Coatesville

Following on from the first Lead teacher [April 3rd ] more staff were introduced to VoiceThread during Terms 2 and 3. Results from this have been the integration of this program into Written Language. Students scanned their own illustrations and recorded their stories. VoiceThread was also used as a presentation tool for reports produced from Inquiry Learning studies. Samples of the students work have been embedded into some class blogs. Some examples can be found through the School website [[|http://www.coatesville.school.nz/]] under the heading Information Technology/Classroom blogs/Room12 To make the recording more successful 12 quality microphones were purchased. These also enhanced recording of Photostory presentations at New Entrant to Year 2 level. Some examples can be found through the School website [[|http://www.coatesville.school.nz/]] under the heading “nformation Technology/Photostory” Class blogs have also been used to share published stories with the outside community. Students are motivated and have gained confidence from positive comments from parents and other readers. One teacher had noted in her appraisal that a goal for 2008 was to establish a class blog. [  __ coatesville6.blogspot.com __ ] S   he has achieved her goal, finding maintaining the site quite manageable. The purchasing this year of enough digital cameras so that all classes have their own has resulted in extensive use by students photographing class activities for use in written language especially at New Entrant and Year 1 level. Still photos have also been incorporated into Coatesville TV. In Term 3 a local professional photographer, over a series of 3 weeks, coached a small group of Year 5 and 6 students in skills needed for good photos. These children have subsequently helped junior children with taking photos. Douglas visited on 29th July and August 13th and worked with five Year 4 and 5 students up skill them to be peer coaches in the use of the free software, Paint.net. Two teachers participated in these workshops to observe the process of how to develop student coaches. In the second session the trained students had the opportunity to use what that had learnt to coach a further group of students to manipulate their choice of photos. A parent / Student Interactive evening was held** Term 3.** This involved a group of students per classroom first demonstrating their new ICT program knowledge and skills. The roles were then reversed with the students encouraging the parents to have a go. The use of the Mimio boards attracted a lot of attention as many parents had not experienced an interactive board. The evening successfully involved the outside community and another ICT night will be planned for the coming year. Two teachers attended Lead Teacher day [September 4th]. The visit to Summerland enabled Coatesville teachers to discuss with Summerland staff, choice of video cameras and microphones. Consequently a microphone was purchased to enhance sound quality of Coatesville TV. A weekly ICT GATE group has been established as the "Coatesville Reporters" videoing aspects and opinions of school life. Children have discussed and listed success criteria in the areas of planning, presenting and technical skills which include operating a video camera, editing using Movie maker and adding sound. Time is allocated at syndicate assemblies to share finished productions. The majority of editing is now done by students. A noticeable improvement in oral language has been made by these students who are growing in confidence and producing quality interviewing questions. Some student opinions can be heard through the School website [[|http://www.coatesville.school.nz/]] under the heading “Information Technology/Student Voice”. Greater use of the video camera created a necessity for more cameras. Therefore a ICT-a-Thon was embarked on involving all students. ICT related questions were compiled suited to the different learning levels. Money raised enabled Coatesville School to purchase 2 more cameras giving each syndicate easy access to a video camera. As a mid-study formative assessment activity, Room 5 used the video camera to record the Childrens’ ideas of “What is unique to New Zealand? This was also an authentic oral language learning opportunity. Some student opinions can be heard through the School website [[|http://www.coatesville.school.nz/]] under the heading “Information Technology/Student Voice Sharing ideas and information at staff meetings by 3 teachers who attended Classroom at Work, Melbourne conference continued into Term 3. In a staff meeting Oct 21st. 3 other teachers who attended Ulearn. shared the main points made by speaker Tony Ryan, further ways to integrate Habits of Mind and how Wordles can be used to enhance the editing of written language. Jenny has worked with several teachers sharing how and where to integrate Digital learning objects. D.L.O’s are now used in most classes by students especially in the areas of mathematics, language and inquiry learning knowledge attack. In a study of the brain Year 5/6 students used brain based digital learning objects for information and produced posters to inform the rest of the class of their findings. Photos can be seen on the School website [[|http://www.coatesville.school.nz/]] under the heading “Information Technology/Room 10”. Junior teachers have made observations that some interactive activities are not independent enough for the new entrant and year one level. Time restrictions prevent teachers ensuring that children become more confident in using these sites. This is an area where Coatesville can plan to give teacher support in 2009. Due to the increased integrated use of ICT in classrooms the main server had to be upgraded in Term 4. In order to give students equal opportunity of access to computers, the Coatesville P.F.A has successfully raised sufficient funds for 28 laptops to be purchased in Term 4. These will be available to classrooms in 4 C.O.W’s (Computers On Wheels) in pods of 7. 15 staff members attended the last cluster day at Dairy Flat. From the demonstrations of ways to use Audacity, some Coatesville teachers are going to use this programme to make editing of written language more engaging and effective for students, Coatesville has offered to host a Cluster Staff meeting in Term 1 2009 to sustain the initiatives developed during the ICT Contract. Time with Jenny on December 2nd enabled us as a school to plan for future sustainability. The “ICT Buddy” system for Coatesville Staff implemented during the contract will be continued in 2009. Staff will continue to be given professional development, individually or in ICT related staff meetings to support their personal ICT goals.
 * 10.2.7 Evidence of how ICT has been utilized to improve student engagement and enhance achievement.  **

Using senior students experts, Year 2 students were coached in the use of Paint and Artrage in preparation for drawing their own pictures for Photostory. With the children paired up’ the whole class was able to have the same learning opportunity and their planned photo story gave them a motive for their learning. With the opportunity to use VoiceThread the reticent writer was encouraged and enthused to plan, write, search for suitable illustrations to record their reports. The use of Mimio in Mathematics provides the kinesthetic learner an opportunity for hands on approach, building confidence and knowledge, enabling the learner to impart what they are learning to peers. An example of this is the use of the protractor tool from the Mimio Gallery to demonstrate the measurement of angles. The use of Mimio as an instructional tool for whole class learning in writing enabled the children to successfully edit each others emails before sending them to their e-pal’s in Luxembourg.