Documents 6.c. New users
From eTwinning
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Once we have registered a project in eTwinning, a virtual platform will be activated, called TwinSpace. In the previous unit we saw which were the general aspects of the platform and how to register new users. | Once we have registered a project in eTwinning, a virtual platform will be activated, called TwinSpace. In the previous unit we saw which were the general aspects of the platform and how to register new users. | ||
| - | Let's imagine we have just started a new eTwinning project with an Italian school. After registering the project, we will have registered students in TwinSpace and we | + | Let's imagine we have just started a new eTwinning project with an Italian school. After registering the project, we will have registered students in TwinSpace and we will be ready to prepare our first activity... |
== Guided practical activity: Who is who? == | == Guided practical activity: Who is who? == | ||
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Many are the ways to get to know each other, although this practical activity shows how to work on one of the activities presented in the SCA modules, called 'Who is who?'. | Many are the ways to get to know each other, although this practical activity shows how to work on one of the activities presented in the SCA modules, called 'Who is who?'. | ||
| - | On this link you can check all | + | On this link you can check all the aspects referring to this activity: [http://www.etwinning.net/es/pub/inspiration/modules/who_is_who.htm Who is who?] |
| - | We shall also use the ITE Image and Sound Bank, which | + | We shall also use the ITE Image and Sound Bank, which has public contents that are free for teachers: <u>ITE Image and Sound Bank.</u> |
=== Approach === | === Approach === | ||
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*A ''Web Content Viewer ''to present the activity and show participants what to do. It will be active from the beginning and modifications will be made if necessary. | *A ''Web Content Viewer ''to present the activity and show participants what to do. It will be active from the beginning and modifications will be made if necessary. | ||
| - | * | + | *An ''Image Gallery'' where the participants can post images. |
*A ''Discussion Forum'', where the students' descriptions will be posted. | *A ''Discussion Forum'', where the students' descriptions will be posted. | ||
*A new ''Web Content Viewer ''that will be published at the end of the activity, where the solution associated to each student's image will be shown. | *A new ''Web Content Viewer ''that will be published at the end of the activity, where the solution associated to each student's image will be shown. | ||
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=== Creating the activity === | === Creating the activity === | ||
| - | We are starting off from an empty TwinSpace, with no activities. Let's remember that to create activities we must have the ''teacher | + | We are starting off from an empty TwinSpace, with no activities. Let's remember that to create activities we must have the ''teacher-administrator ''role, which will be automatically created if we are founders of the project. |
Firstly, we must access the ''Project Activities ''section. | Firstly, we must access the ''Project Activities ''section. | ||
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Let's add the first tool, which will be ''Web Content Viewer''. | Let's add the first tool, which will be ''Web Content Viewer''. | ||
| - | === Adding a new | + | === Adding a new Web Content Viewer === |
To add a new tool we must activate the ''Add Tool ''window. In order to do so, we must click on the option ''Add Tool ''in the drop-down menu on the top right-hand corner. | To add a new tool we must activate the ''Add Tool ''window. In order to do so, we must click on the option ''Add Tool ''in the drop-down menu on the top right-hand corner. | ||
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[[Archivo:im102.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im102.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | The icons that allow us to modify the viewer content are shown in the graph: <br>'''1.''' With this icon we can modify the title of the content viewer window. <br>'''2.''' With this icon you can add existing content. This is useful | + | The icons that allow us to modify the viewer content are shown in the graph: <br>'''1.''' With this icon we can modify the title of the content viewer window. <br>'''2.''' With this icon you can add existing content. This is useful if we do various activities where we want to add the same content viewer. <br>'''3.''' With this icon we can create new content for the viewer. |
| - | Now we shall insert a title for the element, called ''Activity Description''. Click on icon '''1.''' and add the text you want for the title | + | Now we shall insert a title for the element, called ''Activity Description''. Click on icon '''1.''' and add the text you want for the title. |
Now we shall insert the contents. Click on icon '''3.''' and a text editor will open up, where we can add images, videos, links, etc. In this case, we have looked for an image in the ITE image gallery (although we can use any of our images) and we have inserted a text explaining the activity. | Now we shall insert the contents. Click on icon '''3.''' and a text editor will open up, where we can add images, videos, links, etc. In this case, we have looked for an image in the ITE image gallery (although we can use any of our images) and we have inserted a text explaining the activity. | ||
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[[Archivo:im107bc.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im107bc.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | We have added a photo gallery to our activity, and now the next step is to create as many folders as schools there are in our association. Imagine we have associated with only one school in Italy, so we must create two folders: one for photos | + | We have added a photo gallery to our activity, and now the next step is to create as many folders as schools there are in our association. Imagine we have associated with only one school in Italy, so we must create two folders: one for photos of Spanish students and another for photos of Italian students. |
To add a new folder inside the gallery, click on ''Add Folder''. | To add a new folder inside the gallery, click on ''Add Folder''. | ||
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We will see a window to insert a title and a description of the folder we are creating. Once inserted, click ''Save''. | We will see a window to insert a title and a description of the folder we are creating. Once inserted, click ''Save''. | ||
| - | + | We will have created the folder. Next to it we will see a button, ''Actions'', which will allow us to edit the folder (change the title and description), delete it or manage the permits. | |
Let's repeat the process and create a folder inside the gallery so that Italian students can add their photos. | Let's repeat the process and create a folder inside the gallery so that Italian students can add their photos. | ||
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=== Adding a Forum === | === Adding a Forum === | ||
| - | Now | + | Now we have two tools inside our activity: ''Web Content Viewer'' and ''Image Gallery'', where students can upload their photos. |
| - | We are now creating the Forum where students will add their descriptions. Now we shall access again the | + | We are now creating the Forum where students will add their descriptions. Now we shall access again the ''Add'' ''Tool ''window and in the ''Collaboration ''section we must choose ''Discussion Forum''. |
[[Archivo:im110b.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im110b.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
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[[Archivo:im111b.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im111b.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | This is what the Forum we have just created looks like. We are going to add three discussion lines to this Forum: the first one will be for Spanish students who leave their descriptions the second one will be the same but for Italian students; and the third one will be for students who wish to leave proposals for association between images and descriptions. | + | This is what the Forum we have just created looks like. We are going to add three discussion lines to this Forum: the first one will be for Spanish students who leave their descriptions; the second one will be the same but for Italian students; and the third one will be for students who wish to leave proposals for association between images and descriptions. |
To add a discussion line we must click on ''Add Category''. We shall see a form to add the title and a description of the Forum discussion. The boxes ''Permits > Public'' and ''Mail list > Active'' can be left unticked. The permits will be studied later and the mail list enables us to receive a message each time someone leaves a message in the discussion line we have just created. | To add a discussion line we must click on ''Add Category''. We shall see a form to add the title and a description of the Forum discussion. The boxes ''Permits > Public'' and ''Mail list > Active'' can be left unticked. The permits will be studied later and the mail list enables us to receive a message each time someone leaves a message in the discussion line we have just created. | ||
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When we click on ''Save'' we will have created the new category inside the Forum. | When we click on ''Save'' we will have created the new category inside the Forum. | ||
| - | Following the same procedure we | + | Following the same procedure we can create a category for Italian students to add descriptions and another one so that students from both countries leave their answers and have conversations. The Forum should eventually look like this: |
[[Archivo:im113c.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im113c.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
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When we do this activity, it is advisable to assign a number to each student so that the title of each photo comes only as: Photo 1, Photo 2, etc. | When we do this activity, it is advisable to assign a number to each student so that the title of each photo comes only as: Photo 1, Photo 2, etc. | ||
| - | The first step to be taken by students is to access TwinSpace using the keys we have given them from the website: http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net | + | The first step to be taken by students is to access TwinSpace using the keys we have given them from the website: [http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net]. |
Now, our students must access the activity section, where they will find the activity: ''Who is who?'' | Now, our students must access the activity section, where they will find the activity: ''Who is who?'' | ||
| - | Once | + | Once they have read the ''Content Viewer'', where the activity description is, they must access the image folder for their country. |
[[Archivo:im115b.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im115b.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | The previous image shows what students would see when they | + | The previous image shows what students would see when they accessed the image gallery. Unlike us, they cannot add subfolders or modify contents, they can only upload images. |
Click on ''Add Image'', and the following window will come up. | Click on ''Add Image'', and the following window will come up. | ||
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[[Archivo:im117.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im117.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | Click on ''Examine ''to search for the image, and | + | Click on ''Examine ''to search for the image, and then students should type in the number assigned in the title (for instance, 'Photo 2'). Once this is done, click on ''Save''. |
[[Archivo:im119.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im119.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | This way, the image would be uploaded onto the | + | This way, the image would be uploaded onto the gallery and this way all the students' photos would be added. |
Once the photo has been added, the next step would be for students to go to the ''Spanish students' descriptions ''folder and add a message with their description. | Once the photo has been added, the next step would be for students to go to the ''Spanish students' descriptions ''folder and add a message with their description. | ||
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This process would be repeated by all Spanish and Italian students, so finally we would have the folders in the image gallery with all the photos of all the participants, as well as the first two forum galleries filled with descriptions from the participants. | This process would be repeated by all Spanish and Italian students, so finally we would have the folders in the image gallery with all the photos of all the participants, as well as the first two forum galleries filled with descriptions from the participants. | ||
| - | The next | + | The next step to be taken by the students would be to study the descriptions and associate them to the images. The forum can be used to ask more questions to the students from the partner school, and make new contributions to the discussion line that each student has opened with their description. |
| - | Once students know what images | + | Once students know what images go with which name, they will make a comment in the forum, in the category entitled ''Who is who?,'' and give an answer. |
Lastly, to complete the activity, once a student has guessed all the picture and description associations, a new content viewer can be added at the bottom to confirm these actions, as in the following image. | Lastly, to complete the activity, once a student has guessed all the picture and description associations, a new content viewer can be added at the bottom to confirm these actions, as in the following image. | ||
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== Other tools == | == Other tools == | ||
| - | In the guided practical activity, we have seen how to add to an activity | + | In the guided practical activity, we have seen how to add to an activity tool like ''Web Content Viewer'', ''Image Gallery'' and ''Forum''. |
| - | We have included a list of other tools that can be useful when | + | We have included a list of other tools that can be useful when posting activities in our own project. They are accessible from the ''Add Tool ''window to be included in an activity. |
=== Collaboration === | === Collaboration === | ||
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[[Archivo:im134.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im134.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | *Wiki. It allows us to add a wiki to the activity, which is a window to include data, references and general documentation that can be easily accessed through the site. Once the wiki has been added, the link ''This page is empty. Edit | + | *Wiki. It allows us to add a wiki to the activity, which is a window to include data, references and general documentation that can be easily accessed through the site. Once the wiki has been added, the link ''This page is empty. Edit to add text ''allows us to add the first page of the wiki, which can then be added to the subsequent ones. |
[[Archivo:im135.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im135.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
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In this section we can find the ''Image Gallery'' and the ''Web Content Viewer ''tool, which have already been explained in the previous practical exercise. | In this section we can find the ''Image Gallery'' and the ''Web Content Viewer ''tool, which have already been explained in the previous practical exercise. | ||
| - | A third tool connected with content management is the ''Document Library'', which is similar to the image gallery, but in this case in the folder we create | + | A third tool connected with content management is the ''Document Library'', which is similar to the image gallery, but in this case we can upload documents in the folder we create (various formats are accepted). |
[[Archivo:im136.jpg|center|frame]] | [[Archivo:im136.jpg|center|frame]] | ||
| - | It works in a similar way to the ''Image Gallery ''tool: we must create as many folders as necessary to then upload the documents | + | It works in a similar way to the ''Image Gallery ''tool: we must create as many folders as necessary to then upload the documents. |
| - | == | + | == Instructions == |
Some final advice when planning an activity is: | Some final advice when planning an activity is: | ||
| - | *Plan what tools are to be included in each activity. We must not improvise, but rather observe how we wish to work and decide what tools are more appropriate to carry out the work | + | *Plan what tools are to be included in each activity. We must not improvise, but rather observe how we wish to work and decide what tools are more appropriate to carry out the work. |
*Do not overload the activity, More tools will not make it a better activity, as it could be the opposite. We should be specific and avoid adding useless tools, or tools that already appear in the ''Teacher's Room ''or the ''Students''' ''Corner''. | *Do not overload the activity, More tools will not make it a better activity, as it could be the opposite. We should be specific and avoid adding useless tools, or tools that already appear in the ''Teacher's Room ''or the ''Students''' ''Corner''. | ||
Revision as of 07:51, 22 March 2010
Once we have registered a project in eTwinning, a virtual platform will be activated, called TwinSpace. In the previous unit we saw which were the general aspects of the platform and how to register new users.
Let's imagine we have just started a new eTwinning project with an Italian school. After registering the project, we will have registered students in TwinSpace and we will be ready to prepare our first activity...
Contents |
Guided practical activity: Who is who?
It is advisable for the first activity done in a project to focus on making students from both countries get to know each other.
Many are the ways to get to know each other, although this practical activity shows how to work on one of the activities presented in the SCA modules, called 'Who is who?'.
On this link you can check all the aspects referring to this activity: Who is who?
We shall also use the ITE Image and Sound Bank, which has public contents that are free for teachers: ITE Image and Sound Bank.
Approach
In a TwinSpace activity we can include various elements called Tools. The first step to carry out the activity will be to plan what elements will be present, their function and when they can start being used by students
In our case, this activity is presented using the following elements:
- A Web Content Viewer to present the activity and show participants what to do. It will be active from the beginning and modifications will be made if necessary.
- An Image Gallery where the participants can post images.
- A Discussion Forum, where the students' descriptions will be posted.
- A new Web Content Viewer that will be published at the end of the activity, where the solution associated to each student's image will be shown.
Creating the activity
We are starting off from an empty TwinSpace, with no activities. Let's remember that to create activities we must have the teacher-administrator role, which will be automatically created if we are founders of the project.
Firstly, we must access the Project Activities section.
To add an activity we must click on Page Administration.
In Adding a new section we must write the activity name, and then click Add. In our case, we will call the activity Who is who?.
At this point we will have created a new activity, which will still be empty.
Let's add the first tool, which will be Web Content Viewer.
Adding a new Web Content Viewer
To add a new tool we must activate the Add Tool window. In order to do so, we must click on the option Add Tool in the drop-down menu on the top right-hand corner.
On the left of the screen we will see Add Tool, where they are grouped into two categories. The Web Content Viewer tool is in the Content Management category.
Click Add or just drag to the area for our activity.
The icons that allow us to modify the viewer content are shown in the graph:
1. With this icon we can modify the title of the content viewer window.
2. With this icon you can add existing content. This is useful if we do various activities where we want to add the same content viewer.
3. With this icon we can create new content for the viewer.
Now we shall insert a title for the element, called Activity Description. Click on icon 1. and add the text you want for the title.
Now we shall insert the contents. Click on icon 3. and a text editor will open up, where we can add images, videos, links, etc. In this case, we have looked for an image in the ITE image gallery (although we can use any of our images) and we have inserted a text explaining the activity.
On the left we can see several setting options. In this case we will leave the default ones and just click on Save. This is what the content viewer would look like.
We can now see a new icon: File:im105.jpg on the bottom, which will allow us to modify the viewer content if necessary.
Adding an Image Gallery
We have created a viewer to present the activity, and now we are going to create the Image Gallery, where students can upload their images.
In order to do so, we shall use the Add Tool window, but this time we will choose, within the Content Management section, the Image Gallery option.
We shall insert the image gallery under the viewer we created before, thus creating the following window:
We have added a photo gallery to our activity, and now the next step is to create as many folders as schools there are in our association. Imagine we have associated with only one school in Italy, so we must create two folders: one for photos of Spanish students and another for photos of Italian students.
To add a new folder inside the gallery, click on Add Folder.
We will see a window to insert a title and a description of the folder we are creating. Once inserted, click Save.
We will have created the folder. Next to it we will see a button, Actions, which will allow us to edit the folder (change the title and description), delete it or manage the permits.
Let's repeat the process and create a folder inside the gallery so that Italian students can add their photos.
Our image gallery will eventually look like this.
Adding a Forum
Now we have two tools inside our activity: Web Content Viewer and Image Gallery, where students can upload their photos.
We are now creating the Forum where students will add their descriptions. Now we shall access again the Add Tool window and in the Collaboration section we must choose Discussion Forum.
Drag the Forum so it appears below the Image Gallery.
This is what the Forum we have just created looks like. We are going to add three discussion lines to this Forum: the first one will be for Spanish students who leave their descriptions; the second one will be the same but for Italian students; and the third one will be for students who wish to leave proposals for association between images and descriptions.
To add a discussion line we must click on Add Category. We shall see a form to add the title and a description of the Forum discussion. The boxes Permits > Public and Mail list > Active can be left unticked. The permits will be studied later and the mail list enables us to receive a message each time someone leaves a message in the discussion line we have just created.
When we click on Save we will have created the new category inside the Forum.
Following the same procedure we can create a category for Italian students to add descriptions and another one so that students from both countries leave their answers and have conversations. The Forum should eventually look like this:
Students start working
With these elements we will have prepared the TwinSpace activity so that students can start working. All our students should bring a scanned photo and prepare a description of themselves. Then, they would be given a password each, as well as an explanation of how to add images onto the gallery and what their contributions to the forum should be like.
When we do this activity, it is advisable to assign a number to each student so that the title of each photo comes only as: Photo 1, Photo 2, etc.
The first step to be taken by students is to access TwinSpace using the keys we have given them from the website: http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net.
Now, our students must access the activity section, where they will find the activity: Who is who?
Once they have read the Content Viewer, where the activity description is, they must access the image folder for their country.
The previous image shows what students would see when they accessed the image gallery. Unlike us, they cannot add subfolders or modify contents, they can only upload images.
Click on Add Image, and the following window will come up.
There are two ways to upload images. We will use the traditional method, so we will see a window like this:
Click on Examine to search for the image, and then students should type in the number assigned in the title (for instance, 'Photo 2'). Once this is done, click on Save.
This way, the image would be uploaded onto the gallery and this way all the students' photos would be added.
Once the photo has been added, the next step would be for students to go to the Spanish students' descriptions folder and add a message with their description.
When accessing the folder, we must click on Create a new discussion thread to add the name and description.
Students would be asked to write their name in Subject and add a description in the message field. By clicking on the Save button, the message will be added to the forum.
For this activity, it is interesting to know that the messages published in the forum always show the author's name, which would not happen for the images. This is what a message from a student who has just published would look like.
This process would be repeated by all Spanish and Italian students, so finally we would have the folders in the image gallery with all the photos of all the participants, as well as the first two forum galleries filled with descriptions from the participants.
The next step to be taken by the students would be to study the descriptions and associate them to the images. The forum can be used to ask more questions to the students from the partner school, and make new contributions to the discussion line that each student has opened with their description.
Once students know what images go with which name, they will make a comment in the forum, in the category entitled Who is who?, and give an answer.
Lastly, to complete the activity, once a student has guessed all the picture and description associations, a new content viewer can be added at the bottom to confirm these actions, as in the following image.
Other tools
In the guided practical activity, we have seen how to add to an activity tool like Web Content Viewer, Image Gallery and Forum.
We have included a list of other tools that can be useful when posting activities in our own project. They are accessible from the Add Tool window to be included in an activity.
Collaboration
Firstly, we must review the tools in the Collaboration section, which are oriented towards collaborative work. Next to the Forum, we have another two tools:
- Blog. It allows us to add a blog for each activity, which is a window where we can include news periodically. Once added, use the Add blog entry button to add news to this blog.
- Wiki. It allows us to add a wiki to the activity, which is a window to include data, references and general documentation that can be easily accessed through the site. Once the wiki has been added, the link This page is empty. Edit to add text allows us to add the first page of the wiki, which can then be added to the subsequent ones.
Content management
The second category that appears in the Add Tools window is called Content Management.
In this section we can find the Image Gallery and the Web Content Viewer tool, which have already been explained in the previous practical exercise.
A third tool connected with content management is the Document Library, which is similar to the image gallery, but in this case we can upload documents in the folder we create (various formats are accepted).
It works in a similar way to the Image Gallery tool: we must create as many folders as necessary to then upload the documents.
Instructions
Some final advice when planning an activity is:
- Plan what tools are to be included in each activity. We must not improvise, but rather observe how we wish to work and decide what tools are more appropriate to carry out the work.
- Do not overload the activity, More tools will not make it a better activity, as it could be the opposite. We should be specific and avoid adding useless tools, or tools that already appear in the Teacher's Room or the Students' Corner.
- Give students clear instructions about what they have to do with each tool. It is always a good idea to spend time making sure that students understand how to use the tools inserted in an activity; once they have clearly understood it will be easier to work.
