Weh TV Update

Our first rehearsal (sans Greenscreen!) went well on Monday. Now for the real thing on Thursday!

Mr Ferguson and his team of pupils have done a great job in creating an intro for us.

Stuart (Eco Group) will be our first interviewee and Ramis will perform music for our closing section.

Once we get our greenscreen we will be onto a winner.

Also congratulations to Dunoon Grammar and their successful launch of DGS TV. They did get permission from Snow Patrol to use the track Open Your Eyes, so we need to get our thinking hats on.

To view DGS TV's intro click here

And we need to think of how we can make our show that little bit different!

It's coming!

The first meeting of would-be TV stars will be held in X3 this Wednesday lunchtime, with me, Mr McGowan.

While we wait for our very own Greenscreen to arrive, we'll look at the filming process from the page to the screen.

That means you guys will be writing and planning the content of our own TV show.

But not everyone wants to be a TV star. Some of you may prefer staying behind the scenes in the production and editing departments. Or could we have set designers and make-up artists on show?

Who knows. Just remember that it is YOUR show. So we want to hear from you and all your good ideas.

The recruitment drive starts now. We aim to have a very rough pilot show sans greenscreen before we break up for Christmas.

So get your skates on!

Dunoon Visit

I visited Mr Paul Gallanagh, PT of Business & Computing, at Dunoon Grammar on Friday. Paul showed me the technical wizardry used to develop and publish his Blast From The Past video show.

It was amazing! And even better I got to meet the pupils who are filming DGS TV, a weekly pupil-led school news and magazine show. I originally was a bit worried that Mr Gallanagh's team of pupils could pull it all off in a lunchtime, but once the classroom was cleared, up went the stand and the greenscreen... I thought I was at 20th Century Fox Studios!

The kids did it all themselves and that is what I intend to do at Hamilton Grammar. There is so much that could be done with the technology and will be a valuable whole school resource.

I was also witness to the World Premiere of the DGS TV Main Titles. An incredible piece of editing and imagination. I don't want to spoil it for you, but there is one part I just love... and I am thinking already of how I can rip it off in our 'Octopus'!

Mr Gallanagh, who is also an LTS Development Officer, also shared some ideas about CfE. And I am glad to say that much of what we are doing in our school already with Blogging and Podcasting is similar. I even had a wee chuckle to myself when we had a look at our SG Admin Schemes of Work - they had quite a few similarities too. We also showed each other some great websites that can be used for work with pupils.

Another excellent resource Mr Gallanagh showed me was using an online poll site that can be used for self-evaluation. This could be used with our kids giving their view of how we teach in the classroom. I think I will be binning my old Excel Questionaire (as displayed to me as a young Probationer many years ago by the former Headteacher of St Luke's, John Fitzpatrick) and moving into the digital age. Paul assures me that the charts and stats are all done for me online, rather than having to do it myself! I think it is important to get pupils, parents and colleagues views on how we are teaching in the class and most importantly acting on their views.

I would just like to thank once again Mr Gallanagh and his wonderful staff and the talented pupils of Dunoon. Mr Gallanagh even had me helping out in one of his Admin classes... what a cheapskate! Dunoon is set in beautiful environs and the kids and staff are lucky to have such an inspirational setting. I look forward to seeing their DGS TV shows in the future. It certainly has inspired me and I know it will inspire our students.

HGS Digital - Pilot Video

As part of the HGS Digital scheme in the school, I have started filming and uploading teacher lessons. Hopefully in time pupils will be recording and uploading these vids for the school.

I did a short demo (the one on Donald Trump) but it was rather embarrassing!!! I have added more screencasts also to Teacher Tube for you guys to use in class. It is really a great learning resource for Administration at all levels.

To branch out a bit I have approached some enthusiastic teachers who have some great ideas to show the world.

First up was Miss McAree in Science. Her video explained about Chemical Reactions and had some cracking examples in it. My favourite bit is with the magnesium and the Bunsen burner. The flame was very, VERY bright!

Next up will be Mr Bowen (History) who will tell us a bit about the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Future tutorials/vids will include (fingers crossed) Mr Anderson (PE) and Mr Cunningham (French). With more to follow.

I want the student's feedback on this, and you can tell me what lessons/demonstrations do you think would be most valuable.

At the end of the day we are doing this to help you study at home and improve your grades. But we also hope it will be fun. And most importantly we want you to get in on the act by writing scripts, filming and editing.

Social Media Ideas for Business Education Subjects

Here are just a few thoughts from me about the whole Digital Curriculum or Social Media phenomenon related to the Business Subjects.

Please add your comments and share your ideas with me!

Listen to the podcast here