Ideas for using DB at Christmas

To view the example Christmas Community, please visit this link.

1. Creating a Christmas-themed community page How to edit the wiki of your community Letting the pupils become wiki editors Add a background image and community logo How to add web links

2. Create a drawing task3. The forum:

Chat with Santa in the Forum area A video message from Father Christmas

4. Using Email5. Have pupils create personal wiki pages6. Create a Christmas Quiz7. Surveys:

Create a Christmas Survey Getting the children to create their own surveys

To view the example Christmas Community, please visit this link.

Ideas for using DB Primary at Christmas

1. Creating a Christmas-themed community page

Either update the wiki area yourself with some Christmas messages or get a pupil or group of

pupils to update the page.

You can include links to websites.

Upload a Christmas-themed community icon and background.

How to edit the wiki of your community

If you would like to start again and redesign your wiki for Christmas, use the following steps:

Hover towards the top right of the page, select the spanner and paper image and then click on Clear Page.

Click on the link ‘Click to start designing the page’.

You will then be presented with layout and background options.

How to edit the wiki of your community

To edit any of the text, hover over the area to edit and click on the pencil that appears to the left of the text box.

To edit pictures, hover over the picture and select the camera icon to upload a new image. Selecting the folder icon will let you browse through images already uploaded or to record a video using your webcam.

Click on ‘Add’ to insert videos, audio or extra pictures and text boxes.

Letting the pupils become wiki editors

If you wish you can allow a pupil or group of pupils to update the wiki area.

To give the children editing rights, first click on the cogs at the top right of the community.

Select ‘Manage Membership’ at the top right of the community administration page.

If you have already added your class as a group (as shown on the right with Year 4) then

individually add any children you wish to become editors.

Click on the badge icon to the right of their name until it turns into a mortar board. This signifies

that they are leaders and now have editing rights over the wiki.

How to add a background image and community logo

At the bottom left of the community administration page, click on upload to search for and add a new background image.

At the top left of the community administration page, click on upload to search for and add a new community icon.

To edit the background image and community logo, click on the cogs at the top right of your community.

How to add a web links

Enter the title of the link and copy in the url (web address) of the website you wish to link to. If you wish to you can

upload your own picture to associate with the link (click on upload to browse for a picture).

Please note: If you wish to edit a link that you have previously created, visit the gallery and open the link from

there.

At the bottom of the quick links list, select ‘Browse’ and then ‘New Link’.

To add a web link to the quick links menu at the left of the community page, click on the cogs at the top right of your

community.

2. Create a drawing task

Create a homework task for the children to draw a Christmas Picture

As an addition to this task you could get the children to set this picture as their avatar for the Christmas period.

To set a new ‘me-image’ (avatar), once their picture has been completed, pupils should visit their My Work area, open up their drawing and select ‘This is Me’.

•Create a staff account for Father Christmas/Santa.•Log in to the learning platform as that character. •Using the forum area you can allow the children to ask interview style questions to the character.

3. The Forum Area: Chat with Santa

If you have the costume and are feeling brave , perhaps you can dress up as Father Christmas and leave a video message for the children.

Children can log in at home and leave responses to any questions asked.

The Forum area: A video message from Father Christmas

To record a message you will have to have a webcam attached to your computer.When you click on the video tool icon, the record facility will connect to your webcam automatically.

The Forum area: A video message from Father Christmas

4. Using Email

Set up an account for Father Christmas and send the children an email from this account.As a task children must write an email in reply.

5. Have pupils create personal wiki pages

Select ‘Personal Wiki’ as the type of page.

If you would like to let the children create their own pages, you can create communities that they can take ownership of and update with text, images and video.

Local communities are communities that belong to an individual’s account. Personal Wiki pages are a type of local community.

You can create local communities for your own class by clicking on the People tab in your community, then selecting Manage.

If you would like to let the children create their own pages, you can create communities that they can take ownership of and update with text, images and video.

Local communities are communities that belong to an individual’s account. Personal Wiki pages are a type of local community.

You can create local communities for your own class by clicking on the People tab in your community, then selecting Manage.

Christmas Wiki Pages

Christmas Wiki Pages

5. Have pupils create personal wiki pages

Ask children to update their own research page about Christmas. They can select from a numbers of skins such as the newspaper skin for a realistic newspaper effect.

Ask children to update their own research page about Christmas. They can select from a numbers of skins such as the newspaper skin for a realistic newspaper effect.

Accessing the Personal Wikis as a Pupil

5. Have pupils create personal wiki pages

When a pupil logs in, their personal wiki will be shown under their list of communities. The personal wiki is essentially the same as a normal community wiki and can be edited and designed in the same way.

When a pupil logs in, their personal wiki will be shown under their list of communities. The personal wiki is essentially the same as a normal community wiki and can be edited and designed in the same way.

6. Create a Christmas Quiz

Start creating your quiz

In the Quiz area of your community, select ‘New Quiz’ and give your quiz a title. Click on the tick to start creating your quiz.

Start creating your quiz

In the Quiz area of your community, select ‘New Quiz’ and give your quiz a title. Click on the tick to start creating your quiz.

Creating your own questions

Click on ‘New Question’ to add your own questions.Please note: The Name field refers to a general heading for the question and Question Prompt will be the actual question.

When you have finished compiling your quiz, select ‘Publish’ to share with your class.

Creating your own questions

Click on ‘New Question’ to add your own questions.Please note: The Name field refers to a general heading for the question and Question Prompt will be the actual question.

When you have finished compiling your quiz, select ‘Publish’ to share with your class.

Add Questions from the question bank

You now have the option to search for existing questions. Type Christmas and Santa into the search box. Click ‘View’ to preview any question and ‘Add’ to add the question to your quiz.

Add Questions from the question bank

You now have the option to search for existing questions. Type Christmas and Santa into the search box. Click ‘View’ to preview any question and ‘Add’ to add the question to your quiz.

7. Create a Christmas Survey

Results can be also be seen in graphical format by clicking on the graph image on the results page:

Results can be also be seen in graphical format by clicking on the graph image on the results page:

Create a Christmas-themed survey to find out more about the Christmas likes/dislikes and habits of your class.

The below is an example:

Create a Christmas-themed survey to find out more about the Christmas likes/dislikes and habits of your class.

The below is an example:

7. Christmas Survey: getting the children to create their own surveys

Pupils will receive a notification on their desktop once the survey has been published.

Pupils will receive a notification on their desktop once the survey has been published.

In an Improver themed community, children can create their own surveys.

Once they have been approved by the teacher, the teacher can publish the survey for the whole class to take.

In an Improver themed community, children can create their own surveys.

Once they have been approved by the teacher, the teacher can publish the survey for the whole class to take.

To approve surveys created by the children, visit the survey area and select Manage next to the survey title.

Now you can preview the survey and if it is ready, publish it so that the rest of the class can respond to the questions.

To approve surveys created by the children, visit the survey area and select Manage next to the survey title.

Now you can preview the survey and if it is ready, publish it so that the rest of the class can respond to the questions.