March 2007 - Posts

Thursday, March 29, 2007 5:26 PM

ICT register of best practice - now linked to ICT Self Review Framework

If you are considering using the Becta ICT Self Review Framework (SRF) in your school, (and you should be!), then you can find useful examples of effective practice on the ICT register. These have now been directly referenced to the strands.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007 8:27 PM

Sun flat panels installed at Fulston Manor School (Sittingbourne)?

Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne has become the first of 100 in the UK to gain from a scheme to install free solar panels.

The £1.5m Co-operative Group Green Energy for Schools scheme provides 50% funding, with the other 50% provided from Government. The panels cost £20K to install..

The Co-op said it was a chance for pupils to learn about the latest renewable technologies.

IThe school is working to reduce its carbon impact and hopes the panels will be a permanent reminder to students and parents to do the same.

 

 

 

Posted by Sophie | 1 comment(s)
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Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:12 PM

Wanna see a cool piece of kit you just can't have?



Intel has created an ultra-low-cost laptop for school children in emerging markets (why can't we be emerging?). The "ClassMatePC" is available with Linux or Windows XP, comes with an "educational feature set," and is part of a program in which Intel plans to invest £1/2 billion over the next five years.

Intel describes the ClassMatePC as a rugged device with features similar to mainstream PCs. It's based on a mobile Celeron processor and is equipped with local (flash-based) storage and a built-in wireless network interface. Additionally, the unit sports a water-resistant keyboard and comes with a theft-control feature based on a network-issued digital certificate.

Initially, the device is shipping in volume to Brazil and Mexico. Intel also plans to pilot the device in Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Powered by an Intel Mobile Ultra Low Voltage Celeron Processor, it has 256MB of RAM, and 1GB of flash memory when used with Linux. When fitted with Windows XP, 2GB of flash memory is required.

It includes:
  • Stereo two-channel audio, with built-in speakers/mic, and external audio out/mic in
  • 10/100 Ethernet networking
  • 802.11b/g wireless LAN
The ClassMatePC measures 9.6 x 7.7 x 1.7 inches (245 x 196 x 44mm), and weighs 2.86 pounds (1.3kg). It has a 7-inch WVGA (800 x 480) LCD illuminated by an LED backlight. It comes with a six-cell battery with adapter, said to last for four hours of use.

ClassMatePC provides an "integrated educational feature set" said to promote teacher-student and teacher-parent collaboration. Other software includes OpenOffice, Pegasus Note Taker (by Intel), and various teacher and parental control programs. Alternatively, the unit is also available with Microsoft XP Professional and Microsoft Office. UK version? Not yet!

My guess is that Intel already see the obvious benefits of making this type of device available to education, my fear is that the manufacturers who use their chips won't let them. Not many people know, but Intel works pro-actively behind the scenes at all levels of Government to push the digital inclusion agenda, and are committed to its principles. Turning sand into computer chips is only one part of the cost and profit of a computer. A bold step is needed, and a commitment to deferred return on investment by device manufacturers. Imagine when every child can have something like this.
Posted by Sophie
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Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:06 PM

Systems actually talking to each other? What next!!

I'm sure you all sat awake last night, worried that you might have missed an ICT acronym that you just know is going to trip you and make you look dumb in a meeting!

You may or may not have heard about something called 'SOA' or Service Orientated Architecture. Why is it important? Can civilisation survive without it?

Well, it's the concept of making things work together across the web instead of all having to be installed on the same server! (So you can use all the fancy widgets and gadgets of the web 2.0 world).

I recommend this excellent short animated video (biased towards FE/HE) explaining it in nice easy 'picture' terms, CLICK HERE.
Posted by Sophie
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Sunday, March 25, 2007 11:56 AM

Single Sign-On - What is it?

Ever sat thinking to yourself ... what IS single sign-on? Shibboleth? Federated Access Management (FAM)?

How does it work? Why is it important? Why will schools need it?

Don't think you have enough remaining years to find out?

Well, here's a short online animated plain english explanation. Sort of 'tomorrows world' version. It's very good. Just CLICK HERE and learn!
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:25 PM

Make IT Happen

Unusually, the Parliamentary IT committee (Pitcom), with e-skills UK have announced a competition for 9 - 11 year olds called 'Made IT Happen'.

The competition is looking for ideas on how to use technology to support their school or local community. They are looking for projects that make the most of school ICT resources and fit within the national curriculum. Young people are encouraged to use technology creatively for activities that range from running clubs and networks to campaigns and community projects.

The competition will include regional and national winners, with a cash prize for the school and a visit to Parliament to have tea with MP's.

Entries can be in any format and should include an outline of a challenge or opportunity the school faced, description of how ICT was used, and the result. Closing date is July 13th 2007.
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:15 PM

Girl's learning to program? Ask Alice

Alice With Globe

Alice is a java based interactive program that enables users to create 3D computer animations without the need for high-level programming skills.

By simply working with a computer mouse, users can select characters,including dinoaurs, penguins, bugs, monkeys or fairies, and place them in an environment they choose, such as an amusement park, kitchen or even a country. With these elements, users can construct stories, outline actions of characters or objects using simple commands, like move, turn, or resize, rather than the confusing terms common in other graphics programs.

It doesn't replace the trusty turtle of LOGO for maths, but does meet quite a few of the objectives for motor and control.

Download it. It's Open Source and free HERE
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:58 PM

Youth Opportunities Card scrapped!

A plan to reward teenagers with "good behaviour cards" to spend on sport and leisure activities has been abandoned. 

The Youth Opportunities Card (YOC) was promised as part of the "Youth Matters" Green Paper . It was planned to build on the Connexions Card which died at the same time (Feb). It was modelled on the successful Young Scot card, but was flawed in that the connexions card used magnetic swipe technology, whereas the YOC planned to use Smartcards with Chip and Pin. Kent was one of the Local Authorities invited by DfES to take part in the pilot, but we walked away when the flaws were realised. Others pressed on regardless!

Ministers say the pilot scheme hit technological problems and revealed the costs would outweigh the benefits. They spent £2m piloting the scheme with 10 local authorities but found it would not be cost-effective.  There was a need to develop new technology for it, which meant it would have been twice as expensive as planned.

There were plans to make it the one-stop card for all young peoples services, including school services and transactions ...
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:44 PM

Summary of Key ICT Policies, Strategies and Initiatives

I was recently asked to put together a page of key national and local strategies. Thought it might be useful to share it. CLICK HERE to view it as a word file; feel free to download and add your own links.
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:18 PM

BBC suspends BBC Jam!

I gave an early 'heads-up' of this story back in january! Interesting because I indirectly received cries of 'you've got it all wrong' by email following my post.

Well, BBC Jam is now officially suspended, and this has sparked a lot of blog debate and 'chatter' on the NAACE email list.

Interesting that the education software publishing industry through BESA, (despite the hundreds of millions of funding provided by eLearning Credits) were the protagonist's in BBC JAM's demise. Rather sad!

BBC jam

Posted by Sophie | 2 comment(s)
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:12 PM

ICT Mark - Fast Track Assessment!

A "fast-track" route has been put in place to recognise those schools who are national leaders in the use of ICT who have not, as yet, been making full use of the self-review framework as a school development tool. This is in line with the ICT Mark representing a standard in the maturity of ICT use across a school, rather than an award that a school gains for completing a process (however useful that process is for school development). The fast track assessment route not only recognises the leading schools who have reached the threshold levels but places them within the framework and provides an incentive for them to use self-review as a way of progressing towards levels of excellence.
 
Can any school use the fast track route?

No, schools can only be nominated if there is evidence, from a trusted source, of the school currently leading in the use of ICT and engaging in self-review, evaluation or ICT driven school improvement. Nominations and submissions must be approved by Becta before a fast track assessment can proceed and only leading schools who are confident and secure in their whole
school ICT practice will be approved for fast track assessment. Evidence and information, including self-review framework evidence, should be available to support assessment.
 
How will consistent standards be maintained?

Assessment of a fast track school still requires that a school can demonstrate to an accredited assessor that the ICT Mark threshold has been reached in any or all of the elements of the self-review framework. An assessor should still apply the levels and thresholds of the self-review framework in making a professional judgement about whether the threshold has
been reached. An assessment visit of a fast track school should be no different and no less rigorous than a normal assessment visit and the quality assurance process of accompanied visits will work in the same way.

Is a fast track assessment easier for a school?

No, fast track nominated schools who have not completed the self-review framework will find it harder to respond to assessors and demonstrate appropriate practice and evidence. Fast track assessment is NOT an easy option for schools and therefore they should be secure and confident in their ICT practice before submitting for assessment. The interviews, observations,
evidence and expected responses to questions made as part of the assessment of a fast track school should be no different to that of another school.
 
Will a fast track assessment require more work from assessors?

No, but it will require assessors to have an in depth working knowledge of the self-review framework and good competencies in challenging schools. A fast track school will not have submitted a fully completed self-review framework and therefore there is a greater emphasis on the knowledge, understanding and interpretation of the self-review framework by assessors.

Will all fast track assessed schools achieve the ICT Mark?

No, if a fast track school does not meet the threshold standards then the assessor should provide feedback to the school on the areas of development within the self-review framework that they should engage in. The schools strengths should be celebrated and recognition should be given to the investment and work that the school has made in progressing towards the ICT
Mark.

Of course a successful fast track school should also be provided with feedback about their areas of development within the self-review framework and encouraged to use the self-review framework to progress towards levels of excellence.

As a reminder to colleagues, if you have any schools that could be assessed before the Easter holidays, please get in touch - we have some capacity to offer free assessments in return for promotional activities around the self-review framework and the ICT Mark, but they will need to be done soon!
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:06 PM

2007/8 ICT Funding Guidance

Becta, the agency responsible for ICT in schools, have recently published new funding guidance for Local Authorities and Schools. It can be downloaded or ordered HERE. Note it comes from Becta rather than DfES! This reflects Becta's central role in delivering the e-strategy, Harnessing Technology.
Posted by Sophie
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 8:52 PM

We're back in the blogosphere!

After the technical hitches, we are back!! I will leave the technical explanations to others, but there are a number of pent up posts!
Posted by Sophie
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