Using ICT in RE

This week we are running the first of our "Places of Worship" sessions. This involves researching the symbols, objects and requirements of religious places. Pupils will use our specially created website to research links and then create a paper-version of their design. They will then use Google Sketchup (see earlier blog post!) to create a 3d representation of their space.

We are then going to send on their designs to the relevant faith community representatives in Birmingham to assess how appropriate the design is for the needs.

Web 2.0

This post isn't designed to explain Web 2.0 (does it really exist?) but to highlight this interesting video on it. Whatever we term it, Web2.0 is a handy hook on which to hand all the new innovations that are happening on the net. The increasing amount of participation that is happening with content (wikipedia is a famous example) is a major opportunity for educators. Anyhow -watch the video and get inspired!

New Art Gallery for Park View CLC

Created using the wonderful Google Page Creator (what, you're not using it already??? It's one of the easiest and quickest ways to publish webpages - and it's free!) our new art gallery is online. Have a browse through the pictures, admire the creative talents of the young people we work with and contact us if you want to know more.

Climate Change wikis

Today we trialled a new session we are offering concerning Climate Change. The pupils from Year 9 St Alban's School were split into groups and assigned overall tasks - how they divided up the tasks and time was up to them.

They created a website (wiki), podcast, logo and researched information on 3 areas: recycling, energy saving and transport.

The results can be seen here.

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Websites for English teachers

Well, sort of. These websites should get creativity flowing and help with story/descriptive writing. We all know that the blank page can be intimidating so these should help.

Want a jump off point for a story? well, nothing is better than an evocative title. This site gives you 6 titles each time. Perhaps for a homework or classwork you could just simply press the button and the pupils could choose their title. genre, characters, plot - well, they'll all flow that little bit easier.
When I pressed, the titles I got were:

Lovely Secret
The Obsessed Truth
Flames of Prince
The Captive's Past
Storm in the Tower
Missing Voyage

I have tried this many times now and haven't come across any titles that are offensive, although given the random nature of the generating I can't guarantee you won't. But, as with all web use, the pupils need to learn - and be taught - appropriate surfing skills. That's part of your job!



We all know that a character's name is important. It can reveal truths about them and evoke a certain archetype (an AST I work with, Miss Stoneman, insists the names of the characters from Lost indicate a deeper truth (Sawyer, Locke, Jack) but, personally, I am just confused by the whole affair now and Season 3 isn't helping!).

Charles Dickens knew this. Honeythunder, Sweedlepipe, Pumplechook??? Anyhow, a great way to generate a character name to promote discussion or just fill in detail on that character you've lost your way with are Name Generators.

There are loads online and some are inappropriate. Some which I've used (and my name from them) are:

Fairy names (mine is Feather Snowwitch)

Lord of the Rings names (hobbits, elves etc. My hobbit name was Riappi "the fat" Ness of Hardbottle)

And this site has lots of generators. I've used some of them and they work well. This is, however, a large site and I haven't been able to look at it all - there may be inappropriate content (although I didn't find any). Lots here, though.

Finally, what use is text if your audience can't understand it? You can use dialect/accent convertors to put some realism into your text. This paragraph, for example, put through the Black Country dialect would turn out like the paragrpah below. We are, after all, a Birmingham City Learning Centre and I am Black Country by birth!

Finally, what use is text if yaw audience cor understan' it? yaouw can use dialect/accent convertors ter put sum realism into yaw text. this paragraph, fer example, put through the black country dialect ood turn ert loike the paragrpah beloo. we am, after all, a Burminum city learnen centre an' I yam black country by birth!

The website is here. Of course, there is a potential for misuse of this tool as it also includes: posh, irish, scouser, Ali G, cockney, Geordie and others. However, used properly it is fun and really shows off the variety of dialects/accents that we have in the country.

It can also create a real sense of character. For example, at key moment someone saying, "I love you, my darling. I always have and always will. Remember my face and tell the children I did it for them" as a character plunges to their death might read differently as: "i golden dove ya, me Briny Marlin. I always 'ave and always will. remember me Chevy Chase and tell the kids I did it for them"

Have fun!