Bromley ICT Forum Blog

Mastering E-Pedagogy Part 2 [Ian Usher, extracts]
Today was the second full day of the Certificate in Advanced Educational Practice in E-Pedagogy (try saying that with a mouthful of cake) we’re running in conjunction with Oxford Brookes… One of the most useful pieces of the day for me was Chris Higgins’ presentation on threshold concepts - the theory that in every subject area there are certain concepts which, once mastered, allow the learner to significantly expand their knowledge and understanding in that subject…

I have my own idea of an important threshold concept in the area of E-Learning - that’s the point at which a teacher realises that, in some aspects anyway, their pupils will always know more than them and no matter what the teacher does they’ll never overtake or even catch up with their pupils. That might be something too hard to admit for some people - but if it happens, then it allows teachers to concentrate on understanding:

• what the technology is capable of;
• those areas of competency which pupils aren’t naturally blessed with;
• that the role of a teacher is to guide the use of appropriate tools, rather than necessarily lead in the use of them;
• that if you want something done technically, ask a twelve year old.

… show me a teacher who’s admitted that they’re not going to catch up in everything and I’ll show you someone whose pupils will be far more free to learn by discovery, research & experimentation.
http://moodlea.blogspot.com/2008/02/mastering-e-pedagogy-part-2.html

Further thoughts on the EeePC [From Where is AB?]
“I’ve had my hands on an EeePC before, but only in short bursts - last Thursday and Friday gave me hand on for almost a day and a half. Have I changed my mind about this little wonder?”

[Ed] Andrew Brown considers screen resolution, battery life, the webcam, storage space and the keyboard of the EeePC when used in earnest.
www.whereisab.co.uk/blog/?p=583

Multimedia wordsearch [Nik Peachey]
This is a really nice tool that I have just discovered. It’s called PhotoSoup and it generates wordsearch activities based on any topic in just seconds.

It’s very simple and works on images from flickr. You simply type in your topic and the site automatically generates a word grid and image clues. You then have 90 seconds to find all the words. You can get hints and even get it to show you the answers.

Further comments at http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2008/02/multimedia-wordsearch.html

Intro to digital storytelling [Joe Dale]
This sweet video shows how easy it is to create digital stories with Windows MovieMaker by scanning in a few images and adding a voiceover. Hope you find it inspiring too.
http://joedale.typepad.com/integrating_ict_into_the_/2008/02/intro-to-digita.html

More creativity with the WiiRemote
[Ed] Doug Dickinson has embedded a link to a video of another demonstration of Johnny Lee’s creativity with a WiiRemote. This time it shows the creation of a virtual first person 3D display that moves as you move your head.
www.dougdickinson.co.uk/blog/2008/02/more-creativity-with-wiiremote.html

Becta has launched a free guidance toolkit to help Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) ensure the online safety of all children and learners.

The new e-safety strategy toolkit is the result of major collaboration work between Becta and 38 local authorities, five Regional Broadband Consortia and representatives from Scotland, Wales and the European Union. It has been developed to allow local authorities to share best practice, and to offer support and guidance to all local authorities to ensure the online safety of children and learners.

The e-safety strategy toolkit includes advice in the following areas:

• Developing an e-safety subgroup of the LSCB
• Developing a safe and secure infrastructure
• Developing an e-safety training strategy
• Monitoring and reporting on e-safety incidents
• Monitoring the impact of the e-safety strategy

Download from http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35446

From Oscar Stringer

This brief email is to let you know about two animation courses happening this term at the Institute of Education, London.

-Introduction to animation 29th Feb 2008

-Advanced animation 18th March 2008

Both courses are being run by Oscar Stringer.

More info and booking forms can be found here on the digital creativity for education site.

To watch films made on the last teacher training event, Click Here.

If you know of any teachers who are interested in learning more about animation, feel free to pass on these details.

I can forward more details and a booking form on request.

As part of Becta and the LGFL’s strategy to support school improvement, a school conference was held at the Bromley EDC . The purpose of the conference was to demonstrate how  Becta Self Review Framework  tool can play an important role in helping schools to understand and manage their ICT strategic program and policies.

The session was presented by Simon Shaw (Accreditation Manager, Becta) and John Duffield  (London Learning through ICT). 

A wide range of Bromley schools were represented. They  included Bishop Justus, Langley Park School for Girls, Chislehurst (St Nicholas) CE  Aided, Edgebury Primary School, Grays Farm,Highfield Infant School, Malcolm School Perry Hall School, Pickhurst Infant School, Pickhurst  Junior School, Poverest Primary School, Raglan Primary School, ST Philomenas, St Vincents  Catholic Primary School, and The Highway School.

A copy of the days program can be downloaded here.

Other downloads include

Action Plan

Guidance Notes for Element 7

LGFL and Synetrix are offering another opportunity for Bromley Primary Schools to upgrade their broadband speed from 2Mbps and 5Mbps to a 10 Mbps.

Part of the offer includes

• reduced upgrade setup fee of £3000
• reduced annual rental from £5998 to £4998

For more information about the offer please click here to download a flyer.

For further information please contact John Eaton

I had a great day yesterday working with Foundation Stage teachers participating in a workshop set up by colleague Liz Laws.  I also learnt that there were some great web sites supporting the delivery of ICT for the Foundation Stage Curriculum and I have reproduced them here (Thanks Liz for the links!!). Along with the LGFL Foundation Stage  site you could add these ones as well

1. The Dudley Early Years and Childcare partnership have a wealth of really good links worth exploring. Click the link below

http://www.edu.dudley.gov.uk/foundation/

2. The Sir Robert Hitchams School set up this site with a wealth of links and resources. The site has a search feature to allow you to find the resources you need.

http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/foundation

The Kent NGFL has a great site for busy Foundation Stage teachers.

http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/earlyict

If you have any other useful web sites please add them in the comments area.

Reprinted from NAACE Newsletter

Dedicated ICT hours throughout February 2008
During the week, from 9am-11am and 5pm-7pm, Teachers TV features a two-hour block of programmes which is dedicated to core curriculum subjects, with Thursdays being reserved for ICT. The first hour of programmes features ICT for primary teachers, and the next hour features ICT for secondary teachers.

Programmes highlighted in this month’s technology edition of their newsletter include a primary history resource review, an “industry trail” to learn about the world of work using PDAs, using a website to help transition, examples from a previously technophobic TA and use of ICT in assemblies and collective acts of worship.

See www.teachers.tv

Teachers TV Launches National Science Experiment For Schools
“As part of National Science and Engineering Week in March, Teachers TV has joined forces with The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) to undertake Ready To Learn? The Experiment. A major piece of education research, it will investigate how factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise influence memory and concentration. “

Conducted via a simple on-line test and survey, The Experiment will be run by primary and secondary school teachers across the country before 11am each morning, from 10-14 March 2008.

Schools register to take part at www.teachers.tv/experiment.

Reprinted from the NAACE Newsletter

JISC initiated a study involving a combination of examination of data from longitudinal studies and new research to see whether the “Google Generation” (post-1993) approached research tasks in a significantly different way to people from previous cohorts.

They define six types of behaviour:

Continue Reading »

For Network Managers and Technicians

This free article contains top tips to help you navigate your way around Windows 2003 with ease, saving yourself valuable time with:

• System shortcuts
• Advanced features
• Configuring taskbars
• Troubleshooting ‘Error’ messages

Click the following link

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/w2k3/W2K3_tips.htm

We have received this invitation from our colleagues in iEARN Pangea (Spain) to participate in their public art project - this uses photography, environmental considerations and ICT to promote the consideration of the public spaces around us. Further information is contained in the invitation:-

Dear friends in iEARN,

We would like you to remember that the enrollment in the Public Art Project is open.
This project is designed to promote the respect for the urban environment and to encourage relationships between students in Europe countries.

*Deadline for subscription is near!!!*

It is a didactic proposal that applies the use of ICT in several curricular areas and promotes the attainmentof several basic competences.

We have thought the project for 10-18 years students, the participation is with every country language as well as English. The schedule of participation run from February 4-
April 30, 2008.

For more information see our web site: http://www.iearn.cat/publicart