Bromley ICT Forum Blog

(from Pippa Grayson NAACE)

The vast majority of the teaching force still do not use web 2.0 and distributed resources on the internet.

What are the barriers to them doing this at the present time? At present the main barrier to even becoming aware of such facilities is probably time and institutional buy-in to the whole process. Whereas their students are happily at home with social networking sites and the process of friendship groups and online communities, their mentors do not have the time or the facility to start learning about these processes.

One of the main barriers to enabling teachers to engage and risk take using web 2.0 is the fact that they are working within an outmoded system of institutional pedagogies based on the shifting sands of rapid reforms, which have left everyone punch drunk at the scale and speed of tweaking the system. There needs to be a rapid overhaul of professional development based on action research and communities of practice within the teaching community, with new roles and practices based more on the models used in current business practice rather than an outmoded curriculum.

Interested in thinking about Naace’s role as an innovative community? Come to this FREE to members event and contribute towards the future direction of Naace. Taking place at Harrow Teachers’ Centre on the morning of 17th May, you can find the full programme and booking instructions at: www.naace.co.uk/618

Hi Folks

I have returned after a refreshing three weeks in Australia, ready and keen to work on the blogsite (just as you are about to take a break!) The first piece of news you may want to consider is the following offer from Steljes which is reprinted below:

The SMART seminars are full day events aimed at providing teachers with information and guidance on how to use their SMARTboard as an effective tool for planning, teaching and assessment. Topics will include Assessment for Learning using the Senteo pupil response system from SMART, and how it facilitates interaction, engagement and personalised learning.

The attached flyer provides more information, including the two closest events to you in the South of England:

29th April - Cambridgeshire 

30th April - Surrey 

Please feel free to circulate to schools or to interested colleagues who may be able to travel to Cambridge or Surrey to attend.

Alternatively, visit the website where you can also book you place to attend either day:

www.smartseminars.org.uk

I will be attending and I would urge you to take advantage of the offer.

In the meantime have a great break!

Churchfields Primary and Nursery School are hosting an Interactive Whiteboard Cluster Meeting on Tuesday 10th June commencing at 3:45pm

Come along to:

• Find out some free training tips
• Share flipcharts and resources
• Update yourself on new developments in IWB resources including the pupil response systems.
• See a range of new available software
• Take away some free resources
• Have free refreshments

This event is run in conjunction with Promethean Technologies but is suitable for users of all IWB software and hardware.

Don’t forget to bring along your memory  key!

If you would like the chance to attend please email: pennyj.churchfields.bromley@lgfl.net

If you would like to take the opportunity to share your own good practice and demonstrate any work you have done using IWB’s please let us know, we can definitely fit you in.

Penny Jones (DHT) and Caroline Greenall (ICT SL)

Churchfields Primary and Nursery Schools

Churchfields Road

Beckenham BR3 4QY 0208650 5247

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

Newham ICT Scheme of Work

In addition to their foundation stage materials, Newham have now launched their entire ICT scheme of work (covering years 1 - 6). Featuring active flip chart resources and tutorial videos there is a wealth of resources on offer. Importantly every unit contains a challenge lesson which gives the children an opportunity to develop their independent ICT capability. http://www.itass.newham.gov.uk/curriculum/sow.aspx

New Voices, Old Vic

Under Kevin Spacey’s direction, the Old Vic Education section has employed professional directors, writers and actors to work with pupils and students from South London schools on a variety of projects to encourage them to think about the creative use of drama in other subjects. The first project was a joint collaboration with the Imperial War Museum around the theme of the first day of the battle of the Somme in 1916.

LGfL has agreed to host this and subsequent OVNV projects to make them available permanently as an anytime, anywhere resource for the National Education Network. Each project comes with full lesson plans and videos to help teachers and students create their own version of the project in their school.

Find this in the KS3/4 English and History menus or directly at www.ovnv.lgfl.net

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

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