Tim Rylands returns to Kent

A project using
the 3-D virtual world of Myst to inspire writing.
Starts 19 January 2009

• The launch event at the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood
• List of schools attending the launch day
• Demo lessons for West and Mid Kent Schools
• What is involvement for schools
• Watch videos of Tim in action
• Flier and booking form are on the left of this page.
  Booking form should be sent to joanne.harber@kent.gov.uk
  

This new and exciting Kent project has been inspired by the work of Tim Rylands, who has been described as “an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, with a love of the creative potential of technology and an excellent rapport with his pupils. The approaches he uses are innovative and imaginative, in particular his use of games software.” (Becta)

Tim, a Primary school teacher for over 20 years has always maintained that in order to gain experience you need to do it. In order to do it you need to want to do it!

“Children need to be inspired if they are going to pick ideas up and start to juggle with them.”

Tim has received a vast amount of press coverage from around the world for his original use of ICT and has gained most notable recognition for using the games in the Myst series to inspire childrens creative confidence in many areas of the curriculum including creative writing, speaking and listening, music and art.

See an example of a similar project run in Scotland

Aberdeenshire Council ran a similar a Myst writing project across a number of schools. Find out more about their case study.

Watch videos of Tim in action

The video below shows Tim in the classroom. You will not be able to view the video at school. Can't see the video? Click here to download (right click and select 'save target as..'

Using the computer game Myst, children are not only loving creative writing, but also improving attainment as a result. (See www.timrylands.com/html/statistics.html.). Myst supports all kinds of writing including first person description, character portraits, instructions, poetry and problem solving.

The video below shows a few of Tim’s students reading out some of their work describing where thay have visited in the Myst worlds.
Can't see the video? Click here to download

Myst’s wow factor, engages children of all ages and gender with boys finding it particularly motivating. It immerses children in a world using sound and images of very high quality.

A Summary of Events

1. Launch Day (click here to find out more)

The launch day for the project is a whole days workshop with Tim Rylands at the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood on 19 January.

2. Demo Lessons (click here to find out more)

Nine Partnerships have booked Tim to spend a day with them as a follow up to the launch. This means more of teachers will be able to have first hand experiences of Tim in action.

Teachers will be invited to observe/take part in the three demo lessons with Tim working with the pupils using Myst III. Teachers may choose a morning or afternoon session:

The timetable for the day is as follows:

9:00am – 10:15am - years 3 & 4
10:35am – 11:40am - years 1 & 2
1:00pm – 3:00pm - years 5 & 6 (This session is most suitable for our secondary colleagues to join in)

3. Twilight (same day and venue as the demo lessons)

Tim will also running twilight sessions in West and Mid kent, thus making sure more teachers will have had the chance to have a session with him. Schools may like to book this day as a staff meeting during this week.

4. Follow Up - Myst Project Website

Schools will be invited to upload children's work and share resources and ideas on a special Myst Project website. We feel it is important that schools have continued support.