Safari, the Apple browser (that works on both pc and mac) updated to version 5.1 this week. This update included the ability to add extensions, similar to what you have been able to do with Firefox for several years.
For teachers the extension ‘A Cleaner YouTube’ is a no brainer, it removes everything off the YouTube page apart from the video you want to watch. You can install the extension here.
So, if you want to use YouTube in the classroom and you have been put off by the related videos or comments then install Safari and add the extension for a clean view of YouTube.
A new version of the Talmos VLE is due to be released to Shropshire secondary schools over the summer. The main improvement is that teachers will be able to add resources to a lesson on the timetable by simply clicking on an icon. Click here for a short video demonstration. Once resources have been added to a teacher’s timetable they will appear on the timetable for all pupils in that class. Homework can also be set in a similar way.
Posted in SLG, Shropshire
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Smart Notebook Express is an online tool which enables the opening of Notebook files without downloading any software or using a login. You can also create and save your own Notebooks. It includes use of pen tools and text functions. You can sort pages, add or delete slides, move objects, or run flash files. Smart Notebook Express can be used with other brands of IWB and with an LCD projector. Great for editing and sharing lessons with other users.
Click here to find out more and to try out Smart Notebook Express
Smart Notebook express brochure
If you work with teenagers, then you’ll know most of them will be using Facebook. You might even be using it yourself… if so, you will want to know about a new, free application in Facebook that is designed to keep young people safe while they are having fun networking online.
ClickCEOP is a new ‘app’ launched today (Monday 12 July) which links the young user directly from their Facebook profile to help, advice and reporting facilities of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre – the police agency set up to tackle child abuse.
By adding the app, young people and parents can get support from CEOP on a range of issues – viruses, hacking, dealing with bullying online and they can report someone who is acting inappropriately towards them online.
If you have a Facebook profile, app and bookmark the app. If children in your care are on Facebook, get them to search ‘ClickCEOP’ in Facebook and give them to chance to be one click away from help – if they should ever need it.
www.facebook.com/clickceop
Google have announced a new Android App development tool that looks like it will enable anyone to write apps for the fast-spreading mobile phone operating system.
The Appinventor is a graphical programming environment that looks very similar to StarLOGO TNG, a direct descendant of Seymour Papert‘s LOGO and yes, it is very closely related to Scratch. So it looks like all those budding Scratch programmers in primary and secondary schools will soon have a market for their talents in the form of Android apps development.
Additionally, there is an obvious progression from using Scratch to learn concepts of programming that can then be easily transferred straight to mobile phone app development. I’m looking forward to getting my copy of AppInventor – perhaps you would like to sign up too.
At the secondary ICT subject leader network meeting this morning we were discussing software licenses for students. I alerted the teachers to the Software4Students website where students/parents can purchase a range of applications that they are using in school for use at home. If students purchase from this website there are tremendous savings to be had, for example:
Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus – £39.95 (retail £350ish)
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional – £42.95 (retail £150ish)
If your school is actively seen to be promoting this website then they can obtain a 5% rebate from all sales. Further details about this and posters to promote the site can be downloaded from the Schools & Colleges area of the website.
Taken from the NAACE newsletter:
Is it time for a school or department refresh? Not sure what to do with all your out-of-date kit?
We may have the solution for you. We have been approached by a charity in Leicestershire that hope to fill a container(s) to send computers to schools in Africa this September.
They are in particular need of mice, keyboards, power and interface cables as well as decent spec pc’s, monitors and servers.
Pick up can be arranged at your convenience.
Please contact Keith Douglas on 07976 738079 to discuss further or email your interest to bernadette.brooks@naace.co.uk.
Yesterday I was at The Marches School in Oswestry. A group of year 9 students were participating in a highly interactive video conference with the Imperial War Museum.
The students were split into 4 groups, media, spies, weapons and deployment.
Each team was given some information and then set some activities to carry out the media team were in charge of propaganda. The group of spies were deciphering codes sent to them, some of these messages were in direct response to broadcasts made by the media team. The weapons group were deciding on what weapons to purchase and where they should be positioned. Other students in the weapons group were designing new weapons this information was passed on to the media team. The deployment group were discussing tactics with the media group and the weapons group.
It was great to see the high level of engagement by all students. The session was fast paced and everyone participated with the tasks. Apart from the history content that they were learning the students were developing PLTS.
For further details about the session visit the Video Conferencing site at the Imperial War Museum.
At the students ICT Conference on Monday, Russell Prue led three workshops (Live School Radio; Promote student voice, enhance your speaking & listening, create and broadcasting a live radio show). It was great to see students from a variety of schools across the county working together to plan their scripts, but what was really interesting to me was the approaches that different students took to the task.
Hopefully you can see on the photo students using paper, post it notes and an iPhone for note taking. It would be great to see students having access to a range of tools in the classroom that they could select from, to pick the best tool for them for the task they are doing.
At the start of the Students ICT Conference on Monday, Russell Prue (http://www.andertontiger.com/russell/default.htm) asked the students to solve this problem:
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