Course Introduction

 

Module 1: Getting started with tablets at school

 

Module 2: Using tablets for content creation

 

Module 3: Using tablets for collaborative learning

 

Module 4: Using tablets for personalising learning & flipping the classroom

Welcome to Module 2

 Thanks for all the amazing work you have done already in Module 1. Make sure to watch Katja's summary of Module 1 where she identifies some key insights from the discussions and highlights some of your work. Please note that it is impossible for us to go through everybody's contributions on the course so please don't be disappointed if your work isn't mentioned. It is very likely that this has nothing do with the quality of your work and is simply due to us not having had a chance to look at your work. 

 

Now let's move on to Module 2. Start out with watching Katja's brief overview of the topics covered.

 

To access the script for the above videos click here. 

The module focuses on content creation with tablets, one of the more straight-forward pedagogical scenarios that was implemented during the Creative Classrooms Lab project.

To start us off, Katja introduces a process to develop pedagogical scenarios, activities and lesson plans that was used successfully in the Creative Classrooms Lab project. While a bit longer, this video will be an important basis for you to understand other videos still coming on the course as they make reference to this process.

We then look at some examples and advice of teachers, academics and policy makers about implementing more content creation using tablets in the classroom.

In this module we have two key questions/tasks.

  1. Identify 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
  2. Create some content with a tablet (can be your personal tablet) to use as an example when doing a content creation project in your class

 

So at the end of this module you should have achieved the following 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

2.1 An introduction to Learning Scenarios

We start out this module with a comprehensive overview of a process that was used to design innovative pedagogical scenarios for using tablets in the classroom. Such a process is essential for ensuring that any innovation happening due to to technology integration in the classroom is effective and long-lasting. 

In the context of this course it is also important for you to understand what Learning Scenarios are and what they include as there is quite a bit of material on the course which makes reference to the scenarios developed as part of the CCL project. 

For more information see also here: http://creative.eun.org/scenarios

 

Download document: script Module 2_section 2.1.pdf

 

2.2 Introduction to content creation

In all coming modules we will introduce a new Learning Scenario. In this module we focus on content creation. We start out with this scenario as it is comparatively easier to implement with tablets than the ones in the later modules. 

Watch Katja's introduction to the content creation scenario which provides an overview of why content creation is an interesting pedagogical scenario, then looks at the role of the student and teacher in such a scenario and finally explores the role of the tablet in this scenario in more detail.

In the second video teachers, pedagogical advisors and policy makers involved in the CCL project provide insights and practical tips about using tablets for content creation.

One of the key elements of an effective content creation project in your class is to have students develop a piece of content that has relevancy and meaning beyond the purposes of the classroom activity. For example, students could produce videos or online content for a local charity campaign. Therefore post on the padlet below (and in your learning diary) 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.

 

 

Created with Padlet
 

Download document: script Module 2_section 2.2 (1).pdf
Download document: script Module 2_section 2.2 (2).pdf

2.3 What kind of content can we create with tablets?

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 produce in your class.

For example you could create an ebook, a short video clip, a digital postcard, a blog, an animation, a comic strip, a presentation, an audio recording, etc. It is important that you produce something that you can actually use in your classroom to illustrate to the students the kind of content you would like them to create.

Why create your own content?

While you are not expected to become an expert at creating content yourself using the tablet, it is of course very helpful if you have some experience of creating content on the tablet yourself. There are always pitfalls in any content creation process and you will only know about these if you have tried it yourself. So take this opportunity to play around a bit with content creation apps on the tablet.

Where to start?

If you have no clue where to start with apps, then take a quick look at section 2.4 for some inspiration and this document of the CCL teachers' favourite apps. And don't worry, your content won't be judged for quality so feel free to experiment as you like.

If you do not have access to a tablet, then create some content using your computer. Many of the apps available for tablets are also available in a slightly different format for a computer. You should still be able to learn something from the process that will help you for the time when you put it into practice with tablets in your classroom.

Make sure to also check out the videos below for some ideas and insights into creating content in the classroom. The first video provides a teacher perspective on the creation of an ebook in the classroom and an observers view of the production of videos in the classroom. The second video shows an example of a student-produced video, highlighting the great production quality that can be achieved when students are inspired and dedicated to the task. The video was the result of a literacy class about the poem "This is just to say" by William Carlos Williams. The students had approximately 13 weeks to firstly understand and dissect the poem, and then to create their own movie interpretation of it. As a finale to the project, the videos were showcased in a Oscar’s type ceremony where students’ work was shown and voted for by the audience.

The two videos focus on ebooks and video content but also take a look at these other types of content that you can create:

Creating some content can take a bit of time, especially if you are not familiar with any apps or other tools that you might require to create this piece of content. Therefore make sure to reserve some time for this during the week.

Sharing your work

You can already share any piece of content you have created in the Padlet below but make sure to also add it to your learning diary.

 

 

Created with Padlet

 

2.4 Apps for content creation

There are tons of apps or websites out there that you can use with tablets for content creation with your students. An increasing number is available across all available platforms (iOS, Android, Windows). In this section we can only provide you with a very limited sample of those apps and it should simply provide you with a flavour of the type of apps out there that you can use. 

The videos embedded and linked below were created by Phil Spoors from Cramlington Learning Village in the UK, who was one of the leading teachers involved in the Creative Classrooms Lab project (except the Book Creator video). A big thanks to Phil for the work on these. His videos all introduce apps that are on Android but all of them have some form of equivalent app for iOS and in most cases also for Windows. 

However, these videos are only there to give you a bit of inspiration. As mentioned, there are many more. So help each other out via the Tricider below to introduce apps you know that can be used for content creation and identify positives and negatives for each. Make sure to provide a brief description of each app and what it can be used for in the classroom. Also try to add on which platform you have used it (Android, iOS, Windows). 

 

UPDATE: We have just added another teacher produced video on Book Creator, done by Kurt Klynen, CCL Lead Teacher in Belgium Flanders.

 

 

2.5 Live webinar: tablets and parental involvement

Please find here the recording of the webinar. The presentations can be downloaded at the end of this section (scroll down).

 

We are excited to announce our first webinar of the course. Details on the webinar are below. Please remember to join early as the number of spaces are limited to 200. All webinars will be recorded and made available as a video via this page. So if you cannot attend the webinar, make sure to check back here after the webinar.
 

Webinar 1: Parental Involvement and Tablets

Date and time: Wednesday, 22nd April 2015, 18:00h Brussels time

How to access the webinar: Click HERE. The webinar is run via the webex platform. For a short introduction to the webex platform see the video below.

Topic of the webinar: Use of tablets in the school often makes parents to raise questions. The parents might want to know how the ICT is exactly used in the school, what kind of rules should be applied to the use of tablets at home, how they can get updates during the school year, etc.

This is one of the points the teachers involved in the Creative Classrooms Lab project or any other school using tablets need to consider. To this end, three teachers working in the CCL project will present their experiences and best practices in a webinar on how to best inform and involve parents on the use of tablets by their children.
 

About the presenters:

  • Lisa Cowell from the Penwortham Priory Academy at UK,
  • Hannes Thomas from the NMS Jennersdorf at Austria,
  • Simona Granfol from the Highschool Gimazija Jožeta at Slovenia

 

2.6 Additional resources

2.7 Module 2 Activity

Every module activity is about adding resources to your Learning Diary. If you haven't been doing this as you were going through the module, now is the time to do so. Revisit the different sections of the module and add your answers to the module questions/tasks. In particular make sure to include:

  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)

 

Of course, don't forget to add other resources, comments, ideas to your diary that you come across during this module. You might also want to add reflections and insights you have gained from producing your own piece of content.

Due to the large number of entries on the Tricider this now constantly crashes. You can still try to access the Tricider via this link in hope that it loads fine for you and so that you can browse other people's diary but please do not add any new diaries to the Tricider. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused!

We have now created a Learning Diaries category in the course forum. Please post your diaries there.

2.8 Module 2 quiz

To pass this test, you must correctly answer at least 60% of the questions.

According to Fernand in section 2.2, for learning to take place when students create their own content

According to Kurt in section 2.2, it is better to

A Learning Story

According to Katja, the content creation process needs to include... 

The 7 phases of a Learning Story are

According to Katja, what is the goal of a successful content creation process?

According to Kurt in section 2.2, how can apps like Showme, Educreations or Explain Everything support the students’ learning?