Computer Programming Continued...

Hello all! Unfortunately, this weeks entry will be the last as this weeks session was the final session of ICT!  This week we continued to look at Computer Programming.  We talked about Simulations, Modelling and M learning.

Simulations

Computer simulations allow us to give children experiences in the classroom, and they may represent real or imaginary situations.  Simulations are useful when the real life versions are dangerous, expensive, or take too long to use in the classroom.  Simulations can be used by children to explore and predict.  A good website that provides some simulation games for children is http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_soft_simul.cfm

An example of computer simulation is the game 'Myst'.  Myst has famously been used by teacher Tim Rylands during Literacy lessons to provoke creativity in the children's writing.  Check out the video of Myst being used in the classroom- well worth a watch!

Modelling

Computer modelling is when you use a simulation to 'model' situations.  These children can use the computer to change things in the simulation, which will have an affect on the outcome.  Ideally the simulation would be something that is familiar to the children, or which they will have ideas about.  For example, a simulation of growing plants after children have done an experiment into growing conditions for plants. 

M Learning

M Learning stands for 'mobile learning' and refers to learning with mobile devices (e.g. notebooks, mobile phones, tablets). This means that the learner can learn from a variety of locations.  M Learning is an active process, everyone can share content making feedback easy and instant.  Hand-held devices are great for using outside with children: children can identify specimens and record activities and the weather will not affect them, as it might with paper and books.

Other Useful Interactive ICT Websites and Downloads for Children:

-Voki: www.voki.com
allows children to create speaking avatars

-Microsoft Kodu: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10056
new visual programming language made for creating games

-Wordle: www.wordle.net
generate 'word clouds' from text. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.  Would be great for topic word banks! 

Thank you all (or anyone) for reading! I hope it has been useful to some of you :)  Good luck in your teaching careers!