Kent ICT Blog

Fun interactive lesson to explain copyright to students
www.richmond.k12.va.us/schools/jones/Copyright-Kids/

Mandy :)

Go Givers

www.gogivers.org

Go-Givers is a FREE PSHE and Citizenship resource for primary schools.

The materials develop personal and social responsibility, mutual respect and concern for the world we live in by educating children to care for their family and friends, and about the issues relating to local, national and global communities.

Go-Givers complements and extends the SEAL and Healthy Schools programmes into the wider context of society and addresses Community Cohesion.

The ‘Go-Givers’ cartoon characters, who represent children from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, have inspired the stories for younger children. For older children there are modules on challenging topics such as Rights & Responsibilities and immigration.

The lessons consist of downloadable PPT presentations, and ‘Learning Activities’ in pdf format. The site also includes a motivational electronic ‘Kindness Kit’ and a collection of innovative web tools, for example the Ballot Box, the Time Line and a Decision Making Tool.

Mandy :)

Go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/4308095/Online-safety-Its-up-to-the-parents-says-Tanya-Byron.html to read Professor Byron's comments on e-safety.  Her tips for parents on 'surfing with security' are: 

The Kent Learning Zone is a communication and collaboration site which is being used by teachers to enhance communication and share resources within their own school and across groups of schools.

ASK have now launched a demonstration site available at https://portal.klz.org.uk which models how KLZ could be used by staff and by pupils, thereby allowing schools to identify potential starting points for the development of their own site. If your school has not yet set up KLZ accounts and you wish to view these pages, please contact Heidi Barton (Lead Primary ICT Adviser) to obtain a read only login.

Schools that have completed the KLZ Administrator and End User Training and would like support from the Primary ICT & Hands on Support Team in using KLZ effectively, can request this through their School Improvement Partner.

If you would like further information about setting up Kent Learning Zone in your school or have technical queries, please email eis@kent.gov.uk or call 01622 683708.

The Next Generation Learning Charter

Becta are offering schools the chance to make a public commitment by signing up to the Next Generation Learning Charter. This will show parents that the school is providing better learning opportunities through the effective use of ICT.

Parents will be able to see which local schools in their area are committed to using ICT by accessing the Next Generation Learning Website. www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk

There are 4 stages to the charter.

1. Sign up to the charter (visit https://selfreview.becta.org.uk)

2. Get recognised (if the leadership element and 2 other elements are at the ICT Mark Level)

3.Achieve the ICT Mark

4. Enter the ICT Excellence Awards Scheme

Many schools in Kent who are engaged in the Becta Self Review Framework have already begun that journey- so why not get the recognition you deserve for it.

If you haven't already signed up to the Becta Self Review Framework then now is a good time to see how it can help support your school to ensure it is ready for next generation learning. 

Computers 4 Africa (C4A) is a charity which provides ICT to African schools.  They ask for donations of working equipment with a minimum specification of a Pentium III processor.  All computers sent to Africa are striped down to their basic components and recycled if necessary to create new products.  C4A provide free of charge collection, testing and wiping clean the computers to ensure they follow the data protection act.  For further information go to: www.computers4africa.org.uk

A few comments from teachers and support staff who have already attended a demo lessons:

"I particularly enjoyed Mr Rylands' use of a great personality to enthuse a mixed group of writers. Lovely to see how ICT can be used unobtrusively to support writing!" Caroline

" Great to see theory from yesterday in practice with younger children. Really impressed how excited the children were and how it stimulated  their writing" Emma

Fantastic! Definitely something I would do with my Year 1 class. Generated some amazing thoughts from the children" Claire

"This Myst may help children who need a visual starting point, to get going!" Linda

"Lovely to work alongside the children and see how to draw out languages and ideas." Julia

Come and join in the fun!

Click here for a list of venues and dates

Click here to download the booking form for the demo lessons and twilight

We have created a special Kent Myst Microsite to support all school on the project.
http://www.segfl.org.uk/microsites2/kentmyst

Please register to see:

• Getting Started with Myst
• Teaching ideas 
• Assessment materials
• Websites
• Walkthroughs
• Places to visit in Myst with ideas of what to do with your class in each location

Mandy :)

Today was the launch event of the two week long Kent ICT/ writing project: “Emerging from the Myst”
http://www.kented.org.uk/myst/

Visit Tim's blog to see photos from the day and  for a reminder of all the wonderful and exciting things we discovered together.
http://www.timrylands.com/blog/2009/01/19/kent-ict-writing-project-launch-day/
Please leave Tim a comment

Here are a few of the comments already left on his blog

"I attended the course on Monday and was absolutely blown away, not only by the delivery but also the learning possibilities opened up using Myst and other software. I have already used the panoramas website to inspire my class’s deduction and description skills.
My head is still buzzing from all the ideas. Can’t wait til Thursday’s twilight session to ask you more." Steven

"I attended the Launch day today and can honestly say it is the best course I have ever been on! The Myst software is great as well as the hints and tips you provided. Absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to use it in my classroom. Thank you for being so inspirational and good luck where ever you go." Marie

"I would just like to say that I had a fantastic time at the launch event! Tim’s work is inspiring and I can’t wait to get back to school tomorrow to try out Myst! I am sure that the children in my class will enjoy using Myst just as much as I have… I am already hooked on it!" Emma M

"Thank you for a lovely, fun day! What an inspiration.. if we can take any part of what we have learnt today back to the classroom, the children will benefit enormously!! Thanks again!" Claire

"Just wanted to say thank you for an exhilarating day. Can’t wait for my colleagues to see you and Mr Walker in action in Maidstone next week. Came away from the ICT conference last year fully enthused and today has refreshed my enthusiasm for the impact this project can have on my children."
"
"Thanks for a fab day! Really looking forward to experiencing lessons a-la-Tim on Wednesday at St. John’s School. The children will love it!" Rebecca

"The first time ever I have played a computer game and now understand why my son spends so long in front of the computer playing them! A really good day with loads of ideas that I want to share with the children in my class and the rest of the school. The thing I need to remember is to GO SLOWLY - I am prone to rushing. Thanks to Tim, Sarah and the Kent Team for a really interesting, lively and inspiring day." Jacqueline

"I learned so much today- really keen to get back to school and share ideas with the class. I’m thinking about how to base my entire Y6 SATs revision in Term 4 on Myst - I’m sure it’s possible to weave in all the non-fiction genres as well as masses of narrative writing!" Ruth

"I have to admit I was expecting an excruiciating day after reading the instruction to bring a percussion instrument, but my fears were unfounded. I know that the children in my class will love exploring the Myst, and I can’t wait to hear the gasp they will emit the first time we turn around and see the greenhouse, never mind all the other exciting places we will visit. Thanks for this and all the other ideas today." Alison

"What a totally amazing and inspiring day, so many ideas, activities, tips, clues and resources that my mind is racing with knowing where to start ! Thank you Tim, Sarah and the Kent team for such a motivating and energizing day, which I know will get not only my Year 5 class but the whole school buzzing with excitement and creativity.
Thank you." Marc

"Thanks Tim, have whiled away a whole evening - playing the game with my 9 year old son - he is hooked but on solving and exploring rather than writing - however he did make comments on the music “it sounds like you are in danger” and “someone’s coming up the stairs” and on the quality and feel of certain images. Also spent time downloading all the gizmos suggested and using Google searches - thanks for all the tips!!!" Jackie

"Thanks Tim and the team for an inspirational (really), practical (really really), and fun (really really really) day. How did you get the talking trees? " Heather

"Thank you for such a valuable day. Even after a long 2 hour drive, the day flew by. I can’t wait to get started in my class." Marie

"Thank you, Tim, for a wonderful day on Monday. I really did not know what to expect, but have come away totally inspired and eager to share what I have learned with the rest of the staff. You taught us so much - and seeing you working with children was great. I am really looking forward to the workshop day next Monday." Mary

Mandy :)

We have created a special Kent Myst microsite to support school on the Kent ICT writing Project. As well as finding resources and teaching ideas on using Myst, schools can also have their own pages to celebrate the work they do on Myst.

The homepage of the site and forum is open to everyone. However, at the moment, only registered users can see the other pages. Kent schools may register by clicking on the link at the bottom of the homepage. More details will be given out next week at the launch and demo lessons.

Pages added so far include:

• Homepage
• Getting Started with Myst
• Teaching ideas 
• Assessment materials
• Places to visit in Myst along with ideas of what to do with your class in each location

How to register to use the Kent Myst Microsite
www.kented.org.uk/myst/register.html

Kent Myst Miscrosite
www.segfl.org.uk/microsites2/kentmyst

How to use a Microsite
www.kented.org.uk/microsite/

Myst pages on the Kent ICT website
www.kented.org.uk/myst/

Mandy :)

Tim Rylands starts his two week visit to Kent next week 19th January. Two hundred teachers will be attending the workshop launch on Monday. Many more teachers will be attending the demo lessons and twilights being held in West Kent.

Here are some of the comments who have taken part in demo lessons with Tim

"I particularly enjoyed Mr Rylands' use of a great personality to enthuse a mixed group of writers. Lovely to see how ICT can be used unobtrusively to support writing!" Caroline

"This Myst may help children who need a visual starting point, to get going!" Linda

"Lovely to work alongside the children and see how to draw out languages and ideas." Julia"After seeing Tim at the ICT conference I would love the rest of the staff to see why I was so excited!!"

Have you booked your place to watch a demo lesson or attend a twilight yet?

Can you afford to miss this exciting opportunity to explore the use of technology to inspire your pupils to write?

Click here for a list of venues and dates

Click here to download the booking form for the demo lessons and twilight

We have created a special Kent Myst Microsite to support all school on the project.
http://www.segfl.org.uk/microsites2/kentmyst

Homepage
Getting Started with Myst
Teaching ideas 
Assessment materials
Places to visit in Myst along with ideas of what to do with your class in each location

Mandy :)

SMART Technologies has announced that SMART Notebook 10 software is now available for all three major operating systems - Linux, Windows and Mac. Great news for schools who are using the netbooks with linux installed.

Mandy :)

"Anybody, Any Operating System, Any Whiteboard" this is what Promethean are saying about their 'free' new software for interactive whiteboards.

The new softare named called 'Activsoftware Inspire Edition'  will eventually replace both ActivStudio and ActivPrimary and will be available for Mac, Windows and now Linux computers.

There will be two versions of Activsoftware Inspire Edition 

1. Activsoftware Inspire Personal - free to everyone, including teachers, students and parents via download from Promethean Planet.
2. Activsoftware Inspire Professional.
   Existing users of Promethean’s Activstudio and Activprimary software can upgrade to the Professional edition and download the software from Planet at no extra cost. New customers will be able to purchase this full version for a promotional fee of £99.

You need to be a promethean planet member to download the software. Membership is free and gives you access to a whole host of free rsources as well as the 'free' preview version of the software. Please note that the preview version automatically expires on March 1, 2009 so you have about 6 weeks to play with it. The commercial release of the software will take place later in March.
http://www.prometheanplanet.com

 To read more about 'Activsoftware Inspire Edition' visit the Planet Promethean blog.

Mandy :)

2nd – 6th February  2009  – “Operation Storm Warning” for Kent Schools
An exciting cross curricular activity for Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils set the challenge to help victims of a local flooding disaster. This activity is supported by the Kent County Council Reliance Team.  
Click here for more information 

9th - 13th February  2009 – “Operation Storm Warning” for Overseas Schools
An opportunity for overseas schools to work with the Kent Reliance Team and for pupils to help victims of local weather hazards (droughts, flooding, earthquakes etc.) 

16th – 27th March 2009 – “Weather around the World in March Fortnight
Besides sharing March weather data the focus this fortnight is on “Weather and Music.” An opportunity for pupils to compose and publish their own weather compositions!
Click here for more information

27th March  2009 – Weather Watch “Online” Music Concert
Remember “Live Aid” and “Ban Aid?” Your pupils are invited to take part in the Weather Watch Online Music Concert. An opportunity for your pupils to play live and share their music with schools across the Globe!Planning to publish your pupil’s music or take part in the “online” concert? If the answer is “Yes” we hope you are able to attend:

3rd March 2009 – “Making Music Audacity and Podcasting Training Workshop”
For schools taking part in Weather Watch “Online” Music Concert
 (Venue: Ashford Oaks Primary School 1.30 – 4.30)

1st – 12th June 2009 – “Weather around the World Fortnight in June”
Besides sharing June weather data the focus this fortnight is on “The food we eat in June.” An opportunity for pupils to share seasonal recipes and try different dishes from around the world

6th – 10th July 2009 – “Weather and Art Week”    Not to be missed!
An exciting opportunity for pupils to publish their 2 and 3-D Weather Art Work on “Making the News” and take part in online Art lessons with talented artists from across the Globe!

Schools wishing to take part in any of the events mentioned above must be registered on the Knt Weather Watch project. Please contact Phil Bracegirdle for more information 

Mandy :)

16th – 27th March 2009 – “Weather around the World Fortnight” - Part II
This is an opportunity for schools to upload and share their March weather data and again publish images of the weather in their local area. How has the weather changed since we last posted information in December?

If you are planning to take part please contact: Colette Cotton - Shepway 1 ICT Leading Teacher, St Mary's C.E Primary, Folkestone

Besides sharing March weather data the focus this fortnight is on “Weather and Music.” An opportunity for pupils to compose and publish their own weather compositions!                                               

March 27th 2009 – Weather Watch “Online” Music Concert
Remember “Live Aid” and “Ban Aid?” Your pupils are invited to take part in the Weather Watch Online Music Concert. An opportunity for your pupils to use FlashMeeting to web conference and play live and share their music with other schools across the Globe! To help schools prepare for the event a training workshop will be taking place in early March.  Booking form below

3rd March 2009 – “Making Music Audacity and Podcasting Training Workshop”
Venue: Ashford Oaks Primary School 1.30 – 4.30
For more information about the Music Workshop contact: Karl Bentley - ASONE ICT AST,  Ashford Oaks Primary School

Music workshop Booking form (Schools wishing to take part must be registered on Weather Watch)

Mandy :)
 

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is less than two weeks away!

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, will begin on 26th January 2009. It is the main Chinese festival of the year.

Here's an activity for Chinese New Year.  I believe there is a  tradition is to give out Red Pockets to those who say 'Kung Hei Fat Choy' for the first 15 days of the lunar month. 

www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/hongBow_v4.html

Visit our Chinese New Year page for more resources on Chinese New Year.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/festivals/chinese.htm

Mandy :)

We have made the following changes to our website:

• Name change from Kent NGfL to Kent ICT
• The words on some of the coloured menu tabs at the top of each page has changed.
• Interactive whiteboard resources link is now on the left of of homepage
• e-safety link has been added to the coloured menu tabs
• The link to school websites is now on the left of the homepage.
• ICT/QCA has been replaced by ICT Themes
• ICT tab has been change to ICT Leaders

We now have a brand new section of our website called ICT Themes. It contains plans, progression charts and resources.
http://www.kented.org.uk/themes/

We welcome comments/feedback about the changes.

Mandy :)

Tim has sneakily started working in Kent, because the Swale Partnership just couldn't wait for him to come to Paddock Wood later this month.

Catch some of the action recorded on Tim's blog at http://www.timrylands.com/blog/ 

Netbooks, small laptop computers with more limited memory and features, look likely to be the next big thing in electronics world.

Elonex, a small British computer maker, will start selling its £99 ‘netbooks’ from February in Next and M&S, hoping that its cheap, 'handbag size' laptop computers will appeal to women buyers.

The screens are just seven inches wide and the keyboard is slightly smaller than a normal laptop keyboard. It is verly unlikely you will be able to install much software on the machines as the memory is very limited, however the new net books offer internet surfing, emailing, word processing, storing photographs. They could be a useful tool to have in the classroom!

You need to consider battery life, screen size and storage. Where are you going to charge the machines? They wont fit in a normal laptop charging trolley. 

BETT 2009 will run over four days from 14 – 17 January at Olympia, London.

For more information on BETT 2009, please visit: www.bettshow.com.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, BETT has evolved into the world’s largest technology in education event. With over 29,000 visitors and 700 educational exhibitors in 2008, BETT continues to support creative teaching and learning by enabling practitioners to touch and test resources, debate ideas and continue their professional development.

Mandy :)

For those of us already convinced of the educational value of ICT, the interim report makes very welcome reading.  The following extracts provide a flavour of the Review’s comments on ICT in the Primary curriculum:

“The Review’s remit insists that literacy, numeracy and ICT must be prioritised.  Primary schools must make sure that the best professional practice is brought to bear on teaching these essential skills directly, with ample opportunities for children to use and apply them across the curriculum.”

“It will also be increasingly important that children have the ICT skills which will enable them to apply the technology of the future and meet the challenges of an uncertain world, with confidence and flexibility. A sound grasp of ICT is fundamental to engagement in society, and the foundations for this engagement must be laid in primary schools.  Along with literacy and numeracy, the use of technology to develop skills for learning and life should be at the core of the primary curriculum.”

“Because ICT has the unique capacity and potential for developing and enlivening all domains of learning, including literacy and numeracy, it should also be taught both discretely to capture its essential knowledge and skills, and through its applications across the whole curriculum to deepen understanding.”

To see the full report go to:  http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/IPRC_Report.pdf

The Primary ICT Improving Together Networks (ITNs) provide an invaluable opportunity for ICT Subject Leaders and Leading ICT Teachers to receive advice, guidance and updates on local and national initiatives.

The agenda for meetings this term includes:

• Update on the Kent Theme approach for ICT skills and assessment
• Learning Platforms/Kent Learning Zone updates
• Future ICT courses and conferences
• E-safety
• Accreditation for engaging in the Becta Self review framework
• Hands on Support projects taking place this year and local available support

 Please visit the Kent ICT website for dates and venues for each LCSP during Janaury and February 2009.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/ict/ITN/

• Phonics: Wiki Wordbanks 
• Assessment for Learning / Plenary: children respond to their outcomes through podcast
• Maths: Counting in... quizzes (also useful for keyword spelling, phonic graphemes etc.)
• Student Speak: Sound Recorded ‘Worry Box’
• Talking Stories for book week – writing for an audience / feedback
• Bean Diary: Growth blogging, photo diary, Q&A with peers through text / sound / film
• Virtual Tour (Images / Sound linked – Speaking & Listening
• Reading Diary Blogs (Parent & Teacher through text / Child through sound)
• Ask the Expert: Father Christmas Forum Fun
• This Week’s Learning Objectives: Class feed off to activities within & beyond the Learning Platform 

You can also read her article at http://www.naace.co.uk/178 and will find a PowerPoint on the Ranvilles Infant School website: www.ranvilles-inf.hants.sch.uk/FRONTER-VLE.ppt

Access Apps,  a collection of over 50 open source and freeware programmes that can be run from a USB stick, has won the 2008 Scottish Open Source Award for Education Excellence.  Worth a look.

"AccessApps will run without needing to install anything on a computer and provide a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties."

http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/accessapps/