ICT Week 4- Speaking and Listening Skills

ICT Week 4- Speaking and Listening skills

For this week’s session we were shown some of the numerous ways in which as primary school teachers we can use ICT to help children to develop good speaking and listening skills. We discussed that although technology encourages communication between people from different sides of the world as each other through mobile phones, Skype and videoconferencing it also helps stimulate these skills in the ICT suite through working collaboratively when using the devices I have previously discussed in the blog like the BeeBot and IWB.

The class was then introduced to some resources that have been specifically designed or adapted to help develop children’s speaking and listening skills through the use of ICT.

Talking Photo Albums

The talking photo albums consist of plastic wallets in which you can slip pictures, photos or diagrams into. You are then able to record a ten second message for each page. They are very useful when trying to record stories, poems or presentations. We learnt that they support the new literacy framework and can be used for activities to do with recognizing words and hiding and revealing pictures. It was identified that the talking photo albums would be effective when trying to help SEN/EAL children as the visual and auditory links can help children put the learning objectives addressed into context. Talking photo albums could be used across both Key Stage 1 and 2 as the pictures and voice messages would be determined by the children’s level of ability.

 

Talking Tins

Talking tins allow children to record brief voice messages. They can be useful as the teacher could record short instructions to help children recap what they are meant to be doing or to record phonic sounds that the children need to practice. Talking tins can be incorporated into interactive displays as they can be attached to most display boards, doors and other surfaces.

 

Talk Time Cards

Talk time cards are hard foam boards with a dry wipe surface which means that they can be used over and over again. The cards have a ten second memory and are very useful for number bond activities as well as practicing phonics and letter formation.

Podcasting

Podcasts are now being listened to and recorded in all areas of the national curriculum. The relatively simple equipment needed to record the audio files has meant that podcasts are accessible to children and this has led to them becoming increasingly excited about performing their work for an auditory audience. Children love podcasting as it gives them a voice and the opportunity for their views and opinions to be valued.

Podcasting in school could be used for;

·         Recording musical performances

·         Readings of children’s literacy works

·         Creating their own school radio stations

The list is endless and a website called radioanywhere.co.uk gives listings of school’s podcasts around the country.

Digital Imaging

At the end of the session we looked at how digital imaging is being experienced in the school environment. Through digital cameras, webcams and video recorders which are able to deal with the daily wear and tear you would expect in a primary school, children are being given the chance to incorporate digital imaging into their work across the curriculum. The group was introduced to software like PhotoStory3 and others which allow children to show the work they are doing in an interesting and interactive way.  We made our own PhotoStory3 story, it was fun to take pictures with the digital camera and then put them altogether to make our own mini movie.