Integration of ICT into the classroom - What I couldn't do without!

I was invited to present 3 workshops at a mini- conference. When I asked them what they would like me to talk about they said 'ICT in the Senior School, ICT in the Middle School and ICT in the Junior School'. So I thought the best way to tackle this is to talk about 'What I couldn't do without' in my classroom teaching.
Below are the 3 different workshops. I have embedded the Scribd ones for those not blocked from it (because they look better in that format) and I have included the Slideshare example as well, to view full screen click on

ICT in the Junior School

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Education Presentations & Slid integration

ICT in the Junior School

View more presentations from Jacqui Sharp.

ICT in the Middle School

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Education Presentations & Slid integration

ICT in the Middle School

View more presentations from Jacqui Sharp.

ICT in the Senior School

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Education Presentations & Slid integration

ICT in the Senior School

View more presentations from Jacqui Sharp.

Setting up your mimio and laptop from scratch

Steps to setting up your mimio

Connect projector to laptop, turn on the Projector and the laptop

Stick the mimio to the whiteboard with the suction cups (there are plastic clips available that enable you to have a permanent place on the whiteboard, just clip the mimio into them)

Plug in the wireless receiver or connect the USB end of mimio to your computer

Press the power button on the mimio
Press the calibration button


Use the pen to click in the centre of each circle (there are nine)

As long as your projector or screen doesn't move the calibration should stay the same.

Hint #2 pens and batteries again

Check to see if your pen's battery is 'still alive' by pushing the tip, you should hear a buzzing noise. If you hear that, your pen is working! If you hear nothing then change the batteries. Invest in some rechargeable batteries and always have a spare set available for your pen and your mimo. There is nothing worse than going to start your lesson and you have to find batteries before you even begin! Just a note for NZers, if you break the pen a new one is going to cost you NZ$100

Key Competencies Start of the Year - Circular Photos

Anne wants her children to write what their goals are for the year around the Key Competency 'Managing Self'. She wants to insert their individual photos into a flower shape. Students will highlight what they have achieved throughout the year.

Mac Instructions
With Macs you can use Word, insert the photo, click on the photo to see Picture Toolbar (if that is not there then go View-Toolbars- Picture). Click on the Circle selector tool, drag around the child's face then click on the cut out tool.
Or you can use iPhoto. Click on the photo to be changed. Click on the Edit button. Crop the photo until you can see just the face. Click on the Effects button. Select Matte, click Done. Insert the photo on to your page.

Windows Instructions
Only Word 2007 has the circle cutout option, insert the photo, click on the photo, click on the Format tab, select the circle shape, then you may need to crop so click on the Crop button and click and drag a corner until you see as much of the picture as you want.


Downloadable software (Win only)
Photofiltre http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm is a free photo editing programme. It is very simple to use and has some wonderful filters that make amazing changes to photos. You can also use it for cropping shapes out of your photos. In this example the circle tool button has been selected and clicked and dragged around the face. Go to Image - Crop and the new image will appear, go to File - Save As and name your image.

Online Photo Editing
Or there is the online version you could use for both Mac and Windows.
LunaPic is online photo editing software. Click on Browse (find your photo on your computer), click on Upload now. Crop the image first if you need to by clicking and dragging around the area of the photo that you want to keep, then click Crop. Next click on Effects in the menu bar and select Cutout Shape. On the dropdown menu select Circle and Apply. Then click Download and Save.

Shape Circles
Once you have the face shape sorted out, you need to insert a circle shape,
in Word click on Autoshapes and select a Circle. Click and drag on the page, right click (or Ctrl click Mac) and select Add Text. Type in your statement. Set your font and style. This circle will need to be moved to the back of the Photo. Click on the circle to select it, go to the Draw toolbar - click on Draw - Arrange - Move behind Text.
Now Duplicate that shape by pressing Ctrl D (Command D for Mac )on the keyboard, keep duplicating until you have enough petals, move into position and edit text.

Things I like about the mimio #1 Converting ink to text

I have had a mimio to play around with for the last month and have now written a 'mimio Manual' which is available on my Website. I am also going to be offering mimio specific courses so keep an eye out on my course page. There are many specific things I like about the mimio so I am going to itemise them in this blog. The first one is 'Converting ink to text', and 'Converting writing to text. Unfortunately this is not available for Mac yet, but it works well on Windows.

Converting ink to text
Click on the Ink Pen . Write your text. Click on the Selection tool. Click and drag around the ink text. It will turn into this

Right click on the selected text and select Recognise Ink or go to Tools in the menu and select Recognise Ink. . The ink is converted into text.


Converting writing to text
Before you start you need to activate your computer keyboard.
Click on the Applications button and select Text tools

A keyboard will appear that you can use with the mimio pen.
Close it by clicking on the . It will appear in your system tray.

Using the mimio pen click on the Text button, click on the page to place the text box.
Right click on the Keyboard in your system tray. Click on Write Anywhere or Writing Pad (Write Anywhere is not available on Vista)
If you are using the Write anywhere, you can write anywhere on the screen (make sure the cursor is in the Text box first) when you stop writing it will appear in the text box. If you use the Writing Pad then you have to write on the line in the pad, again every time you stop writing with the pen the ink will convert to text.

What I particularly like the most about Converting Writing to text is that you can use it in other applications as well such as Inspiration, Kidspiration, Word and PowerPoint. Just open the mimio Tools and then the Application you want to use.
Remember it will not work until you place your cursor in a text box, symbol or a page.

Webspiration gets better and better...

Webspiration is Inspiration online. It is in beta now and free, so use it while you can. You do not need Inspiration on your computer, and you can work on documents online. When you are on a computer that does have Inspiration loaded on it then you can download the document to your computer.


I can see students using this by uploading a teacher/or their own prepared template to their own Webspiration account; working on it online at home; coming back to school and downloading it for marking or sharing. If students have their own accounts they can also collaborate on documents together online.

Documents can be embedded for viewing in blogs and wikis, click on the document window to see a blown up version.



R rating: None that I could find

Teacher Integration of ICT into the Curriculum

Where are you on the continuum of ICT integration into the curriculum?
Whenever I start Professional development in a new school I like teachers to identify where they are at on the Teacher level of integration.

Using ICT in the classroom means a change in teaching style. The following slideshow gives a description at each level. Which one of those teachers are you? This is best viewed at full screen, click on the full screen icon

Levels of ICT teacher Integration

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aMap: Create online arguments

Create your own arguments in aMap and embed into a blog or a wiki. As you add to your argument you are guided by keyword starters. Once you have stated your position you are directed to a window where you have to add your name and email. This would probably be better for older students who have their own email addresses as everybody who adds to the argument are directed to put in their details. This is still a fairly new programme and they are still fixing bugs so it will be interesting to see how it develops. I have put in a recommendation for password protection to protect arguments that students are writing.



R rating: none that I could find

Issuu: Create your own magazine or book or...

Create your own free publications in Issuu. Upload a PDF, PowerPoint, Word documents, or anything else with this file extension PDF, DOC, PPT, ODT, WPD, SXW, RTF, ODP, and SXI. There is a wide range of formats that you can select like book, presentation, magazine, newspaper, report, journal, portfolio, essay and manual.

Issuu can be embedded as a small book as seen below and to be seen full screen click on a page which will open up full screen in Issuu. Or you can embed as a larger document (go to Customise).
When you read the publications you can zoom in and zoom out.
Documents can be printed out.

It has a child safe option when you are publishing, so if people are publishing content that is not appropriate for children they can select No (not child-safe) to protect children.

How could this be used in the classroom?
Children can publish their own work; a book with their own stories, the class newspaper, present their research. Teachers could use it to publish whole units of work that can then be embedded in the planning page of the school wiki. There are so many ways that this application can be used.

Get your own - Open publication

R rating: None that I could find

BeFunky has a new look!

Not only has Befunky got a new look it has increased the effects you can use with your photos.
When you click on Get Started you get the Application Window.







Choose an effect and then upload your photo. You can change the effect at any time by clicking on the Application toolbar.

They have also included an API for developers. BeFunky can embed the application on your website. Your users will not have to leave your site at all.

The Uvatar feature is still there so that you can make your avatar.

I have used this site many times now with students and teachers and they all love it. What is especially great is how you can comicfy students photos so that they are not identifiable and use them on blogs and wikis.
This is a great upgrade!

Weemee graphic signature for emails

Weemees make great avatars that can be used to represent you instead of a photo. You can also create a Weemee graphic signature like mine by creating a Weemee and then use the Export feature to create an email signature.

How to create a Weemee

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.