Oteha+Valley

Home  =Oteha Valley School Milestone 10= If you wish to include digital evidence to support your report, please provide reference to appropriate URLs.  ICT Contract Oteha Valley School Milestone 10 Report // As noted in the Strategic Plan there was a need to further develop oral literacy skills across the school. We felt the best way to do this was to have a year long focus on Oral Language and to use ICT as the basis for the teaching and learning in this area. // On 31 July, 3 teachers worked with our Facilitator, Jenny, looking at utilising the small pod of Apple computers in the library. They discovered the basics of using Apple and looked at iMovie and Kidpix and how they could use these programmes focusing on oral language skills. The teachers then took a small group of children for instruction on these and they became experts for others. 1 teacher worked on Kidpix with Jenny and how to use with Yr 1’s and incorporate oral language. These skills were shared with staff at the next meeting and the Yr 1’s have made Kidpix bugs and recorded information about them. On 7 Nov, 3 teachers worked with Jenny on Voice Thread and Podcasting/Audacity and how to put onto the class web page. The school purchased a sound system for the school hall. This was directly related to the need for better sound equipment at school assemblies, where children were presenting their new skills in using Podcasting, Audacity and Photostory and therefore improving their oral language possibilities. We have seen a huge improvement in the dramatic performance of children, listening skills and motivation for presenting in these ways. Teachers are keen to have a go at showcasing their children’s oral skills in these ways. In October we sent 4 teachers to the Ulearn conference in Christchurch. (1 Lead teacher, 1 syndicate teacher, 1 Yr 5/6 teacher and 1 Yr 1 BT) All teachers came back positively motivated and keen to share the “good things”. There is evidence of new learning being incorporated in all rooms as a result. Examples: Tony Ryans’ “Thinking” workshops Inquiry learning in the junior class Moodle Incorporating Key Competencies Freeville Schools’ curriculum Energizers using ICT Staff meetings have continued with the focus of oral language. On 19 Aug we shared Photostory and Audacity examples and looked at new resources we had ordered to promote oral language. On 11 and 18 Nov, the meetings were on Ulearn sharing, with the teachers involved giving feedback on Key Note speakers and workshops of interest. (See above) Just in Time, one to one and group workshop tutoring has taken place to teach; a new teacher how to complete the class web page, Comic Life, Audacity, Voice Thread, and using the new sound system. 10 Teachers attended the cluster sharing session at Torbay, enjoying a variety of workshops. Feedback was positive with many saying they would try one of the programmes/ideas in their room. As a direct result Comic Life was then used in 2 rooms to display photos from the Olympic day. Nov 4, 12 Teachers attended the after school sharing session at Dairy Flat. We participated in a bus stop activity sharing ideas, websites etc. Lead Teacher days (4 Sept/5 Nov) included a visit to Summerland School, a discussion on “looking forward to sustainability” and then working on Milestone 10, eLearning with Jenny and sustainability. At the end of Term 3 we created an ICT team to look at the Milestone requirements and to plan for sustainability in our school. This was comprised of Lead Teacher and a teacher from every area of the school. We discussed the overall success of the ICT cluster/survey/ways to show evidence for the milestone/where to next/needs and wishes for next year. This team will continue next year with the focus on sustainability. A plan has been drawn up. As a result of all the above, we are seeing many examples of oral language incorporated with ICT being used successfully throughout the school. All teachers agree that the school’s focus on oral language has been enhanced by the work with Photo Story, podcasts, Audacity and Voice Thread. Fluency, articulation, and expression has improved. The children have been highly motivated in using these programmes. All syndicates are automatically including ICT activities which promote oral language, into their term planning. The feeling is that should our curriculum review suggest there be a focus on, for example, written language or reading in the future, then implementing it through the use of ICT would be the most effective way. The teaching of specific oral language skills, prior to using them during a presentation, has enabled the children to present in a more effective way and to critically evaluate their efforts. They have appreciated being able to hear immediately how their voices sound and change or re-record if necessary. Many children said they have found their voice can be used in different ways for different purposes. Where they once disliked the sound of their recorded voice they are now proud to be part of an oral presentation and the quality of speech has improved. There has been a distinct improvement in children’s oral presentations when speaking at school assemblies, particularly in projection and fluency. All classes use ICTs in almost every item presented at assemblies, which is a powerful communication and motivational tool for other teachers, children and parents. A number of children from different classes were surveyed and this is a summary of results: // All teachers were surveyed and this is a summary of results // // Examples of work and interviews with children and teachers // <[|Oteha ICT Movies]>
 * A half page evaluative summary of the impact of the ICT PD Contract**
 * Programme Overview and review of progress Term 3 and 4 **
 * Yr 1 – Assembly item - video about bugs (chn speaking as Entomologist)
 * Yr 1 – Audacity to give information about bugs
 * Yr 1 – Audacity to present class story “Who Sank The Boat”
 * Yr 2 - Assembly Power Point about the Olympics and recording the script
 * Yr 3/4 - Polycom – formulated questions to ask expert (Marine Biologist) about Sea Shore and made into Photo Story
 * Yr 3/4 - Inquiry to be presented using ICT /oral language
 * Yr 3/4 - Voice Thread to give information about photos taken of Rocky Shore
 * Yr 5/6 – Audacity to publish written work orally
 * Yr 5/6 – Audacity for ESOL/lower ability reading group. Chn read story slowly clearly, others follow script as they listen
 * Yr 5/6 – Photo Story – helicopter visit
 * Yr 5/6 – Photo Story/Audacity/Podcasts - class web page
 * Yr 5/6 – Assembly Podcast of Olympic games
 * Yr 5/6 – Audacity to present Inquiry on Famous NZer in form of interview
 * Feedback from the teachers, noting the improvement of Oral Literacy skills **
 * Evidence of how ICT has been utilized to improve student engagement and enhance achievement. **
 * Children’s Oral Language Survey Results **
 * Programmes used; //“Pod Casting, Voice Thread, Photo Story and Audacity, Power Point”//
 * Skills needed; //“confidence, expression, clear voice, enthusiasm, loud enough, good listening”//
 * Oral language skills that have improved; //“better expression, clearer voice, helped me to think, better volume, you have to listen well and be quiet”//
 * Student engagement; //all said they enjoyed it, some said it was helpful, was good way to practice being expression, it was fun//
 * What did you notice about your recorded voice? //“Sometimes sounds higher, squeaky and different, doesn’t sound like me, sounds funny”//
 * Was this a good way to practise oral language skills? //“really good way, you get rid of stage fright, yes, I improved a lot, yes very much, yes, and fun”//
 * Teacher’s Oral Language Survey results **
 * Programmes used to promote oral language skills//; “Audacity, Photo Story, Podcasting, Voice Thread, Power Pt”//
 * Language skills focused on//; “speaking slowly, expression, clarity, volume, listening, critical evaluation, speaking to audience”//
 * Level of student engagement//; “high level, those not using equipment directly were focused on listening and providing constructive feedback, loved the thought of recording their voices and playing it back, completely focused, loved presentation aspect, loved hearing own voices”//
 * How has oral language improved? “//Able to self evaluate, could hear own mistakes, aware of what a good reader should sound like, chn are slowing speech down when presenting, more expression, better volume, more dramatic, clearer speaking voice”//
 * Barriers to learning//: “Took time to organise, Audacity is quite fiddly with the younger chn, needed a lot of teacher input, needed a quiet place to record”//

=Oteha Valley School Milestone 9=    ** What Happened in your school this year up to June 6 regarding ICT? **    All 12 teachers attended the cluster’s two-day ICT conference on 31 January-01 February. Two teachers presented breakout sessions at this conference – one showing how ICT was integrated into classroom programmes at Year 1-2 level, and the other demonstrating work done by children in Years 2-6 using //Book Backchat// from the English Online website. All teachers have shared something from their learning at the conference in staff meetings held on 12 and 19 February.   <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> On 20 March 7 teachers worked with our Facilitator, Jenny, to incorporate an auditory commentary into Photo Story. After the demonstration, each teacher from the senior syndicate then brought a small group into the session and the children recorded their own commentaries into pre-prepared photographs, with Jenny providing guidance. The junior syndicate teachers made their own group movie following their demonstration. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> 2 teachers worked with our Facilitator, Douglas, on 11 April to learn how to use Audacity effectively. They have since done a general sharing of their work at a staff meeting on 15 April, then led a workshop with all teachers in their syndicate during the week beginning 05 May on the use of this software. In all, 11 other teachers benefited from this process. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> 2 teachers worked with our Facilitator, Jenny, on 11 April to set up their classroom blogs. They have since done a general sharing of their work at a staff meeting on 15 April, then split into two groups (junior/senior) to workshop the blog process with all teachers in their syndicate on 27 May. In all, 11 other teachers benefited from this process. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> 10 teachers attended the cluster’s ICT combined staff meeting at Coatesville School on 20 May. They enjoyed the opportunity to talk with those children and teachers, and all gained ideas from this practical opportunity to see another school’s ICT in action. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  **<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> How effective were the activities in meeting the success criteria which were identified? ** <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> All teachers gained considerably from the cluster’s two-day conference, and many have followed up with individual presenters for more information related to breakout sessions they attended. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> The school’s focus on oral language has been enhanced by the work with Photo Story and Audacity. Fluency, articulation, and expression have improved. Of particular note has been the discussion among children as they listen to their first recordings and work out the improvements, then to hear their subsequent product. One Year 5-6 class presented the school’s application to the “Shore to Shore Trust” for funding as a series of interviews in a podcast. This impressed the Harbour Sport officials and parts of the podcast were played at the prizegiving as an example of a quality application. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">  <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> There has already been a distinct improvement in children’s oral presentations when speaking at school and syndicate assemblies, particularly in voice projection and fluency. Junior classes are using Audacity to enhance fluency and volume in oral reading - children record onto Audacity then look at the sound bars as an instant visual self-assessment. Senior children are confident to independently conduct interviews and edit them for presentation. All classes now use ICTs in almost every item presented at school assemblies.
 * <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"> Evidence of how ICT has been utilized to improve student engagement and achievement **