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iPads for Learning – try one in the Library today

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Here’s an excellent ScoopIt page of weblinks on the topic of iPads for Learning

It includes suggestions of the most useful and interesting educational apps and ways of using ipads during lessons.

We have 12 ipads in the Mallinson Library – available for use within the Library. Come and experiment with one today or read a newspaper on an ipad – The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian all available in full colour with added features.

The National Geographic has spectacular photos and animations.

We’ve just added apps for Khan Academy (3,000 + educational videos) and Shakespeare – full text of all the plays, Sonnets, Poems and includes a Concordance.

WolframAlpha – available for Maths.

 

 

 

What a buzz!

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“The lights are calming but the vibrant colours are eccentric – together they work really well! We love it. The staircase still looks fabulous.”

“The Library is amazing. Can’t wait to do some productive revision in the “Personal Pod”. Love the colours.”

“Modern and smart, lots of room for revision and it’s a light, airy, welcoming place.”

At 8.30am the crowds poured in – eager to see the transformed Library. Soon it became a hive of activity with lessons going on in the pods and individual study in all rooms. Harry O’Hare was the first to borrow a book, Leo Sutton tried out the first ipad, Jamie Allum helped set up the wireless mice and keyboards in the pods and Richie Wibbels was the first person to use the Library. It was fantastic to see pupils experimenting with the big screens and Mr Auger’s Maths lesson in the Physical pod. So many questions and ideas – plenty to work on in the coming weeks. We welcome your ideas for educational apps for the ipads and e-magazines and newspapers.

Thank you to all the pupils who are helping us get to know the new technology – informal ipad tutorials and for all your enthusiasm.

Mrs McGregor’s Creative Writing Club are coming in later today – no doubt  they’ll be inspired by their vibrant surroundings!

 

 

Harry Potter e-book fever

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25th April: Daily Telegraph reports that Harry Potter ebook sales top 1m in three days

27th March Guardian article about Pottermore

“Although the titles feature on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, they can only be bought from Pottermore. By selling the books via her own website, Rowling will be able to keep much of the revenue rather than sharing it with the publishers.”

“The first three novels cost £4.99 in ebook form, compared with a cover price of £6.99 for print editions, while the final four are priced at £6.99 in ebook compared with £8.99 in print.”

(Guardian newspaper article by Alison Flood, 27.3.12)

It is worth mentioning that JK Rowling has agreed that the Harry Potter e-books can be loaned through the Overdrive software commonly used in British public libraries.

 

Pinterest – Pinboards to promote good books.

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Pinterest is a content sharing service that allows members to “pin” images, videos and other objects to their pinboard. A way of grabbing images and websites on themes. It’s also an attractive way to create recommended reading boards.

Here’s a pinboard I created for the Carnegie Children’s Book Award 2012 shortlisted books.

Here are  thematic book boards put together by a school librarian in Kent.

Mashable suggests ways teachers can use pinterest to organise the web.

We will be creating more themed book boards in the near future and welcome suggestions. Next one will be film tie-ins.