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Very good advice to pass on to parents at http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/09/11-steps-to-online-parental.html – very sensible – and its also worth looking at the rest of the blog !

If you have the latest version of Google Earth installed, you can now access a collection of historical map overlays, such as a 1790 world globe. In the layers section, select All Layers, then look for Featured Content > Rumsey Historical Maps. Then get ready to be wowed!

The slow-running computers at the Shrewsbury Centre have just been tidied up (Thanks Steve) and are now running a lot more smoothly. Question is, how many more slow-running PCs are out there? I found this article on things you can do quickly and easily to make even the most clapped-out PC run faster.
Top tips are:

• Delete any programs that you never use (Check first!!)
• Turn off your desktop background image (right click the Desktop, choose Properties, Desktop, and looking under Background)
• Delete temporary internet files
• Defragment your hard drive (My Computer, right-click your C: hard drive, choose Properties, Tools, Defragment Now) – and leave it to run – it’ll take an hour or so!
• Empty the Recycle bin!

More at http://www.tweak3d.net/tweak-guides/windows-xp/15-minute-xp-tune-up

I’ve been trying to sort out my digital resources – trolling through forgotten folders CD ROMs, even (gasp) floppy disks from a byegone era. One of the files I found from many moons ago was ‘things to do with e-mail’, in which I suggested the following:

Collect information
Solve problems
Penpals –in another school
              in another country
Share a topic with another class
Pool data
Exchange information
Create a dialect dictionary
Exchange jokes
Collaborative publishing (through attachments)
Sequential creation of a poem
Sequential creation of a story
Thank you letters
Home/school link
Contact experts and ask them specific questions

Still relevant, some of these, though obviously we now have many more tools at our disposal, so a collaborative document, online chat or video conference may be more appropriate. Any more ideas? 

Dale’s Maths in Motion blog has been spotted by the official website. Check out his blog to find out what the students are up to.

Also spotted in the TTS catalogue – a set of ‘recordable postcards’  – cards with a plastic window to hold a photograph, and a record/play facility (the record can be hidden to stop the original recording being lost). This would be a fantastic way to may classroom displays more interactive – children could take a photograph of a model, or include a drawing, even some writing, then record temselves talking about it. They cost £25 for 10, with plastic wallets at £1 for 10. Details at http://www.tts-group.co.uk/Product.aspx?cref=TTSPR784424

After the success of the Bee Bot for Foundation stage and KS1, TTS have now developed its big brother – the Pro Bot. The Pro Bot is a controllable vehicle, which includes input as well as output commands, and can be used in conjunction with software (which you can buy at an extra cost). Find out more at http://www.tts-group.co.uk/Product.aspx?cref=TTSPR592410 .

Thanks to Pete Jackson of Shifnal Primary for drawing it to our attention!

See the following ICT related programmes on Teachers TV in November;

Primary ICT SOS – Numeracy & Literacy (15 mins) -using ITPs in work on pentagons and diagonals. Plus  a reception class teacher use whiteboard and creative software to develop story-telling skills with children who are new to ICT in school. 19th Nov 11am & 5pm

Primary ICT SOS – Storytelling (15 mins) – putting pictures and sound together to stimulate the class and how a simple school intranet of clubs can help children share and comment on each other’s stories. 19th Nov 11.15am & 5.15 pm

Secondary ICT SOS – Robots and Sensors (15 mins) - using robots with  pupils and how to use spreadsheet software in a science lesson, plus the usual selection of top-tips from fellow teachers. 18th Nov 11am

Secondary ICT SOS – PDAs and Webcams (15 mins) how some teachers are using ICT resources such as PDAs and webcams. Teachers are on hand to provide some handy top-tips. 18th Nov 11.15am

Resource Review: ICT Special – Primary Geography (15 mins)  three resources for teaching primary geography: Global Eye – a free website magazine; Virtual Geography – an interactive CD-Rom; and Staffordshire Learning Net – a regional website.

Resource Review: ICT Special – Secondary MFL 1(15 mins)  three ICT resources for teaching secondary Modern Foreign Languages: Task Magic – authoring software for PCs; Zut – an interactive website; and KLAR – a website for budding German speakers. 29 Nov 1.30pm

Remember you can also view these programmes online, just visit: http://www.teachers.tv/video/browser/951

All secondary schools in England should have received ‘The Essential Guide to the KS3 ICT Test’ by NAA in the post over the last few weeks.  It is now possible to download individual sections from the NAA website.

www.zoo.com is a new child-friendly search engine which filters out a lot of inappropriate content and purposely has no image search (perhaps useful if you are allowing children to surf freely away from direct supervision). Whilst I agree that there is no substitute for teaching the children internet safety skills (using resources such as Gridclub’s cybercafe activity), this search engine will be useful for primary age children and may give some teachers peace of mind.