OllieBray.com

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (8 of 8) – EduShade [@educationshow]

 

I thought that EduShade was a pretty good and really simple idea. Basically you can get learning material printed on your school classroom blinds.

As well as the obvious things you might want to include (Maps, Shapes, Letters, etc.). I also like the idea that you can get anything printed on the blinds.

There is massive potential here to showcase students work, advertise school events and also to print school logos on the outside of the blinds to further advertise your school to the local community.

 

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (7 of 8) – Some Great Toys (what teaching health and safety should be about!)

I think there is a place for Health and Safety and the teaching of issues relating to Health and Safety for children and young people. I also think we go far to overboard on some very basic safety issues that should really just be regarded as common sense (eg: taking children into your school grounds).

Anyway, I thought that the range of products from Road Masters UK Ltd were a good start on how issues regarding Health and Safety should be taught in schools for a very early age. Learning through purposeful play, fantasy and dressing up at its very best (I wonder if they make their Garden Centre Facia in my size?).

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (6 of 8) – Climbing Walls

 

Just like last year there were lots of companies at the Education Show demonstrating the sort of things that can be done with playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces. As always the products ranged from outdoor mirrors, to furniture, to stages, to water features to playground paint.

I liked the addition of a few companies offering climbing walls this year – I would like to see more of these in school playgrounds!

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (4 of 8) – Story Cubes

I’ve been a big fan of ‘Thinking Dice’ ever since my fellow UK Education Blog Award Judge Tim Rylands recommended them to me at a conference a few moths ago.

Story Cubes are a similar sort of idea, taking the randomness created by the throwing of several dice and turning them into a powerful tool for learning.

Here is an example of how they might be used:

Begin with ‘Once upon a time’, and tell a story that links together all 9 face-up images. Start with the first symbol that grabs your attention.

Rory’s Story Cubes® can be enjoyed solitaire or by taking turns with multiple players.

Remember there is no wrong answer, the goal is to let the cubes spark your imagination.

Don't you think the simple ideas are always the best!

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (5 of 8) – Mind Sets Online [@education show]

I love gadgets and the Education Show is always great for good EduGadets!

Last year my favorites included Great Gizmos and Education Harbour. This year I had a good chat with some of the staff at Mind Sets On-line.

They produce some great early years robotic sets – this is so important if we are serious about developing a future digital economy and also a progression & ethos of content creation by children from an early age.

I was impressed with their Energy and Power sets to help develop an understanding of renewable energy and was also particularly fond of the soil clock!

However my absolute favorite product that they were showcasing was an electric motor powered paper plane launcher! – The more I think about it, the more I think I’m just going to have to get one!

 

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (3 of 8) – Soft Furnishings [@educationshow]

As always in the Education Show there was a lot of classroom and school furniture on display. Some of the products from Just4Kidz caught my eye (but there was lots of others as well).

 

The thing I liked about these particularly items was that like all good school furnishings they were movable, varied, quirky, highly-flexible and brightly colored. It is amazing what a difference a bit of color can make in a learning space.

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (2 of 8) – Body IQ [@educationshow]

   

It wasn’t just the colorful rugs from Kit Shop@Peters that caught my eye at the education show.

I also liked the idea of these large floor education roll outs the one that was on display was from Body IQ and was about the nervous and circulatory system. 

As well as being educational in its own right. Body IQ has also developed a simple game to go with the product to help children learn more about the human body – this basically turns the product into one giant floor board game.

It got me thinking that in many classrooms we often forget about the floor as a possible resource for learning material. We have used the floor in playgrounds for years (do you remember playing hopscotch?). 

 

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 (1 of 8) – Creative Flooring [@educationshow]

Carpet for schools can be expensive and a lot of flooring in schools has a really cold feel to it.

I really liked some of the rugs from Kit Shop@Peters  I think they would liven up the corner of any classroom or library.

They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

Reflections from UK Education Show 2011 – Introduction

 

Last Friday I had a flying visit to the Education Show in Birmingham. The Education Show is a very different type of trade show compared to BETT and the Scottish Learning Festival. I enjoyed my few hours there. It is nice to look at other products that are not necessarily to do with Education Technology and remind myself of the wide range of resources that are available for schools.

Just like last year I’ve written up some of the things that I saw and liked. There were a lot of the same exhibitors that were at the show last year and I’ve purposely not included them in this series of posts unless they were showcasing something new and innovative.

You can have a look at my posts from last year if you are interested.