Wordsearch Maker

Using Word search Maker is simple and effective. Its a great way to introduce key words into a lesson and is another interactive teaching resource that is useful for theory based classroom teaching.  





SAIS Glen Coe

 

SAIS Glen Coe
Working in winter as a Mountain leader I use varied resources to collate enough information before going out onto the hill. A blog that I use regularly is Sport Scotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). It is a seasonal blog which is up-dated from December to April.


This blog is a means of area SAIS forecasters to pass on local knowledge and daily observations. They walk up the Mountain daily to photograph and record weather, snow pack and report up-to-date snow stability and avalanche hazard.

It is linked to other SAIS blogs of different areas of the Cairngorms so you can access information depending on the area where you intend to climb, ski, mountain walk etc

SAIS Southern Cairngorms blog
SAIS Creag Meagaidh blog
SAIS Lochaber blog
SAIS Northern Cairngorms blog
SAIS Torridon blog

The blog also has a weekly analysis of the snow change, this is an example

Weekly Snowpack Summary

• The snowpack has been mainly isothermic and moist at most levels for the past week and is generally well bonded and stable. We have encountered South, South-West and Westesterly weather influences with the freezing level generally above the summits. The avalanche moderate hazard has been Low for 6 of the days with one day with a localised Moderate hazard. The day Moderate (localised) was forecast did not materialize because new snow amounts were not significant. This is the last summary of the 2013/2014

The blog is also linked to SAIS this is all key information to collate before pursuing in outdoor activities in the mountain and is easily accessed from one blog. Brilliant!

The Value of Mobile Technology in Teaching and Learning

Mobile technology (M-learning) is constantly developing in education, as Petty (2004 p. 375) states 'Don't forget digital cameras video cameras and mobile phones; these can also be very useful resources for students and teachers' mobile technology allows greater access to learning resources, whereas fixed nodes such as desktop PC's have restricted access due to time and location.

Starr (2003) states that the success of using M-learning as a learning resource is its independence to time and place. This involves:

• the use of mobile access devices such as laptop computers hand-held Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and  mobile phones
• the enhancement/development of learning materials and management systems to work with an increasing range of access devices
•  the development of learning opportunities created through the development of these technologies. Starr (2003)

There are many benefits for using M-learning, students have constant access to e-learning resources and activities and it enables continuous communication between learners via e-mail and discussion groups to aid with learning. It can enhance interactivity in contact teaching situations and as the technology is mobile it can enhance learning environments that are outside the classroom, i.e adventurous activities venues.

PDAs and laptops can facilitate a great level of interaction when used in contact sessions.
Starr (2003). It enables opportunities for polling groups, allowing students to share opinions and vote to choose for the teacher to change the activities or topics being taught. Anonymous contributions to discussions and brainstorms can encourage greater participation and for introvert students to express their opinions and ideas.

It must be emphasized that like all technology used in teaching there are barriers with M-learning and that it can not be relied on in its own right.
Starr (2003) quotes the following constraints:

• Infrastructure costs- who provides mobile devices and pays mobile phone contracts and billing
• Increased admin and support- initial set-up, maintenance and trouble shooting mobile devices demands a significant amount of support
• Managing learning resources
• Accessibility
• Increased demands on tutors - 24/7 access to learning resources may lead to increased demands on tutors

However, I feel there are greater benefits than constraints and used with other teaching strategies enhance students learning and access to teaching resources.

References

Petty, G. (2004) 'A practical Guide Teaching Today'  Third Edition. Cheltenham. Nelson Thomas Ltd.Starr, S. (2003) 'Application of Mobile technology in Learning and Teaching: 'M-learning' 

Experience with Microsoft Applications Powerpoint

Since learning new skills and tools in creating a PowerPoint presentation I decided to create a lesson using this Microsoft Application as a teaching aid for BTEC Outdoor and Adventurous Activities.

The teaching aim was to allow students to gain knowledge about Indoor facilities available in the UK for adventurous activities and now about recent facilities being developed.

I was previously cynical about using ICT at a teaching aid in adventurous training, however  I was highly motivated by the learning outcome by the students and the interaction and involvement in the lesson.

Video clips of the indoor facilities was a successful and experiential learning tool that enabled students to visual the facility and its purpose. This was a lot more powerful than just lecturing about the venue and giving information orally.


YouTube embedded videos. Ice Factor, Kinlochleven. Dirt Factory (development)

 

 

I added slides with information to give knowledge of the learning objectives and also tasks for the class to complete to keep the lesson diverse with different teaching aids.

 

 

 

In pairs create a list of Outdoor Adventurous Activities and discuss which ones have indoor facilities.

 

Rock Climbing

Bouldering

Ice Climbing

Via Ferrata (Italian translation 'Iron Way'))

Mountain biking

Skiing

Snow boarding

Caving

Surfing

Kayaking

Canoeing

Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP)

 

On reflection, I feel that using these new skills I have acquired I  have enhanced my teaching and will use presentation tools in future in lessons I feel could be enhanced by this applications.