ScHARRBucks - More Bite Size Learning

Posted by Andy

In collaboration with the ScHARR Library bitesize research sessions, the ScHARR teaching committee are running a series of bitesized teaching sessions, the first of which is tomorrow (16th Nov) at 2.30 in the Pemberton, details below.

'All you ever wanted to know about presenting with Powerpoint, but were afraidto ask..... (in 20 minutes)'. with Paul Wigfield

Come along and find out something new - what have you got to lose, it is only 20 minutes and we will supply biscuits. Apologies to those of you who can't make it but we were keen to get the programme up and running as soon as possible. .
As this will form the first of a programme of 20 minute talks each dealing with a different teaching issue please feel free to let Jenny Freeman know you have anything suggestions for future sessions.

If you want to see how NOT to use PowerPoint - watch the video below

Changing Education Paradigms

Posted by Andy

An excellent animation of a Sir Ken Robinson presentation - best watched on a full screen.

A Quick Guide to...Copyright

Dream Bigger Dreams

Posted by Andy

Go get Geocaching

Posted by Andy

I just had to post this video very quickly to not only highlight my latest hobby, which to the untrained eye perhaps appears faddy, but in truth has been around for almost a decade. With hundreds of thousands of users Geocaching it is the best bit of fun you could add to almost any journey, whether it be in a city or the countryside, it becomes a real adventure.

All you need is a GPS phone or device, and the Geocache app to get you up and running, the video above explains everything.

After finding my first cache deep in a dark cave, it got me thinking of how this could be applied in health and education. Considering more and more students are coming to The University of Sheffield with smart phones each year and that many of them are from outside of the local area or even country, it would be a good exercise to get them to find geocaches hidden in parts of the city and campus with the idea of familiarising them with thier new home in a fun way.

There's also the health benefits of encouraging people, who rarely get exercise, by getting them to go out and about and get some exercise whilst playing a clever game.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time before someone seriously looks in to this.

Taken from the film Splinterheads

The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book

Posted by Andy

Mainly aimed at school level educators, but this is a useful and FREE collection of case studies and projects on how to employ Web 2.0 in to all levels of education.

• 87 projects.
• 10 further resources.
• 52 applications.
• 94 contributors.
• The benefits of using Web 2.0 applications.
• The challenges of using Web 2.0 applications.
• How the folk who ran these projects handled the issues...
• ... And what they recommend you do if you run them.
• What were the learning outcomes?
• And did I mention that this is free?!

	Download
	Amazing Web 2 Projects.pdf

JISC Web2.0 Videos

Posted by Andy

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) have jumped on the YouTube train and created their own short introductory videos on some of the Web 2.0 applications. There's not been many viewers at this point, but don't let that put you off.
Also remember YouTube has literally thousands of videos looking at Web 2.0, so if there is anything you want to learn it's a good place to start, or you could always email me.

Welcome to ScHARR Library

Posted by Andy

I made this short introductary video of our library using the free video creating software xtranormal. I stumbled on xtranormal after my colleague Mark Morley in CICS created a short video on flat structures versus folder hierarchies using it.

Don't be put off trying it, Xtranormal is very easy to use. You simply drag the action and camera icons onto the script you've written to change camera angle, place pauses, change expressions of your chosen character, or make the character move. You can have either one or two actors in your scene, hopefully other characters and actions will be added later.

The rendering can take a little while, and you need to register to save and publish your final video. That done and you’re supplied with a URL and embed code. Also, put in your YouTube account details to enable a one click upload to YouTube. It is a great piece of software if you want to make short, snappy films to advertise a course, explain a service or just tell a joke.

A Vision of Students Today

Posted by Andy

Low-Cost Multi-point Interactive Whiteboards Using the Wiimote

Posted by Andy

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

Posted by Andy

I've come across this interesting video on two seperate conferences and find it really thought-provoking. I'm sure there are parts you'll agree with and others you won't - apart from then he's talking about university professors!
Seriously though, I think despite Sir Ken focussing his talk on schools and children, the reality is that school leavers turn into university undergraduates. It is important that those who enter our doors arrive with the right mind set and skills and that we nurture these skills and contribute to them. The education plateau has shifted, there is a generation of students who cannot remember a world before The Internet. We need to work together with the prize of mutural creativity and therefore an output which adds value.