# data[].attributes.body
My journey into the world of tablets started about a month ago: now it is going to end but I have not finished learning. I will continue learning and tell my students that learning can be fun!!!

If you are interested you can follow me on TWITTER, I am following a lot of educators on line who are sharing their experience and the use of technologies in teaching and in ELT.

So let's keep in contact and ....................... I hope you have enjoyed reading my learning diary.

THANKS TO THE TEACHERS WHO RAN THE COURSE AND ALL THE TEACHERS WHO TOOK PART IN THIS MOOC

Tiziana Angiolini from ITALY

# data[].attributes.body
The following is the link to my lesson on line:

Use the following shortened URL to share the design

http://v.gd/T8FngR

Here is a link to my activity on line prepared for my students- it is a padlet : the padlet offers the activities on line with the videos which I have prepared with ZAMPTION, in addition I have added more posts for the guide of all the activities . The final output should be more posts with the links and the students' activities on line on the same padlet:
http://padlet.com/Tizianateacher/upgbhvknden2

# data[].attributes.body
To prepare this lesson I have been asked to use a new tool, http://learningdesigner.org/register.php

I have just registered and I am going to try to see how to work and what ideas to put into practice and to plan a nice lesson plan for a better teaching and learning situation.

The tutorial has been provided on line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=10&v=nkxLkSaTdck

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Creative use of Tablets in Schools course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.eunacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 4  Apps for  PERSONALISED LEARNING-  Apps and Tools for  Personalisation and  Flipped Classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 4  Apps for  PERSONALISED LEARNING-  Apps and Tools for  Personalisation and  Flipped Classroom

# data[].attributes.body
Share any other apps or tools that you know about for personalisation and Flipped Classroom

I have tried to implement my classroom tools and now I know there are plenty of apps, most of them are free:

Classflow ( I registered and I can use it for my classes and I can upload materials...) https://classflow.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/My

http://ed.ted.com/ ( for finding lessons and materials on line)

https://titanpad.com/ ( for working together on line- collaborative writing)

https://penzu.com/( for writing diaries)

https://www.zaption.com/( for editing videos for classes)

FOR PRESENTATIONS:

https://www.haikudeck.com/

https://www.thinglink.com/

https://www.emaze.com/

https://www.google.com/docs/about/
FOR COLLECTING ACTIVITIES
padlet
pinterest
pearltrees

FOR STORING MATERIALS ON LINE

dropbox

I have also collected the tools which might be useful for teachers

http://www.pearltrees.com/italianteacher/web-2-0-tools/id14098251

I am following webminars on line about the new tools but it takes time and also you need to put into practice what you have learnt.

With COURSERA I did a course about WEB2.0 TOOLS and now I am more aware of the importance of the tools for making my lessons and activities more engaging....

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 4  Apps  FOR  PERSONALISED  LEARNING

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 4  Apps  FOR  PERSONALISED  LEARNING

# data[].attributes.body
There are many apps which can be used with tablets, in the course we just saw the most important ones, which are new to me

1) http://www.showbie.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=2MJRgHZwN8U ( Video about showbie)
2) https://www.khanacademy.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SseqbIzXjg ( Video about Khan Academy)

3) http://www.aurasma.com/#/whats-your-aura

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGoU6ziw8I (Video about AURASMA)

4) http://www.socrative.com/

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE CLASSROOM WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE CLASSROOM WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
After watching how Monica set herself up for the flipped classroom and hearing about other CCL teacher's experiences, what do you think are the key challenges to implementing the model with tablets in classrooms?

There are plenty of challanges to implementing the model in classrooms:

TEACHERS

- they need to plan, devise create videos, activities

- they need to learn about new tools

- they need to search videos on the Youtubeand created their own or edit videos ( this requiries a good learner in IT)

- they need to be trained too

- they need to rely on the help of families for the activities to be done from home

- they need to focus on what they want their students to do at home and in class

STUDENTS

- Depending on their age they need to be motivated

- they need to be responsible to do the activities from home

- they need to learn about the new tools

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Teachers and students need to have a good learning enviromnent with wifi and they can use tablets that can work well.

For me it is a dream now : we can only use PCs and most of the time I work from home because we have old PCs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The teachers involved in the Creative Classrooms Lab project talk about how to support personalisation, flipped Classroom or develop assessment with the help of Tablet computers. Read more about the project at http.//creative.eun.org

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE CLASSROOM WITH  TABLETS 

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE CLASSROOM WITH  TABLETS 

# data[].attributes.body
How to work as a techer? Interesting video!

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE  CLASSROOM- EXPLANATION

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4   FLIPPING THE  CLASSROOM- EXPLANATION

# data[].attributes.body
FLIPPING THE  CLASSROOM

Have you tried out the flipped classroom model already? If so, share your experiences in the Padlet below. You've never heard of the model before but are curious to try it out? How would you start to implement it in your school and classroom context?

I have read a lot about flipping the classroom: I came through the term about three years ago when I was doing a seminar with a OUP teacher consultant and we were talking about changes in teaching English. It was a great suprise to see how the world of education was changing. The model seems to be interesting but I feel that it requires a lot of planning and organization on behalf of the teachers and I feel that it does not always work if you have young leaners or if you have internet access problems from home and at school.

In some ways I have tried to work in a different way by uploading materials and videos for discussion in my website. I asked my 5th year students in a secondary school to do the activities from home( reading the texts, viewing the videos...) but much to my disappointment they did not do the activity. Only a few tried to do it. Some did not have internet, others just skipped the activities.

My students belong to middle class families but they do not have tablets so flipping the classroom could be difficult for me.

What I do in class is to provide the links and then I ask them to watch the videos in their smartphones but it is a pity that they cannot create any materials .

From my point of view flipping the classroom can be an interesting experience but you need supporting families and a learning environment that
goes beyond the classroom: in my school it is also difficult to run group work because we have small rooms and internet is bad and does not always work.
The video and more information in Italian for Italian teachers can be found on this link :http://www.orizzontescuola.it/guide/flipped-classroom-lezione-capovolta-guida-gratuita-orizzontescuola ( the e-book can be downloaded and it is a useful guide for teachers)
http://www.uq.edu.au/tediteach/flipped-classroom/what-is-fc.html

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 4   INTRODUCTION TO THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 4   INTRODUCTION TO THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM

# data[].attributes.body
Flipping the classroom ? I have heard about it and I must confess that I would like to work with this approach.

http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/flipping-the-classroom/

http://www.uq.edu.au/tediteach/flipped-classroom/what-is-fc.html

On 6th May I also did a webminar with WiziIq and learnt more about the tools which you can use to make your classes flipped. I will do something next year....... hoping that my students will not give up!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M4 Introduction to the Flipped Classroom Model

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Creative use of Tablets in Schools course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.eunacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4 PERSONALISING LEARNING WITH   TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4 PERSONALISING LEARNING WITH   TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
In both videos there are some concrete examples how the tablets have been used to personalise the learning and make the students more independent such as through using Aurasma for instructional videos and Edmodo for independently accessing information. What other ways can you think of how tablets can be used to personalise the learning experience of your students?

I cannot use tablets in my school and we still use old books , only from time to time I show them videos from the YouTube,but modern tablets could be useful for my students because they could do a lot of activities where they are involved and interested.

The following is what they could do:

- writing and sharing information by using google tools

- making videos, modifying pictures for their presentations by using special apps

- making presentations by using PREZI, E-MAZE ,THINGLINK ect...

- arranging their information and researches with tools like padlet, pearltrees, pinterest

- writing short stories on line by devising pictures, images and sounds for their presentations

- collecting all their activities on line by using their on line file ( it could be google site but also wikispace)

- writing a blog and self-reflection on the activities we are doing and providing support for the activities which we are carrying out

As a teacher I could provide them with my peartrees collection for accessing websites for remedial-homework on line ( exercises)

Also less able students would take advantage of tablets because they could make their projects and share them with the other students, a good way for helping them who sometimes give up learning

Some ideas can be found in the following link . As I have said I am new to the use of tablets but I feel I could learn and love using them with my students.

http://www.useoftechnology.com/how-to-use-tablets/

____________________________________________________________________________________
VIDEOS ON LINE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pnS_9ZBix8

Use of tablets - Personalisation by Lisa Cowell

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CCL: Use of tablets - Personalisation by Lisa Cowell

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Creative Classrooms Lab project is looking into how tablets can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Lisa Cowell from Penwortham Priory Academy, UK has worked with personalisation aspect of teaching and supported it through the use of tablets. In this video she explains her classroom project on personalisation.

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 4  GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT  LEARNING  STYLES 

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 4  GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT  LEARNING  STYLES 

# data[].attributes.body
Reflect on how you gather information about the learning styles of your students. How do you know what types of learners there are? What are good strategies to identify this? Is it enough to simply ask the students as is done in the video above? Are the students, are we, always fully aware of how we learn best?

I teach students aged 14-19 and for me it is given for granted that they should know more about their learning styles ,but they do not know much.

I usally ask them questions about the way they learn but they do not always provide me with with useful information. I think that a better way should be to tell them that we are different and thus we can achieve results by focussing on some skills or by training once they know about their own learning styles.

As a student we did a quiz at school many years ago and the French teacher made us aware of the different types of learners, suggesting us how to learn better.

I found an interesting site on line and I think I might use it with my students because if you know who you are and how you learn you can learn better, they provided me with a quiz- here is the link to it:

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

I tried it and found my results : they provided me with some suggestions for better learning . Try it !

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-results.shtml?event=results&A=9&V=8&T=3&N=TIZIANA%20ANGIOLINI

I am an AUDITORY LEARNER and they suggest I should hear things in order to learn better. It is an easy quiz and we should all do it on line!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At http://www.loving2learn.com kids learn at warp speed and buzz by their peers!

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4    PERSONALISED  LEARNERS  TYPES OF LEARNERS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4    PERSONALISED  LEARNERS  TYPES OF LEARNERS

# data[].attributes.body
I liked to listen to the children who were talking about their ways of learning. But I feel that there is more for learners and teachers.

I just checked on line and found this easy tool for self-assessment. It only takes a few minutes and then you are provided with you personal description.

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

We should try it with our students! I have learnt a lot about myself as well!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Creative use of Tablets in Schools course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.eunacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4  INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALISED  LEARNING

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4  INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALISED  LEARNING

# data[].attributes.body
Towards the end: I love this course on line and I think I will check some activities later because I have learnt a lot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M4 Introduction to Personalised Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Creative use of Tablets in Schools course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.eunacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  4  USING  TABLETS  FOR PERSONALISING    LEARNING AND FLIPPING THE  CLASSROOM

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  4  USING  TABLETS  FOR PERSONALISING    LEARNING AND FLIPPING THE  CLASSROOM

# data[].attributes.body
The beginning of a great week, very demanding but also what I liked was to see what great activities we can do on line . What we saw was great because teachers can make a difference: from padlets to sharing apps

http://padlet.com/AstridVE/futureclassroom/wish/58804017

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aXAdPBsNjs8DykTK9MxH2h_FWpd3-I3jeibcsKpIBRw/edit?pli=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMFSdD0vKVs&feature=youtu.be

This time I would like to add my favourite website : it is an American website and it provides a lot of advice for teachers who want to learn about new web 2.0 tools:

http://www.classroom20.com/

It is a great American website where any Saturday you can see great projects and use of new tools. It should be checked by any teachers who takes care of his/her students. I have met a lot of new friends who share their experience on line thanks the use of technologies.

The leader of the website/blog is a retired teacher with a great love for teaching and what I like is the way she runs the webminars: we are provided with weblinks, references, the webminars are on line and if you miss any you can watch them and

I am inspired and I can meet great teachers who I am following on TWITTER!!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Creative use of Tablets in Schools course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.eunacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.body
This is the padlet on line which I have prepared for working with tablets in the classroom, the reality is different from what I have to face daily but I am hoping to have more internet access in the next years and to be able to work with my students in this different learning environment:

http://padlet.com/Tizianateacher/upgbhvknden2

The lesson will be presented later so follow my learning diary!!!

# data[].attributes.body
1. How do you form groups of students for group work and why do you take this approach? Based on your experience what strategies of forming groups work and which do not work? Why?

2. How do you keep your students focused and on track during collaborative projects? How do you ensure all students contribute to the task?

3. What strategies have you used to assess group work? What are the main challenges for you when it comes to assessing group work?

- First you must know your students and work with mixed ability classroom groups: one leader, a creator, a less able student who work with students who are better.

Choosing groups and pairs can work if you work well with your class. If some don't work well, you must change them

- Focussing implies setting time limits and monitoring them at school and from home: with google suite I can check what they are doing thanks to the system ( I can do it with slides and documents and it can work). I use grids for self-reflections and I talk to my students

- The students must know why you are doing a group work and how they will be assessed. I usually provide them with grids before they start the activities. It is a challange to see how they are going to work but also assessment can be important and become part of self-reflection and I usually provide them with guides and documents on line as templates or rough guides as self-checklist. Usually the outcomes are good. And Everybody has been rewarded

# data[].attributes.body
1. An idea for a piece of content you can produce with your class that has a purpose beyond the classroom activity (see 2.2)

2. An actual piece of content that you can use as an example for a content creation project in your classroom (see 2.3)

I am thinking about the themes which I have approached with my 5th year classes and what I have done for them: I have asked them to read texts, watch videos about the tragedies of the XX century ( the Holocaust).

I have asked them to look for more information and then to share what they have found on the internet with me. The target language was English.

The theme was crosscurricula and had to do with German, English, Italian and History, we also read a letter from a survivor from Auschwitz. My students went to Auschwitz and when they came back they described their experience in a short text where all the students told me about the importance of NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSCHWITZ. ( the link which I have uploaded refers to my activity on the website which I created for them and used for most of the activities to be done in class and from home, at school we had to comment and express opinions)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Materiale classe V 2014-2015 - ENGLISH TEACHER EINAUDI

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
materiale per alunni inglese, link sul web per alunni o studenti che vogliono lavorare da soli, qualche aiuto per non sentirsi troppo soli nell'apprendimento dell'inglese

# data[].attributes.body
1. What is your main reason for using or wanting to use tablets in your classroom?

2. What whole-school challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

3. What classroom challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

Among the many reasons which I have there are my wishes to have a better learning environment with my students who are less passive and use their skills in a different way. I would like to reduce the TTT = TEACHER TALKING TIME to have my students active and engaged while learning from home and at school too.

Again challanges are manyfolds:

- as a teacher I anticipate the problems of the lack of technologies and the problems of having to plan activities which I have never done before. I am afraid some students might not work with schoolmates or from home too.

- as a teacher I can see that the challanges regard the teachers , the families and the classes. When you start something new, there might be people who cannot collaborate with you. The class management might be a problem: but I am hopeful.

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3- APPS  FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING  

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3- APPS  FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING  

# data[].attributes.body
There are more and more apps which can be used today and to enhance collaboration among teachers, students and schools.

These are the ones which I know and I have used more:

padlet

google drive

twitter

edmodo

penzu

google hangout

There is a growing number of apps that are used. I cannot use them at school but I usually use them from home for being in contact with my students or for presentations (padlet, google drive) and twitter for my self-development. I have met a lot of teachers who are interested in education.

In this module I have learnt about some apps like

http://teamup.aalto.fi/

https://en.actionbound.com/
I am aware there are many more but you need to have the technology at home and at school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FCS | Module 3 | Educational Technologies and Collaboration in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This video is part of the Future Classroom Scenarios Course on the European Schoolnet Academy. For more information visit www.europeanschoolnetacademy.eu

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3  ASSESSMENT OF GROUP WORK WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3  ASSESSMENT OF GROUP WORK WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO ASSESSING GROUP WORK?

A good way for assessing students' work can be based on many interesting points of view:

- teacher's observation on how students work in the classroom and the final presentation

- students' self-reflection based on a grid provided before they start the activity

- learning diary

- class evaluation

After taking into consideration all these interesting points the teacher can give a final evaluation: I am aware the final mark can be different from what the teacher would have given but this could make the activity more interes ting because students are more involved in the process of learning.

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3  Success factors of school-to-school  collaboration projects

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3  Success factors of school-to-school  collaboration projects

# data[].attributes.body
EVEN IF YOU ARE NO E-TWINNER, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE SUCCESS  FACTORS FOR A SCHOOL -TO-SCHOOL COLLABORATION PROJECT?

I am not an e-Twinner but I know that  the project is growing.

There are many factors that can enhance such projects:

- good  teachers who can work in team and set goals

-  interest on behalf of families, students and school directors

- a good  wi-fi connection in the school

-  teachers who want to be more updated and take some risks

Projects can make a difference  but they need to be carried out within a thriving community.
We do not have tablets in my school but I think I could work with internet and
IT labs, I feel that all the teachers should share the same ideas about
projects and this is not always true in my school.

http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By joining eTwinning, teachers and other school staff will become part of the 'Community for schools in Europe' and benefit from endless opportunities.

Collaborate with and get inspired by other colleagues in Europe

In eTwinning, teachers organise and run on-site and online activities with their students along with colleagues from countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme. They engage in collaborative projects with the support of the TwinSpace environment. National Support Organisations are responsible for validating user registrations for becoming eTwinners, thus keeping the platform safe, providing support and guidance, and recognising teachers' work with National and European Quality Labels. The annual eTwinning book features the most innovative projects. Excellent projects are rewarded eTwinning European Prizes and become part of the project gallery.

Share with peers

The eTwinning community is made up of thousands of teachers and educators who share a vision of inclusive schools, using information and communication technology in a meaningful way, and making the most of 21st-century skills. eTwinners meet and network online, at school, at eTwinning events and conferences, and wherever they can inspire other teachers to better educate students. On the European School Education Platform, the eTwinning area offers project kits, practice examples, testimonials, and an online environment where eTwinners can communicate, create projects, share, and learn together at their own pace in line with their interests.

Upskill together

Lifelong learning is essential for teachers and eTwinning community members benefit from webinars, short and long online courses (including MOOCs), self-teaching materials, conferences, and other on-site professional development opportunities where they meet experts in many fields and improve their skills. These events allow teachers to network, learn together, and feel part of the same community.

eTwinning also provides opportunities for future teachers to get support when starting their careers.

Promote and celebrate

Like all communities, eTwinning has key events. A yearly theme is the focus of two online campaigns - in spring and autumn - where eTwinners share ideas, plan projects, produce materials, and learn together. And every year on 9 May, the community celebrates Europe Day as eTwinning Day with activities that make eTwinners feel part of something unique, wherever they are.

Become a protagonist

eTwinning Ambassadors are the pillars of the community. They are selected at a national level, provide training and support and share their energy and enthusiasm, making eTwinning grow every day. Get information from your National Support Organisations about how to become one of them!

The schools that are awarded the eTwinning Schools Label are models of the principles that inspire eTwinning, shared leadership, collaboration and sharing, students as agents of change, inclusion, and pedagogical innovation. Stay tuned to see when applications open!

Anyone can become an eTwinning Ambassador, and any school can get the eTwinning School Label.

How to join eTwinning

Register as a user today on the European School Education Platform using EU Login ( access here) and request to be validated as an eTwinner by the National Support Organisation in the country where your school is.

What does the eTwinning platform offer?

eTwinners can network, share, and collaborate with other registered eTwinners and schools by connecting through the social networking features offered, and by engaging in Rooms, eTwinning groups, and European projects.

Rooms are micro-groups that allow eTwinners to take part in video-conferencing sessions supported by a forum and a file archive.

eTwinning groups are virtual places where eTwinners meet and discuss specific subjects, topics, or other areas of interest. Featured Groups are groups coordinated by the CSS and moderated by experienced eTwinners).

eTwinning projects include activities on different topics and key competences involving two or more teachers and their students. Each project has its own TwinSpace, a free-to-use, safe platform that is only accessible to other eTwinning members in the project, your selected guests, and your selected pupils.

eTwinners can also join the online professional development opportunities organised by the European School Education Platform. Some of these offers will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of eTwinners and be available exclusively to them:

Short online courses are intense and enjoyable and introduce teachers to a topic, stimulate ideas, and help them develop their skills.

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are 4-6 weeks in length and require 12 - 25 hours of learning time during this period. Participants are free to conduct the activities at a time of their convenience during the duration of the course. A certificate is offered upon successful completion.

Webinars are live one-hour long online video sessions where teachers have the chance to learn about and discuss a variety of themes.

Webinar series are two webinar sessions that are connected by an interactive online activity.

Online conferences and events are designed for and dedicated to specific target audiences and themes.

You are not eligible to join eTwinning?

Only school staff can join the eTwinning community. If you are not a member of staff at a school, you can still enjoy and network in other sections of the European School Education Platform free of charge. Discover all these opportunities here. eTwinners can invite non-eTwinners to specific projects.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In eTwinning, teachers organise and run on-site and online activities with their students along with colleagues from countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme. They engage in collaborative projects with the support of the TwinSpace environment. National Support Organisations are responsible…

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  3   SCHOOL-TO - SCHOOL COLLABORATION WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  3   SCHOOL-TO - SCHOOL COLLABORATION WITH TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
Everybody should be aware that tablets and collaboration are key words to define activities for students now. What I have seen on line is " the best" I have ever seen and I am aware that we can do more. E-twinning and other projects should be part of many school activities :it is a pity I have not taken part in any, but I have changed many schools and it is difficult to work together and plan activities.

https://app.emaze.com/@ALLORRTZ/presentation-name#4

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3- STUDENTS COLLABORATION WITH  TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3- STUDENTS COLLABORATION WITH  TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
How do you keep your students focused and on track during collaborative projects? How do you ensure all students contribute to the task? If you have organised a similar project share your experiences (positive and negative) here.

I have not used tablets or apps for projects at school but I have done some

collaborative projects with my second year students in a vocational school, they just used the internet and the PC. As we do not have wifi at school we could only work from home and at school I could see what they had prepared : the drafts , the research and also what they wanted to do. The role of the teacher is the one of the person who is the coordinator and has to monitor what they have been doing.

My planning had to do with some steps:

- planning with schedules

- group organization

- monitoring the group at school and from home by using GOOGLE DRIVE and the e-mails

- checking every student about his/her experience as they had to write a reflective diary

- self- report ( they had to write what went wrong or what was right)

- teaching was less important but before they started the activities I had to plan and this required a lot of work

There was a shift from the teacher's work to the students' active role and this was great! The final product was fine.

Some useful ideas which I think we should all share are found in this link

http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creative Classrooms Lab - Tablets in schools - Austria

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Creative Classrooms Lab project (2013-2015) is working with 45 schools in eight European countries and policy-makers to collect evidence on the implementation, impact and up-scaling of 1:1 pedagogical approaches using tablets. The project, funded by European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme, is coordinated by European Schoolnet, and has 10 partners.

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3- DISCUSSION  FORMING  GROUP WORK 

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3- DISCUSSION  FORMING  GROUP WORK 

# data[].attributes.body
HOW DO YOU FORM GROUPS OF STUDENTS FOR GROUP WORK AND WHY DO YOU TAKE THIS APPROACH? BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WHAT STRATEGIES OF FORMING GROUPS WORK AND WHICH DO NOT WORK?

Group Work can be a great experience but it is up to the teacher to choose how to form groups because sometimes less able students prefer to work only with the ones who are their friends or are better learners.

Brainstorming ideas and choosing the topic should be the first step for good group work.

How to run the activities depends on the age group: I teach students aged 14-19 and usually for short presentations I make small groups ( 2-3 people in each group). I usually ask them to choose the topic but before they start working I want to know

exactly who is working with whom. I had some group work done by students who did not collaborate and only the best ones worked: this was a negative experience because I felt that I coulnd not control them. What was disappointing was the students' explanations, they did not understand that they did not learn anything and just accepted the leading role of the best students. As a result collaborative work and PBL require a good classroom management and a good teacher who knows the strenghts of the students and which students should be monitored more. Self-reflections, writing a diary about the experience should be part of the group work activity. On the whole I like my students to choose but when they cannot work well or when there is the ovewhelming presence of only some students I am sorry for the less able students or the ones who need to learn but cannot do this.

Mixed ability classes are common and it is the teacher who should choose how to work with the great differences among students, trying to support everybody and providing the right tasks for every group, every pair.

Group observation and evaluation should be part of a group work activity : it is often difficult to make students realize that such activities are not a waste of time and they are useful for the students ' language improvement - in my case because I teach English.
Read the following link to see how and what techniques are important for group work and language learnng

http://www.scoop.it/t/group-work-and-interaction-in-language-learning-classrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Group work and interaction in language learning classrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Interesting tidbits on interaction and small group learning in the second language classroom

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  3- COLLABORATIVE LERNING- WHAT STUDENTS THINK

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  3- COLLABORATIVE LERNING- WHAT STUDENTS THINK

# data[].attributes.body
They have fun, they enjoy what they are doing and they learn how to work together, they make researches and they create or make enquiries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0yp5uR0e1I

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M3 Why students enjoy group work

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 3- INTRODUCTION TO COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 3- INTRODUCTION TO COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFyBztWE4JU

Collaborative learning:

- role of teachers

- role of learners

The term refers to groups that work on topics, find solutions or create works together.

There are a lot of people who can share activities and work using tablets and apps but the teacher is the great supervisor of all the main tasks and the activities are evaluated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M3 Introduction to Collaborative Learning

# data[].attributes.headline
Interesting  WEBMINARS and   Conferences on line  last week  and  in the next  weeks

# data[].attributes.subject
Interesting  WEBMINARS and   Conferences on line  last week  and  in the next  weeks

# data[].attributes.body
28th April 2015

There was an interesting conference on line last week ( on 25 April)

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/springvirtcon2015/

, if you follow the link you can access it and see it again. I have learnt a lot and I would like other teachers to share this experience and see how other teachers are workiing

I would also suggest teachers of English to go to https://www.wiziq.com/

there is also a blog : it is a great source of information in terms of use of technologies and how to work in a virtual learning environment. The community is growing and most webminars are free!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On-Demand Event

VirtCon is a bi-annual conference that brings our community together to hear cutting-edge keynotes, be inspired by thought-provoking presentations, and participate in engaging discussions with the Discovery Education Community around the globe. Streamed live from our headquarters in Maryland, VirtCon provides you with the opportunity to hear from your peers, share ideas and instructional tools, and discover new resources available to you.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Spring VirtCon. We had a fantastic day hearing from 11 speakers and connecting with thousands of you around the globe. You can access each of the session archives below, just click on the "Watch Presentation" link for the session you want to access. You can also print a certificate of attendance for the day below.

Don't forget to continue the conversation and share your reflections from the day with us on Twitter @DiscoveryEd with hashtag #SpringVirtCon and don't forget, Fall VirtCon will be here in October.

Download Agenda

Watch Session Archives

Print Attendance Certificate

Zoom in on the map below to see if there are any viewing parties in your area. Click on the icon to find out more about the event, including registration info if this is a public event.

Questions?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On-Demand Event VirtCon is a bi-annual conference that brings our community together to hear cutting-edge keynotes, be inspired by thought-provoking presentations, and participate in engaging discussions with the Discovery Education Community around the globe. Streamed live from our headquarters in Maryland, VirtCon provides you with the opportunity to hear from your peers, share ideas and instructional tools, and discover new resources available to you.

# data[].attributes.headline
Thinking about what we have done  so far

# data[].attributes.subject
Thinking about what we have done  so far

# data[].attributes.body
26 th  April  2015

There are a lot of tools and  we need to think about  them  and why we want to use them, in  particular there are  tools that require  good teachers who can  use them: first of all we are  learners.

So it is important to  try them, because  the more we work with them and the more we can  see how they can work .  I read an article on line which  you can find by following this link

http://www.educationworld.com/a_news/expert-gives-advice-integrating-mobile-devices-classroom-398304567

What the experts ask us to do  is to use the apps and become familiar with them. We should understand what is the best use of them and try to implement our lessons by using them.

Yesterday was a day of self-development for me  :  I followed some webminars about  GOOGLE and its tools: one of the  presenters left her link and her blog

http://d97cooltools.blogspot.it/p/google-docs.html

SELF-DEVELOPMENT ON LINE

I have discovered a lot of  websites and blogs thanks to  TWITTER. I would  suggest these ones :

http://www.edudemic.com/

http://blog.crazyegg.com/ (blog)

http://www.edudemic.com/google-tools-make-education-exciting/  ( It presents  GOOGLE TOOLS)

http://www.edudemic.com/5-ways-use-word-cloud-generators-classroom/ ( Using  WORD CLOUDS for  BRAINSTORMING)

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-free-web-2.0-tools-lisa-dabbs

Interesting presentation about  some tools which are  free: Pinterest,  Edcanvas, LiveBinders  , Story Birds  and  VoiceThread )

# data[].attributes.body
There are a lot apps, I tried to find apps that could be used by students and me: most of them have a computer at home and a smartphone, tablets are becoming more popular but in my area we have few teachers and students who use them.

So I checked these apps, I am used to using prezi and thinglink so I tried a new one which is called emaze. There is a video presentation on the youtube and I must confess that I did not mind it.

http://en.linoit.com/

www.prezi.com

https://www.thinglink.com/

https://www.wevideo.com/

http://en.calameo.com/features

http://www.powtoon.com/

http://emaze.com

Of course there are many more but I must get used to them and try them........

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  2  WHAT KIND OF CONTENT CAN WE  CREATE WITH TABLETS?

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  2  WHAT KIND OF CONTENT CAN WE  CREATE WITH TABLETS?

# data[].attributes.body
INTERESTING VIDEOS PRESENTED BY THE COURSE ORGANIZERS TO GET SOME IDEAS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjd7TCnh0gg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=25&v=trpnqO_9Mrk

Creating an example piece of content

Your task in this section is to create a piece of content yourself and add this to your Learning Diary. This piece of content should be an example of what you would ask your students to producein your class.

As I have already said I cannot use 2.0 tools in class but I would like to have my students who create something similar..........

https://app.emaze.com/@ALOCIORI/presentation-name

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  2  WHAT KIND OF  CONTENT CAN YOU PRODUCE WITH YOUR CLASS?

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  2  WHAT KIND OF  CONTENT CAN YOU PRODUCE WITH YOUR CLASS?

# data[].attributes.body
Post at least one idea for content you could produce together with your students that has a wider purpose and meaning than just the classroom activity. Make sure this is realistic and - very importantly - something that you think your students will care about. Maybe you have already done something similar in the past (with or without tablets), so why not share examples on the padlet and tell us about your experience.

I must confess that what I have seen in the videos is part of my dream - the school where I would like to work and there is a different learning environment, where interaction and meaningful activities are important.

In my school we do not have ipads /tablets and the internet connection is slow and sometimes bad. IT labs do not work well. Using tablets is a dream now but I am thinking of an activitiy which could be done also from home and by using smartphones and computers and tablets for students who own them.

The students in my school are aged 14-19 and I teach six different classes: some students are doing ESP with BUSINESS, others are studying ESP and BUILDING.

The other two classes which I have are learning general ENGLISH. I would choose these two classes because I would like them to work on PBL. They are aged 14-15-16 and they need to work and use English in meaningful activities.

I am thinking about an activity to be presented on line after the students have used their computers and tablets for reasearching information about their region. ( I live in EMILIA-ROMAGNA ITALY).

The students should work in groups and present their region by working on different topics:

- history

- important industries

- towns and cities

- agriculture and typical dishes

- painters and artists ( I teach in Correggio the place where the painter was born) but also important poets and writers Ludovico Ariosto, M.Maria Boiardo, Tondelli.......

- important people from this region ( Romano Prodi, Ferrari,....)

- monuments and symbols of this region

- the sea and the mountains

Once they students are given their topic they will work at school also from home and thanks to GOOGLE and gmail I will be in contact with them and check what they might be doing. The maximum number of students should be 3-4 per group.

They would use the tablets/pc/smartphones for collecting pictures/photos/ and any information which is useful for their activity . They should be able to edit texts and write texts in English and use the 2.0 tools.

The final produts should be presented on line by using:

thinglink

prezi

padlet

The presentation for each group should be based on pictures/videos/ texts in English for each group.

Once they have finished the activities I would like them to present them to the class and have a mark given by me and by their classmates.

The activities should be presented also on line on the school website or in my blogs/sites.

It would be a great idea to have a learning diary of this experience on line : maybe on my blogs so that each group can describe what they have done and why.

It would be nice to share these projects with other schools in Europe but we are not working with E-Twinning and in my school it is difficult to work together. What is bad is the idea that a teacher should work alone and so we have not built a good network of teachers. In the past we had Comenius projects but I have never worked in them and as far as I know the activities were based only on class exchanges.

I forgot to write in this post that my role would be to teach how to use the tools and how to work by setting schedules and helping those who need some support at school but also on line.

The following presentation on line could be an example of a research with www. emaze.com ( this app is easy to use and you can integrate videos and slides with pictures about a presentation with links on line) https://app.emaze.com/@ALOCIORI/my-region-emilia-romagna

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  2   CREATING CREATIVE CONTENT WITH  TABLETS

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  2   CREATING CREATIVE CONTENT WITH  TABLETS

# data[].attributes.body
KEY IDEAS FROM THIS VIDEO

- STUDENTS BECOME THE TEACHERS!

- LET THE STUDENTS CHOOSE THE TOPIC

- SUPPORT STUDENTS' CREATIVITY

- USE OF APPS FOR RECORDING AUDIOS, CREATING VIDEOS, E-BOOKS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M2 Creating Creative Content with Tablets

# data[].attributes.body
The introduction to the content is great: we have a new LEARNING ENVIRONMENT where the teacher is not disappearing but he/she is a great controller and supervises students who are working on a project or an activity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tablets Course | M2 Introduction to Content Creation

# data[].attributes.body
The video showed a nice experience where the Learning Scenario is the perfect SETTING for running lessons , projects and lots of interesting activities on line and off line where ENGAGEMENT is key word. I liked the seven steps:

- DREAM

- EXPLORE

- MAP

- MAKE

-ASK

- REMAKE

- SHOW

The message for me is great : there are activities that involve students while using tablets and working on line with other schools. It is a revolution for some teachers: for me the setting is new because the use of technology seems to be something impossibile in the school where I am teaching but I know that there are schools where teachers are working and doing something similar because internet is working well and they have tablets at school. Unfortunatelly this is not my reality.

I did a course on line based on the teaching 21st century skills last year and most of the activities were run in a similar way.

Students worked in groups and pairs and had to make presentations.

I feel that this approach would be the ideal one for schools because we can develop skills and help our students . There must be a great planning on behalf of the team of teachers who are working with students in different countries. As regards the video which I have seen the output must have been excellent for the students. I was pleased to see how such a group of students and their teachers were working in a good learning environment.

Similar steps are used in activities that students have done in European projects : the final output was an artefact and a presentation on line and also in front of the students when the foreign students came to Italy.

I think that we should all have the opportunity of starting similar activities because benefits can be for all the students, also the less able ones

# data[].attributes.body
http://creative.eun.org/scenarios

There are a o

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  2- Using  Tablets for Content Creation 

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  2- Using  Tablets for Content Creation 

# data[].attributes.body
The description to the new module can be found in this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JasqjgOarDA

Aims of this Module- learning objectives:

1. Knowledge of a process of developing innovative "learning scenarios"

2. Understanding of what content creation with tablets refers to and how to implement this pedagogically effective in the classroom

3. Knowledge of a range of apps that can be used for content creation projects in the classroom

4. Develop a piece of content with a tablet that can be used as an example in a content creation project

5. REVISION OF MODULE 1 ON LINE

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE  1.   
What classroom challenges do I already face or do I anticipate
facing when using tablets?

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE  1.   
What classroom challenges do I already face or do I anticipate
facing when using tablets?

# data[].attributes.body
I might move to another school next year , if I didn't I think that my present school  would have problems because most of the teachers do not  work well with technology and only a few teachers keep on learning about WEB 2.0. Some have never  used it in their activities, they just  read books or  write on the blackboard.  They are not ready to learn about  new tools , which is  really bad!! And sometimes the class team of teachers does not share the same objectives!

For my students it would be great to work with  tablets because they have  smartphones and  love technology: the first issue would be  to cope with their work in class.

RULES AND TEACHING STUDENTS WHY THEY USE TABLETS

Not everybody  is aware of the risks of  using internet, it would be advisable to work  on projects also from home and to have the teachers who help the students to start using the tablets and by  giving them  RULES.

I would  choose to use tablets with  the  oldest students and only for activities that involve projects  in my  first year  classes ( students are  14-15 years old).

IT TAKES TIME TO LEARN HOW TO WORK AND ALSO TO PLAN ACTIVITIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS. BECAUSE MY MOTTO IS " I LOVE TEACHING!"

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 1     What whole-school challenges do I already face or do I anticipate
facing when using tablets?

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 1     What whole-school challenges do I already face or do I anticipate
facing when using tablets?

# data[].attributes.body
There might be many changes and I would say that the first one is WHERE to work with the students and HOW .

The old brick school is still present: small rooms, lack o wi-fi connection and sometimes we have classes with too many students. If you want to use tablets and have the class control  you need to teach students that they are going to work in a different way and RESPONSABILITY is a key word.

RULES ARE A MUST FOR ME : and once more it is a matter of school rules and how to teach them and everybody should know them and know that the system can work if you do not CHEAT!

The organization of the class activities need to be changed and project work should be implemented but once more I am worried because most of the other teachers have not been instructed and I could not work on my own but I should rely on the students' responsability and also the other teachers' help and support because learning can happen if you do something together.

Personally I would choose to work with a team of teachers and decide to work in groups with my students to help them while starting working.

My great fear is that even if we had tablets to start with technology could be the tool for working and the system must work well otherwise there might be the chaos.

And what happes if internet is not working and you have all the documents on line? Now I have books and photopiers for texts I need, internet can be great but sometimes it does not work ........ and how should we cope with technology if it does not work well?

# data[].attributes.headline
MODULE 1    WHAT IS YOUR MAIN REASON FOR USING OR WANTING TO USE  TABLETS IN YOUR SCHOOL?

# data[].attributes.subject
MODULE 1    WHAT IS YOUR MAIN REASON FOR USING OR WANTING TO USE  TABLETS IN YOUR SCHOOL?

# data[].attributes.body
CREATING A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

In my school we do not have tablets but I would like to use them with my secondary school students who learn  English with me. Learning should be engaging and fun and this is not always true for my lessons because I cannot rely on the use of VIDEOS, LISTENING TO MUSIC OR IMPORTANT SPEECHES or images.

I teach languages and I need a new learning environment:  tablets would  enable me to  work on line with students and classes at school and also from home, to have  access to any kind of resources on line while searching for interesting materials, news, videos.....

You need to have more involvement: thus  tablets  enable  COLLABORATION, SHARING and  CRITICAL THINKING , in particular if  you are  doing a project.

The 21st century skills should be  learnt  while you are at school.

From a technical point of view tablets are good because  you have  access to plenty of resources on line ( plays, videos, songs, e-books,.. news,..... poems, pictures, web 2.0 tools ) in many languages and they provide us with  real English and authentic materials if we are  language teachers.

There would also be  an advantage for the less able students who could work on projects and try to become  more  engaged.

TABLETS open the way to a new approach which is flipped classroom and where  books are less important , because the process of learning cannot be based on listening and repeating what the teachers have said and explained based on the texts during the lesson.  Less TTT( TEACHER TALKING TIME)  but more students ' engagement and also creation of  work on line, projects where they share what they have learnt  and they are required to present  them or they choose an activity and  present the topic to the  class ( in English).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.entities[].name
Educational Tablet for Teachers and Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uploaded by Techknowledge for Schools on 2014-01-09.

# data[].attributes.headline
MY SCHOOL AND MY LEARNING SITUATION  - ITALY

# data[].attributes.subject
MY SCHOOL AND MY LEARNING SITUATION  - ITALY

# data[].attributes.body
I have been teaching in a vocational school which is located in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The school has about 850 students with different courses. I teach English for BUSINESS and ESP: next year I might move to another school because we are going to have fewer classes.

The school does not have good technology , some IT labs, some laptops and OHP for teachers who need to use them, but they must book the devices in advance because the laptops are only 4 for about 40 classes. The school has small classes and it is difficult to plan activities which are engaging.Somebody is always complaining because there are noises: but education is also students who work together and smile, shout and love learning in a noisy environment.

Internet is available but we cannot use YOUTUBE in the IT lab. I usually choose videos , download them and we watch them at school after we have booked the television or the laptop. I feel I am missing a lot of new and modern devices but BYOD ( BRING YOUR OWN DEVICES) is only what I can do.

Sometimes I upload videos on my website and then send the links to the students who can see them from home and sometimes also at school on their mobile phone.

It is a sad situation but this is my school: I wish I could work better

# data[].attributes.headline
My ideas about  teaching and learning in the XXI century

# data[].attributes.subject
My ideas about  teaching and learning in the XXI century

# data[].attributes.body
Today we do need to become better teachers and also the use of the new technologies can make our school a better learning environment. Teaching is not easy and today we are faced with a lot of problems: it is difficult to meet the needs of our students and families are asking us to work more and in a better way.

Without education there is no future , so I feel that everywhere in the world we should invest so that our students can become better citizens .

As a teacher of languages and as I live in the European Union I think that more motivated teachers can make a difference.

I have started my journey into education and CPD and I would like to become better because I am aware that if my teaching experience is bad I will have a negative impact on the life of my students.

I have learnt a lot but I am going on with my improvement and I would like to support my students working in English and using CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS and the new technologies.

Education is a priority for children, for teenagers and also adults!!

# data[].attributes.body
I have started an account with TWITTER

https://twitter.com/virginiawoolf64

But I have also some more accounts with other social networks:

https://it.linkedin.com/pub/tiziana-angiolini/77/340/72b

https://www.pinterest.com/tangiolini/

On my page with LINKEDIN I have uploaded some certificates which I have received after I finished my courses with COURSERA, EDX.ORG and other MOOCS courses on line.

What I like doing on line:

- On Saturday I am regularly on line and follow Peggy George and the great webminars which they organize on Saturday afternoon :

http://www.classroom20.com/

I am also a member of this group of teachers who are mainly based in the USA.

The webminars are for teachers and deal with the use of new technologies in teaching. It is a must for everyone who loves teaching.

In ITALY I am a member of LEND, this is an organization that runs seminars and development courses for teachers of Italian and Foreign Languages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.entities[].name
Barack Obama Speech on Education for Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bill Gates on Education and Good Teachers

# data[].attributes.body
I am a teacher of ENGLISH in a secondary school in the north of Italy. I love my job although there are a lot of difficulties, which are due mainly to the social problems in the area where I live and to the lack of investments : yes, schools are suffering because there is no money for teachers and schools are still rooted in the old school of the XIX-XX century!!

I am interested in technology, language and teaching foreign languages and I would like my students to become better learners.

These are my two blogs:

http://educationalandissue.blogspot.it/

http://gettingdigitalizedinlifeandwork.blogspot.it/

These are my two websites, which I have done with GOOGLE:

https://sites.google.com/site/english teachereinaudi/

https://sites.google.com/site/thenewworldoflearning/

I have also bookedmarked my favourite websites or links:

http://www.pearltrees.com/italianteacher

and I love teaching and learning about other cultures and countries.

I am interested in CPD and in building my personal learning network ( PLN).