Description

Learning objectives

The four workshops which we offer to schools clusters are:

• Blogging
• Social media
• Video
• Audio

and are designed to fit in with the planned projects which individual schools have in mind. All work carried out as part of the schools programme will relate back to the four themes of the Digital Commonwealth project (place, people, culture and exchange) and be carried out in the spirit of the principles of the Digital Commonwealth project. At the start of each practical workshop, participants will be asked to discuss one of the themes as an ice breaker exercise and to place their project in the context of the project as a whole. Exploring Commonwealth themes helps to give learners an understanding of what the Commonwealth is, and what it means to them.

What will be created?

All participants in the Digital Commonwealth project will work within the four project themes. Every school cluster has a different project, learners should be able to create and share digital content which relates to their relevant theme and meets their project needs. Participants will also be able to earn a Digital Commonwealth Project Open Badge upon completion of the workshops.

Preparation

Trainers may wish to make the map of Digital Commonwealth projects available to learners so they can explore projects happening near them and elsewhere in the country. Would any of the learners like to connect with schools doing a project which interests them?

Review and Assessment

• Mind mapping and note taking Learners may work on pen and paper or on tablets/ computers to explore the topics. Collaborative online mind mapping tools like Coggle, Padlet or Google Docs could be used. Learners could also draw responses on tablets or use available graphical software on PC or Mac. How can these paper and digital notes be captured and shared?
• Photography Taking photos as visual responses to the questions can be useful. Photos can be edited, annotated, integrated into blogs and shared with available software such as Instagram, Over, Skitch or in built tools such as Paint. Someone may also wish to photograph the groups working on the tasks, and share these where appropriate
• Audio Learners may wish to make audio responses to the themes and share these as appropriate. Record sounds which relate to the themes or practice interview skills.
• Video Try capturing scenes which respond to the themes using video recording tools or apps like Vine or You Tube Capture.
• Blogging Can the thoughts of the group be captured in a blog? Are other schools blogging about the themes? Using tools like the 100 word challenge or the principles of quad blogging might help prompt writing and encourage people to interact.
• Social media Can learners summarise their thoughts in 140 characters or less? (This can also be done as a paper exercise). Who uses social media to discuss people, place, culture or exchange? How can learners find social media relating to the themes and interact safely with it?

Agenda themes