In this module we want you to become familiar with a tool called Elluminate. It is easy to use and you only need the internet, headphones and a microphone to get started.
Age Group: all Level: Easy Duration: minimum one hour live meeting but can be used as many times as desirable within a larger project.
Introduction
Collaborative working between partner schools is an extremely desirable aim in eTwinning and we want to give you another idea of how to realise it practically. There are of course many ways and tools of meeting live online using video-conferencing tools such as skype or MSN.
Planning the project and then introducing pupils and classes at an early stage of the partnership by playing some games will enable everyone to become familiar with meeting live online. Further ‘live’ collaborative work in a project will then be very much easier.
This activity is a collaborative ‘ice-breaker’ when partner schools will ‘meet’ live online to introduce themselves and begin to work together. In the first instance this could be a ‘class to class’ activity but it could lead to ‘group to group’ or even ‘pupil to pupil’ meetings.
This activity focuses on using the familiar ‘Wordsearch’ activity, but any similar game, such as a Sudoku or Crosswords, and for even younger pupils, colouring pictures could be used. The topic suggested here is ‘European Countries’ but any topic could be used.
Please note: Familiarity with the online tool used (Elluminate) is key to its use with pupils being successful and so teachers are encouraged to use it themselves to discuss and plan their project.
Tools
Web conferencing tool (e.g. Elluminate – see below), speakers and microphone, webcam (optional but desirable), ‘make your own wordsearch’ internet site
Process
Teachers from partner schools use Elluminate to meet live to: • become familiar with the online tool themselves • decide if it will be a ‘whole class to class’ meeting (preferable as a first meeting) or if small groups will work on several computers (more interactive). • plan the date and time of the meeting between the pupils (to allow preparation and testing time of the online tool using the school internet connection • discuss the topic for the word search (e.g. European countries) and make it (see below for a suggested ‘make your own word search’ site)
Meet live on the arranged date and time, and: • copy and paste or upload the prepared wordsearch onto the whiteboard. (Schools may like to make an introductory powerpoint slide with a photo of their school and a map of where they live) • Each school introduces themselves using the webcam (if available), microphone and types welcome messages in the Chat box. • One teacher introduces the word search game • A pupil from each school takes a turn to use the highlighter tool (choice of colours) to find a word.
Follow-up options
A new topic (eg foods) and grid could be written on the next slide of the whiteboard and pupils could take turns in building a new wordsearch (discuss and develop the list of words and then placing them in the wordsearch before completing the spaces) which can be saved, printed off and completed by others away from the live session.
Extension: once schools are familiar with using the live online tool, they could book the eTwinning Elluminate room to enable groups of pupils from each school to work together to do and make their own new wordsearches.
Links
Elluminate live meeting room: Elluminate provides proprietary and secure web conferencing software which can be used from home or school without having to ‘book’. One partner registers for the FREE vRoom and sends a web link to their partner who simply clicks on it to join them live at the pre-arranged time.
To get your FREE room, which enables up to 3 remote locations to connect live, register at www.elluminate.com/vroom
Training to use the vRoom: eTwinning provides a Learning Event to help teachers become familiar with using Elluminate. For more information, go to eTwinning Learning Events
Elluminate’s own training is extensive as the tool provides much more functionality than is required in this project, but to get started use the link below, then choose ‘Recorded training, Quick reference Guides and User Guides for V 9.5’ http://www.elluminate.com/support/training/
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