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RVHS Teach Meet Presentations and Resources

Please find below all the presentations and resources from our Teach Meet

Please trial one idea in your classroom and for more information or help then please ask the presenter, I am sure that they will be happy to help.

Camscanner app by Marius Vermaak


Class Charts presented by Shahidur Rahman  an excellent tool for preparing seating plans


Judith Bentley and Tara Preston present on the excellent Mind Mapping Skills promoted by Positively Mad.

Can be an extremely useful technique to help students revise for any subject.


Sharon Jenner presents on Why Blog ?blog

What is the purpose and how relevant is blogging to teaching and learning…..

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Why Blog?

Matt Cocker on the story so far with Edmodo


Nicholla Chambers presented on effective feedback methods in MFL


Emilie Darabasz presents Tweachers!


Melanie Wright demonstrated how to create a literacy friendly learning environment


Karima Lasfer showed us how to inject zest into the classroom using Task Magic


Jackson Home and Tamie Kyriakou show us how to use Tarsia across the curriculum


Jon Quirk presented on using Google Play for education


Chris Bently demonstrated how to use the fantastic screencast-o-matic to provide feedback
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Screencast-o-matic

Kumers Naidoo showed us five online web tools in 5 minutes

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KNA - five web tools

Dee Sexton shared some differentiation strategies


Emilie Darabasz presents on…

Tweachers– Why teachers should be using twitter?twitter

What’s the point of Twitter? Why should educators get involved? What difference does using Twitter make? Well here are some ideas I wanted to share.

Twitter is like a virtual staffroom, we are at times too busy in school to sit down and share ideas and resources. Twitter helps you to do so. In the search tool bar Hash tag #  follow by what you would like to search for (#AFL) and in seconds you can access a stream of links, ideas, opinion and resources from global professionals.

Twitter is no string attached– you can step into it when suits you: on the train or waiting for the kettle to boil you do not need to be logged on all the time for Twitter to be beneficial to you.

Twitter helps teachers to reflect on their own practice in order to improve and develop ideas. Teachers on Twitter share reflections and both support and challenge each other. This is a free and very efficient CPD!

With Twitter you get instant feedback – Posting an idea or a resource on Twitter means you can gather a range of opinions and constructive criticism within minutes: which is a great help when planning a learning experience or writing a policy.

Twitter helps me to  stay up to date on news and current affairs, as well as on the latest developments in my areas of interest. By following leading individuals and organisations, Twitter users can stay at the bleeding edge of innovation and creativity. (Think about your own CPD )

So where do you start? Open an account for your personal CPD only. Think about the leading individuals in your subject area for instance Sue Cowley for behaviour – seach for their name and read their ‘Bio’ (The way they introduce themselves on the profile page). If you are interested follow them. Have a look at who they are following as well (as most of the time they will follow professionals in the same area if interest) and follow them too.

Do not forget chats and forum like @ukedchat: every Thursday night at 8pm on education ideas and issues, @BehaviourTeach: Monday night at 8pm chat on behaviour strategies in classroom or @STLchat on Sunday night at 8.30 pm (you do not need to be STL to follow this very interesting forum)

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Zest in Media Studies

I am writing this to share some of the new developments in modern technology that help enhance teaching and learning and thereby adding ‘Zest’ to media studies lessons.

I am currently using the alternative English subtitle track available via the main menu on most DVD’s to enhance and encourage literacy in media lessons. This ensures that students read as they watch films improving both spelling and accuracy of note taking.
Another useful function available on many DVD menus is the alternative audio track known as a ‘Director’s Commentary’ which enhances students understanding of film making and film language.
An example of this is Ridley Scott’s audio commentary for the film Gladiator where he takes the viewer through a scene by scene analysis of the film making process. The students are then able to take relevant notes while watching the film enabling them to complete a GCSE controlled assessment assignment on film language.
Blu Ray technology has further pushed the boundaries of technology in the classroom for students by enabling the viewing of films in high definition (when set up with a compatible HD television)
High Definition and in the near future Ultra High Definition enable the use of picture in picture(PIP) technology when watching a film in the classroom. This effectively means an extra smaller screen on the TV running simultaneously but separately in conjunction with the main screen. This facilitates direct storyboard planning to finished film comparison as well as enabling students to watch an old classic film on the small screen while simultaneously watching and comparing the modern remake on the big screen(or visa versa).
The DVD and Blu Ray of Titanic has branching digital learning pods which open up during key moments in the film highlighting the production process.

I hope this gives an insight on what it is now possible to do using recent advancements in HD digital disc technology.
Chrys Perera
Head Of Media Studies

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Teach to Learn: Issue 2 – Literacy at Roding Valley High School

Teach to Learn: Issue 2 – Literacy at Roding Valley High School

If the content below is not visible, please click here to view it on our publisher’s site.
Please click on the image below to view full screen.

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We inspire and challenge our young readers at RVHS

The English Department at Roding Valley High School are working hard to improve literacy skills and have joined the Carnegie Children’s Book Awards to inspire and challenge young readers. Students have the opportunity to engage and encourage young readers to read more widely than they might usually, introducing them to new and more demanding literature and illustration. Young people engage in an intense period of reading and vibrant discussion in a supportive environment through which they gain confidence and communication skills. They are encouraged to share their opinions online, talk about books, to debate and decide on their favourites.

The scheme fosters a sense of community formed around reading – helping to enrich and reinforce a reading culture. Taking part in the scheme enables young people to meet new people, both in their own school or library and in other shadowing groups through organised events. Pupils can post their own reviews and comments about books and read those of their peers.

Find out more about the scheme and read Roding’s Home Page by clicking here.

RVHS Reading Scheme

Melanie Wright – RVHS Literacy Co-ordinator