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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

Microsoft’s Digital Literacy curriculum is now live – and available at no cost. The goal of the Digital Literacy curriculum is to teach basic computer concepts and skills so that people can use computer technology in everyday life to develop new social and economic opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.

The Digital Literacy curriculum is available free-of-charge to everyone wanting to improve their digital literacy skills. It is easy to follow and if you have a PC at home you will be able to study on your own - or with support from your family - at any time. If you don’t have a PC at home - or you would like an experienced tutor to support you in your studies - then please phone the helpline on 0800 101 901. They can tell you about learning centres near your home - many learndirect centres, Microsoft IT Academies or local UK online centres will be offering the curriculum.

Successful completion of the Digital Literacy curriculum prepares you to take a recognised qualification - the Digital Literacy Certificate - with the awarding body, OCR. Use the links on the right to find an examining centre near you.

• Getting Started
• Access Version 1 of the Curriculum in English (Windows XP / Office 2003)
• Access Version 2 of the Curriculum in English (Vista / Office 2007)
• Access the curriculum in Welsh
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Access the Curriculum in Languages other than English

Whether you are entirely new to computing or have some experience, this curriculum will help you develop a fundamental understanding of computers. From using the Internet, to sending email, to creating a CV, the Digital Literacy curriculum helps you develop the essential skills you need to begin computing with confidence.

The Digital Literacy curriculum consists of five courses:

• Computer Basics
• The Internet and the World Wide Web
• Productivity Programmes (Word processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Databases)
• Computer Security and Privacy
• Digital Lifestyles

These courses are in elearning format with online assessments but are also available for download in Microsoft Word format.

• Download these courses in Microsoft Word format (English)

Becta is pleased to announce that ‘Emerging technologies for learning- volume 3’ has just been published. This follow-up edition complements the first two ‘Emerging technologies for learning’ publications from 2006 and 2007.

The ‘Emerging technologies for learning’ series aims to help readers consider how emerging technologies may impact on education and learners in the medium term. The publications are not intended to be a comprehensive review of educational technologies, but offer some highlights across the broad spectrum of developments and trends. It should open readers up to some of the possibilities that are developing and the potential for technology to transform our ways of working, learning and interacting over the next three to five years.

Copies can be downloaded from www.becta.org.uk/research/reports/emergingtechnologies

Read the rest of this entry »

A new video conferencing programme for schools run by Parliament’s Education Service

As part of a new video conferencing programme offered by the Education Service at the Houses of Parliament, these pilot sessions focus on the issue of Prison Reform in order to bring to life the role of Parliament, both historically and in the present time.  The conferences include the opportunity to talk with a member of the House of Commons or House of Lords

Set amidst the backdrop of Victorian prison reform, the session is based in 1878 as the government takes control of the prison system.  Your students will meet a Victorian prison governor and a long-time prisoner as they talk about their experiences of life in Pentonville Prison.

During the workshop, your group are encouraged to engage with both characters, played by costumed actors, and to ask questions before being led into a debate on the issues surrounding the prison system and its purpose.

Students will explore what prison is for and whether it works from both historical and contemporary angles; developments in the prison system and the role played by Parliament in its reform; as well as the future of prisons today.

A member of the House of Commons or House of Lords will be invited to conclude the workshop and discuss the role of Parliament in relation to this issue*.

A pack of preparation materials will be sent to you in advance of the session, including background information and discussion topics, to help your students prepare their arguments in advance of debating the issues involved.

To book, please call the Education Service on 0207 219 2105

Available: 12 May – 23 May 2008
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: free of charge
Suitability: Years 8 and 9 (KS3)

*Please be aware that on occasion due to the nature of Parliamentary business, Members of both Houses can be called away at short notice.

Parliament’s Education Service
Parliament’s Education Service works with schools and Members of both Houses of Parliament to support young people in developing their understanding of Parliament and democracy. It runs a busy visits programme all year round and provides printed and online resources for schools.
http://www.parliament.uk/education

Are your teachers using and sharing
digital resources for learning and teaching?

Becta and the NEN invite your school to join this programme to:

§  exploit online digital resources

§  create new materials to support learning and teaching for secondary aged students using those online digital resources

§  work with your RBC (and possibly its Local Authority and other schools) to produce these materials and then share them across the NEN.

Projects last from April to December 2008.  Funding will be up to £25,000 per project. Bids are required by Friday 22 February 2008.

Further Details

Andrea, Keith and I were impressed by the following resources and are now going through the purchasing arrangements for all Shropshire schools, our hope is to have these within the new learning platform.

e-Safety - Us Online (KS2-3) www.roareducate.co.uk/esafety.pdf
A highly interactive online module that instils safe and responsible use of online technologies. Developed in conjunction with London Grid for Learning.

RE*CREATE www.roareducate.co.uk/recreate.pdf
An online application that empowers teachers to create highly engaging interactive student activities - simply and quickly. The application can be integrated into school or LA platforms and is appropriate across the curriculum for Key Stages 1-4

Celebrating Us - What We Do (KS2-3) www.roareducate.co.uk/whatwedo23.pdf
A highly interactive look at Rights, Roles & Responsibilities. Developed in conjunction with London Grid for Learning.

Celebrating Us - Who We Are (KS1) www.roareducate.co.uk/whoweare1.pdf
A highly interactive look at cultural diversity, stereotyping in the media, personal prejudice and migration. Developed in conjunction with London Grid for Learning.

Celebrating Us - Who We Are (KS2-3) www.roareducate.co.uk/whoweare23.pdf
A highly interactive look at cultural diversity, stereotyping in the media, personal prejudice and migration. Developed in conjunction with London Grid for Learning.

On our way to Teachmeet, Andrea and I passed the Film Education stand. We were very impressed by the pimary literacy software that they were demonstrated, Picturacy. I am sure Andrea will post details about it when she is back at work.

Eager to find out more details I visited their website, but I was unable to find what I wanted. While searching around the site I did come across a number of useful resources for primary and secondary education. The free resources included study guides and worksheets for a variety of films and generic study guides aimed at the film industry, you can also purchase more resources aimed at the film industry.

The organisation also offers free screenings of films for schools, for example:

Thursday 7th February 2008
Certificate: 12A cert
Running time: 122 mins
Suitable for: KS 3/4, Citizenship, Media, English and AS/A2 Media Studies
Visit The Kite Runner educational online resource

Based on one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, The Kite Runner is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right. Screening in: Birmingham Cineworld and London-Empire Leicester Square.

The London Screening will be followed by a 45 minute discussion on the film by writer and journalist Ian Haydn Smith. Please ensure you can stay for the whole event before booking.

To keep up to date with new additions to the site and to receive free resources for teaching film education you can sign up to the mailing list.

Futurelab events:

15 January 2008
Birmingham Science Centre

We’re working with the DCSF on a programme of consultation and research into this question, and are keen to involve schools and young people in the debate. We’re holding a one-day workshop in Birmingham on 15 January, with activities designed to help teachers and learners (aged 11-18) identify their hopes, fears and priorities for the future of education.

We would like to invite teachers and students (one teacher and two students from each school) to come along to this event and work in separate workshops, with activities designed to promote thinking and stimulate debate. Working in this way will allow teachers and students to have a voice in such an influential area. We anticipate that this will be a lively and interesting day, with no writing!

The event will start at 9:30am and finish at 3:30pm. Refreshments will be available for all throughout the day, including lunch, and we will reimburse costs of any cover that teachers will incur, plus transportation costs for all participants on the day. The participants will also have entry to the Science Centre after the workshop if wished.

If you would like to register for this event please e-mail beyondcurrenthorizons@futurelab.org.uk”> class=”OEAL”>beyondcurrenthorizons@futurelab.org.uk, or phone 0117 915 8203, with your name, your school’s name and contact details, plus the names and ages of the students who will attend the event with you. Note that if oversubscribed we will only allow one group per school.

ClickView has developed a unique digital media solution that allows schools to not only manage all their video, podcasts, still images and audio files in one central library, but deliver them to all users across their school network and also to student’s homes.

Evan Clark, developed the digital video delivery software specifically for schools: “Streaming is a great solution when you’re one user on a home computer, but in schools, where hundreds of users may want to access digital video at any time, the resulting pressure on the network is immense. ClickView’s patented predictive file transfer technology effectively lifts the pressure from the school network, and means that hundreds of students can access digital video at the same time.”  This has opened up the chance for pupils to watch and work independently in IT suites, and letting every teacher access the school’s digital media resources anywhere that there is a computer.

The technology also comes with over 800 educational programmes specifically made for schools, but with the use of a capture card, you can also quickly and easily import VHS and DVD recordings into the system - simplifying and upgrading the current use of video in the classroom. As part of the anytime, anywhere learning agenda, digital video can also be seamlessly linked to any VLE or web based application. And to ensure we embed the use of digital media in the classroom, regular professional development sessions are provided free for teachers, by teachers, with experience of creative and effective use of digital media.