Showing posts with label activities in middle and secondary school classrooms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label activities in middle and secondary school classrooms. Show all posts

Earth Hour 2011: It's time to go beyond the hour!




http://wwf.ca/earthhour/

At 8:30 PM (local time) on Saturday, March 26, 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

With Earth Hour almost upon us, our thoughts are with the people of Japan during this incredibly challenging and sad time for their country.

The simple idea of switching off lights for an hour to drive action on climate change began in Australia in 2007.

This year it’s expected that well over 1 billion people in over 145 countries will take part.

This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.


Portugal

In Portugal 81 cities will switch off the lights of some emblematic monuments ! Families, friends, will stay together to switch off the lights at home. Some go on the street to illuminate the cities with candle lights.







Education:

Students are more and more motivated for environmental problems.  I have developed some Earth Hour projects with my students for Earth Hour 2008Earth Hour 2009Earth Hour 2010 in Portuguese curricum, Une Heure pour la Terre 2010 in French foreign language curriculum. 





Here some activities created by Earth Hour network that you can develope in the classroom, envolving your stydents:


  • Virtual Lantern project - Create a virtual lantern with the students. Choose a lantern shape, color and write a message and complete here 
  • Play the Lights out Game (younger students) here
  • Virtual Light Switch here

And why not a students' concert like this one...





Young violinists Conservatory of Music
Lisbon Metropolitana Orchestra




In Lisbon, the, the young group of Metropolitana Orchestra consisting of violin students from the Conservatory of Music of Lisbon, between 3 and 18 years old will play during Earh Hour 2011. Read here (Portuguese site).

This solidarity concert will take place at Aula Magna, Lisbon, at 8:30 PM (local time).


It is not just about lights, although the lights provide the lovely visible marketing shots of cities going dark. 


Turning off your computer, your TV and all those other power-hungry devices is an important part of the process. Your Geeklet ritually disconnecting from their game and shutting down the computer is really making a sacrifice. 


So, we are all on it! Tomorrow, 8:30 PM (local time) switch our lights, disconnect our geeklet ritual, light on our candles!




G-Souto
25.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 

I would love iPad 2 in the classroom!



CEO Steve Jobs presenting iPad 2

Here it is! iPad 2 the fabulous device! 
Do you remember my 1st post about "iPad features and education" July 10, 2010 here. I wrote "we are looking forward to experiment this amazing media device! Don't you think? It's like love at first site!"


Now, it's even better! The CEO Steve Jobs himself was there to present iPad 2!  



"Apple CEO Steve Jobs declared the end of the PC era today as he unveiled the iPad 2. And he touted the educational benefits of the iPad in his presentation, highlighting in one video the impact that the device has had in particular on autistic children."
So is the iPad 2 ready for the classroom? Let's see...



The iPad 2, unveiled yesterday, addresses even more of the drawbacks of the iPad as an educational device.

The iPad 2 has two cameras. The addition of GarageBand and iMovie - two very popular pieces of software in the classroom - will enable students to create multimedia projects. Wonderful!


iPad 2 (features)

Reading Alice in Wonderland, Prince of Persia,  'Jack and the Beanstalk', 'Aesop's Fables', or 'Tangled' is like to enter in another dimension. True, right?


But children's books are all about big, splashy pictures and wild colors elements perfectly suited to iPad screens. Needless to say, the iPad can do a lot more than just display static pages. It can read stories aloud, it can enrich a classic tale with touch-powered extras, and it can even render pages in 3D (not suitable for chidren under 6-7 years old).

When students are reading a book, they may to do marks, highlights and notes. The users of iBooks can also read and right PDF directly in the application.  Reading children's literature, that's amazing. Yet even with all the extras, reading is so natural on iPad, the technology seems to disappear.


iPad 2/ Apple
http://images.apple.com

Many of the limitations that make the device ill-suited for the classroom have already been addressed - through various iOS upgrades and by the explosion of educational apps and e-books. The iPad now has multi-tasking (sort of). 


Students can print. They can learn the narrative text, learning foreign languages, playing video games - Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, learning Biology, Geography and Music - Arcade Fire, funny and pedagogical, Art - The Google Art Project... 


Literature, Science, Geography, Sport, Music, Art, the fundamental curricula on iPad! All in a device and such good apps! 


And what about search in real time, news, magazines, Google maps, social networks ( Facebook, Twitter), work (Google docs). All these features offer teachers and students a delicious motivation push!  


"iPad apps are expanding the learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. From interactive lessons to study aids to productivity tools, there’s something for everyone."
Apple in Education

The addition of the HDMI cable will mean that iPad content can be connected to a HDTV (which really isn't the projection device that most teachers have in their classrooms), but... it's a start!

iPad 2 (gallery)



'It's necessary to hold iPad with both hands. When we write on Ipad is a bit boring because finger touches stay on screen and the reflexs too', I wrote. Well... not anymore! Like Apple says: 'Less in your hands, more at your fingertips.'

"iPad 2 and iPad Smart Cover are made for each other. Literally. Built-in magnets draw the Smart Cover to iPad for a perfect fit that not only protects, but also wakes up, stands up, and brightens up your iPad. That’s not just smart. It’s genius."

Now students are managing to do more than simply "consume" via the iPad. And whether the iPad is just a shiny, engaging, but expensive novelty, if nothing else, trading in a backpack full of textbooks for a 1.3 lb tablet is a win for students' physical well-being. It's a good reason!



iPad 2 apps

Has Apple, already the beneficiary of a lot of good will from teachers, shown today that it's ready to take on the challenges of bringing iPads into the classroom? 

The cost of the new iPad is beyond many educators and students reach - oh! God! What a pity! - There are no educational discounts in iTunes.






After this video, and reading, during the past year, some successful reports of schools piloted iPad programs, students are managing to do a lot via the iPad. 

So, as an educator, I can say that iPad will "change the learning landscape"! iPad 2 will change completely the way educators an students will move in classroom!

A new and 'delicious' media world to use on Education! No more backpack full of texts books! Not completely... books are always need but in a less number.

With iPad 2 new features and apps, young people will love to have an iPad 2 on their table in classroom ! Exciting!

Me too! I would love to have iPad 2 on my work table!

G-Souto
03.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Credits: Apple, iPad 2

References:

ReadWriteWeb, Audrey Watters, 'Will the iPad 2 Make the Grade for Classroom Usage?'

Souto, Gina, 'Ipad features and education'

Souto, Gina, 'And now, Alice for iPad'

Souto, Gina, 'Prince of Persia, an interesting narrative text'

Souto, Gina, Dr., 'EFQUEL Innovation Forum Lisboa 2010'