Next Generation Learning in Kent

Becta Web 2.0 Research Report

AlanDay — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:15:00 GMT

Web 2.0 technologies for learning at KS3 and KS4 Becta commissioned the University of Nottingham in conjunction with London Knowledge Lab and Manchester Metropolitan University to research Web 2.0 technologies for learning at Key Stages 3 and 4. The purpose...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 111008

AlanDay — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:40:00 GMT

Schools Radio Network Schools are invited to register now with the Schools Radio Network – a new initiative - and give their students a national voice. SchoolsRadio.com encourages students up to age 18 to create and share their own audio programmes with...(read more)

Open Source - now its officially OK for schools!

AlanDay — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Becta has replaced its previous software framework agreement which expired in March 2008 with a new framework agreement, called “Software for Educational Institutions Framework”. The BIG news is that open source services provider Sirius has made it on...(read more)

Data Handling in schools - epiphany or apocalypse!

AlanDay — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:26:00 GMT

I recently posted on the huge shake-up that will result from Becta guidance on data management in schools. This week has seen the publication of detailed guidance in the shape of four guides: Impact levels and labelling available in Word (727KB) PDF ...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye - 230908

AlanDay — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:01:00 GMT

BBC News School report - 11-14 year-old students in the UK the chance to make their own news reports for a real audience. Why the future is looking good - "visual computing" is a catch-all term encompassing anything driven by graphics. Pupils...(read more)

Extended Schools and ICT - paradigm lost?

AlanDay — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:44:00 GMT

DCSF recently published extended schools funding guidance . One expectation of Extended Schools funding is a ' core offer ' that includes community access to ICT. Extended Schools covers a wide range of activities, and for obvious reasons I am...(read more)

ICT Managed Services in Schools - information

AlanDay — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:11:00 GMT

In light of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) requirement for ICT to be a managed service, I thought I would point to a report commissioned by Becta . It usefully explains what a managed service is, and the experiences of its customers....(read more)

14- 19, keeping track when students move around!

AlanDay — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:44:00 GMT

A continuing trend in education is the need to support 14 - 19 choice, and to achieve this schools join consortia to improve the range of courses on offer. This presents two problems: How do you move them around? How do you know where the student is?...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 070908

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:54:00 GMT

Database of children delayed Intel cites US education 'crisis' HP's plan to fix ailing planet - Hewlett Packard is up to two years away from starting to build a "central nervous system for the Earth", known as CeNSE. Tablet and other...(read more)

Online Reporting - Making it Happen.

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:18:00 GMT

All Secondary Schools are expected to make the following information available to parents via secure online access [PDF 6300KB] by September 2010, and Primary Schools by 2012: Attendance and behaviour (+ve and -ve) Progress and attainment Special Needs...(read more)

Huge shake-up in school data management?

AlanDay — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:41:00 GMT

It's no surprise that an on-going shake-up in the management of personal data at all levels of administration and government was going to affect schools sooner or later. As the main source of national pupil data through the school census, its where...(read more)

Northgate acquiring Anite?

AlanDay — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:23:00 GMT

Northgate Information Solutions has agreed to acquire Anite Public Sector Holdings Limited , which incorporates Anite ’s local government and secure information systems businesses, for a total cash consideration of £54.3 million payable at completion...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! - 040808

AlanDay — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:54:00 GMT

RM Gets Fingers into school biometrics market - RM's acquisition of Orchard Partners Ltd T/A Easy Trace . MP's report back from Internet's dark side . MPs have called on the government to install a YouTube Czar to oversee user-generated content...(read more)

Codename Midori: Microsoft's ascension from physical to virtual?

AlanDay — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:59:00 GMT

It's no secret ... Microsoft software was born in an era where getting connected wasn't much of a concern as few had connections! Microsoft has moved with the times with constantly updated products, but they still largely install on hardware....(read more)

Science Content - The Periodic Table of Videos

AlanDay — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:41:00 GMT

The Periodic Table of Video's is a modern version of the periodic table. Each element has an associated video explaining what it is and how it reacts. Great resource, but shame they chose YouTube ... the videos are blocked by most school filters ...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye - 220708

AlanDay — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:22:00 GMT

OFSTED says tests narrow learning Students bring kit worth £6K School design labelled 'mediocre' e-learning 2.0 -= the need for a real 2.0 VLE Corporate social networks are a waste of money Richard Stallman: Free software and beyond Top 5 platforms...(read more)

If you read just one book ...

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:13:00 GMT

Last week Jerry, a colleague handed me a short book, What's Next: 21 Ideas for 21st Century Learning by Charles Leadbeater , and published by the Innovation Unit . Jerry was emphatic as he placed it on my desk ... "This says what I believe ....(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye - 190708

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:04:00 GMT

It's not the Gates, it's the bars - Anti-microsoft commentary from Richard Stallman, Founder of Free Software Foundation . Government launches data mash-up . Spam experiment overloads inboxes . Job shortage for unskilled youths. Rural diplomas...(read more)

Assessment is for Learning

AlanDay — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:25:00 GMT

Thanks to Ewan McIntosh for highlighting the following Assessment is for Learning guide on the Learning & Teaching Scotland (LTS) web site. Thought I'd pass it on!...(read more)

Government Computers go green!

AlanDay — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:34:00 GMT

With Gershon efficiency savings being imposed on Local Government, and cascaded down to schools, I picked up an interesting Cabinet Office news item from a colleague. A bold plan has been announced to reduce carbon emission caused by ICT in central government...(read more)

Harnessing Technology:Next Generation Learning - New Strategy in a nutshell!

AlanDay — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:31:00 GMT

I thought that I would try to summarise the key features of the revised and updated e-strategy Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning ; a sort of ' Reduced Shakespeare Company ' version for those who don't have time to read the document...(read more)

Learning in class - the sequel

AlanDay — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:43:00 GMT

The survey evidence from the harnessing technology: next generation e-strategy review, also shows that children prefer to learn: 1. In groups 2. Doing practical things 3. With friends 4. By using computers In that order!...(read more)

Learning in class?

AlanDay — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:35:00 GMT

The chart above is taken from the recently published revision of the e-strategy, Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning . It shows the learning experiences of children taken from MORI survey evidence. Its quite an indictment that the most common...(read more)

Parent Power? The case for online reporting.

AlanDay — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:45:00 GMT

Becta commissioned survey of 2,058 parents 95 per cent of parents think the effective use of technology can help their child learn 77 per cent of parents think technology can help their child engage with difficult subjects 78 per cent of parents think...(read more)

Ikea Primary Capital Programme Bid? The flat pack school? Where's the Allen Key?

AlanDay — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:48:00 GMT

Times Online has a news item that shows work beginning on building Britains first flat-pack school in Manchester. Delivered from Switzerland and shipped on 20 trucks, the three storey school is built from 600 computer cut panels. St Agnes CE Primary School...(read more)

Disarming Britain

AlanDay — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:38:00 GMT

Channel 4 has produced a 3D game for young people called ' Dead Ends ' as part of its ' Disarming Britain' season. You play on both sides of the law, as Keith Wilcox, a new gang recruit caught in a deadly situation he can't handle...(read more)

Google Oil!

AlanDay — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Thanks to Ewan McIntosh for highlighting this little gem for Google Earth . The ( kmz ) file overlays world oil consumption on to the globe of the earth. Below are some pics so you get the idea. Wow, what a way to show the 'inconvenient truth'...(read more)

Scrapping subject lessons? replaced by themes ...

AlanDay — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:03:00 GMT

I picked up this interesting report of a school in Totnes that has created a foundation year aimed at helping children to become good learners. Whilst the report claims they are scrapping subjects, the story affirms that children still cover the subjects...(read more)

Byron Recommendations? ... Online Information Card? ... Response?

AlanDay — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:45:00 GMT

Following this weeks publication of the Byron Review Action Plan , which aims to protect the safety of children online, Times Online reports that the worlds most influential firms have launced their online 'Information Card'. Note that its'...(read more)

Stuff that's caught my eye! 220608

AlanDay — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:24:00 GMT

The computer that predicted the future - More than 20 years ago a generation of schoolchildren sat down to complete a questionnaire they were told would predict their future. One tonne baby marks its birth - Sixty years ago the "modern computer"...(read more)