If music be the food of love and we love to learn - tune in tune on and get learning !

So my thinking this morning with the help of my i-Tunes Library is Soundscapes. This is what I am developing this morning - how sounds and soundtrack evoke powerful images and link to perception of place.

How does music shape and enhance understanding?

how can music engage the learner?

can music develop a greater cultural understanding and generate more community cohesion?

Will post more tonight and over the week - watch this space...

Foundation/Key Stage 1 APPS

Jirbo Match - memory game:
The cards are a good size for children with difficulties in their motor skills. However, with 30 cards on the screnn and the animal faces in pastel shades with similar shapes, I thought this a little tricky for the targetted group....I mean to say my score was rubbish! probably more appropriate for children a little older and then not convinced the graphics are appropriate....
2.5/5

Wheels on the bus - Duck Duck Moose Design - music, animation of a children’s favourite:
LOVE THIS APP!! Interactive animation of a new and extended version of the wheels on the bus. lots to find, push, poke etc. Music in several languages or several instruments! Excellent for Key stage 1/2 MFL. Excellent graphics, well worth the 59p!!
5/5

Colorama - Artizia.com - coloring in
A good selection of general and themed templates for children to colour in. A huge range of colours and the facility to save their image. An all round good app
3.5/5

Fingerspelling words and phrases - BSL alphabet and phrase guide...someone correct me on this one....I can only get the sign language to 'spell out' i.e. letter by letter, phrases. I think the basics of SL for letters works really well, what I would like is a bank of 'phrases' I would rather know how to say 'Thank You' in 2 words not 8 letters...unless someone tells me something else, not overly impressed.
2/5
Pocket Phonics - Apps in my pocket ltd.
simple-complex sounds and phrases with a trace your finger on the letter extra - Excellent! Cover foundation-lower KS2
4.5/5

Story so far....handheld in the classroom

Below is a rough draft of where I was up to at the end of July.

Since then I have had the opportunity to spend every waking moment with my iPhone...which I have!
I have used it for more than watching back episodes of 'House' honest! seriously, I have tried and tested a range of APPS that I felt would be suitable to incorporate into a project. I will spend some time on evaluating some of the more worthy and the really rubbish ones (just to ward you off)

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I have the great fortune to be working with John Davitt on a project for Liverpool's 5th Annual ICT conference.
Details of the project are still a little sketchy but what will be used is the excellent resource LEG & RAG - these are a must see, and the APP is a must have.
LEG - http://legwork.pbworks.com/
RAG - http://theragis.us/
also look for RAG on iTunes £1.79 for the APP and well worth it.

OUTLINE PROJECT HERE Friday 25th Sept

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The story so far:
Liverpools Mobile Generation Project

here are the notes as opposed to minutes, I took at our meeting, please feel free to add anything I may have missed.
Also, could you look through the sections and follow any up that we agreed to.
We need to set a date for the next meeting for ordering of devices(LH)

Can we have a meeting of this working group at the beginning of September. This would have given me the summer to familiarise myself with the possibilities of the device and incorporating this into a scheme of work/project outline.

LH - O2
PB- Teaching and Learning Consultant
SC - LDL ICT manager for LCC

BM outlined history and current premise of Mobile project.
Previously LCC had worked with Liverpool University and a legacy commitment remained in continuing or re-inventing the mobile project.
The mobile project would become a case study for e-safety launch in November (after completion) the development of RUPs for mobile devices.
A need for positive examples of the use of mobile device in the classroom

PB discussed projects he had been involved in /led and would bring great expertise to the project.

SC outlined what his role would be in the project from LDLs point of view

SC & PBi discussed the possibilities of using the outcome of the projects in Campions new BSF unit (? name?)
Suggested software to use alongside the project would be; Crazy Talk, Comic Life, Podcasting software.

Working with 3 schools on a community project: possibly crime/litter etc in the local community/awareness raising campaign/current or existing project?

G&T project with John Davitt

LH showed iPhone and would get a sample phone for BM to evaluate

BM suggested that there should be inset for teachers/TAs for use of device prior to beginning of project, and they have the opportunity to use one of the devices prior to the project to become confident in its use.

ACTIONS

• Working group involving all attendees will be formed to oversee project ALL
• Outline criteria of involvement for each member - LDL, Computeam, O2, LA - ALL
• Will the 2 school project be a G&T project/Literacy springboard project/Techie project?? using small groups from each school BM
• 2 class sets needed if projects are to run concurrently - BM needs to speak to PB for budget, and LH needs to give us costings for 60 units BM
• BM to put together inset and instruction sheet for teachers inset as well as outline of project (Summer work).BM
• iPhone APPS for schools - research BM/LH?
• Research/Download CRAZY TALK for evaluation BM
• Look at podcasting software suitable/integrates with iPhone BM
• Look at running project with special schools that are co-located on Secondary sites? - BM
• Contact Lynne Pender neighbourhood coordinator (ICT) - BM

Current aims/direction of projects - please suggest others:

Liverpool’s Mobile Generation Project (LMGP)

Aims and objectives of project:

Not learning what, but learning how.... Using mobile technology in delivering a 'learning curriculum' which will promote creativity and ingenuity

Initiate and lead projects using handheld devices in the classroom and the impact of their use. Including the creation of lesson plans, procurement of hardware, implementation of project, follow up impact analysis, collaboration with neighbouring LA and CLC

· Collaboration research with Salford LA May-Sept 2009

o Lead consultant for BBC 21st Century Classroom (CLC) Ali Taylor - I have already had a couple of meetings with ATand am going on a field trip after half term, shadowing her on a project
with a group of year (s. They are using handheld devices in a cross-curricular crime awareness project. Collaborating with Greater Manchester Constabulary; the children are provided with crime reports in their vicinity. Using their mobile devices they locate (GPS) photograph crime area, Interview victims of crime etc. They then put together a multi media information notice which is plotted onto Google Earth so when you click on the placemark, the multimedia report pops up.

o At the moment we don't have a secondary school on board with the pilot and not sure whether this would be appropriate with Primary?

o Ideas for projects at the moment

o Assisting in an existing project in Salford

· Collaboration of whole project with Campion CLC – May 2009-Mar 2010

o Meeting with LM

o Audit of hardware already available for projects

· Procurement of Hardware - June 2009

o O2 contact for hardware - LH arrange meeting

o Evaluate and order Hardware by end of June (currently looking at Mobile phones, Palm tops, Internet tablets, Nova?Nokia & Errickson)

· Meet and plan with pilot school – May – July 2009

o Meet with PBw and Headteachers of each school

o The Primary - Headteacher SA

o Primary - Headteacher TB

· Meet with PBw and LM to decide upon how best to measure the impact of the use of the technology

· Creating materials for project - July/Aug 2009

o This depends very much on what schools are planning, and how the delivery of their curriculum compares.

· Implementation of project Sept Mar 09/10

· Attend National conference and training for Handheld device tech in the classroom - Oct 2009

· Evaluation – Mar 2010 onwards

o Include case study

o Include impact analysis based on factors at PB/LM meeting