Using Hwb+ to develop Literacy skills at Ysgol

Pencae.

Bethan Davies

Bethan DaviesClass teacherFoundation Phase leaderITC CoordinatorHwb+ accredited trainer with the

Central South Consortium

Ysgol PencaeYsgol Pencae is located in Llandaf,

Cardiff202 pupils aged 4 - 11 10 teachersA set of computers in each

classroom18 iPads6 Learn Pads

Being part of the Hwb+ pilot

One of four schools in the pilot - Ysgol Pencae, Ysgol Uwchradd Bro Edern, Ysgol Uwchradd Fitzalan and Ysgol Tredigarville

Initial training for me as the project leaderWe decided as a school to be child-centred

for the Hwb+ pilotTwo classes were selected (Years 6 and 2)

to take part in the project in this schoolA scheme was followed to develop the

Literacy skills of pupils involved in the project using Hwb+ tools

A page was created for each of the pilot classesYear 2

The school's digital mottoWelcome

message and picture of teacher drawn by a child

Videos of class work

Pictures of pupils' experiences

Additional links

Links to useful websites

Year 6School's digital motto

Welcome message

Publications

Pictures of pupils' experiences

Additional links

Videos of class workHomewor

k inbox

Quick link to discussions

Literacy ProjectA theme was chosen which was

suitable for Years 2 and 6 - homesPupils were introduced to one tool at

a timeA class task was set and a related

home task using each toolAn instruction leaflet was prepared

to accompany each task in the project

DiscussionsA discussion topic was set asking pupils to describe their homes.

The interactive element immediately caught pupils' interest. We got 162 responses over the first weekend.

The pupils started to interact naturally over the first weekend.

There was immediate interaction between the teacher and pupils.

This was an opportunity to drill language and correct errors sensitively outside the pressure of the classroom.

Pupils began experimenting with different elements naturally.

BlogPupils were asked to write a blog about their local area inserting digital pictures where possible.

When moderating and publishing the blogs as a class teacher there was an opportunity to see common mistakes and plan to improve the quality of pupils' written work.

Year 2 pupils' blogging work was used as an opportunity for pupils to assess each others work. This idea came from the response of one pupil to another pupil's work.This pupil's blog was all in yellow to begin with.

I like Gwenlli's blog. It's full of information but it's very difficult to read on a computer screen. Yellow isn't a good colour to use, it would be better to change the colour

QuestionnaireWe worked together as two classes to use the next tool.Year 6 pupils created a questionnaire for Year 2 to answer and Year 2 created a questionnaire for Year 6 to answer.

An opportunity to teach about different types of questions.

The data was collected and analysed creating different graphs.

The children enjoyed working with children in another class.

The questionnaires were answered as homework.

WICICreating Wici was something new for us as a school.Firstly the Wici tool was used on Hwb+ to teach about how Wici is web-dependent.Both classes then created 'Our class' Wici with all pupils creating a page about themselves with links to interests and also to each others pages.

The Year 6 teacher saw an opportunity to use Wici to complete an annual task in a different way.

Branching stories were created for children in the Reception Class using Wici on Hwb+.

Links were created to give the reader a choice.

I like these stories, they can be different every time. They're not boring.

Sharing information with parents Putting pictures of experiences in the pictures library.

Putting curriculum maps and homework in the documents library.

Libraries for different experiences.

Moving forward after the launchTraining the other teaching staff All members of teaching staff had a half-day of specific

training. The leader created a similar page for all classes.Foundation Phase

Junior Section

Moving forward after the launchWe decided to be child-centred and focus on using Hwb+ with

pupils. One tool was introduced at a time in a staff meeting and

ideas were discussed. Time was set aside to use the specific tool before coming back to show and discuss and introducing the next tool.

Year 3Year 3 are creating discussions about

different aspects of classroom life.

Discussions

Reception ClassPupils from the Reception Class

are encouraged to hold special

discussions with their families.

After hearing that a school in our cluster had received their own platform we decided to work together using Hwb+ as a tool.

We created a discussion on the Year 6 page about our feelings as we got nearer to moving to the secondary school.

A teacher and pupils from the other school were invited to be part of the discussion.

CollaborationMoving forward after the launch.

Moving forward after the launch.

Pupils in all classes blog regularly about their experiences in

school.

Blogging

Moving forward after the launch.

Wici All classes create a Wici about the different contexts.

Impact on standardsBoys are much keener to do literacy tasks.The standard of pupils' work rose immediately as

pupils became aware that there was a real audience for their work.

Pupils work together and use each other's strengths.

End of Foundation Phase results Summer 2013 – 100% outcome 533.3% outcome 6

With 42.8% of boys attaining outcome 6End of Key Stage 2 outcomes Summer 2013 –

90% level 4 Welsh93.3% level 4 English36.6% level 5 Welsh60% level 5 English

ActivityIn your groups discuss your tool

and gather ideas about how to use it in class to enrich teaching and learning.

Hwb ClubA Hwb club was

developed in school.MAT children were

chosen from Year 2 to Year 6.

These pupils were trained on all elements of Hwb+.

A special page was created for the Hwb Club.

Hwb ClubThe Hwb Club created videos to accompany the

different elements of Hwb+Example of Video

They created a discussion to answer any questions.

Next steps for the Hwb ClubUse pupils from the Hwb Club to

train people in other schools - staff and pupils

Further training for them to be able to edit their page

Run parent-led training