The document summarizes a research project that investigated using digital panoramas to help raise attainment in writing for Year 2 pupils. Teachers were trained to use panoramas and accompanying sound files across 3 terms. The findings showed panoramas had a greater positive effect on writing of more able pupils, with improved descriptive vocabulary. Teachers found panoramas captured pupils' imaginations and influenced their writing. The project outcomes included including panoramas in the local authority's writing professional development.

1. Bill Tagg Bursary Using Digital Panoramas in the Primary Classroom Adele Hull ICT Curriculum Adviser Leicester City LA

2. To investigate using digital panoramas could help raise attainment in writing of Year 2 pupils We used a combination of ‘on screen’ 360 o panoramas and sound files. Moon panorama Beach panorama Aim of the research project

3. More panoramas Rugby Scrum Inside the mouth

8. The schools Three LA schools were selected The project began with five Year 2 teachers Four teachers identified a group of pupils working just below expected level for their age, one teacher had a group of more able writers. School Characteristics of area served by the school % English as a additional language % Free school meals A Social housing, high level deprivation 55% 37% B Private terraced housing 27% 9% C Private semi-detached and detached 30% 1%

11. Examples of Children’s writing Less able child – before

12. Examples of Children’s writing Less able child – after

13. Examples of Children’s writing More able child – before

14. Examples of Children’s writing More able child – after

15. Quotes from children “ The sound makes it feel more like you are there, in the place.” “ It helps give you even more ideas.” “ Sometimes I don’t know what to write about” “ It’s difficult to write some stories” “ I can’t think what to write sometimes” Before After “ I have more ideas, more to write about.” “ I use better describing words.” “ Sometimes I think of much better words ‘cos I can see what’s there.”

16. Quotes from teachers When the panoramas were used alongside music or sound effects they became even more powerful and projecting them onto an interactive whiteboard meant they almost transformed the classroom into another location. Children were completely in awe when I used the first panorama and even came up to the whiteboard and touched it to check if they would be able to 'dive into' the picture on screen. I have found the panoramas have influenced children's descriptive writing and the language the children have used as a result of using the panoramas has been very pleasing. I shall certainly continue to use panoramas as a stimulus to writing as well as in other curriculum areas. The panoramas really captured their imaginations and the result was very good when they came to write their own story plans and eventually their finished stories. Here are some quotes from stories that the children wrote: "They floated through a dark, dripping hole into a dense, green, damp forest." "They looked on the sandy, bright, mysterious beach." "The rainforest was green, light and mysterious." "The boat was hidden behind an ancient rock in the distance on the sandy, rocky beach." Teacher A Teacher B

17. Quotes from teachers Recently to support the extended stories unit in literacy we used the Rio carnival panorama to give us a story start. The panorama needed music and drama added to it, but when used together it opened the flood gates to new and interesting spoken vocabulary. When the children began to plan and eventually write their stories they had a sense of place and occasion that wouldn't have been possible without the panorama. For me the most successful use of a panorama was the lunar landings. We were doing a topic on space and the children had asked about the moon. We role played a moon mission, when we 'landed' on the moon we used the panorama to explore the lunar surface and what we could see around us. The children then wrote messages back to earth describing their experience. This supported development of vocabulary and linked to science work on dark and light. Teacher C Teacher D

18. Possible further development of the project One teacher took screen shots from the panorama and used these in Photostory3 for children to record words and phrases. Children found this highly motivating and there was some early indication that this could be valuable.

19. Outcomes for the LA Use of panoramas has now been included in writing CPD by Literacy consultants, particularly at KS2. A set of panoramas as Quicktime movies and sound files (copyright free) has been made available to teachers on the LA Learning Platform

20. Where we found resources Panoramas www.panoramas.dk www.arounder.com www.fullscreenpanos.com http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/wwp/index.html.en Music www.lgfl.audio.org.uk www.findsounds.com Sound editing - http://audacity.sourceforge.net Panorama Software Serif Panorama Plus 3