Sparking learning: learning about the world through the webDr Nicola Pallitt

31 March 2014

Learning in the Intermediate Phase (Grade 4-6)Some characteristics of intermediate phase learners:

• No longer learning to read, but reading to learn • Emphasis on thinking skills, applying knowledge• Specialised subjects• Consider others’ points of view• Collaborate to complete group tasks• Are challenged to tackle independent tasks• Start to taking control of their own learning• Are curious about the world around them

So they start to:

• Engage in active participation and critical enquiry in the learning process• Seek more order, while still manifesting spontaneity and creativity• Apply acquired methods in new contexts• Access, record and manipulate information• Investigate, compare and assess critically

Virtual tours & field trips

• Experiential learning opportunities

• Travel without leaving the classroom

• History: Use Google Street View to see monuments

• Explore countries, museums, exhibitions, zoos, aquariums, space

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/01/20-wonderful-online-museums-and-sites.html

• 3D environments

Explore the Milky Way via NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope athttp://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Interact/

Google World Wonders –let your students walk around the streets of Paris http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/entity/%2Fm%2F0wzm71n?projectId=world-wonders

The Secret Annex lets students travel back in time to Anne Frank’s hiding place. Students can explore Anne’s house in a super cool 3D interactive environment. http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/Enter-the-3D-house/#/house/21/ Suggestions for how to integrate in the classroom http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=3947

http://archive.nelsonmandela.org/home

Educational Videos & Simulations• Khan Academy mapped to the SA curriculum

(Grade 6-12) http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Science/Khan-Academy-Mapped-to-South-African-Curriculum

• Lots of useful educational resources on SKA http://www.ska.ac.za/learn/index.php

• Jave simulation that allows students to visualize energy transformation and describe how energy flows in various systems. Through examples from everyday life, it also bolsters understanding of conservation of energy. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-forms-and-changes

Numeric is using Khan Academy to create exciting and high impact learning environments around South Africa. http://www.numeric.org/

Create mind-maps

Read, write and share storieshttps://storybird.com/

http://www.inklestudios.com/inklewriter/

Create comics for language learning http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/

Play games to learn

• Even about serious topics like climate change, sustainability and Eskom’s power crisis

• Read more: http://classroom-aid.com/2012/03/28/games-for-changes-climate-challenge/

• Eskom Energy Planner: From Cape Town, South African developer Formula D Interactive comes a game that allows the player to take custody of a virtual city’s power plan and to seek a balance between the most efficient technologies currently available and the most environmentally friendly ones. http://www.gamesforchange.org/festival2013/games/eskom-energy-planner/

Make games to foster creativity & design thinking

• Board game

http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/making-board-games-in-the-classroom/48983

• Digital game

https://gamestarmechanic.com/

Gamify your classroom with Classcraft http://www.classcraft.com/en/