it4L

Through the  ‘Cool Cat Teacher’ blog, I found out about this very accessible (and cool!) wiki at http://k12learning20.wikispaces.com which is designed to deliver a course on Web 2.0 technologies. Anyone can browse and its really worth a look for anyone who wants to find out more about the basics of these new technologies. The wiki is very much enhanced by the Common Craft videos, which explain Web 2.0 features brilliantly.

Billy from Thomas Adams has uploaded all his x-games resources to the KS4 documents section within the ICT area of the new Shropshire Learning Gateway.  These resources are only available to Shropshire schools:

https://www.shropshirelg.net/curriculum/foundsubjects/ict/secondary/Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2fcurriculum%2ffoundsubjects%2fict%2fsecondary%2fDocuments%2fKS4%2fX%20Games&FolderCTID=&View=%7b00AB74E3%2d6FA2%2d4181%2dB4B3%2dEFCD662FBD24%7d

These resources support the use of an xbox to provide evidence towards the ASDAN qualification at KS4.

Please click the following link to view the Diploma in IT newsletter for June 2008. www.e-skills.com/diplomanewsjune08

Creativity and E-Learning in the Classroom Conference
Key-note Speaker: Professor Stephen Heppell

‘For the times they are a-changin’

With so many new education websites springing up through the concrete vastness of the web, you could spend your life sorting through the rubble. Cue Professor Stephen Heppell: the superhero of e-learning. Acclaimed by The Guardian as ‘Europe’s leading online education guru’ and heralded by Microsoft as ‘Europe’s leading online education expert.’

Young people embrace technology and creativity, and have been hungry for change, so as Professor Heppell puts it: “We are pushing against an open door.”

“Creativities’ time has come”
All over the world Schools are moving from generic education, to personalized, unique, individual learning, in which staff and students can thrive. We are moving away from factory-like schools, corridor-like learning, to wide open multi-functional spaces. What space is more open? More diversified? More democratic and international than the internet? None.

Professor Heppell says: “When you look at something, you stop seeing it: it’s like that with schools.” It is also like that with education in general. This change and shift that we are just easing ourselves into is not “a change for changes sake”. It is essential. Our place in the world as a country that is regarded highly for its education standards is slowly slipping. If we use an analogy form the talk: think of which countries are world leaders in terms of the film industry. Now what about the car industry? Or fashion? Each time you are probably thinking of fewer countries than you have fingers, a handful for each industry. The race to be a world leader in education will produce a few countries: India, China, Turkey.  Now, is a crucial shift in education which will help us decide if we will be one of those world leaders. This depends on our attitudes to learning, and willingness to adapt to these changes.

Trying New Ideas
Here are some examples of what other learning educators are doing around the world:
•    Leasowes School in Dudley, studies one GCSE per month.
•    An Australian School has students from 11 years old sit in on 4 hours of lectures per week at a nearby University.
•    Bilston Academy has quiet cafes and the staffroom if for both staff and students.
•    At a school in Yorkshire, they have introduced “The Praise Pod”: this works in a similar way to Heads’ commendations, when a student(s) has done well they get interviewed and it becomes a podcast and/or video, which they can then take home that day.
•    A school in the Caribbean has students sit on both interview panels and lesson observations.
•    Most local businesses will showcase students work if possible: for example, cinemas can show videos of students work before the main film, TV shops can broadcast them, even simply turning a projector onto a window at the end of the school day is a great way of broadcasting to the local community the activities and achievements of the students.
•    Some schools have also introduced a Board of Good Work to celebrate and look into how to encourage students to celebrate their achievements.

Due to a major purchasing error (too many zero’s on the end of the order!) we have several thousand more QX5 Microscopes than we need for the immediate future. We have therefore decided to offer a fantastic saving on the list price to help us reduce stocks. Until the end of July 2008 we would like to offer you the QX5 microscope at the prices below:

1 to 24            £59 each ex vat
25 and over     £49 each ex vat

As you can see this represents a fantastic saving against list price and is ‘whilst stocks last’ please feel free to forward this offer to your schools. Should you wish to proceed please get in touch with me directly to I can ensure your discount. This is not an end of life offer.

Kind regards

Geraint Lewis
Regional Manager | TAG Learning

www.taglearning.com/

Thanks to Andy Davies of Clunbury for drawing our attention to 2Simple’s software offer. For a cost of £999 for existing 2Simple customers (£1499 to new customers), you can purchase the entire suite of 2Simple software for each computer in your establishment for ever. The normal cost of this would be over £8000.
You also have access to Simple City and 2Type on the internet, as well as training videos, planning ideas etc.
2Simple say ‘This is a TIME LIMITED offer and will only last for as long as there is still birthday cake! Hurry! Contact 2Simple with your purchase order number right now to order the whole 2Simple Collection for this incredible price.
To order, you can call: 020 8203 1781, fax: 020 8202 6370,email: collection@2simple.com or visit: www.2simple.com/collection’

May’s email covers webcams and how they are used by young people.

‘Webcam’ is short for web camera. It is a small video camera that is plugged into a PC or laptop and allows live video communication via an internet connection. New laptops may even have webcams built into their screens. Some webcams come with a microphone already built in to allow voice as well as video conversations. It is a fantastic way of keeping in touch with friends and family, especially those who are living abroad.
Read the rest of this entry »