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https://sway.cloud.microsoft/IWBp2Tiu8RbDs6GH?ref=Link
I’m not sure this has worked properly and I have tried it a few times. I have based my Sway around “Running a Food Truck”. This is a lesson I do which integrates a number of subjects and allows the class to incorporate and develop many of the 21st century skills. The best lessons allow the pupils to work and explore much of what has been mentioned in this module. Working and collaborating in their groups and communicating their views and opinions to settle and agree on their food truck idea. It doesn’t always work when voices aren’t heard or listened to which is a great skill for the class to solves and come to a resolution with. The task itself allows for real life problem solving with pricing and marketing. After studying this module I’m wondering how through the new apps we have explored I can add ICT to it through coding or sway or Powerpoint which will take the project to the next level.
Towards the end of last years school year, we had the pleasure of having someone visit the school to talk to us and run through our Digital Learning Framework and also explore the capabilities within Microsoft Teams. Personally, I am extremely new to Microsoft 365 and all that is included within it. Each year over the last 2 years I have added another element or app to my teaching. However, next year I do aim to progress this from the two projects I would’ve assigned in different terms last year. I know from these CPD days that staff are concerned with how they will be able to incorporate everything in to their teaching. In regards to SSE what we agreed towards the end of last year was that a small bit each month was enough for now as we looked to incorporate technology more in class and at home. This consistent exposure will help both teacher and pupil and allow for a slow and steady pace. This would be different across all classes naturally as ability level varies. I still see challenges where technology is not readily available in the household. I had pupils last year that completed no work done through Teams.
Please find attached above a link to my OneNote that I have created on the “Gorta Mór”. Apologies in advance that it is not as detailed as others shared above. This is my first time utilising the app and some of its features so it was quite time consuming to manage my way around it for the first time. I can definitely see the benefits some of the features would have for SEN, collaborative work among staff and for planning and working with individuals and day to day lessons. I can see the advantages of being able to pool all your resources in one place with PDF’s, Powerpoints and Youtube videos of which I like. I have used Google Slides, Powerpoint and Smart Notebook in the past and have many of my lessons easily at hand in these formats. Unsure whether I see myself using OneNote but I’m not sure I’ve had the exposure thus far to push it to one side.
Please find above the Powerpoint recording I created using screen recorder from a lesson I do every year towards the end of year. Apologies there is no sound as the environment I was in didn’t allow me to speak over the video. Naturally I would have done so had it allowed me to.
We as a school are only beginning the utilise all that Microsoft 365 and Teams has to offer. From a sharing perspective I think it is a valuable resource for teachers to share work, files or lessons. A huge part of teaching is our planning and we can make life so much easier for each other by having these files in a central location available to all at the click of a button. Therefore in this regards it has been invaluable as we gradually adapt to it and begin to use it more. An area that I do find challenging is in terms of communication. As in all companies or day to day living communication is vitally important. However, I do find myself frustrated with it as we have Aladdin, email, Teams Chat and even WhatsApp. There can be too many options at times and in the end nothing happens or somme teachers use one and not the other. We are creatures of habit and it can be difficult to change from what we have always done. So I do see communication as one of the challenges with Microsoft 365 because of the other options already available in a school. Then do you try and implement a policy which can only cause issues as well. Sometimes less is more at times.
Looking to further develop our approach to using Microsoft teams within our school for the forthcoming. We have had CPD in the past in this area but I find it’s necessary to use it and expose myself to it to be able to utilise it again. Particularly if I’ll be assigning work to the class. I’ve utilised Reading Comprehension and getting the class to read aloud using that. Forms can be a fun way of making homework a quiz or even checking that reading that has been assigned has been completed and it’s clear they have understood the task or reading comprehension. The use of technology can sometimes be difficult due to access particularly we find at primary level. No device at home or unable to access due to siblings or parents using it. We are looking to utilise it sparingly to expose the children to it increasing the amounts we do so as they progress up through the school