Bromley ICT Forum Blog

Primary ICT Coordinators (Foundation, Key Stages 1 and 2) 

Some time ago we mentioned the excellent Newham Schemes of work for ICT as well as the materials produced by National Curriculum in Action.

You might want to consider these links and documents put out by

 Greenwich LA,

Hertfordshire Grid for Learning,

Wokingham Primary Schemes of work 

 Darrick Wood Junior School.

If you would like to share your school’s scheme of work or provide examples of successful lessons please email me at andrew.ferrier@bromley.gov.uk
Click here to download Lesson plan proforma

As Tesco would say ‘every little helps..’

Reprinted from the NAACE Newsletter

There are two objectives for this article: describing the podcasting project we have established in Halton and inviting your participation. This principle of participation and collaboration lies at the heart of the project.

We decided that any project aimed at producing teaching and learning outcomes through podcasting needed to acknowledge the following key factors

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Since Bob Usher’s  course in January, many of our schools are now beginning to incoporate Podcasting as a strategy in the delivery of engaging curriculum activities.

We have  examples of teachers using podcasts as a strategy for supporting children with their homework such as teacher,  Karen Easterling’s ‘Division using Chunking’ podcast at Farnborough Primary School. We can also see examples of  students recreating and processing their learning in the form of their own podcasts such as the Year 6 Flashback at Darrick Wood  Junior Primary School. Churchfields Primary School (Christmas in Argentina ) and Warren Road Primary School  have also been very active in using podcasts to supplement their curriculum program.

Podcasts are not hard to do and they can offer  great value to the school’s curriculum program. They can be used successfully from Reception to Key Stage 4.

The LGFL offer a site for hosting podcasts produced by teachers and children. Schools can set up their accounts and load their podcasts to be shared with other schoools. The site also has some great suggestions for incorporating podcasts into currioculum planning along with tools to help you get started (and most of those tools are free). Visit Podcast Central for more information. (Use your LGFL login and password to get cracking…).

If you are interested in having your class participate in a podcast ICT Project Adventure please email me. If any other Bromley Schools (or from any other borough for that matter) are using podcasting, please share your thoughts with us on the blogsite. I would be really keen to hear from your, especially any secondary schools)

Enclosed is a message from Lyn Whitford (IEARN UK)

A great opportunity has arisen with our colleagues in iEARN in Thailand as 2 schools are looking for UK partner schools with which to exchange a Teddy Bear.

Ideally, we’d like a class from Year 4 and another from Year 7.

This is an ideal first project and also one of our most popular! Why? It’s relatively simple to start; the bear is involved in all of your school activities; the pupils learn about another culture and new technologies….and it’s fun!!!

Pupils often exchange clothes, books, sweets etc for the Teddy and like to stay in touch.

The schools in Thailand are very keen, so if you would like to take part then please email me by return with the following details:-

Name of Teacher

Name of School

Address of School

Teacher email

Year of Pupils

Number of Pupils

If you are interested in an exchange with schools in a different country, then please let me know and I can try to match your request.

Best Wishes

Lynne Whitford
Administrator

iEARN UK
Technology House
Rhewl
Ruthin
LL15 1TN

01824 708772
www.iearn.org
Registered Charity No. 1109069

The NAACE Primary on line activities, reviews and resources remain available here

This wide ranging collection includes primary curriculum support materials, primary on line resources, software applications and curriculum activities covering all Primary education including Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Popular software titles include Big Book Maker, Find the Pairs, Jumbo, History Photo Quiz, Number Board and Sorting Games.

There are also reviews of books, software and hardware with a focus on embedding ICT in Primary Education.

The Direct2U service was a weekly email service produced by Becta in partnership with NAACE. The service was for primary teachers and offfered lesson plans featuring ICT in activities based on six subject strands. The service is now discontinued but you can view the lesson plans in this archive

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

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.

For schools using Textease Studio CT, the Kent Grid for Learning has  some great Christmas activities including a compilation of jokes and Christmas facts along with details and a template for creating an Advent calendar. (Thanks to Ictopus.)

Other ideas include

Christmas activities
From the Valiant Technology Website

Christmas Crackers
MAPE asked members to suggest suitable activities for use during the days and weeks before Christmas. This is a compilation of ideas from many members.

101 things to do with ICT at Christmas
From Becta’s ICT Advice site. If you want to know about Christmas customs around the world, how to wish your pen friends ‘Merry Christmas’ in their own language, how spreadsheets can solve those Christmas present worries, what Santa Claus gets up to at the North Pole and much, much more…this is the place for you!

And finally here is a little stocking filler from McDowell State School in Queensland

Merry Christmas Folks

(Thanks to the Wirral Grid for Learning)

The following sites are child-friendly and have copyright permissions for educational use.

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(Thanks for ICTOPUS  Web Site)

This virtual dog links together work on vocabulary and awareness of how ICT can be used to create a simulation of a real event.p>
http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html

Try it out with the class, taking it in turns to suggest what the dog can do. The dog will either follow the instruction or let you know that he does not understand theinstructions. You could:

• Make a list of words the dog seems to understand
• Find instructions which produce the same event
• List the things the dog cannot do.

For a longer activity try this virtual plant website which can be used to link with  science work and with ICT.
http://www.desksoft.com/DesktopPlant.htm

• The plant will be installed on your desktop and will need regular care and attention. The demo installation will last 30 days. It can be positioned on the desktop by using the options menu, using the arrow keys to put the plant where it will be most convenient.  See how long the plant can be kept alive. Points to consider might include:
• How tall is it?
• What might it do next?
• What is most likely to make it die?