graham.dickie

I think I’m beginning to understand this, and the more I understand it the more I like the idea!
Create-a-Scape, from Futurelab, is all about getting pupils to turn any place into an interactive sound world. An example would help! Using a portable computer(PDA), they can wander across a playing field, but be on an African Savanna, following an on screen map which takes them to spots where sound and images tell the story of that place (a tribal gathering, a lion resting, the wind blowing, a child crying). One secondary school has turned part of the playground into a moon crater with simple markings. At various places in the Scape, listened to through headphones, the pupils have tasks- measure heights of crater wall (details on screen), solve a problem etc.. And, of course, the children can make their own scapes: a journey home, tree dressing, music in spaces or the Titanic!
This is a fascinating use of imagination and creativity enabled and supported by ICT. Perfect.
They site provides all the software links, instructions and worksheet templates.
There are drawbacks. PDAs aren’t cheap and they represent the top of the equipment list needed. Also, as most work with Windows Mobile, they need a PC, as does, I suspect, the HP software.
As it stands, I don’t think I can justify a pleading trip to the Headteacher. But it does set thinking off in a new direction. How could we achieve similar results, but using what we have in school already. I’m leading the teaching in the class about the Tudors this term. Could I tranform, or could the children transform somewhere, into something Tudor themed: a house, the Mary Rose, Henry’s Court? I’m not sure if I have the time to think about it quite yet!
You’ll find it all at www.createascape.org.uk