what's in a name?

Tragedy

Norwegian Sky

Mermaid's Gown

This website has the most amazing collection of colours, each with its own story. It's great fun to simply click through to each and decide whether or not the name represents your own idea of the colour of the pencil.

Imagine what fun you could have with learners making up names for colours. Could be a useful starting point!

I have no idea what an Amaranth is (will have to google!) but it's a glorious colour.

A few links to share

It's easy to tell when I should be doing something else...I start following links on websites! There were some goodies to share today:

Aviary tools looks a useful place to find web based programs which can be accessed anywhere

I'm not a language teacher, so can't evaluate LiveMocha objectively, but it looks a pretty useful site which might interest your learners, as does Xlingo . Another language site which might be worth exploring is italki, especially the facility to communicate with a native speaker. I might exercise the usual internet cautions with that one however, reminding myself of some basic internet security advice before beginning a conversation!

Finally, I'm not sure that the ability to make a balloon starfish qualifies as an essential life skill but who knows when such a skill could come in useful? The 5 min website has plenty of displacement activities, most of which take slightly longer than the name suggests.

Hmmm...I wonder if learning to make a balloon starfish would count as CPD? I'm off to reflect on that right now.

Creative and Media materials

Some tutors who came to the core training events last term might remember the "wheel" activity about initial assessment? Although it was targeted at language tutors, we used it more broadly and many tutors found it an interesting discussion starter.

I now have a box of similar resources aimed at our Creative and Media curriculum and though I love them to bits - satisfying packaging, beautiful production values and some great concepts and starting points - I don't want to keep them to myself!

Why not have a look at these materials online, see if there's anything there you'd like to use - either with your learners, for your own professional development or simply to satisfy your curiosity. If, as a result of what you see, you'd like to borrow the whole pack (A4 size, 15cm thick and weighing just over 3kg) drop me an email and we'll see what we can do!

I intend to bring the materials to our next training event in any case but don't feel you have to wait!!

Not only that, but as a result of Subject Learning coach training, there are several copies of the Developing the Expert Learner and the Learning Maths materials in the county too. They of similar size and design to the Creative and Media materials and though they look beautiful on my shelf - coordinated colours and all of that - they'd look better still on your CPD record!

Getting the information across

I've been looking at a couple of websites about effective use of Powerpoint and came across this impressive presentation which I sat and watched, beginning to end. Not only is it visually interesting, the guy has a relaxed approach which held my attention in a way that these things seldom do.




Having discovered the TED website I came across this.




What do you reckon?

Bingo!

Found it!

The QIA Excellence Gateway is a brilliant place to begin a search for such things. I found the Bingo game I was looking for there and might well spend another hour to so exploring other resources there too. After all, you never know where these things might come in useful!

Resources

Just had a call requesting a link to an online resource seen at a recent event and did a google to find it. whilst there, I found these resources for ESL teachers which might be of interest.

Don't forget to share any useful sites you find with us, will you?

Still looking for that bingo site, by the way. Anyone have a link to it please?

English for migrant workers

Cornwall has done a great deal of work in this area. Have a look at their welcome pack which is written in several languages and has lots of useful information.

There is also a pack of related learning resources. Some are general, some customised for Cornwall, but could easily be adapted! I think this should be available from Truro College on request.

food hygiene information

wash your hands after handling raw foods.

Go to this page

Do you wonder how to...?

On one of my explorations of the internet today, I came across "Wonder How To" - it's a place to search for all those "how to" videos - if you hadn't guessed that already.

Have a look and see what you think. Why not leave your thoughts in a comment here?

A couple more useful links

We've still not seen anything from Rob, so I imagine he's not quite happy with the editing yet? (Sorry Rob...go on, I dare you - post it as it is - DONE is better than PERFECT, really!!)

Anyway, if, like me, you're fiddling with bits of video and trying to get the sound right on it, you might find the online Windows Movie Maker page useful. I've added that to the links at the bottom of the sidebar here so it's always there for us.

Whilst I was messing about with the sidebar tools, I also added a link to the general Microsoft Office website because I always forget to look there first when something isn't quite going according to plan. Silly really, for there is a huge bank of online resources there to use - some great copyright-free photos and bits of music and stuff to liven up the things we create. Some good Powerpoint tips and tricks, ideas and templates to use with your learners - it's a site that's worth a visit now and then.

If there are other websites which you find useful or which you use regularly and would like a link added, please let me know and they'll appear.

(Pictures are from the Bullring, Birmingham)

More photo stuff

Doing basic editing of photographs on the laptop is fine if the right software is loaded, but often the software isn't your favourite, or perhaps it isn't there at all?

There is now a version of Photoshop Express on the web and what's more, it's free.

Now, I have been using Picasa - also free - for quite some time and am more than happy with it. What's more, it will upload photographs directly to our online photostore SmugMug too. We also make use of Flickr to share some of our photographs and as a result on occasions we have difficulty keeping track of what we have where! So, I'm probably not going to be rushing to download the new Photoshop Express.

But it could be just what you or your students are looking for.

(Picture is one of my holiday photographs, taken in the souk in Muscat. I loved the embroidered caps)

Some interesting videos

Have just been alerted to an American site for P & Q ers, that might be of interest. They show a variety of techniques. I have put the link in the side bar or you could click HERE, and you will be taken to the site.

It may take a short while for the video to appear on the black screen ( that depends on the speed or your broadband connection). Look forward to hearing if you find it useful.

Fabric Origami

Where we're from

Fi's post has prompted me to lead you to an interesting writing prompt at this blog I've had a go myself and posted my attempt on my own blog here and maybe you'd like to have a go yourself.

In the process of writing, I realise that I find it far easier to express myself by the use of colour, shape and texture than by words. But hey, it was painless and it's good to go outside the comfort zone now and again, isn't it?

Good, clear tutorial

I am always on the lookout for high quality online tutorials and save to my del.icio.us list (tagged AdEd and tutorial) when I come across one. This morning, I found this Rotary Cutting Tutorial which I think is an excellent example. Not only does it assume any prior knowledge or experience, neither does it patronise. It's authorative in tone and takes in all those little H & S points we all struggle to communicate effectively with our students.

Please share any similarly good online tutorials with us. Who knows, we might even have a go at putting something together for ourselves?