Al Upton and the miniLegends

Creating a Collaborative Classroom – Online on a Budget
LanSchool is the tool that unites all of our other learning technologies. Al

Click to see this page as it appeared on our 2005 blog
- all pictures full size but links wont work. NB this link has not worked recently – I’m investigating

[LanSchool - Screenshots ...  http://tinyurl.com/8psus  Download a colour double-sided A4 reference sheet you can have next to the computer. Why not get it laminated?]

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These are some photos (we took turns) during one afternoon.
They show you how important LanSchool and our classroom setup is to our learning.
We were beginning a project on ‘Cycles and Change’ – student initiated learning.

*** We hope these pictures tell you a story about our miniLegends class.***

LanSchool – ‘Control and Collaboration – just one right-click away.’
This software and methodology is a wonderful asset in computer labs
but the real promise for integrating ICTs into the curriculum is in the classroom.

Are you considering getting kids around computers in the classroom? …
Save or share this page? – with staff, your class, forums, teams, your own reference etc
Hint: to save as a resource – File…Save As…Save as type:Web Archive, single file (*.mht)
Hint: to save individual images – Right-click the picture…Save Picture As

Here is a miniLegend suggestion:
The first time, scroll down and just read the first line under the picture.

 (click to enlarge then use the back button to return here)
J and C brainstorming ideas on the floor
S gets ideas from the whiteboard. Mostly we broadcast whatever is on the teacher workstation to all the other computers.
We used to have an art table plus the trays in the middle of the room but creating one large central space has provided a greater sense of unity plus many more learning opportunities. It also feels less confining.
When we think how long we spend in the classroom each day …

N chooses to work individually
These old, ‘unwanted’, ‘recycled’ computers are our most valued learning tool. They still need to be tidied up a bit since we changed our room around.

S making plans for her project
Opening up the room has provided a great deal of flexibility. We are trying for the feel of an open space unit with the benefits of individual classrooms in a traditional ‘cell’. The answer was putting in more desks and computers! It is important to value teachers, their practices and their shared or unique methodologies. I hope this resource can act as a springboard – for those seeking their own solutions to unite kids and computers in the classroom. Download a msword copy of our floor plan …..

C will put something on from the 70’s
We listen to music from various decades and styles. Vivaldi has released some good ‘brain music’ covers.

The computers are right there when we need them.
We thought trays in corners like this would be a problem – it’s not, it works beautifully.

A and T search Google
Today’s tips were to type ‘watercycle filetype:swf’ (or whatever you are searching for, some wanted ppt – Powerpoint not Flash) The other was to add the word ‘kids’ to the search eg ‘butterflies kids’.

Z and D find a water cycle
In Google they typed ‘watercycle filetype:swf’ They’ll want to share this!

Can we share that with the class?
This aspect of LanSchool engages, motivates and empowers the kids. If we get (or even needed) an interactive whiteboard, it would go on the right. Interactive Whiteboards at Glenelg?

Al is singing or saying “Yes, yes, yes”
Sometimes I have little control over what’s going on – like who takes what photo and when! I love it, Al

Now it’s on everyone’s computer
Z and D’s discovery is viewed by others – LanSchool’s ‘broadcast student computer’ feature. For best results, let the kids do this.

B is at the other end of Al’s microphone
This FM system helps filter sounds and puts the focus on explicit auditory instructions. More commonly used is the $15 microphone plugged into the teacher’s computer – saves the voice, focuses attention and meets auditory learning styles. We also use a graphics palette to more easily annotate anything on the screens $60.

C and D blank the screens
Sometimes it’s very handy to make all the screens blue and disable each computer.
It also makes a really cool sound!

LanSchool – Just one right-click on the green circle
It’s the ease of use and simplicity that makes LanSchool such a ‘teacher and student friendly’ tool. The ‘green circle’ icon sits in the system tray – the bottom right of your computer screen.

Eyes this way please – check out the space
[Blanked Screens.] It’s the principles and practices we promote. This is just how we’re doing it. We’re Year 3s. Smaller desks than your’s? Maybe, but do the maths, we use 18 not the usual 15 and still have plenty of room – and it’s really cheap!

L scans to broadcast – it also prints or copies
$180 from the class budget is well spent. Adding a 3in1 printer/scanner/copier changes the way you think about learning together. Scan pictures, ideas, work, a guided reading book. a parent misseda not home whatever. It  immediately can get published then annotated, shared etc

Sharing ideas – working together
That just about says it all.
virtual maths learning objects
www.google.com.au   (right-click) type in nlvm, click ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’. Have fun – share the learning

using our thinking preferences
This ‘Thinking Preferences’ approach frees us up and doesn’t box us in. 

technology, maths and fun
It’s not all about the computers. Mostly they are used as a particulary effective electronic whiteboard. It’s nearly always about having fun! ‘Learning is Fun’ is a useful lifelong mindset and worth pursuing.

it’s a team effort
Yes. Note the anticipation of a positive outcome. The only one smiling is the ball!

for fun, animations, chat
Web cams might not be your priority but get the technologies into your room and you are more likely to be enthused and use them. EG Do you have ‘instant’ access to a digital camera?

everyone has their own bench and wall space
These trays are a decoupage work in progress. Collected cat crunchie boxes make excellent trays to hold bits and pieces, clay models, animation props and figures etc. The long blue pinup board below will have 30 A4 plastic sleeves. We have trialled different folders etc but this seems the best.

shared pinup board space
We have 6 permanent colour groups (although we change seats 3 times a term) who have their own pinup board space. This ‘Who Am I’ work (Kidlink – global sharing and communication) will soon be replaced by ‘Cycles and Change’ processes and reports.
It’s all about COMMUNICATION and PUBLISHING.

our 3D animation backgrounds
Note the wide shelf that runs across the back wall – sensational display and storage space.These buildings (using different or ‘bizarre’ ideas and materials) form part of Minisville, a well planned town that can be reassembled on the floor.

and we’re comfortable
What price would you pay for the comfort and well being of the kids? Those chairs day-in-day-out can’t be fun or particularly healthy. The cushions are the result of a request for help, an idea to do a recycled jeans run, a generous nan (Thanks Marlene) and less than $3 per insert – thanks Spotlight. The cushion backs were designed, made and donated by generous parents – thanks Lisa and Ian. http://www.wetsuitcoolers.com.au/

Boris and Jester
It’s also all about CLASS IDENTITY. It’s an ongoing process working out what it means to be a miniLegend – never better, maybe different, always special, fun, carers, sharers, explorers … that sort of thing. Boris (as in Karloff) and Jester Bear (a potbellied wolf -bear pretending to be a rabbit) came along for the ride.

When its all done the cables will nearly be invisible
Yes, I know, I know. Last year I first set the room up like this downstairs – one weekend I tucked away all the cables and the two hubs (the low white box in the picture) so that they were nearly invisible. It takes a bit of time but not much. Now upstairs in Room 16 this year I’ve yet to find that spare day – but I soon will. (2006 UPDATE – all done!)

The computers don’t give us much trouble
The computers have proven to be low maintenance. If for some reason LanSchool doesn’t work on a computer, it takes less than a minute to reinstall it. The kids can do it.
It’s rare but sometimes when we use our beloved Game Maker program a screen will freeze so …
Ctrl+Alt+Delete…Task Manager…(select the program you want to stop)…End Task

Brainstorm, Plan, Research, Create Something, Report Back – Al, get out of the way
This is the kids brainstorming for the ‘Cycles and Change’ processes and criteria. Note that it’s on the whiteboard and sometimes I get in the way. By the way, I’ll be adding in the word ‘PUBLISH’, cheers Al

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