Kent ICT Blog

Tim Rylands is gradually working his way around Kent showing teachers how visual literacy using gaming software such as Myst can inspire children to write. Last week he spent two days in the Ashford Partnership working along side over 100 teachers. (Day 1 demo lessons and  Day 2 Teacher Day) There are plans for Tim to visit the two Thanet Partneships next.

Kent Myst Microsite
The Kent Myst microsite is a website to support teachers using Myst in the classroom. It contains an introduction to the project, a getting started guide, teaching ideas and resources and work & lesson ideas by Kent schools.

There are two main sections to the site:

• Resources and teaching ideas shared by Tim during his vist to Kent  (registered users only*)
• Lesson ideas and examples shared by Kent teachers (open to the general public)

*Kent has always had an open policy to make resources available to all. We are keeping the resources shared by Tim for Kent teachers only to repect Tim's copyright and also because we feel to get the most out of using Myst in the classroom teachers need to see Tim in action. Any work creaed by Kent teachers will be open access to all.

Schools are beginning to share their ideas using Myst in the classroom and it is hoped over the coming months more schools will also publish their work on the Kent Myst Microsite. Click on a link below to read about how some schools in Kent started using Myst in their classrooms:

•  Temple Ewell Primary School - the first few lessons using Myst 3
•  Newlands Pimary School - the first few lessons using Myst 3
•  Sussex Road Primary School - writing examples using Myst 4

Further links

How to guide to using the Microsite

Kent schools click here to register to access the teaching resources and ideas

Follow up session to Tim Rylands training

Mandy Barrow is running free follow up sessions in Partnerships enabling teachers to come together to share ideas and resources, learn how to use the microsite and to create multimodal powerpoints to support learning. The next session will be a twilight in Dartford on 30 March.

Please contact Mandy for further information or if you would like to host a session on behalf of your Partnership.

The Myst Software
There has been a sharp increase in the cost of the Myst software and It is becoming increasingly hard to get hold of copies. Mandy has a few copies, provided by Tim, which schools can buy.

Kent Celebration of the Myst Project - 2 July
Schools will have the chance to celebrate their work using Myst at the EIS Conference on 2 July.  During the conference, Tim Ryands will also be sharing new ideas on how schools can take the next step in using Myst. Watch this space!

Mandy :)