How was it used?

The use of interactive whiteboard activities, data loggers and blogs to investigate and report on how sound travels through materials.

The children used the IWB activities as stimuli to introduce the main investigation which they carried out using sound sensors. The children thoroughly enjoyed using data loggers because they felt like real Scientists using very precise instruments. The Planning Board in the main activity worked very well, because the children could understand and visualize the links between the Independent, Dependent and Control variables in a very interactive and kinaesthetic way. Having collected their measurements the children used the NGfL Cymru AfL bar chart to plot their bar charts and we found that using this approach as opposed to conventional graph paper was just right for our purpose. In fact, we wanted a tool that would allow the pupils to quickly represent their findings graphically and that would allow them to focus on the patterns they were observing rather than on graph drawing skills.

Our children were then asked to report their findings through paper blogs. So, they wrote their blogs on A4 sheets explaining what they had found and what their data meant. Once their blogs were completed each group had to go around the classroom, read the other blogs and stick Post-its on at least one blog as comments. If someone, or the author of the paper blog, wanted to respond to a comment, they would stick another sticky note on the Post-it comment. This was a lovely way to introduce very young children to web logging, to develop Literacy Skills and to raise the awareness on eSafety as well. We first read about this technique here.

Impact and Outcomes

• Integrating the use of data loggers and the AfL grid into the main activity has enabled the children to develop important Numeracy Skills. We were a bit concerned they would struggle with the scales on the interactive bar chart, but that turned out to be the task they were more comfortable with, because of the simple and easy way of interaction with which this resource is designed. Pupils could understand how to choose the best scale to use on the y-axis from the data they had collected and proved to have mastered quite complex mathematical iterations for their age, e.g. compile a scale into equal increments.
• We felt this activity allowed the boys to plan their investigations without having to write long and detailed methods, which sometimes can put them off the activity.
• The ongoing collaboration that each pupil was engaged in within their individual group was very valuable, because they managed to share their tasks and work together very effectively. This also engaged our pupils in reflective practices because it gave them the opportunity to monitor their progress and amend their procedures to meet their success criteria.
• The web logging activity was very useful to develop good Literacy Skills in a creative way. In fact, the children seemed more engaged and focused because they knew they had to produce a piece of writing that could be accessed by anybody through the internet. It also provided a good opportunity to discuss eSafety and the pupils understood some of the dangers linked to careless sharing of information through the internet and other important issues like Copyright.

Learner feedback

Pupils were very enthusiastic about using the data loggers and writing their blogs. It was a new experience for them and they engaged in these activities very well. Here are some of the pupils’ comments.

“I liked using the sound meter because I didn’t know you could measure sound with numbers!”, “We were working like real Scientists and it was really cool!”, “I loved using the whiteboard with the girl making the noises!”, “Writing our own blogs was great, because many people and my parents can see what we did!”

Other resources

Data Loggers, paper and colours, different materials for the investigation, kitchen roll tubes, bells to make the sounds.

Lesson Learnt

We asked the children to bring materials they found in the house for the investigation, but not everyone brought something. We had enough materials though. We are hoping to transfer the paper blogs to a real blog, or the NGfL Cymru website and we will then be able to gather the pupils’ parents’ responses and allow them to become more involved in their children’s learning experiences.