We love using technology to help us with our learning in Esker ETNS. We use the netbooks in every class from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
In Infants, we play games that help us with our Maths and English. We like to use headphones so that we can learn our sounds and listen to stories!
We also use Beebot. Beebot is a special robot that helps us with our numbers and sounds. We must tell Beebot where to go by programming him with the correct directions!
And of course, we use our interactive whiteboards all day long. We especially like to take brain breaks with our avatars on GoNoodle.com!
Further up the school, we use technology to help us with research for projects. We have learned all about PowerPoint, Excel and Word as well as Prezi and Plickers! We will also be learning how to create a podcast using Sound Cloud.
We even like to code with Scratch! With Scratch, it is possible to program interactive stories, games and animations.
We also like to use Skype to help us learn. In 5th and 6th class we were very lucky to get the chance to Skype the Amber Centre to discuss Nano Science with them. Before the Skype Call we had been learning about and using Microscopes. When we called them using Skype they showed us how lots of cool things look under their strong microscopic lenses. We could see the tiny hairs on a spiders leg! Skype is so fun.
Lots of classes share their learning on Twitter, so that we can revise what we have covered in school at home. Looking at our Twitter pages gives us an opportunity to discuss what we are learning with our family using the photographs to help us explain. Here are a sample of the Twitter pages used in our school.
We use Powerpoints to help us share knowledge that we have learned in our project work. We also use technology to create spreadsheets and graphs, consolidating the learning that has taken place in our Maths lessons.
A special thank you goes to Sixth Class, who have been doing fantastic work on these blog entries. Of course, Sixth Class are technology experts at this stage. We use Edmodo to submit our homework and other assignments, as well as utilising Khan Academy, Manga High, Study Ladder, Kahoot and DuoLingo. These are technological tools that allow us to up-skill in a variety of subject areas. The future is ours in Esker Educate Together!