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MazioCreate Literacy & Numeracy Resources
 
Probably, like a number of readers, I have an ongoing battle with my weight.  Unless I'm cycling at least 250km a week, I have to be ever vigilent about what passes the lips.  I'm not a fast food or sweets junkie, just a woman who spends long periods of time belting away at a keyboard.  Since I've been working from
home part-time and sitting in front of the  computer for long hours, the kilos have been creeping on, like a rash from poison ivy.  So how does my weight battle have anything to  do with working in a classroom?  The APP My Fitness Pal is my new best friend and I immediately saw ways that I, and other teachers, could utilise this FREE APP or numeracy and literacy tasks.  Not only is it free, but you can download onto both Apple and Android devices.  But wait, there's more!  No you don't get a set of steak knives, you can also access it online from your humble computer or
laptop.  Ahhh! The simple things in life!  When using the online version go into settings and nominate the nutrients you want to track.  The APP version automatically displays: calories; carbohydrates; fat; protein; sugar; and, sodium.  I needed to add sugar and sodium in the online version.
Classroom  Application
There is only one issue that I have with this program, and it is a minor hiccup - calories.  Australia completed the convertion to metric measurements in 1977, and the use of calories instead of
kilojoules does put a spanner in the works.  I suggest any teachers that are using metric measurements, convert the calories to kilojoules as a numeracy activity.  Let's get started!
 
 
I recently came across a great tool, screen capture videoing. This technology has been available for a while now, but I didn't know that it was out there. If only I had known, it would have made the computer classes I taught more valuable for everyone, as students could have worked at their own pace using the videos. The diverse range of computer skills when teaching 16 to 65 year olds is staggering and adpating lessons to develop everyone's skills was an enormous task. I can envisage that using this software would enable the following to occur.

1.Give teachers more time to work with individuals.
2.Be prepared with intereactive teaching material.
3.Use the material for whole class, small groups or individuals.
4.Encourage students to become independent learners.
5.Have material for reinforcement and extension work.
6.Enable students who have missed specific teaching periods to view work that involved the computer.
7.Highlight specific tools or options in a given program.
8.Have students use the software and produce their own set of instructions / procedures.

There are free downloads available and I chose Freez Screen Capture Video from www.smallvideosoft.com. Online they supply the basic steps to get going. Very easy to follow and install. You have the option to include a voice over, this does enhance the video, and would guide students through any activity.

If only I had access to this software when in the classroom I wouldn't have felt like a parrot at times. I'm currently developing a series of videos to support resources I have developed. These videos will mainly cover using specific tools in Word and PowerPoint. They'll soon be available as FREE DOWNLOADS from www.maziocreate.com.au.

Why Word and PowerPoint? I found the programs integral to my teaching and the students' learning. During the last fifteen years of working with adults, it was these programs that enabled them to accelerate their learning. Being able to produce professional final copies, develop graphs and present a PowerPoint for a discussion (to name a few) gave the students confidence in their abilities and strengthened their desire to learn. I had a 54 year old male student who was illiterate and he produced a book on fishing (his passion) using Word. The learning outcomes for this one activity were numerous and he was highly motivated to continue to improve his language skills. If I had known about the screen recorder then, I could have developed videos to assist him to work more independently and only rely on a tutor when absolutely necessary.

Good luck using this medium and I'd love to read feedback on your successes.