Jane and I spent yesterday at the BETT show at Olympia, seeking further inspiration and ideas to ensure that adult learners in Gloucestershire continue to find their learning enhanced by tutors using technology to best advantage. Though much of the show was aimed squarely at schools and teachers working in purpose built environments (lots of interactive whiteboards and large, built-in equipment) we spotted a couple of small gadgets which we loved and which you might love too.
We thought this dinky voice recorder to be a great little tool for recording RARPA evidence across the whole curriculum as well as the more obvious language and literacy applications. Not only does it record, but that's a little speaker on the front so you can listen back as well. OK, not perhaps strong enough to play to a whole class but certainly loud enough for a group or for a single learner to listen to without disturbing everyone else. It connects to a computer and would download sound clips too.
The other really nifty gadget which we think you'll all want (because Jane and I want one now!) is this little projector. Personally, I think the "Pocket Cinema" is a bit misleading, for we're not really talking multiplex dimensions here - but for a group of eight or ten, working in a community setting it would be just great. It fixes to a small tripod or one of our gorilla pods and would show onto a darkened wall (this self-appointed "handsome assistant" is holding a black box screen to demonstrate it to best advantage, something that a resourceful tutor could rig up with no problem, I'm sure!)
As we left the show, Jane and I shared one or two thoughts, mainly how well Gloucestershire AdEd is doing in the e-learning stakes. You know, our tutors are really ahead of the game in making imaginative and inspirational use of technology in their teaching and the fact that so many share their experience and knowledge here is remarkable.
Coming up soon: Jane and I used the Flip camera to record a presentation by a Mimeo developer having introduced ourselves as Mimeo-phobics. First I have do do a bit of learning myself however....getting video from Flip to Blog. Watch this space.
3 comments:
It looks as if the dinky voice recorder could be very useful, could you let us know how it differs from the AdEd voice recorders some of us are already using?
I'm one of the many tutors who could make great use of the mini cinema. AdEd tutors have to be very resourceful, working in community centres has such huge advantages, learners feel comfortable in a familiar setting and don't have to travel far, but one of the disadvantages is setting up time - putting up tables and ironing boards, moving chairs, etc. It would be fabulous if with the mini cinema came an easy to transport piece of kit very suitable for projecting onto. The walls are so crumbly in one of the centres I work in that I have had to be so careful when hammering into it to put up a white sheet so I can show a power point presentation. (Ofsted inspector said it was a loved and comfortable venue, very appropriate for the learners, I wouldn't want them to have to go elsewhere!)
Lizzie, I think this is the smallest voice recorder with a speaker I've seen. It's small and very solid, most important, too, it's easy to use. Otherwise, not much different really - funkier? cheaper, certainly!
As for the mini cinema screen, we hoped to see one of those springy screens (like a car sunshade) but didn't. The search continues.
You are right, though - size and robust build quality are key, as is ease of use.
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