!

Friv

250 Games that the kids absolutely love with lots of educational application great for the whiteboard! Tried and tested by last year’s grade one’s!

Easiteach

The website for the software that comes with Team Board. Lots of goodies to download!

Scholastic

Loads of online interactive activities in all subject areas

Whiteboard Challenge

A link to an Australian developed IWB challenge to help you learn to use the IWB better. It is definitely worth a look. A good way to improve your IWB skils for your Performance Appraisal

Rethinking tools online

A very challenging Middle Eastern Map. Great as a class challenge!!

Eyeballing Game

Cool geometry site. Excellent for hands on learners!

Crickweb

168 Interactive resources for primary students

San Francisco Kids

Wonderful Music site developed by the San Francisco Symphony. I had fun playing with this one!

Roy the Zebra

Excellent literacy website based on the samish principals to THRASS. Matthew tested this one and loved it!

100 Free Web Tools

Lots of great web tools which can be used by primary and secondary students. Many of which can involve the IWB.

Prezi

If you are over making PowerPoints and want a presentation with a little more pizazz try Prezi. Lots of application for the IWB and makes presentations soooo much more interesting than the linear PowerPoint model.

Remember if you don’t have an IWB in your classroom most of these activities can also be used on a PC!