Inverclyde's World Cup Group

Diana Rolland is ICT Support Teacher and Glow Development Officer for Inverclyde Council. She has supported the roll-out and adoption of Glow in Inverclyde since its inception. One of her many tasks has been to promote the usage of Glow in schools in the authority by creating local authority level groups to enhance learning and teaching. She has created the FIFA World Cup 2010 Glow Group for this purpose and made it available to all schools in Inverclyde. In this Cookbook we will look at the work Diana has done in putting the group together.

In this cookbook, we will find out:
• What the Inverclyde FIFA World Cup 2010 Group looks like
• How Diana created a Graphical Interface on the Noticeboard page
• How this interface was linked to hidden pages within the Glow Group

Context

The pages in the group

Diana wanted to create the local authority level group for 2 main reasons. Firstly, she wanted to practice creating a graphical interface and linking this to hidden pages within the Group. Diana also wanted to provide a resource for schools that teachers could use towards the end of term and over the summer holidays. She wanted to increase the use of Glow in a fun way by introducing pupils to the use of document libraries, web links, picture galleries and discussion boards. Diana is also keen to introduce less experienced teachers to Glow by giving them a resource to use which is already set up for them.

In this Cookbook we will look at how Diana has used different web parts to give access to a wealth of resources freely available on the web but organised for the pupils and teachers in Inverclyde into the one simple interface. Using the discussion boards also involves the pupils in a much more collaborative approach to looking at the World Cup than only interacting individually with resources.

Ingredients

The Graphical Interface Noticeboard

Noticeboard Graphical Interface

The FIFA World Cup 2010 Glow Group is visually stimulating. Almost all areas can be linked to from the South African Flag on the Noticeboard page. To keep the interface simpler all of the pages linked to are hidden pages. This means there are not a multitude of page tabs strewn across the top of the Group.

Each Group within the competition has a page which begins by displaying flags for each of the nations involved within that group (which link to websites on each country) and a document library containing lots of tasksheets on the strips of the different teams. There is also a discussion board where pupils are asked to post match reports and ideas on the best player from each group. Diana felt that this would introduce pupils to document libraries and discussion boards and allow them to become familiar with these central tools in Glow.

Along with each of the groups linked to from the South African Flag interface are links for Websites and Documents. These give access to hidden pages containing lots more resources for teachers and pupils.

Also on the Noticeboard page is a News web part where Diana has targeted news out to the pupils and teachers and a What’s On web part listing when all the matches are being played. Diana has created a web part displaying a Countdown to the Final using MagicWidgets and a web part which links off to a Brainpop movie about the World Cup. At the very bottom of the page is a Contacts web part with Diana’s contact details so that pupils and teachers can request additional functionality for the group.

Other pages

Other Pages of the Group

Outside of the Graphical Interface links on the Noticeboard, there are additional pages available on the tabs along the top. The first of these is the Players page where pupils are given templates in Word and Textease and asked to create biographies of their favourite football players and upload these to a document library. The next page is a Wives and Girlfriends’ Page where pupils are encouraged to design a handbag. The information for uploading a photo of the handbag is given in a News web part along with instructions about editing the properties of the photo within the Picture Gallery to give it a name and a description. The next page, recently added by Diana is called Photo Gallery and is for schools to upload any displays or work related to the World Cup with the last page being a Country Fact File for the pupils to share additional information they have picked up on the countries they have been looking at.

Click here to see some of the handbag designs

What did Diana need to do to build activities around the World Cup and give pupils and teachers access to this local authority Glow Group?

• Create a Glow Group at local authority level in Inverclyde
• Create hidden pages within the group for the different activities
• Hotspot links to these pages from an image in a text editor web part
• Find appropriate images and activities on the web without copyright restrictions
• Find supporting videos from the web and link these onto the pages
• Create a Countdown widget to the Final
• Rename existing pages and create additional pages for Players, Wives and Girlfriends, Photo Gallery and County Factfile
• Set pupils and teachers from across the authority with Reader with Discussions access to the group
• Send out targeted news publicising the Group and any new pages

Recipe

The first video below is a virtual tour by Diana of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Glow Group. Please note, that as the usage of the group grew Diana added more content and the video was recorded before some of the extra pages were added. The videos that then follow show how some of the elements within the Group can be recreated. Details are:

What does the Inverclyde FIFA World Cup 2010 Glow Group look like?
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

How to add text editor web parts onto the Noticeboard page with glitter text
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

How to add a Flag image with text into a text editor web part to act as a graphical interface
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

Creating a hidden page with new document and discussions web parts
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

Working with a text editor web part and hotspots on the hidden page
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

How to create hotspots on the image in text editor to link to the various hidden pages
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

How to create a Countdown widget on the Noticeboard page
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

Impact

Click here to see Scared Heart Primary's Cameroon Display

As we’ve already mentioned, Diana set up the Glow Group for 2 main reasons. She wanted to have a practice at using a simple graphical interface and hidden pages within Glow and she also wanted to encourage pupils and teachers across the authority to use Glow. She was also setting out to establish a Group which would allow pupils to be able to use Glow over the summer holidays.

“I wanted to increase the use of Glow in a fun way, so I hope I’ve achieved that by giving them lots of different activities.”

Katrina Flaherty, Head of Gourock Pre-5 Centre has begun to use the Group. She thanked Diana for creating it and let her know how she’s been using it with her Pre-5s.

She printed off the flags and gave one to each child to take home where the parents were asked to help them find out information about their country.  Some have already begun to do this. She has put up a map of the world in the classroom with the childrens’ flags fixed to the map to identify where each country is. The children will then take turns telling each other what they have found out about the country.

Katrina noted, “This is parental involvement, investigative learning and use of ICT to increase their knowledge and understanding of the world”.

She intends to create a graph and if their country scores a goal, each child will add a sticker to the graph.

Click here to see Gourock Pre 5 World Map

Diana has added a page to the Group for the schools to upload photos and Katrian has agreed to photograph her wall displays to go up into this gallery. The Centre had also recently been to Blair Drummond and took lots of photos which Katrian is also going to add to the map of the world.

Diana Rolland speaks about the FIFA World Cup 2010 Group
FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde!

Links with Curriculum for Excellence
Through their involvement in the FIFA World Cup 2010 Glow Group, the pupils have been actively engaging with a range of Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes. This range will depend upon many factors, namely, which web parts were used and the age and stage/level of the pupils accessing them. Amongst others, they include:

EXA 0-02a – I have the freedom to discover and choose ways to create images and objects using a variety of materials.

LIT 1-01a – I regularly select and listen to or watch texts which I enjoy and find interesting, and I can explain why I prefer certain sources.

I regularly select subject, purpose, format and resources to create texts of my choice.

LIT 1-20a – I enjoy creating texts of my choice and I regularly select subject, purpose, format and resources to suit the needs of my audience.

LIT 2-23a – Throughout the writing process, I can check that my writing makes sense and meets its purpose.

SOC 2-16c – I can discuss issues of the diversity of cultures, values and customs in our society.

TCH 0-03a – I explore software and use what I learn to solve problems and present my ideas, thoughts, or information.

In session 2009-2010 Marie-Louise worked with Vicky Mackenzie from Lairdsland PS to create a Glow Group where learners could publish their results as part of a league. This league was named ‘EDC Brain Trained Weans League’ and is part of a Glow Group named ‘EDC Brain Trained Learners’.

What the league looks like

In this cookbook we’ll look at how Marie-Louise and Vicky use a range of web parts within the ‘EDC Brain Train Learners’ Glow Group to communicate with learners, enable learners to submit their score onto a league table and allow pupils to contact each other through the discussion forum and Glow Meet to share good practice and hints and tips with each other.

Context
Marie-Louise and Vicky were keen to provide a relevant and stimulating basis for covering the Curriculum for Excellence numeracy outcomes:
First Level
I can use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division when solving problems, making best use of the mental strategies and written skills I have developed.
MNU 1-03a
I can tell the time using 12 hour clocks, realising there is a link with 24 hour notation, explain how it impacts on my daily routine and ensure that I am organised and ready for events throughout my day.
MNU 1-10a
I have begun to develop a sense of how long tasks take by measuring the time taken to complete a range of activities using a variety of timers.
MNU 1-10c
I can convey information, describe events or processes, share my opinions or persuade my reader in different ways.
LIT 1-28a / LIT 1-29a
Second Level
Having determined which calculations are needed, I can solve problems involving whole numbers using a range of methods, sharing my approaches and solutions with others.
MNU 2-03a
Having explored the need for rules for the order of operations in number calculations, I can apply them correctly when solving simple problems.
MTH 2-03c
I can carry out practical tasks and investigations involving timed events and can explain which unit of time would be most appropriate to use.
MNU 2-10b
I can persuade, argue, explore issues or express an opinion using relevant supporting detail and/or evidence.
LIT 2-29a

Communicating with each other

In this cookbook, we will find out:
• What the ‘EDC Brain Train Learners’ Glow Group looks like
• How a Custom List web part has been used to create an active league
• How to replicate the league table
• What the impact was

Ingredients

What did Holy Family PS and Lairdsland PS need to do to create the elements of the Glow Group and give pupils and staff access to it?

1. Nintendo DS Handsets
2. Nintendo Brain Train Software
3. A Glow Group
4. The Custom List in a data sheet view web part

It was also necessary to ensure pupils had Contributor rights within the Glow Group to enable them to take part in discussions, add their results and upload documents.

In the next section, we’ll take a look at the ‘EDC Brain Train Learners’ Glow Group and learn how to recreate elements within it.

Recipe

The first video below shows the ‘EDC Brain Train Learners’ Glow Group and the uses made of a range of web parts. The videos that then follow show how the league web part can be recreated. Details are:

*What does the Brain Train Learners Glow Group Look Like?
Brain Train League Cookbook

*How to create a new page within a Glow Group
Brain Train League Cookbook

*How to create a league web part within a Glow group
Brain Train League Cookbook

*How to add an item on to the league part
Brain Train League Cookbook

*How to use the Filter Tool Within the League
Brain Train League Cookbook

Teacher’s Video in Impact of Glow
Brain Train League Cookbook

Brain Train League Cookbook

Brain Train League Cookbook

 
Product
The impact of using Glow to deliver this learning activity has been considerable.
The use of Nintendo Brain Train has shown an increase in children’s speed and accuracy of calculation in addition and subtraction and multiplication/division tables.
Within the Glow group the learners talk freely of how they have ‘become faster and better’ at their sums and how this game has helped them. They share ideas with each other to increase speed and accuracy and lower brain age.
Although the learners continue to strive for self improvement the use of a joint Glow group has resulted in learners being keen to work with each other and compete to be a part of the league. The element of competition and being part of a wider community is clear from their communications and eagerness to be part of the Glow group.

The Glow group has now been opened up to members within the Local Authority, East Dunbartonshire, and secondary and primary schools have joined. This has increased the range within the group. The link to the group is now available on the Local Authority site.