What would you do?

I have been using the Epson PictureMate for some time now. We often use a digital camera to record a range of activities within sessions, and then use the Epson PictureMate to print off photos in class. All learners love the 'instant' photos, with younger members of the groups having great fun trying to 'guess who is going to come out of the box'!!!
However ... it seems the PictureMate is a little too easy to use! :(
within a group of adults learning how to develop IT skills we looked at digital cameras and added the use of PictureMate for printing photos. Most learners were able to print off a couple of photos, but we ran out of time for all so I said I would bring the printer back the following week so all could have a go. We also looked at the cost of printing - £39 paid for ink resulted in about 120 good quality photos.
One learner then decided to download photos from a computer at home back onto their camera, bring to the next IT session with an aim of printing off 98 prints!
What would you do?
I pointed out that I wanted to use the printer for another group later in the week, but by this time 58 prints had already been printed!
Any suggestions about how to stop this from happening again?! Should I put a '10 prints per learner' sticker on the printer?
I will start my next printing session off with a chat about how many photos should be printed! - or hide the paper!!
I live and learn!!!!

Sony Double-Take

Having had Jane C-D visit our CTLLS course to introduce us to lots of wonderful "techy" bits and pieces available to tutors around and about the county - I felt it only fair to experiment with some myself! As a techy-phobe, but a tutor on the course, it's part of my CPD to make sure I can work at least a few of them. So ... the first bit of equipment I tried out was the Sony camcorder, which allowed us to record all the micro-teaches and to immediately download them onto individuals' memory sticks for them to take home. This is the first time we've been able to offer this facility enabling candidates to effectively evaluate and reflect on their teaching in the privacy of their own homes. I had tried the whole process out at home, and although someone else did the 'filming', we managed to download all the micro-teaches onto the laptop and then the memory sticks - all within the session, so evaluation could be immediate. This is just the start, as there are suddenly all sorts of implications and uses to which this can be put. So, thank you, Jane and Kerry, who showed me how to do it all.

Crochet, the WI and the Docucam

One of the most impressive pieces of Technology we have at our disposal for teaching is the docucam IMHO, and I was thrilled to be able to use it again today.

I was asked by the Gloucestershire Federation WI to give a class on crochet.

A phone call last week informed me that the class was oversubscribed and could I take more students than my maximum? This is usually a difficult decision, as demonstrating crochet is quite a daunting task with large numbers when you try the traditional... "gather round" ...demonstration technique.

Using this traditional teaching technique there is also the consideration of mass disruption every time you wish to demonstrate. By using traditional methods with large numbers of students, means the merry - go - round of all your students getting out of their seats and standing around.. then going back to their seats trying to remember what you said and continuing with their work. Often a nuisance for both tutor and students.

So this morning 15 students arrived at Cherrington Village Hall to learn the art of crochet. We arranged 3 large tables with 5 chairs at each one, so the students were seated in groups.

.

(students working)

Using the docucam meant the students never need to move out of their seats, and could see the demonstrations on the screen in real time and perhaps even more important they could follow along crocheting at the same time as I was demonstrating. Naturally this had the advantage that if they experienced a problem. I could easily do a quick replay of the technique or skill I was demonstrating. {Note to self.... make sure to have a manicure before using docucam, as hands are magnified onto the screen!}

(this is a photo of the screen with my rather anaemic hand demonstrating how to hold the yarn in the left hand)

Of course I also used the docucam to show patterns to the group, as well as finished crochet items and these are easily seen on the large screen.

The two and a half hours seemed to fly by this morning and I feel sure the learning was enhanced by the use of the docucam. The result of using this technology was a relaxed, hard working group of students who have asked me to return and teach them some more crochet skills. I am more than happy to do that with my trusty and wonderful docucam to help me.

NB -click on photos to enlarge.

So how do you use the docucam in your teaching?

Maggie H.

Eco font

I've just come across this new font which claims to use 20% less ink than a standard font when printed out, yet still be as legible. I've downloaded it and will give it a try.

Of course, when printed out in a "normal" size, the holes won't be visible - or so they say.

Anyone already used it? Comments?

Download and find out more here http://www.ecofont.eu/

Recording reflections

One of the themes which comes up regularly is the need to record reflections. This could be after a class, when a few thoughts could be helpful for future lesson planning, after some training when some thoughts are required for a CPD record or for keeping a record throughout a programme of professional development. I don't know about you, but I struggle to corral my woolly, fluffy, mis-shapen thoughts into an online box to be filled in. I find my best thoughts and reflections are always somewhere else - sitting in the bath, doing the washing up, ironing....anywhere but when I'm sitting with that screen in front of me, trying to gather some sensible and worthwhile thoughts together.

There simply had to be a better way - and I think we've found it. Did you know that you can attach a soundclip in a Word doc? Did you know that your computer probably has an inbuilt microphone and the simple software needed to record an off-the-cuff thought without the need to do anything but a couple of clicks? I didn't. But now I've found it I want to use it all the time.

From the Start Menu, go to Accessories/Sound Recorder and a click should open a small window.

I don't think further instructions are needed, do you? Click, talk, save.

The file, when saved, goes into the "documents" folder by default, or of course, you can specify exactly where you want it to go. It's a ".wma" file and shouldn't be too difficult to find. don't forget to change the box to "all files" though, or else you won't see the .wma files listed.

When you're ready to embed it into your Word .doc (or .docx) "insert object", find and double click on the .wma file you created. A small logo will be inserted to show where to click to hear the sound clip.

Fun, eh?

(and if you're one of those lucky people with a pocket voice recorder, then it's easier still!)

Make your vote count!

I have had the Turning Point voting set for a couple of weeks now! I am willing to share! (Honest!)
I have used it with four different groups, from adult only groups for initial assessment at the start of a new course to 5-year olds! All found the voting cards fun and easy to use. Once the vote has been cast you get to see the results as a graph - there are a variety of different styles of graph available, but the basic bar chart style has worked best with my groups so far.
Once the Turning Point disc has been loaded onto your laptop you can plan your activity within powerpoint - very quick and easy. You can add text, clip art, photos etc Save and use!
If you don't have access to an IWB you can add a projector to your laptop and still view your show!