Video tutorials for Web2 applications - including Etherpad

PrimaryPete (Twitter @primarypete_) has produced a set of very helpful videos on using Web2 technology. The link is to his tutorial on using Etherpad - he also has videos on how to use Photostory3, Wordle and a whole host of others - why not check him out.

Updating my Flickr pages with images stored on my computer

I've been spending some time over Christmas adding images to Flickr. I've got thousands of images stored on my computer (most of which are backed up elsewhere).

Apparently there are now more digital photographs in the world than house bricks!!

You can view my latest updated images within the Flickr badge at the top of the left column. This provides a direct link to my Flickr pages.

Chembakolli - a village in India

We used drama, sense impressions, art, creative writing & data handling to help year 3 & 4 children to gain a sense of what it might be like to live in ` A Village in India'. Originally taught in 2002, this geography unit set out to embrace citizenship, art & drama and speaking & listening which fit very well with the broader approach to developing a `creative curriculum'. I created a website to share resources (though some of the pictures that I sourced from the internet are now looking very dated). The activity plan for the unit can be downloaded from the website.

I've now provided an update for this unit by creating a chart to show where the learning acitivities fit into the >>>> (click on the red text) New Primary Curriculum (NC 2011).

You can download this from here.

Silvepura - A village in India

Silvepura is small village in Karnataka State, 28 kms NW of Bangalore, India. It is a largely Christian village which is unusual for this part of India. I've just been creating cpations for a new photopack for India that will be available in the New Year from the Geographical Association. It felt really good to re-visit these images and to be reminded of our very special visit to India.

CABE: Education grant winners 2009-10

At the end of 2009, six schools were awarded CABE education grants of £1,500 to support imaginative teaching about architecture and the built environment.

• Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children, London
  
• Pewley Down Infant School, Guildford
  
• St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Gateshead
  
• Virtual School for Children in Care, Cornwall
  
• Ercall Wood Technology College, Telford
  
• Haringey Sixth Form College, London

CABE is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space.

If you haven't come across them before their RESOURCES are well worth a look as most are FREE.

Christmas Greetings

Christmas looks like being a white one for us this year. It snowed quite a bit on Sunday afternoon and then cold weather (from continental Europe) looks like keeping the temperature around freezing. I've been experimenting with some publishing software called ISSUU which I think is great. Christmas Greeting to all.

Ideas for using images

Lots of good ideas for using images in this Google presentation - though not all of these ideas are focused on geography (a few are) many to them can be adapted. Why not share some of your own ideas and help to build this resource. It was started by Anthony Evans of Redbridge LA. He'd welcome your ideas too!