Chemical Education Digital Library
Here’s a useful resource for Chemistry teachers : The Chemical Education Digital Library
The Chemical Education Digital Library(ChemEd DL) is the destination for digital content intended for chemical science education. They aim to be the place where you can contribute, share, and organize chemistry education materials. With oversight provided by the various communities that comprise ChemEd DL, we strive to provide the best of what chemical education has to offer.
Check it out here: http://www.chemeddl.org/
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Maths Manipulatives
Here’s an excellent resource for primary/elementary Maths from Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. It’s a flash-based set of interactive tools for reception up to year 8. It includes standard maths items, as well as graph paper and other backgrounds. It’s free, and well worth a look.
The tools also include basic IWB tools such as text, pen, a ruler/protractor and a timer. This would be quite handy for those without access to regularIWB software.
Access the resource here
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IWB Guides from Becta – get them before they go
A few years ago, the government agency for ICT in Schools – Becta – produced a series of guides on the use of Interactive Whiteboards in secondary teaching.
Each document containsed a set of subject specific advice, guidance and examples to support more effective use of ICT in the teaching and learning of science. There is some great case studies in each one. I was pleased to have been able to have some input into the Science one – a colleague of mine wrote it and I provided some of the ideas.
With the new government taking over, it looks like Becta is about to get scrapped.
It might be worth downloading these guides now, in case they vanish….
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Science
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in English
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in Geography
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in History
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Music
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in ICT
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Physical Education
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Modern Foreign Languages
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Art & Design
Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Use of Interactive whiteboards in Mathematics
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in Citizenship
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in Religious Education
Embedding ICT @ Secondary – Use of Interactive whiteboards in Design & Technology
Getting the most from your interactive whiteboard: A guide for secondary schools
Getting the most from your interactive whiteboard: A guide for primary schools
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The Magical Classroom
Here’s a cute little promotional video from Smart to illustrate their idea of “The Magical Classroom”. You can read more about the idea behind the video here.
Check out www.SMARTloveoflearning.com to learn more about Smart’s Love of Learning campaign.
Update – UK version of the website now launched : http://uk.smartloveoflearning.com/
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Online Audio Stories
Online Audio Stories provide free downloadable audio books for children.
With a wonderful selection of short stories for kids and bedtime stories, their free storytelling audio books for children are a delight. You can download the audio as an mp3 file and play on a computer, or transfer to a portable mp3 player.
Stories include classic tales from Aeosop, Brothers Grimm, Edward Lear and Hans Christian Andersen. It’s well worth a visit. Take a look here.
And don’t forget if you like these, you’ll also like StoryNory: http://storynory.com/
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Bang Goes the Theory Resource Pack
Bang Goes The Theory is a BBC television programme which aims to get people trying science for themselves. The Hands-on Science section of the website has printable instructions and video guides for stunts, demos and experiments you can do at home or out and about.
Many of the activities could be useful in schools so BBC Learning has drafted curriculum notes to accompany each one.
BBC Learning has compiled a BBC resource pack using some of the best clips from the first two series of BBC One’s Bang Goes The Theory. Each clip is accompanied by curriculum-based lesson plans and resources that teachers can use to produce science lessons at Key Stage 3.
The resource pack includes a DVD that is divided into sections and has been edited from the first two series of Bang Goes The Theory. Each section looks at a topic from the National Curriculum for science and is accompanied by a corresponding lesson plan and resources.
The pack has been designed and produced in collaboration with education and science experts. It aims to inspire learning in young people and provide new and creative ways to teach the Key Stage 3 science curriculum.
To get your free copy of this pack, click here.
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The 2010 Whiteboard Challenge
The Whiteboard Challenge – set up by Jess McCulloch is back, and better than ever 
Are you new to using an interactive whiteboard (IWB)? Have you used one for ages but want some other ideas? Are you using an IWB regularly but know you could use it better? Then you are invited to join The 2010 Interactive Whiteboard Challenge!
http://iwbchallenge.wikispaces.com/
What you have to do:
This challenge involves participants creating videos and / or screencasts of some of the great things they are doing with their IWB to share with teachers and students across the globe.
Firstly, you choose 2 of the 7 challenges listed on the wiki, complete them, make videos of what you did, and post those videos to the IWB Challenge YouTube Channel (and your own channel if you like), then embed them in your page here on the wiki.
THEN it is up to you to create a challenge for someone else to complete. Go looking on people’s pages for the challenges they set and complete as many as you can in the 3 months of the challenge. The three people who complete the most challenges wins, will collect a prize, and will have a badge to put on their blog. (I’m working on some sponsorship for prizes for the challenge, so stay tuned!)
SO it is in your best interest to create a challenge AS WELL AS complete someone else’s challenge.
There are 2 Rounds of the IWB Challenge in order to cater for those living above and below the equator:
- Round 1 is Down South (June, July and August)
- Round 2 is Up North (September, October, November)
You can join either or both rounds!
Why join the Interactive Whiteboard Challenge?
1. To get some great new ideas on how to use your IWB
2. To take part in discussions with colleagues who are interested in improving their IWB practice as well
3. To work alongside students who are interested in using IWBs and helping teachers to use IWBs better
How to get started:
Remember this challenge is for teachers AND STUDENTS so please get your kids involved! We’d love to have some input from students and I’m sure they will come up with some great ideas. You can use the challenge as a classroom activity or unit of work. Read more ideas for that on this page.
To be a participant in The 2010 Interactive Whiteboard Challenge you need to:
1. Add your name (or group/school name) to the table on the Challengers page and then create your own individual page.
2. Write an intro about yourself on your page – where you are from, why you are interested in the challenge, links to your blog etc. Maybe even leave a photo!
3. Explore some of the content, choose 2 of the 7 challenges and GO FOR IT!
Remember more information can be found on the Whiteboard Challenge Blog as well as on the Wiki
If you do take part, please let me know – it’ll be great to see as many of you take part as possible
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The Science of Scams
The Science of Scams was a set of hoax videos produced by Channel 4 in association with the amazing Derren Brown. In total there were 7 hoax videos which appear to demonstrate paranormal phenomena. In fact they’re all based upon real scientific principles.
This hoax footage was been posted all over the internet in an attempt to find out if people would either accept it as genuine or question it in an attempt to discover the real truth. These include evidence of ghosts, telekinesis and much more.
On the Science of Scams website they show the original hoax videos, then go through the process of explaining and debunking the scams behind them.
These videos could all be used to generate discussion around Critical Thinking skills for KS3 and Ks4 and promoting healthy skepticism of what they see on the internet. Would provide interesting discussion matter if handled correctly.
In addition, 5 of the videos could link themselves to Scientific Investigation in the classroom. Students could develop experiments to test and replicate these videos.
Here’s how you might link some of the videos to the Science curriculum
Ghost on Film
This is a great way to introduce the famous Peppers Ghost experiment – Recreate with model room and a toy plus a sheet a glass. Linked to Ks3/Ks4 Mirrors and Reflection. Investigate properties of glass / mirrors. ICT Opportunity – use video camera inside the model to recreate what an observer might see.
Psychic Wheel
Linked to KS4 – Convection currents & Energy transfer abd also link to particle theory – expansion of gases and density. Students could try and build their own wheel – try with different heat sources.
Brick Breaking
Linked to forces and pressure Ks3/Ks4. The experiment could be mocked up safely using a melon instead of someone’s head. Also linked to materials (using “fake” bricks that look same as normal brick)
Chi Energy
Linked to KS4 Chemical Reactions as an example of Exothermic reaction. Investigate experiments which generate heat – test out – measure heat of reaction. Datalogging opportunities in measuring temperature changes.
Telekinesis
Linked to Magnetism and Static Electricity. Look at how static can make objects repel / attract. Interestingly “psychic” Uri Gellar does a similar thing with a magnet in a false thumb tip (videos showing this keep getting removed) Coulc look at how different materials can hold different charges – insulators such as plastics
There are two other videos which cover Psychic Readings and the Ouija Board – would leave out as not linked to “Science” as such – but could still have criticial thinking component perhaps. It may be best to leave that Ouija boards alone in a school setting just to be safe from parental complaints.
http://www.scienceofscams.com/
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History Lessons from the National Archive
The National Archives is the UK government’s official archive, containing over 1,000 years of history. We give detailed guidance to government departments and the public sector on information management and advise others about the care of historical archives.
The National Archives Education Service brings history to life through an award-winning programme of taught sessions and online resources. Their website contains a huge range of online learning resources to support the National Curriculum in history from key stage 1 to 5.
There are many large-scale topic sites packed with original sources and activities, as well as more than 50 lessons based on documents from our collections, a podcast series and an award-winning film website called Focus on Film with a film archive and teaching activities.
There are some fun games and activities for students to play. Ranging from Tudor Joust, Build a Bomb Shelter and Victorian Crime.
A comprehensive teachers booklet can be downloaded which explains everything a teacher needs to know to be able to make the best use of the website and its resources. You can get it here.
History teachers should make sure this site is in their favourites list!
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
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About Me
Danny Nicholson : Educator, Science teacher, ICT Consultant, PGCE lecturer, Author and Web2.0 / SMART Masters/ Interactive Whiteboard Trainer. Contact me for any training requests. 
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