Jimmy Edwards is a teacher at saltash.net community school, an 11-18 mixed comprehensive school with 1337 students located in Cornwall, England. He discusses using innovative technologies like the Microsoft KINECT motion sensor in the classroom to make learning more fun, inclusive, and accessible for students. Some ways the school uses technology include monitoring animal behavior via livestreams, completing homework on social media, and broadcasting to millions in Indonesia. Edwards focuses on how to download the free KINECT SDK and use the sensor in the classroom to benefit student collaboration, motivation, and motor skill development, particularly for students with special needs.

1. Welcome:
Jimmy Edwards – Teacher of ICT & Business Studies
saltash.net community school

2. What am I going to cover
• My School
• Partners in Learning Network
• How to use the KINECT In the classroom

3. saltash.net
community
school is:
an 11-18 mixed
community
comprehensive
with 1337
students.
It has been a
specialist school in
Science, Maths &
Computing with a
Rural Dimension since
September 2004.

4. ‘The main thing is
to keep the main thing
the main thing
and the main thing is
learning.’

5. The way we are learning is
changing

6. Creative approaches to
teaching & learning
• Monitoring animal behaviour via the school’s
PigCam & Eggcam.
• Completing their homework via Twitter &
Facebook.
• Broadcasting live to 30 million people in
Indonesia.
• Using the Microsoft KINECT during lessons.
These are not gimmicks or PR stunts, the
innovative experiences happening here are proving
to be incredibly effective & happen on a daily basis.

7. Embracing New
Technologies
Why spend thousands of pounds on software
when web 2.0 tools are free, easy to use and
readily available?
The KINECT SDK software is free so is the
programing software, all you need is the
sensor which costs around £80.

8. What do our students think of
our approach to these
technologies?
“Enhances our learning”
“Makes learning more interesting and fun”
“Learning skills to prepare for our future”
“Free, quick and simple to use”
“Accessible in school, at home, anytime & anywhere”
“They can be used in any subject”
“Help connect school to home – our parents and
teachers can talk”

9. http://www.pil-network.com/

10. The K-Team
Name Twitter account Blog site
Stuart Ball @innovativeteach http://blogs.msdn.com/b/teachers/
Ray Chambers @Lanky_Boi_Ray http://www.raychambers.wordpress.com
Gareth Ritter @ritzertech http://www.askthemusicteacher.co.uk/
Nicki Maddams @GeekyNicki http://www.interactiveclassroom.net/
Dan Roberts @chickensaltash http://www.chickensaltash.edublogs.org

11. How to use the KINECT In
the classroom

12. Blogging about my journey
http://techlemur.wordpress.com/

13. Project goals
Showing students learning can be:
o Fun
o Inclusive
o Accessible
To show that you can use a mix of existing
and new innovative technologies to create a
completely different perspective on how to
find solutions to problems.

14. The Impact on students
This project has helped students
develop their collaborative skills as
well as taking ownership of their
learning via new, innovative
technologies.
The project has also helped motivate
and develop hand eye co-ordination
and motor skills in students but in
particular students with Special
Educational Needs.

15. The KINECT with SEN
Students

16. How to download the
KINECT SDK

19. Visual Studio C# Express

20. How to contact me
Blog: http://techlemur.wordpress.com
E-mail: Jimedwards1984@googlemail.com
Twitter: @Jimmy_Edwards
Windows Live: James Edwards
LinkedIn: Jimmy Edwards
Skype: Jimmy_edwards1984