Week 7 - Handheld Learning

This week we had a visit from Primary 6 pupils to engage in handheld learning activities.

As a group we had prepared a Treasure Hunt using QR codes and IPod Touches.

The children had to work in pairs to scan the QR code with their IPod touch to find the next direction and activity. I was unsure how QR codes could be used with children, or how you would introduce this to children. So we decided to explain it by saying the code was like a barcode on a shopping item, you scan it and the price appears, except this code will display an instruction for you to follow.

I think today was a success; the children were really engaged in the activity because it was active.
We had the children exploring different locations in the University and completing a different activity at each spot. This related with Curriculum for Excellence from Education Scotland as it talks about active learning, “Active learning is learning which engages and challenges children and young people’s thinking using real-life and imaginary situations.” (no page)

We also incorporated different curricular areas into our activities. At one area we had the children using Map skills searching for Thailand using a globe. We also visited the ISE gym and the children had to create a fitness video which has curricular links with Health and Wellbeing. The children also created a dance for a music video in the Music room. Language was also an activity as the children had to solve a riddle. Lastly we involved some Maths by playing a quick game of Buzz with the 4 times table.

After completing the treasure hunt the children had to create their own Ibook, using an Application called Ibook creator. This gave the children personalisation and choice as they designed the book using their own skills and imagination. This links with the Curriculum for Excellence principles by Education Scotland, “It should give each child and young person increasing opportunities for exercising responsible personal choice as they move through their school career.” (no page)

The children seemed to enjoy this as it required them to think and work together in groups to achieve the goal to move on to the next direction.

The children used IPod Touches in this activity. Before the activity I was unsure how an IPod touch could be used in the classroom however after seeing this I would definitely use it again. The children were also extremely fast learners (some of them had never used an IPod touch before). This proves the point that children are Digital Natives. Some of the children had never used and IPad before yet where able to use the software more effectively than us. Trilling and Fadel (2009) discuss this issue, “as students switch roles and become digital mentors, and teachers and parents become part-time students of our young digital experts” (p29).  I agree with Trilling and Fadel here, at some points it definitely felt as if the children were more confident using this technology.

After completing the activity the children answered questions using Poll Everywhere. This is interactive feedback software which allows all the children to be heard. Out of the 15 children that voted 12 said they enjoyed the afternoon giving answers such as “it was active” and “I enjoyed the treasure hunt”. This shows us that although the children seemed to enjoy creating their book at the time, after looking back I think the most memorable part of the day was when the children were active.

Reference

Education Scotland (undated) About Active Learning. Available: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/activelearning/about/what.asp [accessed 4.3.11]

Education Scotland (undated) Principles for curriculum design. Available: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/understandingthecurriculum/howisthecurriculumstructured/principles/index.asp [accessed 4.3.12]
Trilling, B. Fadel, C. (2009) 21st Centuary Skills: Leaning for life in our times. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass