Week 4: Speaking and Listening in ICT and Digital Media

Another week and another welcome back to my blog!


Today we explored different technologies that can be used in schools and they way in which they can be used to enhance their learning.

ICT provides many opportunities for speaking and listening:

• Through interaction - using technology to communicate
• Collaboration when sharing (which is most of the time) computers
• Using the whiteboard - Having questions to start with which promotes discussion
• Shared talking with the whiteboard - asking children to explain answers on the whiteboard
• Through use of webcams, digital video etc. Extends interactivity and allows for instant feedback!

 

Speaking and Listening

 

Talking tins

Does exactly what it says on the tin

Talking tins allows you to record and playback voice messages, music or sound effects. They and instantaneous and spontaneous way to facilitate thinking. The spoken word can be captured quickly and reviewed through listening rather than reading. It is very inclusive resource as they can be recorded in any language and the activities using this can be altered to suit all levels of activity. Its is a great way to support the development of spoken fluency, listening, building confidence with words and writing skills. They can be used for various purposes throughout the curriculum:

• Interactive talking displays
• Phonics
• Building sentences
• Modern languages
• Talking treasure hunts
• Use them for Role Play
• They are good for PSHE contexts – can children use their listening skills to detect who is speaking?
• Children can be encouraged to record their own voices and this can inform assessments, showing their responses to the modelling of vocabulary or simple grammatical structures.

 

Talking photo album 

 

You can record a separate own voice message for each page using the built in microphone. You can also add music and sound effects to the pictures/photos. This is perfect for: 

• Creating your own story books
• Talking pupil profiles
• presenting projects and science experiments
• A reminder of day trips and events e.g. sports days and plays

Below is a video to show various speaking and listening activities using talking products (including the ones that have been mentioned). 

Podcasts

 

A podcast is very similar to a radio show except it is not broadcast live. It is a recorded show that can be distributed over the internet and can be listened to whenever you can. Such podcasts can vary from general interest entertainment shows or those that focus on particular subjects such as education and music. 

In the classroom, podcasting is a great way for children to share their work and experiences with an audience outside the classroom and is excellent as a way of showcasing their achievements.

Children can benefit from creating a podcast in many different ways:

• Developing literacy skills (writing scripts, setting up interviews etc), allows children to develop and practice their speaking and listening skills, as well as learn ICT skills.
• It is interactive as the audience can be invited to send their comments and give valuable feedback to the children about their work.
• Developing teamwork skills as if children want to make a great show, they have to work well together.  

There are many things children and teachers can put on podcast such as school news, children's work, school songs, interviews with staff members, music (be aware of copyright) and regional/international news (again, be aware of copyright").
 

Digital Camera

 

We got the chance to to take pictures and create a story through digital imaging and music using a programme called photostory 3. Photostory can be used in many ways in the classroom is a useful for children who find writing difficult such as EAL children. 

 

 Below is an example of a child using photostory to talk about penguins: 

 It's very powerful! If i had the time today, i would definitely have created something like this :S



I will need to ensure that I use some of these talking products to help support cross curricular work and ensure that children utilise them to their full potential. The products provide SEN and EAL children with the opportunity to experiment with talk- based learning, and they also encourage communication through speech.


Until next week!