So, the past few weeks have been busy! Found out my placement school this week and it has finally hit home that placement is upon us! I seriously cannot wait!
Anyway, there are 3 things that I want to mention in this blog: Teachmeet Strathclyde, ClassDojo and Dropbox.
Firstly Teachmeet Strathclyde! This is now very close! I am thoroughly looking forward to Wednesday night. It really is an exciting event, and I hope that everything runs smoothly! Everything is now confirmed and set to go! All we have to do now is turn up! For those who have signed up, just a reminder that its this coming Wednesday, 26th October. Again, (I know you will have these details) as I’ve said in past blogs, if you click the tab ‘Our Events’ at the top and follow the link to the Wiki you can find out more. Also, if you would like to as the panel a question at Question Time towards the end of the event, then you can post these on the designated area on Wiki.
Moving on, a couple of weeks ago I was looking for some behaviour management resources. While doing so I came across one ClassDojo. To summarise it is an amazing amazing AMAZING tool to use in your classroom.
Basically, you can programme the names of your pupils into this system. All names can then be shown on the screen (& interactive white board) in a child friendly manor. You can click on a name and then award points of some kind e.g. good listening and so on.
It’s free to sign up and there are demo’s that walk you through how to work it. ClassDojo, quite simply is a tool that keeps pupils engaged and alert. It can be used to promote pro-social behaviour and good work. It can also be used to pick out negative behaviours. However, depending on your style of teaching and the general context you are using it for, you don’t have to use these. There are also instructions to connect it to your smartphone and iPod and iPad, allowing you to use it remotely rather than having to stand at the computer. I hope I get an opportunity to try it out on placement!
Lastly, I want to talk briefly about Dropbox. Dropbox free and is essentially an online storage system in that you can save and access your computer documents and other files online. It is a secure and easy system to use. Quite simply install Dropbox on your computer/lap top and save your files onto it. If say for example, I was going to university that day and I wanted to work on an assignment, then I wouldn’t have to email it to myself to download later, I wouldn’t have to take a data key/memory stick and I wouldn’t have to take my lap top in. Simply go to Dropbox and open your file. You can then save it and when you go home the revised work you have been working on will be there. You can also download the app on your iPhone/iPad and access all of your documents from your phone!
I wont talk about it anymore – if you go to the Dropbox home page there is a very good video that explains it much better than I have!
That’s the end of this blog! Enjoy using ClassDojo and Dropbox if you decide to do it! If you are going to Teachmeet Strathclyde then I shall see you there!
*ClassDojo (click here to go to site or type: www.classdojo.com into your browser.)
*Dropbox (click here to go to site or type: www.dropbox.com into your browser.)