I've created The Link as a way to share ideas with my colleagues. Read more at http://www.morethanmaths.com/thelink

1. the link ISSUE 1
6TH OCTOBER 2009
hints, tips and ideas for techy and not-so-techy teachers
focus on: games based learning … pages 2 & 3
One for the SMARTboard: jigsaw planet … page 4
teachmeet north west … page 4
WHAT IS THE LINK?
Have you ever wished that we had with some really useful tools. The
more time to share great ideas? main focus will be e-learning, but I’ll
probably include other things as well.
Have you ever been shown how to
use a piece of software or a website, Some of us like paper, some of us
but then forgotten about it, or like electronic versions, so the Link
struggled to make it work? will appear in a variety of guises:
Have you wondered how we can help - a paper newsletter
our students to engage in e-learning? - an electronic version of the paper
newsletter, accessible from our
Have you wondered how you will school network and online
find the time to use the learning - a series of blog posts—which
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparktography/1404655459/
platform effectively with our (unlike paper) can include audio and
students? video
I know I have. Questions? Requests? Feedback?
Photo: Chain link by Sparktography on Flickr
Want to collaborate or contribute?
Used under Creative Commons Licence
I can’t create time (sadly) and I’m not Just let me know,
claiming to have all the answers. I can
try a new way to share ideas—and Happy linking,
here it is. My plan is to produce an Lois
occasional newsletter, containing
some hints and tips for getting started
Did you know the Link is also available online? Go to www.morethanmaths.com/thelink

2. “Games can be used
successfully with
focus on:
individuals, pairs or
groups playing on the
interactive
whiteboard.”
http://www.supermathsworld.com
Birley CC has subscribed to Super Maths World. To access the
site just use our school log in—it’s on posters in the maths
classrooms.
The site looks like a ‘real’ video game, with students fighting an
opponent. There are games for every topic, although you may
need to look at the kids section for some students.
The only disadvantage is that there is no way to link directly to
individual games—students have to go to the homepage and click
through a series of menus.
Students solve puzzles and compete against
opponents from around the world. Each game
is a race, first to the finish line is the winner.
Register as a teacher to receive a class code,
then students don’t need to give any personal
details at all. To register, they select a colour,
an animal and a number—for example, I set up
http://www.tutpup.com a demo account as orangecat1810. Since they
aren’t giving any personal details to the site and
there are no chat opportunities, it is totally
safe.
Best of all, it’s free!
THE LINK
Page 2

3. games based learning
WHY SHOULD WE BE USING GAMES BASED LEARNING?
Games based learning can be The key is to balance the into the classroom, but
highly motivating. It’s boy learning and the fun. All of the remember to check that the
friendly and it’s fun. There’s sites featured here focus on game will actually run on the
also a growing amount of the maths, but in the context netbooks before you try it with
research that suggests that of a game. a class—they don’t have quite as
games based learning can help much software as the desktop
children with poor working Games based learning doesn’t computers do!
memory to improve, provided have to be restricted to the
that the learning is targeted. computer room. Games can
be used successfully with
individuals, pairs or groups Want to find out more?
playing on the interactive This Teachers’ TV video features
whiteboard. Netbooks (mini Dawn Hallybone from Oakdale
laptops) can easily be brought Junior School, where games
“Games based learning based learning is being used very
can be highly successfully.
motivating.” http://www.teachers.tv/
video/37337
http://www.mangahigh.com
“For me doing mathematics
Students answer questions as part of an arcade style has always been like playing
game. The games start off at a fairly easy level, but a game. At Manga High
stick with it—they get harder! we've been working hard to
bring out the playful side of
The site is aimed at GCSE students, but could be maths while ensuring that
used with younger students as well. students get the essential
This is a free site, although students are encouraged skills to master this
to register. It is carefully monitored, with no chat important subject. ”
or user generated content, so it’s totally safe. Marcus du Sautoy
ISSUE 1
Page 3

4. … and finally
NORTH WEST
On Friday 2nd October I People volunteered to offer
Want to find out more?
tried something new. presentations lasting 7
Instead of heading home and minutes or 2 minutes. These Tim and Moby from brainpop.co.uk explain what a
collapsing on the sofa, I presentations have to be Teachmeet is:
drove to the BBC’s 21st about something that they http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cenury Classroom in have used in a classroom v=SlSQYSnPUQY
Salford to attend my first situation. (This was made for a Scottish Teachmeet, we didn’t
Teachmeet. have bagpipes in Salford…)
Anyone can join in, either as
What is a Teachmeet? a presenter or just to listen Most Teachmeets are organised through this site:
Basically it’s a group of and/or discuss. It’s not a http://teachmeet.pbworks.com
teachers who meet up to formal session, in fact it’s so
exchange ideas. Some of informal that it’s known as But Teachmeet Northwest has its own site:
these people are actually an unconference. http://www.teachmeetnw.pbworks.com
there in the room, others
join in via an online I came away with loads of
great ideas and resources— My summary of all the presentations, with links to some
Flashmeeting— which is like really good sites is here:
a combination of a video some of which are featured
here. I’ll be passing more of http://
conference and a chat morethanmaths.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/
these ideas on as soon as
room. teachmeetnw
I’ve tried them out.
ONE FOR THE INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD: CLASSTOOLS FRUIT MACHINE
The fruit machine is a fun Once a student’s name
way of picking students has been selected, you
randomly. have the option to
remove them from the
Just go to the website
list, or you can leave
and enter a list of names.
them in for another
You can copy the names
chance to be chosen. This
from a list made on a
will definitely keep
word processor or
spreadsheet—then you students on their toes!
don’t have to keep typing This is great for selecting TOP TIP
them each time. students to answer Try inputting key
words instead of
questions or present names. Then ask
As soon as you have
results in class. It could students to explain
entered the list, just click what the words mean.
also be used to randomly
the button that says ‘Fruit
select pairs or groups of
Machine’ and kerching—
students.
up comes a name. http://classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine/
The Link by Lois Lindemann is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
THE LINK
Page 4