Strachur Birdwatchers

Please note that this cookbook refers to Glow Meet using Marratech.  Glow Meet is now delivered over Adobe Connect which offers enhanced functionality.  To find out more about Glow Meet using Adobe Connect then click here.  The principles around the benefits of Glow Meet are the same regardless of the technology used for Glow Meet.

Overview

Fiona Tato is a P2/1 teacher at Strachur Primary School in Argyll and Bute. At present the upper and middle school pupils have been actively using their class Glow Groups.

In this cookbook we will look at how Fiona and her class used Glow Meet to link to a webcam in a bird box, and how this developed into being a stimulus for an interdisciplinary project.

Context

In conjunction with the Strachur Primary School’s Green Flag Projects they received a bird box with a web cam from Generation Green. Initially the National Park Ranger, Jim Downie set up the web cam in the bird box which was displayed to the pupils on the class SMARTboard. Fiona then came up with the idea of having the web cam connected to Glow Meet, as this would allow the pupils to watch the bird box from home, and they could show their parents. Also it allowed all pupils in the school and Local Authority to become involved in this project. Fiona used this project as a stimulus for Literacy, Art and Science lessons.  The pupils also had a hide where they could go and watch the birds and take photos using a digital camera.

Click on the video to see a pupil talk about their bird watching hide. (0.38)

Click on the video to see one of the pupils show us where the bird box is located. (0.16)

Listen to Fiona tell us how the project started. (0.57)

Listen to Fiona explain why she decided to use Glow for this project. (1.15)

How was the Strachur Nestbuilders Glow Group set up?

There are a number of areas within this Glow Group:

Noticeboard

On this page there is a title for the Glow Group, which was uploaded using a Text Editor Web Part. There is a link to a Discussion Board, which was put on the Noticeboard to encourage visitors to the group to leave comments about what they had seen. The Noticeboard also contains the Glow Meet Web Part and a Document Store which gives advice on how to use Glow Meet.

What can you see?

This page contains a Discussion Board where visitors can leave comments about their observations during the Glow Meet. There is a link to this page on the Noticeboard.

Calendar

A Calendar web part is used on this page. This allowed Mrs Tato and the class to add key events so the class had a record of what happened, for example when the project started , the size of the chicks at various times, etc.

Strachur Primary

This page used Image Web Parts to display various Literacy and Art projects the pupils had taken part in during lessons.

This topic has covered many Early and First Level Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes:

LIT 1-22a I can write independently, use appropriate punctuation and order and link my sentences in a way that makes sense.

LIT 1-24a I can present my writing in a way that will make it legible and attractive for my reader, combining words, images and other features.

LIT 0-02a / ENG 0-03a As I listen and talk in different situations, I am learning to take turns and am developing my awareness of when to talk and when to listen.

LIT 0-04a I listen or watch for useful or interesting information and I use this to make choices or learn new things.

SCN 0-01a I have observed living things in the environment over time and am becoming aware of how they depend on each other.

EXA 0-04a/EXA 1-04a I can create a range of visual information through observing and recording from my experiences across the curriculum.

HWB 0-05a / HWB 1-05a I am learning about where living things come from and about how they grow, develop and are nurtured.

Ingredients

What did Fiona need to set up the Strachur Nestbuilders Glow Group?

1. Glow Group at an Authority Level
2. Web cam placed in a bird box
3. 4 Pages within the Glow Group
4. Text Editor Web Part
5. Glow Meet Web Part
6. Document Store
7. Multiple Image Web Parts
8. Default Discussion Board
9. Calendar Web Part

Recipe

In the following videos, we will take a look at the Strachur Nestbuilders Glow Group and find out how to replicate some of its structure and content.

What does the Strachur Nestbuilders Glow Group look like? (2.46)

How to add, delete and rename pages. (1.49)

How to add a Text Editor web part and an image. (2.24)

How to add a Glow Meet Web Part and configure a Glow Meet room. (1.52)

How to create a Document Store and upload a document. (1.35)

How to add an Image Web Part and edit the image. (2.18)

How to add content to a Discussion Board. (1.29)

How to add a Calendar Web part and edit the settings. (2.00)

Impact

Fiona feels this project has a huge impact on learning and teaching. The pupils were able to collaborate with another school in the area, which allowed the pupils to ask each other questions about their observations. It has given the parents an insight into how Glow can be used to collaborate with other pupils within their school and the local area using a safe and secure area. It allowed for numerous cross-curricular opportunities. The pupils have an excellent understanding of bird classification and also the importance of nature conservation.

Listen to the pupils explain what they have seen via Glow Meet. (0.56)

Listen to pupils explain how they can watch the birds. (0.44)

Listen to the pupils discuss what class activities they have taken part in related to this topic. (0.40)

Listen to Fiona explain the impact on learning this project has had.  (0.46)

Click here to visit the Glow Group.

Strachur Birdwatchers4.6511