it4L

Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office, a free program for schools, transforms familiar Office programs into customized tools for teaching and learning. Curriculum-based tutorials, templates, and project assistance from leading publishers help students and teachers to do their best work.
Read the rest of this entry »

Seamus:
GCSE online curriculum, KS3 to follow shortly
http://lordsilkin.co.uk/ICT
Aim is to put every lesson online
BBC MPEG’s very good resources – network licence (H&S, impact of ICT on…), including ppt and worksheets to support

Ian Marshall:
National Certificate (OCR) – not promoting TTS
Only 4 schools doing it last year as their main ICT course at KS4
Originally a worked based qualification
All coursework
Only level 2 at present
It is now accredited

Peter James:
Highlighted the use of the Teachernet ICT support packs http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/supportpack/
Use of drop down boxes in word

John Cooper:
E-portfolio for KS3 students – consistent for all year groups
Addressing file management issue
Key elements include the planning and self assessment
Use of the non-work pages for developing web design etc
Within the OLE JC has re-grouped GCSE past papers and uploaded via question types

Tim Curtis:
http://createasurvey.com
Sign up free for a month, all year 9 students designed their own survey, created it online and then shared it with other students to answer
Postcards to send out to parents for students who achieve well (£50 for 300) – school stickers

Gareth Roberts:
http://surverymonkey.com – free as long as you don’t want more than 10 questions

Richard Smith:
http://del.icio.us – social bookmarking, Richard’s del.icio.us page can be found here
http://digg.com

Steve Compton:
KS3 on-screen test overview of process to date
Plasc file needs to be converted from 2006 format to 2005 format – toolkit available on the APS to convert this
Packages might take a long time to deploy over the network

Richard Faragher:
http://webrevolution.co.uk/web2 – shows a variety of web 2.0 based software
http://www.box.net – free 1Gb of online storage
http://gliffy.com – online drawing package
http://handsonsupport.wordpress.com – Telford HOS blog

RG kicked off with some references to the TEACHICT website, which includes a number of resources and links to appropriate resources. There is something for everybody, differentiated to all levels.

Also in this spot the Edexcel DiDA-Support materials were recommended. The teacher tome is quite weighty (pricey too, but has a network licence) but is a valuable resource at many levels. The pupil resource is excellent and comes in at about £16 (prices not checked). “A complete integrated package”, the co-ordinator quipped, and many reiterated the usefulness of these resources.

Next up was LM. An interesting starter that gets the thinking juices flowing and developing spoken English into logical statements. IF(”understand spreadsheets”, “spreadsheets”,”lunchtime revision”).

Second item was on stop-frame animation using cheap camera and software. Excellent use to get kids engaged in using ICT, getting quick results.

Resources for AiDA was recommended. It has support and resources for the first DiDA module

JH introduced his intention to use microphones (99p from CPC) for learners to develop their coursework writing using sound-to-text recognition software. Via Voice is used, and the contemporary version is excellent. JB recommended Keystone and Dragon Naturally Speaking software.

CG – Computer clubs for girls introduces a number of items that might be interesting particularly to girls. Activities include jewellery design, dance routines, etc, and is proving a hit with girls at the school. There are some admin functions to perform but the resources are wide-ranging and have depth, and engaging for all ages.

HG – Simplythebest.net is a good database of sounds as is Freesound

BG – Good GCSE resource – GCSE Companion

AT – putting video into presentations, using animation. General multimedia work, stimulating for learners. Using Canon stills cameras.

JB – Y9 conditional formatting making games for preschool children.
Also 8.3 Internet research, looking at validity and bias. Using webquests to help give stability and structure for lower-ability pupils, using online resources as a stimulus for further activities. Another activity to raise awareness of search techniques is googlefight or googlewhacking.

LM – Azzuri blocking now includes selective greying-out of pr0n images on Google images.

CW – Pathe clips used for video assessment. Finding copyright-free materials – Creative Commons and Open Clipart.
CMS - a coursework management tool.

LN – Learners like using JAS as a self-assessment tool. Generates a report at the end of the unit. JAS will be at the Shropshire ICT conference.

KS – Redhot Interactive starters from Granada. Used at KS3 and KS4.

On European Safer Internet Day (07/02/2006), Minister for Education & Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D. launched the Webwise initiative (www.webwise.ie ) which provides information and resources to teachers, parents and students to help ensure that children’s on-line experiences are positive and safe. The website presents a technology-neutral message in four specific content areas: surfing, chatting, sharing, and gaming.

Taken from NAACE newsletter (17th February)

Our children are growing up in an ICT-rich environment to which they are exposed from a very early age. We need to ensure that they have meaningful ICT experiences in school which enables them to further develop their understanding of ICT and its potential.

QCA have produced ICT foundation stage guidance materials which contain short case studies with teacher guidance demonstrating how a range of ICT might be used purposefully in the foundation stage. It covers three ICT stepping stones and the ICT early learning goals. The case studies focus on a range of ICT including music keyboards and programmable toys.

You can download a copy of the guidance materials from the QCA website

This link (via Leon Cych) to a page on the Encyclopaedia of Educational Technology is one of the most succinct that I’ve come across for explaining the potential for blogging technology in education.

WHILE THE CONCEPT OF BLOGGING has entered the mainstream, many teachers do not know about specific implementation strategies. This article will focus on four core methods to use blogs with students and help teachers address the logistical factors involved.

As described in the link above, weblogs are becoming used in education as a means of developing writing – after all, once something is on the web, it’s viewable by the whole world; what better motivation for producing tip-top work? How proud would your learners be if their poetry was published on the web like the Sandaig Otters’ poetry Page, available for comment and review by a worldwide audience? Leave a comment on the poetry on the Primary 6 Writing Week page, the young writers will be thrilled I’m sure.
While you’re there, take a look at their Book Review page too with pictures alongside their own reviews. Priceless.

You don’t have to be a genius to understand the work of the Nobel Prize winners. These games and simulations, based on Prize-winning achievements, will teach and inspire you while you’re having FUN!

Students, teachers and non-professionals of all ages will enjoy testing and building their knowledge in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace and economics. So, go ahead: Explore and Learn …

Ergo are now offering the ability to have the screenback for your laptops customised.

Printed laptop screen-backs are great!

• Unique, funky, colourful designs stand out from the rest
• Can be customised to match your organisation or corporate image
• Can reflect school or college colours and badges
• Significantly enhance security of your laptops with unique identity
• Because we build all our products to order, we can deliver with custom screen-backs

I have started to take an active interest in webdesign again looking closely at more effective use of css than I have done previously. Anyway with this renewed vigour I have found some websites that will support my lack of design flare.
Read the rest of this entry »