Fed up!

I having been trying for the past 3 hours, to change my blog template. Trying to input codes etc. Think I can achieve it? No way! Kept coming up as error blah blah blah, so Ive just stuck with this one now! But Lord help me I tried! Shows my limit of technological know-how haha

Education Acts and Legislation regarding SEN.

Project: Photostory: Bath time for Archie!

Work....more stressful than uni work!

Now, my job isn't the type you take your work home with you but dammit it is today! Phones been ringing non stop, constantly on the go...thought I'd be really good and take some notes and things in with me to have a bit of a browse over. No chance! It actually makes me wish I was at home doing revision or even, dun dun duuunnn.....maths work!!!!

Project: Voki

What a brilliant site! Just browsing through the list of Web2 apps and came across www.voki.com.

The others I looked at didn't really give me an idea of what their purpose was straightaway. However as soon as I typed in the URL and the page loaded up I knew exactly what Voki was used for.

It helps you create an avatar, which you can then use in a classroom. Its very simple to use and I created a little gingerbread man avatar in about two minutes, voice and all.

Now, the majority of this website is completely free, although you can purchase a subscription for a year which costs around twenty pound.

This subscription offers slightly more choice as opposed to the free version.

There is an option to share lesson plans with other teachers, you can type in a subject and search through many lesson plans from primary to secondary school.

On the side bar there are a few brain training games to incorporate into classroom activities, students can also log on and use the site themselves.

Its very user-friendly, so easy to use and navigate.

I love it and seeing as I'm hoping to be a teacher one day, I will definitely be using this site as a teaching tool. The little avatars are a perfect teaching tool for young children and seeing as technology is appearing more and more in today's classrooms, as well as the fact that children are more adept at using modern technology than even some adults are, this site is ideal.

Project: Facebook: Good or Bad?

Ahhh Facebook! Everyone has an account, even my grandmother, she's on there more than me.
I used to be an addict, constantly checking on my phone when I had a spare minute or losing hours trawling through the news feed and then sitting there wondering where the time went, a quick look always turned into a good 20 minutes or so.
This is the only social network I'm on ( seeing as I don't really care what a celebrity had for their breakfast haha ).
I'm not so 'glued to the screen' with regards to Facebook these days, I consider that to be a good thing. I'M FREE!
Granted, Facebook has its pros and its cons. Pro's being it's very easy to get in touch with someone, easy to share pictures with friends and family, especially if you have family living abroad. Its good for a laugh and a joke and to share news on and the plus of all pluses, its totally free to use, provided you have an internet connection, of course.
I do believe it has more cons than pros though. For example, there are a lot of people out there who aren't safety conscious when it comes to being online, therefore they don't set their profiles to private. This means anyone can access their information, there are some people dull enough to put their mobile phone numbers and addresses up for everyone to see.
Cyber-bullying is another misuse of Facebook. Yes, the ease of access to people via this site maybe a pro but also it can be used to send threatening or vulgar messages to others. It can cause a lot of stress and hassle in people's lives because other people misuse it. Over the years, I've seen so many arguments start over something written on Facebook, something maybe the people have read in the wrong context.
Basically, if its used right and you have a bit of knowledge about internet security, you'll be fine. However there are some not very nice people out there so its best to be on your guard if, for example, you have children that use this site.

Holidays, here we come!

In the midst of revision, I thought I had earned a little break. So I decided to have a look at holidays and sigh deeply that I wasn't on a beach with a cocktail in the sun.

However, I upped my hours in work, got paid, I found a great deal and Voila!! Lanzarote here we come!

Two weeks over the Easter holidays I shall be sunning myself and swimming in the sea, also its a marvellous way to spend my 25th birthday!

75 days to go and counting :D

Pressure is on!

Less than two weeks until exams and I'm starting to feel the pressure of them looming now. As well as having two presentations to prepare for, assignments and blogs to complete and my GCSE maths also approaching at a menacing speed. My social life is no more, dead and buried. I have also upped my work hours to 30 per week, so I'm pushing myself to the limits.
Never mind, needs must, have to crack on and knuckle down with uni work now, its taken me so long to get here so theres no way I'm letting procrastination jeopardise my future : D

Exam: Passed :D

Well I have passed my first exam, even though I thought I'd failed! It was a lot harder than thought it was going to be, my spelling and grammar isn't as good as I thought it was. Never mind, another thing to add to my list of revision :)
Nearly done most of my work, got a lot of revision done, just more research to be done for presentations and assignments now. Lets get on with it then shall we!! :D

Project: Blog Review: The Telegraph: Education Section

Although I'm not exactly an avid reader of the Telegraph on the day to day, I find the education section a brilliant source of information. I
t helps me keep up to date with current events. It is important that I am in the know about anything regarding primary or higher education, as they are my present and hopefully my future.
The website is very easy to navigate. Its got masses of different topics to choose from, its Related Sections include education advice, secondary education and degree courses, etc.
Theres a section where journalists have posted their opinions on different topics and there are links to find them on Twitter, Facebook and alike, where you would be able to debate or air any opinions of your own with the author of the article, if you wish to do so.
Near the centre of the page is a box informing you there is now a Telegraph University Course Finder App available for smart phones. A very useful tool, the majority of people own smart phones these days and those thinking of applying to higher education will be able to do so at through their phone.

Project: TedTalk: Sir Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms

Having a little browse through TEDTalks and I came across this wonderful video (featured in my last post). Sir Ken Robinson is a British cultural leader in Education, a world renowned education and creativity expert. He supports what is known as 'The Arts' in schools: dance, music and performing arts, etc.

This video raised what I thought to be some fantastic points. It is very informative and the animation that accompanies it is great. It keeps you watching as well as gives you a better understanding of what the talk itself is about.
Sir Ken's argument is based on the fact that 'The Arts' are being stamped out whilst mathematics and languages take over. He argues that children with ADHD should not be given medication to treat their behaviour whilst in class, therefore sedating them throughout their education (there's surely no way anyone can learn anything whilst taking sedatives) but they should have inspired aspects of learning involving active participation and creativity. I mean, how often does anyone feel creative or inspired whilst sat in a maths class? I know I certainly didn't or don't at the moment, resitting my GCSE maths!

 I am very much in favour of Sir Ken's argument as I feel that I, myself, am more of a creative, artistic individual than I will ever be an academic.
This is my reason for wanting to be a primary school teacher. Especially as imagination and play are the way children learn certain key skills. The Arts are the activities children enjoy doing and therefore, respond to very well.
I have always thought that by actually doing something constructive such as making something in school, or even spending a long time colouring, making something look good, is a more solid way to to learn or be taught. I believe it would serve as a far better teaching method than being sat behind a desk, being talked at, watching a teacher scribble on the board.

Project: TedTalk: Food for Thought!!

Stressed!

First day back and its all about exams, assignments and more exams! I have got to learn to manage my time better to fit in uni, uni work, my job and GCSE maths....eeek! I'm sure Ill find a way! New year, new start! Working hard this week, one day in and I've managed to crack simultaneous equations and today I've got my to do list in order, prioritised and got a fair bit or research done! Not bad for the first day back! I shall be having this weekend off though, going down Somerset way for a couple of nights with my boy Ben, then its back to the grindstone on Monday!

Xtranormal.com Review

Www.xtranormal.com is an animation website that I found to be very user-friendly. It was very easy to use and there was a lot of choice when it came to choosing a character or a setting for your little animation. You could choose a voice for your little avatar, give them a certain look on their face or even put them in outer space. On the homepage, there is a video showing you how to use their website to create your own animation. Its explained to you by a teddy bear avatar who tells you that if you are able to type, you will be able to create an animation of your own. To access it, I had to log in using my Google Mail account and I could start straight away. It is free to use, although it does give you the option of purchasing a professional package for $50 per month as well as offers to purchase an educator package for $10 a month. As I have said, it was very easy to use and the website itself I found it easy to navigate. It would make a good educational tool for primary school teachers, I think children would respond very well to the characters created.

Back to Reality!

Hi all, Well another year been and gone and now its back to early mornings and hard work! With exams looming menacingly on the horizon, all I have done over the last couple of weeks is make mind maps and read and re-read books/articles/journals and print outs and now I think it is about time I cracked on with this blog. Its a nice break, to be quite honest, to not be trawling through Google, reading anything to do with Vygotsky and Piaget or Inclusion and SEN. Now then, lets get on with it shall we! P.s Happy New Year to you all!!