Get IT savvy again!

Following on from the previous post, we have been reading up about the benefits of schools using social media, not only as a method of communication, but also as a teaching tool. The chances are, if you're reading this blog, you'll already be aware of some of the social media sites worth using in the classroom. This is a mere guide for the online spaces inspiring us, and the places we use to communicate with schools and general public. 

This excellent article by Matt Britland encourages schools to not be scared of the fast moving social media sites, but to utilise them: 

"I think it's important to embrace social media as it is the primary way that young people communicate... Much of the time we force students down the route of email. Do we do that because it is easier for us? In my experience of using Facebook groups with students they pick up communications far quicker than email."

"The great thing is that many people know how to use Facebook already, and Twitter is so straightforward it would not take long for people to learn it."

In the article, Britland makes recommendations to "follow", "like" and "pin" various sites. Our favourtie, here at Education at 20-21, is his recommendation to follow the American pinners Teacher Central. There are lots of innovative pins (visual links) to websites useful for the classroom.

"Pinning" is an action used on Pinterest, a virtual pinboard of images/sites to be inspried by or to remember on a later date. Working in 20-21 Visual Arts Centre., it is important for us to be continually inspired by exciting and innovative contemporary art. Pinterest is the perfect way to quickly capture moments of visual stimulation! Because of this, we've set up our very own Pinterest account! Follow 20-21 pins to discover what we are inspired by, the things that are making us think, and the artsits we currently have in our exhibitions!

Pinterest is an excellent way of virtually scrapbooking ideas and eventually building up an online portfolio of research, events and art projects. For help and advice on how to use Pinterest to its best potential, please contact Hayley McPhun, our Education Officer, on 01724 297074 or hayley.mcphun@northlincs.gov.uk

Get IT savvy!

You may have noticed, we've set up a links page. On it you'll find lots of lovely links to local and national websites that we find interesting for arts education and IT savvy schools.

One school we've discovered use online communications with their parents and pupils is Bottesford Junior School.

The website has some great newsletters attached and links to their own blogs which children post and upload onto.

Goxhill Primary School seem to take IT very seriously and upload films onto their podcast page. On there they have videos of taiko drumming, circus skills and latest news from the school.

Are your school on Twitter? Many schools nowadays are using twitter as a method of teaching literacy, phonics and numeracy in the classroom. If you're already tweeting, why not follow us? 20-21 have been using twitter for a few years, now, often posting images of exhibitions and curation of shows.

 One very successful classroom twitter project is Orange Class's ClassroomTweets, request to follow the IT savvy class, for their often very cute posts and status updates.

We are looking out for schools who blog about art and workshops in their schools. If you are an IT savvy school, writing posts about creative and visual arts, get in touch with us. We'd be happy to add your website to our Links page.

Exciting post!

Exciting post has arrived on Education at 20-21's desk! A long awaited parcel of gifts for schools has landed! We'll not be revealing what the gift is until we've met you all individually - otherwise it won't be a nice surpise, will it? There is one free gift for every primary, secondary and further education establishment in North Lincolnshire and we can't wait to meet you, in order to give it to you personally.

To get your free gift, just get in touch with our Education Officer, Hayley McPhun on 01724 297074 or hayley.mcphun@northlincs.gov.uk Who knows what mystery awaits?