What shall we do in February?

[Eva Rekkedal]

Do you have a suggestion for a task? I would love to have enough time to prepare my teachers/pupils for the next tasks "shooting".

I've just tested a new publishing tool; Joggle (in Beta) - and so far it looks like the greatest slideshow tools, ever;o)

It seems very easy to use, nice and structured menues/windows. You can upload pictures, sound, music, videos or even documents from your computer - or you can import pictures from Flickr or Picasa.

The tool let you make slideshows (picking from your uploaded stuff), widgets and albums. In the slideshow you're able to set the time for the slides (from 1-10 sec/picture). It produces the embed code, or URL for emails. I really think this can fit our consept.

So, I do have a suggestion for tool, but what about the thema this month - any suggestions?

[Eva Rekkedal]

Ah, what a great idea for February - telling what they love about their country!

But how do we deal with the language barrier? Is it an idea that we let them try to say it in their own language and English?
And also add the text in both languages?
But of course, this will not be the same challenge for our English speaking countries...

Drawing/painting pictures to illustrate - or taking picture of the things they love (if possible, e.g. it's difficult to take a picture of freedom)?

I would like to let each of my pupil in this months task to show you their word (the best thing they love about Norway) - and let them make their own illustration for this.

Then I would like to do as we did this month - put them in front of the webcam, and then let them say their word in Norwegian/English (good for practising language). Then we could use Windows Moviemaker and add titles with the words.

Is this possible to agree on?

Best regards, EvaR

[Sharon Tonner]

Hello all,

sorry for my presence not being around to lead the tasks due to a very heavy workload. Having read through the suggestions, which are great, I would advise that we keep the focus of VOTW in our heads in that we MUST say the same words to enable us to connect and be understood. I am all for sub-projects if anyone wants to create another subsidary project outwith VOTW but as I will say again, we have to say the same words in our own language.

With this in mind and knowing many want to get on with the task, I will leave the suggestions coming in until Friday then select the one the majority go with. The task will be February's task because, with the fullness of time, people will send January's task possibly this month or a couple of month's down the line when they have time with their class.

Whatever suggestion you select it needs to be tested out so that clear instructions are provided.

Until Friday we will see what happens.

take care,

Sharon

[Eva Rekkedal]

Hi, Sharon!
Nice to have you here - I'm sorry that you're so busy.

Due to our basic VOTW, here is my new suggestion for the task. Maybe we could fokus on our twelve months. Let the children say the words in their language, starting with January - illustrate each month with a picture of the nature in their country (would really show them how different the clima is around the world, at the same time). Do we have a song for the months? Or a simple tune we all can manage to put the singing of the months into?

I suggest to use one of our slideshow tools - even if we've used them before. E.g. MyPlick.

What do you say?

Best regards, EvaR

[Sharon Tonner]

Thsi is a good idea and we do not need to have a tune we can just say, unless someone comes up with one. Thanks Eva,

Sharon

[Cathy Francis]

I think speaking the months is good .....my/our singing is awful....it's often easier to hear the words spoken rather than sung. I think I would also use single children to speak the words as a group chant doesn't really represent the language so well.
I await the group decision.....Myplick also good enough for the job...at least it doesn't start automatically like that jiggle, joggle thing!!!! Sorry if I sound like a grumpy old woman.....I don't mean to!!!
love
Cathy

[Karin Ulvelid]

hello everyone! Having a wonderful ski week here in Norway, sun and 10 degrees below, just fantastic.
I agree with Sharon. For us working with small children, English is out of the question. So much better for them to work with their own language. I really like the idea with telling the months and we do have a song as well. Nice!!!
Norge är fantastiskt, Eva. Have been to Geilo, Hemsedal and Hafjell before but this is fine, especially with small kids.

[Sharon Tonner]

Hi Karin, great to hear from you again and snow is on Scotland at the moment!!!

Do you have the tune for the song online somewhere?

Sharon

[Anna Karidi Pirounaki]

Hey all.... can you believe it?.. WHITE Kaparelli this morning ;-)))))
last week we got 17C...

?..!

[Karin Ulvelid]

Hi Sharon!! I think I can get it , it is a famous classical tune by some well known dead guy :-)

[Sharon Tonner]

Okay but don't spend too much time as we are quite happy to say the words.

Sharon

[Jesse]

I really like this idea. It would be easy for the students to say each month clearly, and recognize the words in the separate languages. Also a great way for us to share what each culture is doing during the year.
I don't mind using a tool that has been used already as it allows more time for the students to work on the other pieces.

[Kim Pericles]

I agree - a familiar tool will allow for more time working on the other parts of the task. The months of the year is a great place to start and will show the differences/similarities across the world.