ICT & Writing: DIMDIM/TWIDDLA
DimDim or Twiddla can be used to communicate with pupils outside the school day, browse the internet together or broadcast a computer screen to all those connected. The sped up video below, however, shows how you can use one of these programs change the way shared writing can occur.
Shared Writing with DIMDIM from Peter Richardson on Vimeo.
The video shows how the writing process can be modelled but with the added benefit of allowing for a simultaneous triangle of communication between the pupil, their peers and the teacher. When trying this, apart from creating a buzz around the room due to the novelty of being able to be at a computer rather than watching a big screen, then participate afterwards, the pupils were able to be active throughout the process whilst still benefiting from the modelling. It’s great for ‘stealing ideas’, real collaboration between pupils during the ideas and sentence development stages and giving more reluctant writers a vehicle to speak. If you have tried doing something similar, or have used Dimdim or Twiddla for another purpose related to developing writing, please add to the pad below or click here to add to the pad.
