Year 6 have begun a unit on bridge building. Today everyone started creating a joint presentation about the 7 types of bridges built around the world. As the students are working with a partner they are able to use Google Docs presentation online. The flexibility of Google Docs allows each student to work independently on the document, away from their partner. By using the share facility, the document is updated and shared between the two students. The 7 types of bridges.

7 types of bridges from Jocelyn MacKay

Calling All Parents!

What is a blog?

Are you confused about what a blog is? 

Do you wonder why your teachers and children love them so much?

If the answer to the above questions is yes, then the coffee morning about blogging is for you!

This Wednesday at 8:00am, in the MPR Mr Mike & Ms Emma, will be explaining how to access a blog, write posts and show just how useful for learning a blog is.

It would be helpful for you to bring a laptop or an i Pad to access blogs from.

It could be very helpful if you bring your own personal gmail account details or the login for your child. Foundation stage parents are welcome as you will see how to add to your child's blog at home.

We hope to see you on Wednesday,

Mr Mike & Ms Emma  

Mr. Michael Martin

Programming and coding is now a big item in the Year 6 curriculum. Last week we began our unit by using the iPads and an app called Bee-Bots.Tthe beginning levels required the user to programme and  move the bee along a straight course. However as the user progressed up the level the programming of the bee got a lot harder. Concepts of left and right were introduced and this required considerable thought and problem-solving.

Today we used an online programme called Hour of Code. The first levels required using blocks, you use these like building blocks to build up your code.  Moving through the programme is cool as there are videos every few levels to help you learn the next set of levels. A sports athlete explains repeating patterns and using a loop, instead of dragging over large numbers blocks. Bill Gates is on one of the videos talking about if statements and adding an if block. If there is no left turn keep moving forward. level 19 and 20 are hard. Try these levels at home with your family.
Programming and coding are really important as you have to think hard about solutions, apply problem solving skills and think critically and creatively.

Giving students responsibility allows them the opportunity to grow their leadership skills. Today it was 6 X's trurn to be the leaders and teachers for digital citizenship. Each group of students visited one of the classes at TX  and spoke to the children about digital citizenship. They followed their talk with some class activities that would help the children remember the message of digital citizenship.  Year 6 are leading the campaign for the TX school community to be a safe, secure and respectful digitally aware environment. You will notice around the school the newly created digital citizen aide memoir

The children in the classes appreciated the visit, and  enjoyed the activities 6X had prepared to help make the  digital citizenship message meaningful. In Year 1 they played a game of good or bad things to do, until there was only a winner. Well done Dan Thy, and well done Duc Tri, Jasmine, and Min Seo.

Today year 6 went hunting for gems of information using their portable devices and  QR codes strategically placed around the school. This was the exit point of our unit focused on using and making QR codes. To complete the activity students had to think about the clue given eg food guide becomes a plate, and find the QR code. In this case the code was on the door to the canteen.  When scanned using the QR code on the device the information was on healthy eating, and the portions of what types of food goes on a plate. The students had to take a self portrait to show they had found the code, wrote down the www, a fact and move on to the next clue.

Excellent result  Eugene, Tony, Karen and Khan. You managed to think laterally  about the clues, find the codes and record the information. Great work 6T and 6X you definitely demonstrated how learning can be fun, with devices and out of the classroom.

Giving students responsibility often sees the students grow their leadership skills. Towards the end of term 1 Year 6 were creating a digital citizenship aide memoir to share with the classes in TX and the school community. Today in ICT classes each group of Year 6 students chose a class to work with to spread the message about digital citizenship. Then in  small groups they set about making the resources necessary to support the talk and the digital citizenship message they will be delivering to each class.


 On January 23rd Year 6 students become the teachers, networkers in action and leaders, leading the campaign for the TX school community to be a safe, secure and respectful.

Year 6 students created book reviews on the library blog today. All blogs are held out in "the cloud" so Year 6 were able to use a number of strategies, skills and devices to write and post their reviews. Some worked in the classroom, some in the library, and others used their mobile devices, iPads and smart phones.

 As blogs are held in in the cloud, the students could use anytime, anywhere learning, and log on from various places and spaces around the school to access their work on the blog. The students with their devices had even more flexibility.






Some students used cameras to take and download their images, while others used their iPads. Students were able to peer check the reviews. Nicholas was a popular post checker as he gave very positive feed back.

Whatever the device and where ever the place Year 6 wrote some fabulous reviews. Check out the book reviews on the library blog.

Year 6 are creating a virtual tour of TX Campus, and making QR codes to put outside the various rooms on the tour. Each week the students who are able bring in their virtual devices and use the device for this work. Today Andre took his iPad to the swimming pool and filmed the pool facility to upload onto the virtual tour wiki.
It was quite amazing to watch the video clip synchronously from the iPad and also from the wiki.

Year 6 are creating a virtual tour of the school. Today before we began our filming we revised all the filming techniques needed to make a good documentary film that will provide information, and entertainment to the viewers. Ms Kris talked about her morning coffee and  allowed Ms Jocelyn to take this piece of film footage so we could critique the footage. Ms Jocelyn did hold the camera still and was up close and personal to the subject. However she included some back lighting from the window. Thank you Ms Kris for being a star and sharing your coffee story.

We try to integrate and connect ICT into the students class curriculum and IPC topics.  Year 6 have written their film scripts in their English classes and now in ICT they are filming, uploading and creating the website.

Before filming began everyone practiced their scripts, and decided on various camera angles and filming techniques. If the filming wasn't perfect we took more footage. We want our virtual tour of the school to be the best we can make it.

For the next 4 weeks Year 6 students have the opportunity to bring their own digital devices to school to use in ICT lessons. Year 6 are creating a virtual tour of the TX campus to share with users of smart phones, iPod touches, iPads, Notebooks and other hand held digital devices.

Hung showing some students how to use the QR reader

Today was the first day of BYOD and using digital devices in ICT class.  The students learnt how to generate QR codes for their blogs and scan existing QR codes. By using the device to scan the QR code the viewer was instantly directed to that site and was able to  read the information contained in that
website.

Wow so many technological terms are used in today’s lessons.

The Year 6 students were all very confident and adapt using this technology, to enhance and continue their learning. 

Vivian links to her friend's blogs, using QR code