Handheld Learning 2008 (5 of 5): Spotlight Scotland

 

I want to finish me series of post off about this years Handheld Learning Festival by talking about some of the great work going on in Scotland at the moment. I think Scotland is currently world leaders in using Games Based Learning to enhance Teaching and Learning. This was re-enforced to me on the Monday night of Handheld Learning when my good friend Derek Robertson won the Handheld Learning 2008 Special Achievement Award.

On the Wednesday morning of Handheld Learning 2008 the Scottish Contingent presented on some of the work that we have been doing North of the border.

Here’s a brief summary of what we were all talking about:

Nintendogs in P.2, Anna Rossvoll, Aberdeenshire Council

Anna is an inspiring presenter a driving force of Games based learning in Aberdeenshire. Her latest project has been supporting the use of the Nintendo DS Game Nintendogs in a P2 Class. The game became the context for learning and all of the children’s learning for a six week period was based around the game.

 

The Winning Game, Jim Scott, Perth High School

In 2003 England won the Rugby World Cup. The then manager attributed some of his team’s success to the ‘winning mentality’ that was instilled in his players through the ‘winning theory’ espoused by their motivational coach, Yehuda Shinar. This theory has been developed and applied to underpin the design criteria of a new computer game that aims to help the player/learner develop the skills and self-awareness to help them focus on self-improvement and success - be it during sport or learning.

Much of the underlying themes within the Winning Theory had natural links to the rationale of Assessment is for Learning.

Perth High School worked with  TPLD, the game designers, and the Scottish Institute for Sport Foundation to help modify the games design and to assist in determining how it can be applied and made sense of in the Secondary school. Jim’s presentation focused on how the game was integrated into the life of the school and how the pupils developed a mentor programme to help develop a culture of self-improvement and success via the learning that occurred in the game.

 

Learning Anywhere Anytime, John Low, West Lothian

John’s presentation explored the vision, successes and challenges faced by West Lothian Education in implementing an appropriate local area network infrastructure to support the demands of a modern curriculum and pedagogy.

Unlike some other big national initiative the West Lothians approach has been to put the infrastructure in place for children to use their own handheld devices in schools throughout West Lothian.  

Podcasting, Mark Pentleton, Radio Lingua

Mark runs his own Podcasting Company, Radio Lingua. During his round table session he shared with the audience a real insight into his experiences - both positive and negative - of podcasting in education. He also discussed techniques, equipment, and strategies involved in podcasting from a basic to professional level.

Marks Podcasts are constantly at the top of the iTunes education podcast download charts and have been downloaded by 30 million listeners from over the globe. Radio Lingua is also up for an award – vote for Mark here!

 

A year on... what makes a handheld learning project sustainable? Ian Stuart and Andy Wallis, Islay High School

I’m a huge fan of the work going on is Islay, I think they have got their current curriculum so right. I’m not sure why we what to change it with A Curriculum for Excellence. To support the changes that Islay has made to the curriculum the school has developed the use Ultra Mobile PC’s (UMPC) for curricular delivery in every area of the school.

And, how do they make it sustainable? Simple, after the initial investment the money they now save on photocopying each year is enough to keep the stock of UMPC’s refresed!

Lots more information on this project over on Ian Stuarts website: http://www.islayian.blogspot.com.

 

Endless Ocean, Margaret Cassidy, Stirling Council

I didn’t see Margret’s presentation – I wish I had. But it concentrated on how primary pupils have engaged with Endless Ocean for the Wii, and how the teacher has used this as a motivation and context for learning for literacy, maths, citizenship and science within the class.

 

The Sony PSP in the primary classroom, Tess Watson, East Lothian Council

I know a lot about this project as it was carried out at one of my associated primary schools in Musselburgh. Learners in the P7 class used the PSP to play dynamic games, access the web wirelessly, take photos and video-conference. 

The main use of the device was to complete a unit of work on World War Two. For more information on this project see: http://edubuzz.org/blogs/campiep67/

I think the PSP has got huge Potential in Education and I am a big fan of the work that ConnectED are doing to promote the use of the PSP in the classroom.

 

Finally, Games based learning in the secondary school, by me

The notes from my presentation are here

 

The Consolarium

The Consolarium is the Learning and Teaching Scotland Centre for Games Based Learning and Research, headed up by Derek Robertson. For more information on Games Based Learning visit the Consolarium website.

Comments

[andy wallis]

Thanks for the kind words Ollie. We look forward to having you (back) over to our wee island in the near future